Serj Tankian Talks Toxicity and Activism

System of a Down’s classic Rick Rubin-produced album, Toxicity, turns 20 this year. Released in 2001 one week before 9/11, the politically charged and wildly bizarre album provided the perfect soundtrack for a world descending into chaos. Serj Tankian, the lead singer of System, is no stranger to conflict. His family is Armenian and migrated to Los Angeles from Lebanon to escape a civil war when Serj was seven years-old. Today we’ll hear Rick Rubin talk to his good friend Serj about how hearing bombs drop outside his childhood bedroom turned him into a lifelong activist. Serj also explains how a funny line about a tapeworm almost caused System to break up, and why the first time Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine heard System play, he called it music for crazy people.

Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecord

You can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/

Check out a playlist of our favorite System of a Down songs HERE . And hear a playlist Serj put together of his favorite tracks HERE.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episoder(375)

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren is a multi-talented musician who has made a name for himself both as a solo artist and a visionary music producer. Rundgren’s crowning achievement though was producing Meatloaf’s album B...

1 Feb 202252min

Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne

In the 1970’s Jackson Browne was known as one of the originators of the carefree, California classic rock sound with hits like “Doctor My Eyes” and “Running on Empty.” As his career progressed, Jackso...

25 Jan 202238min

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Since debuting in the late ‘60s, Yusuf/Cat Stevens has made a sizable contribution to the folk canon with tender, contemplative songs like “Wild World,” “Moon Shadow,” and “The Wind.” Stevens recently...

18 Jan 202244min

Sam Sanders on Janet Jackson's Legacy

Sam Sanders on Janet Jackson's Legacy

Today we're sharing an episode from our friend Sam Sanders over at NPR’s It's Been a Minute podcast. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Janet Jackson's classic album, Control. That album was her ...

11 Jan 202243min

Pino Palladino and Blake Mills

Pino Palladino and Blake Mills

Pino Palladino and Blake Mills are renowned session musicians who recently collaborated on their own album, Notes With Attachments. It’s an experimental, jazz-leaning project that blew Rick Rubin’s mi...

30 Des 202137min

Neil Young, Part Two

Neil Young, Part Two

Welcome to part two of Rick Rubin’s conversation with Neil Young. Today we'll hear how Neil's song “I Believe In You” from his 1970 masterpiece After the Gold Rush inspired a mystical experience for R...

28 Des 202142min

Neil Young, Part One

Neil Young, Part One

When we first talked about making Broken Record, we had a short list of absolute dream guests for the podcast and Neil Young was at the top of that list. So when Neil’s new record, Barn, was announced...

21 Des 202152min

Faye Webster Takes Off

Faye Webster Takes Off

24 year-old singer/songwriter Faye Webster stopped by Shangri-La earlier this month in between stops on her tour opening for Wilco to chat with Justin Richmond and play some songs off of her latest al...

14 Des 202144min

Populært innen Underholdning

papaya
enkel-servering
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
harm-og-hegseth
tore-og-haralds-podkast
tusvik-tnne
folk-flest-med-linn-og-nils
topp-3-med-wold-og-fladseth
konspirasjonspodden
hovla
ma-pa-behandling-med-morten-ramm
kjendiscrush-med-sofie-karlstad
big-5-med-nils-og-harald-2
nare-venner
vitnemal
gi-meg-alle-detaljene
feedback-med-egon-holstad
christine-dancke
rss-gammal-maiden
rss-riff