HEAVY METAL FOR THE HILL
The Hill, DC
April 27 2006
Not since Metallica showed up to fight Napster and Internet file
sharing has a heavy metal band rocked the Hill.
“Just like congressmen, every band has their cause,” Serj Tankian, lead
singer of System of a Down, said Tuesday. He and the rest of the band
came to Washington on a three-day “advocacy tour” to talk to lawmakers,
protest at the Turkish Embassy and promote their documentary.
Their cause is to persuade Congress, and the Turkish government in
turn, to recognize the Armenian genocide that killed 1.5 million
people 91 years ago.
All four members of the famously anti-establishment band are
grandchildren of survivors of the genocide. “This is more of a
personal issue for us, not necessarily a political agenda,” drummer
John Dolmayan said.
Tankian sported long, curly hair and a goatee with his suit, and
Dolmayan paired his Mohawk with a blazer and jeans Tuesday night for
the 20-minute sample of the documentary “Screamers.” The feature-length
film examines not only System of a Down’s advocacy role but also
“genocide denial” from the Armenian genocide right up to the conflict
in Darfur.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) was featured in the film and attended
the screening. He said the issue is “crying out for attention” and
emphasized the importance of moving the issue to a complete vote on
the House floor.
It was Dolmayan’s first time in Washington, and he said he is learning
a lot about how politics work, although he was disappointed that
his requests to meet with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Majority
Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) were
turned down.
The band did meet with Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and Reps. Eric
Cantor (R-Va.) and Devin Nunes (R-Calif.).
Dolmayan said he will continue his work until Congress recognizes
the genocide: “Even a blade of grass can break through concrete,
and I’d rather be the grass than the concrete.”