Two days ago, Machine Gun Kelly performed a cover version of SYSTEM OF A DOWN‘s “Aerials” on “The Howard Stern Show”
Watch MGK’s performance down here:
The rapper-turned-“rocker”, whose real name is Colson Baker, appeared on the program to promote his second pop-punk/emo-inspired album, “Mainstream Sellout”, which came out on Friday (March 25).
Among the people who reacted to Machine Gun Kelly‘s attempt at “Aerials” was SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Odadjian who shared video of the performance on his Instagram and asked his 365K followers for their “thoughts on MGK’s cover of Aerials.
MGK made headlines last year by publicly feuding with Corey Taylor after the SLIPKNOT frontman subtly and indirectly insulted the rapper in a “Cutter’s Rockcast” interview, referring to the latter as an artist who “failed in one genre and decided to go rock.”
Machine Gun Kelly spoke to Billboard earlier this month about the criticism he has faced after his transition from rap to rock music, stating that he’s “earned that shit.”
“I know it kills certain bands in that community that I got the success that I got. But I earned that shit,” he said. “Dude, I was fucking loading up the van with our drums and amps in 2010, driving to Indiana and Chicago, playing Warped Tour. I can tell you the fucking Wi-Fi codes to venues in Blackfoot, Idaho. Can you say that shit as a band?” he asked.
Addressing his role in the ongoing revival of the pop-punk genre, he commented: “The 2010s was great for singers and rappers, and I was part of that. But I think we needed something else: we needed an instrument. Kids come up to me, like, ‘Dude, the first time I ever saw someone play guitar in concert was at your concert — and now I take guitar lessons.’
“[Rock] needed a defibrillator,” he added. “Who cares who gives it, just as long as that motherfucker doesn’t die?”
During his Howard Stern Show appearance, Machine Gun Kelly confirmed he is frequently targeted by haters who believe he doesn’t deserve the success he’s achieved, specifically by rock fans who have misconceptions about the amount of time he has been involved in their scene.
“It blows my mind, even in the the genre that I’m in, when people act like this is like some new thing,” he explained. “It blows my mind. You can literally look back 10 years ago at rock festivals, and my name is right there on the flyer. Like, we’ve always been in the culture. I’m super confused where this, like, ‘Oh he’s new to the scene’ [claims come from]. Like, fuck you. We’ve been here so long, defying boxes and genres and odds.”
