Editing Serj Tankian (section)

===''Elect the Dead'', side projects, and guest appearances (2007–2009)===
[[File:Serj Tankian en concert durant la tournée Elect the Dead.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Tankian touring with his backing band, [[Flying Cunts of Chaos]], in 2008]]
Tankian's breakthrough as a solo artist came with the release of his debut record ''[[Elect the Dead]]''. The first singles from ''Elect the Dead'' are "[[The Unthinking Majority]]" and "[[Empty Walls]]". The music video "Feed Us" was released on the Swedish<ref>[http://www.mtv.se Swedish MTV]. MTV.se.</ref> and UK<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtv2/music/18102007/377636/hear_serj_tankians_album_here |title=MTV Rocks |publisher=MTV.co.uk |access-date=April 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201203518/http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtv2/music/18102007/377636/hear_serj_tankians_album_here |archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> MTV. A music video was directed and filmed for every song on the record, each by unique directors. Tankian explained, "I asked each of the directors for their visual interpretation of my work. They were asked not to write treatments and that they could make whatever they liked. The results have been overwhelmingly amazing!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=79584 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - SYSTEM OF A DOWN Frontman To Post Videos For Each Track On Forthcoming Solo Album |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=April 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606233015/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=79584 |archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref>

Three different promo versions of the album have surfaced to the public. The instrumental promotional version, issued by Serjical Strike/Reprise Records and intended for the music and movie industry, contains instrumental versions of the twelve album tracks. Another promotional version, issued by Reprise Records and made only for individual reviewers, features the album in final master form. This promotional CD-R, which was labeled "Smart Talk" as a codename for "Serj Tankian" to prevent leaking by unauthorized persons, also indicates that the album was finalized prior to {{Start date|2007|08|20}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/39153/2002058948060913209_rs.jpg |title=Webshots - Kilchurn Castle, Argyll and Bute, Scotland |access-date=December 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20101223002627/http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/39153/2002058948060913209_rs.jpg |archive-date=December 23, 2010 }}</ref>

The official tour for ''Elect the Dead'' commenced on October 12, 2007, with a show at Chicago's [[Vic Theatre]]. Roughly one thousand people attended the first concert. Although Tankian had stated he would not be performing any material by System of a Down, he performed "Charades" and "Blue", songs co-written by Daron Malakian, the guitarist of the band. "Blue" had previously appeared on their Fourth Demo Tape in 1998, and Charades was attempted during the 2005 ''Mezmerize''/''Hypnotize'' sessions, but never released (although a short video clip of Tankian and Dolmayan playing the song in a recording studio was featured on "the Making of ''Mezmerize''/''Hypnotize''"). Although it is originally a song restricted to piano and vocals, {{Anchor|The F.C.C.}}Tankian used his backing band, the [[Flying Cunts of Chaos]] (F.C.C.).<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 30, 2010|title=The F.C.C. Releases First Single|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-f-c-c-releases-first-single/|access-date=June 29, 2020|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]}}</ref>

Tankian is also politically involved. Together with [[Tom Morello]], he founded the organization [[Axis of Justice]] and often speaks publicly against violence and injustice in the world. Tankian released a new song "Fears" in November 2008 exclusively in support of [[Amnesty International]]'s Global Write-A-Thon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/musicforhumanrights/ |title=Music for Human Rights |publisher=Amnestyusa.org |access-date=April 14, 2010}}</ref>

In 2009, Tankian collaborated with the band [[Viza]] (previously known as Visa) for their track "Viktor".<ref name="VISA fansite.">{{cite web|url=http://www.visabandfans.com/Videos/display/videoid/18?name=News&file=article&sid=685&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |title=Serj Tankian &VISA |access-date=December 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717213951/http://www.visabandfans.com/Videos/display/videoid/18?name=News&file=article&sid=685&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref>