System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian [ tickets ] is gearing up for the release of his debut solo album, which he'll support with tours of North America and Europe beginning next month.

The rocker will start in Chicago Oct. 12 and visit clubs and theaters in major markets all over the US, as well as Toronto, through the end of the month. In November, he'll join the Foo Fighters for a run of European arena shows. North American dates are listed below.

Tankian's self-produced solo set, "Elect the Dead," is scheduled to drop Oct. 23. The album's first single, "Empty Walls," hits radio this week, with the video premiering on MySpace tomorrow (9/12).

Another album track, "The Unthinking Majority," is currently streaming at Tankian's website and MySpace page to make a political point.

"'The Unthinking Majority' is a song that I needed to release now, before my record or single comes out, to make a statement about the current catastrophe of our failing democracy," the singer said in a statement. "It is unlike any other song on my solo record and meant to inspire collective action."

Tankian said the album comprises political songs, funny songs and love songs, as well as tunes about painful experiences, vanity and the environment.

"It has a deep melancholy that runs from the personal to the global, with a glimmer of hope in the solidarity of spirit," he explained.

Tankian plays most of the instruments on the set, though he was joined by guest drummers John Dolmayan (System of a Down) and Brian "Brain" Mantia (Primus).