System of a Down’s classic Rick Rubin-produced album, Toxicity, turns 20 this year. Released in 2001 one week before 9/11, thepolitically 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.

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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.

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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:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast"> https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast</a> and follow us on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/BrokenRecord">@BrokenRecord</a>You can also check out past episodes here:<a href="https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/"> https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/</a>Check out a playlist of our favorite System of a Down songs <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4XpIMGlIg9fRA8ED6qDbOF?si=1b83965f8fcb431f">HERE .</a> And hear a playlist Serj put together of his favorite tracks <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61ASFwyfXMZXWdYJx17NnE?si=a97a93dbac2e4cf6">HERE</a>. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

From Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, and Justin Richmond. The musicians you love talk about their life, inspiration, and craft. Then play. iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Serj Tankian Talks Toxicity and Activism

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ff272066-4007-4249-88fb-ae32007b6627/transcript

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