Their debut album contained songs with plenty of political punch, their latest album �Toxicity� seems less political-inspired, with songs referring to all sorts of themes from groupies to drugs to Charles Manson. Are SOAD trying to make a conscious effort to steer their band away from politics?
�We are not trying to run away from anything, there are just aspects of this band that people need to understand. When you have a conversation with someone, it�s can�t be one-dimensional. How boring would that be, if all we ever talked about as politics? I�d be bored.�
But, obviously it is a mainstay of the bands agenda? �We�ll, I take an interest in a lot of things, I mean I take an interest in what I�m gonna have for dinner. Just like I take an interest in what comic books I bought yesterday. I take an interest in many different things, what movies are coming out. Lord Of The Rings, when is that movie coming out, because I want to go watch it. And I also have an interest in who the President is. And who�s starving and why. Just like to take an interest in what type of ice-cream I want for dessert today.�
Yeah, but you don�t sing about ice-cream.
�Yes we do. Sure we do. We sing about sex, we sing about drugs, we sing about rock �n� roll.�
Are you worried that System will become the next Rage Against The Machine?
�You know, I don�t think we are the political band that other people want us to be, you know what I mean? I fell like the press really wants us to be a political band. Maybe they need someone to fucking speak up, we don�t mind, we just don�t want that to be our moniker. We have many different interests and there are four members of the band and the lyrics aren�t political. What the fuck is �Sugar� about? What�s political about �Sugar�? I�m sure you can make up type of description for every single one of our songs to make it political, or ludicrous, or whatever you want it to be.�
Do you think fans of the band actually care about the politics? Surely music should be a form of escapism from everyday life?
�Some kids care and if they get that out of it, great. And others don�t. I was the kid who didn�t care. I never read articles, never read interviews. I just listened to the music when I was growing up. I couldn�t give a fuck who was in a band. Even some of my favourite bands, I don�t� know some of the band members� names. It�s just a personal opinion of what you like, or believe in, or get into. By all means, delve into it.�
Which brings us to the end of our time in Vegas and to John�s final quote:
�We wanna do what U2 does, put out an album every three or four years. Something quality that will always change, always growing as a band�
We look forward to that.