SHAVO ODADJIAN Isn’t Happy About SOAD Not Working On New Album: ‘I Didn’t Join A Band And Get Famous To Stop Playing Music’

System of a Down

Bassist Shavo Odadjian said he’s not too happy about SYSTEM OF A DOWN‘s lengthy absence from the studio. Asked by KROQ on when the fans can expect a new record from the group, Shavo replied:

“If it was my way, it would be now. But it’s not, it takes four to tango… I’m hoping – because like I said, for me, we have so much material.

“We have material for like the last 10-12 years. We all write. So I personally have a lot, Daron [Malakian, guitar] has a lot, I know Serj [Tankian, vocals] got a lot, but I don’t know… I don’t know what’s going on.

“I’m hoping, I’m wishing, you know? We still love each other. There’s nothing… No one’s done anything wrong. No one’s angry, it’s not like someone’s done something to someone and they can’t take it back. Nothing like that’s occurred. I think it’s just an artistic thing.”

Asked on how it’s possible for the band to continue playing together when at least one member has a differing vision, Odadjian replied:

“I personally do think about it always and I can’t speak for the rest of the guys, I do think about it. But I don’t hold grudges. I can’t do that.

“But it’s hurtful because I do want to play and I want to make music and I want to make a record and I didn’t join a band and get famous to stop playing music.

“I want to play more music. But it is what it is and we’re gonna roll through the punches.”

The bassist later added:

“I can’t force anybody on stage. I can’t force anybody into a studio. I can’t force anyone anywhere. And it won’t be good for us either. Nothing is good for us, everything has to come natural and become what it is.”

When one of the hosts jokingly said the guys should get the “psychiatrist” from METALLICA‘s “Some Kind of Monster” documentary [‘performance enhancement coach’ Phil Towle], Shavo replied:

“I’ve had that conversation. That would be cool, like maybe someone has to sit in the middle and be like, ‘This is what it means’ and, ‘This is what he means.’ But it’s not like someone has done something. There’s no like, where he could be, ‘Oh, he did this for that reason.'”