We chose not to entertain a bunch of people who massacred our ancestors

It was less American band System of a Down's political engagement for recognition of the Armenian genocide, than their harsh refusal to appear before a Turkish audience (»We chose not to entertain a bunch of people who massacred our ancestors«), that sparked heated discussions in the Turkish rock and heavy metal scene. Pierre Hecker discusses debates about collective guilt, racism, reconciliation, historical research and the networks that have been created between Greek, Armenian, Israeli and Turkish musicians since the late 1990s.