Imagine Dragons’ frontman Dan Reynolds has responded to criticism regarding the band’s decision to perform in Israel and Azerbaijan. Serj Tankian, the frontman of System Of A Down, criticised Imagine Dragons and expressed his lack of respect for the band for going ahead with the controversial shows. The dispute began over a performance that Imagine Dragons had planned in Baku at the Olympic Stadium last summer, which some people misguided as an endorsement of Azerbaijan’s authoritarian President Ilham Aliyev.
Tankian sent the Imagine Dragons a letter urging them to pull out of their planned show. In the letter, he stated that if the band proceeded with the performance, “it would help whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image.” Brian Eno, Thurston Moore, and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters asked the band to withdraw the show in an open letter sent the previous summer.
The band’s frontman, Reynolds, spoke to Rolling Stone about their decision to perform in Israel and Azerbaijan amidst the pressures, saying, “I don’t believe in depriving our fans who want to see us play because of the acts of their leaders and their governments.” He continued, “I think that’s a really slippery slope. I think the second you start to do that, there’s corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, and where do you draw the line?” Reynolds addressed Tankian’s remarks by stating, “It’s a slippery slope, and I’m never going to deprive our fans of playing for them.”
Following the band’s shows, Tankian spoke to Metal Hammer about his thoughts on the matter. He said that he understood why bands would play shows for money and entertain people. However, he went on to say that if he found out the government of a country he was due to perform in was committing ethnic cleansing, he would not play the show. Tankian also criticised the members personally, stating, “They’re not good human beings, as far as I’m concerned.”
Reynolds recently admitted that he delayed Imagine Dragon gigs due to his busy League of Legends schedule
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