System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan will release his solo debut, These Grey Men, on February 28th. The eight-song LP contains covers of tracks by such varied artists as Madonna, Radiohead, AFI, Eminem and David Bowie.
The official music video for the disc's first single, a rendition of Radiohead's “Street Spirit,” has been posted online. The song features a guitar solo from Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, as well as contributions from Avenged Sevenfold vocalist M. Shadows.
Dolmayan said about the track, “This song in particular is a really touching and moving song. I love the morose, in-your-room-and-it's-raining-outside, it's cold and your girlfriend dumped you feeling that this song always gave me.”
These Grey Men also features Dolmayan's System Of Down bandmate Serj Tankian on a cover of David Bowie's “Starman” and the Talking Heads' “Road To Nowhere.” System has booked some European festival dates for this spring and summer but show no signs of recording new music any time soon.
Dolmayan told us he doesn't worry about anything except doing what makes him happy: “I think as long as I'm doing things that make me happy emotionally, then as far as the money aspect, it'll come or it won't, doesn't matter. Because ultimately, man, money doesn't determine happiness, but it is a nice conduit to happiness. If you're a happy person in general, money can make your life better. But if you're a miserable person in general, no matter how much money you have you will not be a happy person.”