SCARS ON BROADWAY's DARON MALAKIAN Has 'Compelling Reasons' For Cancelling Tour

A moderator on the official forum of SCARS ON BROADWAY — the collaboration between SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan — has offered more information about Malakian's surprising decision to cancel SOB's North American tour and performance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

The moderator, who posts on the forum under the name "ResurrectionJunkie", writes, "Some other facts from the 'inside' that I was given permission to disclose, in no particular order:

1. Daron is physically okay. There were some rumors about him having throat cancer and some other things like that. ALL FALSE.

2. Opinions and rumors about Daron's drug use, going to rehab, and all related things are wholly UNTRUE. Daron did not cancel the tour on some whim or out of some selfish need to fuck around at Disneyland or because he can't stop smoking weed or any other such nonsense.

3. There IS a personal issue that Daron is dealing with right now that is at the root of the tour cancellation. His message to the fans already summed this up in a purposefully vague kind of way. This issue was not disclosed to me and will not be disclosed to anyone outside the band because it is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS."

SCARS ON BROADWAY guitarist Franky Perez also addressed the tour cancellation in a "letter to the fans" in which he wrote, "I know the news has been extremely shocking to all of you. However, I know that Daron has compelling reasons to not continue with the tour at this time. I wanted to take the time to thank him and John for giving me such an incredible opportunity to do what I love and to be a part of an amazing band with undeniable talent. They are like brothers to me and with time our band became like family which made the news even harder to swallow. I also want to thank the fans from all over the world for all of your support and for welcoming us with open arms. I hope you will continue supporting us no matter where this journey leads us. Each member of SCARS has a deep love and passion for music that will never die. With that said, this is not a goodbye, but a see you later."

Malakian issued a statement on October 7 in which he told SCARS ON BROADWAY's fans, "I've read many of your postings and I owe it to all of you to respond: I understand all of your frustration and anger, and I never meant to let any of you down. Your support for SCARS has been so important to me and the band. I would never cancel a tour unless I had real reasons and personal things that require my undivided attention. The music of SCARS will live on, but now is a time when aspects of my life need to be tended to. I hope all of you can understand."

SCARS ON BROADWAY sold just under 24,000 copies of its self-titled debut album in the United States during its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart. This number represented roughly 36 percent of the 66,000 opening tally registered by "Elect the Dead", the debut solo effort from SYSTEM lead singer Serj Tankian, which came out last fall through the Warner Music Group.

"Scars On Broadway" has shifted just 58,000 copies in the United States since its July 29 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Elect the Dead", meanwhile, is closing in on 300,000 units sold in the U.S. so far.

(Thanks: Andrew)