System of a Down Drummer John Dolmayan Prepping 'These Grey Men' Solo Album

System of a Down Drummer John Dolmayan Prepping ‘These Grey Men’ Solo Album

2020-01-28

“These Grey Men” album cover – Story by Cat Badra

John Dolmayan on System of a Down brings out some big names for his new solo album, including Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Serj Tankian of System of a Down

System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan is gearing up to release his debut solo album, “These Grey Men,” and the set features an interesting blend of guest talent and cover tunes.

The album, out Feb. 28, packs exclusively cover tunes, and the record’s first single, a cover of Radiohead’s “Street Spirit,” has guest vocals from M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold and a guitar solo from Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.

Dolmayan’s System of a Down band mate Serj Tankian provides guest vocals on a cover of David Bowie’s “Starman” and Talking Heads’ “Road to Nowhere.”

Another track on the album, a cover of David Bowie’s “Starman,” features vocals from Dolmayan’s SOAD band mate Serj Tankian. Tankian also sings on a version of “Road to Nowhere” by Talking Heads.

The rest of the eight-track collection includes songs from AFI, Eminem, Madonna and more. Dolmayan says the choices were inspired by what he has listened to on the radio while driving from L.A. to Las Vegas.

“I’d hear something and ask myself how I would play or arrange it,” Dolmayan said in a statement. “I actually started to make a list of about 30 songs I might cover someday…System wasn’t making music at the time, but I needed an outlet for my artistic energy. So, I whittled down the list and reached out to some artists I wanted to work with.”

John Dolmayan’s “These Grey Men” Track Listing:

“Road To Nowhere” (Talking Heads cover featuring Serj Tankian)
“Starman” (David Bowie cover featuring Serj Tankian)
“What I Know” (Two Door Cinema Club cover featuring Jonathan Dorr)
“Runaway” (Del Shannon cover featuring Franky Perez)
“Street Spirit” (Radiohead cover featuring M. Shadows and Tom Morello)
“Hung Up” (Madonna cover featuring Sirusho)
“Beautiful Thieves” (AFI cover featuring Jonah Perry Nimoy)
“Rock Bottom” (Eminem cover)

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Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.