System Of A Down
Biography
System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band that was formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. The current members are Serj Tankian on lead vocals and keyboards, Daron Malakian on vocals and guitar, Shavo Odadjian on bass, and John Dolmayan on drums. All four members are of Armenian descent. The band's original drummer was Andy Khachaturian, who was replaced by Dolmayan in 1997 due to a hand injury.
Formation and Early Years
The roots of the band trace back to 1992 when Tankian and Malakian, who attended the same Armenian-American school as children, met while working at the same recording studio. They formed a band called Soil, which included bassist Dave Hakopyan and drummer Domingo Laranio. Shavo Odadjian, another alumnus of their school, initially managed the band and later joined as a second guitarist. After Soil disbanded, Tankian, Malakian, and Odadjian formed a new group. They named it System of a Down, adapted from a poem by Malakian called "Victims of a Down." Odadjian suggested the change to "System" to appeal to a broader audience and to be alphabetically shelved closer to their idols, Slayer. The band soon recruited drummer Andy Khachaturian.
Rise to Fame and Mainstream Success
System of a Down quickly gained a strong following in Los Angeles through their energetic live performances. In 1997, they signed with American Recordings, led by producer Rick Rubin. The band released their self-titled debut album in June 1998. Singles like "Sugar" and "Spiders" gained significant radio play, and the band toured extensively, including a spot on the Ozzfest tour. Their major breakthrough came with their second album, "Toxicity," released in September 2001. This album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and featured hit singles like "Chop Suey!," "Toxicity," and "Aerials," catapulting the band to international fame. The album was a critical and commercial success, eventually achieving multi-platinum status.
Mezmerize, Hypnotize, and Hiatus
In 2005, the band released a double album in two parts: "Mezmerize" in May and "Hypnotize" in November. Both albums debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making System of a Down one of the few bands to achieve this feat in the same year. The single "B.Y.O.B." (Bring Your Own Bombs) from "Mezmerize" won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006. Following their immense success, the band announced a hiatus in May 2006, citing the need for a break after more than a decade of continuous work. During the hiatus, members pursued solo projects. Serj Tankian released several solo albums, while Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan formed the band Scars on Broadway.
Reunion and Recent Activity
The band reunited in 2010 for a series of live performances. Despite touring regularly, internal disagreements, particularly between Tankian and Malakian over creative control and direction, have prevented them from recording a new album. In November 2020, after a 15-year silence on new music, the band released two new songs, "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz." The proceeds from these tracks were donated to aid those affected by the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. While the band continues to perform live, they remain on a "musical hiatus" with no immediate plans for a new album.