System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian went on the defensive after he was slammed for saying he was “very sad” to hear about Charles Manson’s death.
“During the time I was writing the Toxicity album, Manson’s interviews and music were a big influence on me as an artist,” Malakian wrote in a Facebook post.
“My interest was in the way he articulated his thoughts and his views on society, not in the murders.”
As condemnation poured in to the comments section, Malakian responded by defended his tribute.
“I don’t back the murderer Charles Manson, I back his art and his views on social and environmental issues,” he explained. “Sometimes talented people do bad things.”
He went on to compare Manson to OJ Simpson. “If I was a football player, I could not deny Simpson’s contribution to the game and the impact he had on future football players. Yes he did a horrible thing by killing his wife, but his talent as a football player in undeniable.”
Malakian isn't the only rocker in hot water for a reaction to Charles Manson's death on Sunday at 83.
KISS member Paul Stanley took to Twitter on Monday to slam Marilyn Manson for “connecting himself” to the death of “murdering scumbag” Charles Manson.
Marilyn Manson had tweeted a link to his cover of “Sick City.”
Without mentioning either Manson by name, Stanley tweeted: “Pathetic when somebody who’s career never really took off is desperate enough to try for publicity by connecting himself to the news of a murdering scumbag’s death.”