SYSTEM OF A DOWN // Guitarist Daron Malakian Eulogises ‘Genius’ Charles Manson

Yep! You read that right. System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian paid tribute to cult leader, criminal, and evil incarnate Charles Manson, who died this week age 83. No, he didn’t mistake him for Marilyn Manson.

In a Facebook post soon after Manson’s death, Malakian posted, “Very sad to hear the news about Charles Manson’s death”. His post was accompanied with a picture of him with Manson-inspired painting, featuring a swastika, while wearing a Manson shirt.

The guitarist also revealed Manson’s influence on his work. “During the time I was writing the Toxicity album, Manson’s interviews and music were a big influence on me as an artist. I titled the song ATWA after Manson’s environmental organisation.

“My interest was in the way he articulated his thoughts and his views on society, not in the murders. The painting in this photo is one I asked my dad to paint with the Charles Manson theme, which I later used as the art for the Scars On Broadway song Fucking that was released through limited vinyl.”

After a widespread backlash, Malakian didn’t backpedal. He figured his fans didn’t get why he idolised the leader of the Manson Family cult who ordered his followers to commit a series of murders in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate, in the hopes of starting a race war, so he elaborated in the comments.

“If all you know about Manson is what you’ve be [sic] sold by the media, I don’t blame you for you [sic] negative comments. But the other side of Manson was that he was a song writer who’s [sic] song Look At Your Game was covered by Guns N’ Roses. And Manson also had very valid viewpoints on society and the environment that even some of you people who are calling me disgusting couldn’t argue with if you took the time to look into his interviews.”

“I would say you would be the disgusting ones if you did disagree with some of his thoughts on these topics. If Manson was just an idiot who killed people he would not inspire me in any way. I don’t back murders or murderers in any way shape or form!!!!!! Manson was a Genius who could articulate his thoughts in very clever ways. That was the Manson who had an affect [sic] on me as an artist. For all of you who say that your [sic] happy he’s dead, and he should burn in your imaginary Hell, Your [sic] the ones who should be ashamed of yourselves. You seam [sic] to be just as bad with your thoughts as the murderers you say that you hate so much!!”

That clarification did not help at all. Fans continued criticising the guitarist, pointing out the hypocrisy of Malakian’s outspokenness on the Armenian genocide displaying a swastika in his home. But, if anything, that made the guitarist go in harder on his defence than OJ Simpson’s lawyer. Speaking of…

“Let me try to explain one more time for those who just don’t get where I’m coming from on this Manson post. I don’t back the murderer Charles Manson, I back his art and his views on social and environmental issues. Sometimes talented people do bad things. For example, OJ Simpson killed his wife, which is horrible. But you can’t deny the fact that he’s was one of the best football players in history. So there is the murderer OJ, and the Football OJ. So if I was a football player, I could not deny Simpson’s contribution to the game and the impact he had on future football players. Yes he did a horrible thing by killing his wife, but his talent as a football player in undeniable. And for the people who are asking if I would feel the same if Manson killed my family or pregnant wife, this is an example for you. My family was in the Armenian Genocide where millions of Armenians were slaughtered by The Turkish government and Turkish soldiers. But I still enjoy Turkish music, Turkish art, and I have Turkish friends who probably had grandparents who were Turkish soldiers during the genocide.”

Yup… Um, ok… Thanks for that Kevin. I mean, Daron.

Since the Manson killings shocked the world, musicians have used references to Manson to outrage audiences. Marilyn Manson got his moniker by combining the names of Marilyn Monroe and Manson, and Trent Reznor recorded Nine Inch Nails’ The Downward Spiral in the home where the Tate killing took place, later expressing remorse for it. Despite Manson’s dark shadow over pop culture, only Malakian has eulogised him. Surely that would’ve been a sign it was a bad idea.

System Of A Down are currently at work on their first album since the releases of Mezmerize and Hypnotize in 2005. Hopefully there isn’t a Manson tribute on it.