SYSTEM OF A DOWN Drummer Doesn't Understand Hoopla Surrounding 'Saturday Night Live' F-Bomb

SYSTEM OF A DOWN drummer John Dolmayan has commented on the band's "Saturday Night Live" appearance earlier in the month in which guitarist Daron Malakian got a spontaneous cry of "Fuck yeah!" past NBC-TV censors during the band's performance of its current single, "B.Y.O.B." The use of the F-word in the song's actual lyrics was muted during the broadcast.

Speaking to Canada's Chart Attack, Dolmayan said he and his bandmates hadn't thought about the incident since their appearance on the show and he claimed he didn't understand why the press ate it up.

"It's ridiculous that people make a big deal out of it. Incredibly ridiculous that it's newsworthy," he said. "It's just a word. We didn't kill anybody. People should relax. If you're old enough to be up at 11:30, I'm sure that you've heard that word before and it's not going to affect your delicate sensibilities if you hear it again. We act like these words are never spoken. The whole country tripped out because of Janet Jackson's breast. Who gives a fuck? How many times have you seen a breast before in your life? It doesn't offend me."

Dolmayan also spoke about the second half of their "Mezmerize/Hypnotize" double-album concept, which is due this fall. Refusing to give away any hints about the upcoming CD, Dolmayan said that they want people to enjoy the just-released "Mezmerize" to the fullest and still have some anticipation left for when the "Hypnotize" half comes out.

"No hints. I'm leaving it open, so you can have that mystery and hopefully it won't get leaked two weeks before the album comes out," Dolmayan said. "You'll be able to enjoy, like in the old days when you would wait until an album came out and then listen to it, as opposed to getting it three weeks in advance."