The band achieved commercial success with the release of five studio albums, three of which debuted at number one on theUSBillboard 200. System of a Down has been nominated for fourGrammy Awards, and their song "B.Y.O.B." won aGrammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006. The band went on hiatus in 2006 and reunited in 2010. Other than two new songs in 2020 ("Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz"),[2] System of a Down has not released any new material since theMezmerize andHypnotize albums in 2005. The band has sold over 12 million records worldwide, while two of their singles, "Aerials" and "Hypnotize", reached number one onBillboard'sAlternative Songs chart.
All members of System of a Down are ofArmenian descent, either born toArmenian immigrants or immigrants themselves.
History
Soil (1992–1994)
Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian attendedRose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School as children. Due to their eight-year age difference, they did not meet until 1992 while working on separate projects at the same recording studio.[3] They formed a band named Soil with Tankian on vocals and keyboards, Malakian on vocals and guitar, Dave Hakopyan (who later played in the bandThe Apex Theory/Mt. Helium) on bass and Domingo "Dingo" Laranio on drums. The band hired Shavo Odadjian (another Rose and Alex Pilibos alumnus) as manager, although he eventually joined Soil on second guitar. In 1994, after only one live show at the Roxy and one jam session recording, Hakopyan and Laranio left the band.
Demo tapes and signing (1994–1997)
After Soil split up, Tankian, Odadjian, and Malakian formed a new band, System of a Down. The group took its name from a poem that Malakian had written titled "Victims of a Down".[4] The word "victims" was changed to "system" because Odadjian believed that it would appeal to a much wider audience and also because the group wanted their records to be alphabetically shelved closer to their musical heroes,Slayer.[5] Odadjian switched from guitar to bass and passed on his managerial duties to Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group and its founder David "Beno" Benveniste.[6] The band recruited drummerOntronik "Andy" Khachaturian, an old school friend of Malakian and Odadjian who had played with Malakian in a band called Snowblind during their teens.[4]
In early 1995, System of a Down performed under the name Soil at the Cafe Club Fais Do-Do, a nightclub inLos Angeles. Shortly after the event, System of a Down made what is known asUntitled 1995 Demo Tape, which was not commercially released, but eventually appeared on file-sharing networks around the time of the band's success withToxicity about six years later.Demo Tape 2 was released in 1996. At the beginning of 1997, System of a Down recorded their final publicly released demo tape,Demo Tape 3. In mid-1997, drummer Khachaturian left the band because of a hand injury (he subsequently co-founded The Apex Theory, which included former Soil bassist Dave Hakopyan).[4] Khachaturian was replaced byJohn Dolmayan.
The band's first official and professionally recorded song was on a collection calledHay Enk ("We're Armenian" in English), anArmenian genocide recognition compilation in 1997. After playing at notable Hollywood clubs such as theWhisky a Go Go andViper Room, the band caught attention of producerRick Rubin, who asked them to keep in touch. Showing great interest, the group recordedDemo Tape 4 near the end of 1997, specifically to be sent torecord companies. Rubin signed the group to hisAmerican/Columbia Records, with the band celebrating the signing with a performance atThe Roxy Theatre withHuman Waste Project on September 12, 1997.[7] Afterward, System began laying down tracks that would eventually be released on their debut album with engineerSylvia Massy. "I loved them," Rubin recalled. "They were my favorite band, but I didn't think anyone was going to like them apart from a small, likeminded group of people like me who were crazy. No one was waiting for an Armenian heavy metal band. It had to be so good that it transcended all of that."[8]
In 1997, the group won the Best Signed Band Award from the Rock City Awards.[9]
Self-titled album (1998–2000)
In June 1998, System of a Down released their debut album,System of a Down. They enjoyed moderate success as their first singles "Sugar" and "Spiders" became radio favorites and the music videos for both songs were frequently aired onMTV. After the release of the album, the band toured extensively, opening forSlayer on theDiabolus in Musica tour, behindClutch, before making their way to the second stage ofOzzfest. Following Ozzfest, they toured withFear Factory andIncubus before headlining theSno-Core Tour withPuya,Mr. Bungle, The Cat andIncubus providing support.
In November 1998, System of a Down appeared onSouth Park'sChef Aid album, providing the music for the song "Will They Die 4 You?" Near the end of the song, Tankian can be heard saying, "Why must we kill our own kind?" a line that would later be used in the song "Boom!" Although System of a Down is credited on the album,South Park characterChef does not introduce them as he does most of the other artists featured on the record.[10]
Toxicity andSteal This Album! (2001–2003)
GuitaristDaron Malakian metSerj Tankian for the first time in 1992 before forming the band a couple of years later.
On September 3, 2001, System of a Down planned to launch their second album at a free concert in Hollywood as a "thank you" to fans. To a parking lot built for 3,500 people, about 10,000 more came, prompting thefire marshal to cancel without notice at the last minute. Fans waited for more than an hour for the group to appear, but when a banner hanging at the back of the stage that read "System of a Down" was removed by security, the audience rushed the stage, destroying all the band's touring gear (approximately $30,000 worth of equipment) and began to riot, throwing rocks at police, breaking windows, and knocking over portable toilets. The riot lasted six hours, during which six arrests were made. The band's manager, David "Beno" Benveniste, later said that the riot could have been avoided if the group had been permitted to perform or had they been allowed to make a statement at the concert regarding the cancellation. System of a Down's scheduled in-store performance the next day was cancelled to prevent a similar riot.[11][12]
The group's big break arrived when their second album,Toxicity, debuted at No. 1 on the American and Canadian charts. The album has eventually achieved 3xmulti-platinum certification in the United States.[13] It was still on top in America during the week of the9/11 attacks and the political environment caused by the attacks added to the controversy surrounding the album's hit single "Chop Suey!"; the song was taken off the radio as it contained politically sensitive lyrics according to the2001 Clear Channel memorandum at the time such as "I don't think you trust in my self-righteous suicide". Regardless, the video gained constant play on MTV as did the album's second single, "Toxicity". Even with the controversy surrounding "Chop Suey!" (which earned a Grammy nomination), System of a Down still received constant airplay in the United States throughout late 2001 and 2002 with "Toxicity" and "Aerials". In May 2006,VH1 listed "Toxicity" in the number 14 slot in the40 Greatest Metal Songs.
In 2001, the band went on tour withSlipknot throughout the United States. Following a performance in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Odadjian was allegedly harassed, ethnically intimidated, and was physically assaulted by security guards backstage, who then dragged him out of the venue. Odadjian received medical attention from police and later filed a suit against the security company.[14] Despite the incident, the tour was a success and System of a Down and Slipknot went on the Pledge of Allegiance Tour together withRammstein in 2001.
In late 2001, unreleased tracks from theToxicity sessions made their way onto the Internet.[15] This collection of tracks was dubbedToxicity II by fans. The group released a statement that the tracks were unfinished material and subsequently released the final versions of the songs as their third album,Steal This Album!, which was released in November 2002.Steal This Album! resembled a burnable CD that was marked with a felt-tip marker. About 50,000 special copies of the album with different CD designs were also released, each designed by a different member of the band. The name of the album is a reference toAbbie Hoffman's counter-culture book,Steal This Book, as well as a message to those who leaked the songs onto the Internet. The song "Innervision" was released as a promo single and received constant airplay on alternative radio. A video for "Boom!" was filmed with directorMichael Moore as a protest against theWar in Iraq.[16]
Mezmerize,Hypnotize, band hiatus and side projects (2004–2008)
Serj Tankian has gained a reputation for his large vocal range along with his unusual delivery.
In 2004, the group recorded the follow-up toSteal This Album! a double album, which they released in separate installments six months apart. The releases notably included album cover artwork by Malakian's father, Vartan Malakian, and were designed to connect the two separate album covers. The first album,Mezmerize, was released on May 17, 2005, to favorable reviews by critics. It debuted at No. 1 in the United States, Canada, Australia and all around the world, making it System of a Down's second No. 1 album.[17] First-week sales exceeded 800,000 copies worldwide. The lead single "B.Y.O.B.", which questions the integrity of military recruiting in America, worked its way up the Billboard Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, and would go on to win the2006 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.[18] "Question!" was released as the next single, with Shavo Odadjian co-directing the music video. Following the album's release, the band toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada withThe Mars Volta andBad Acid Trip supporting.[19]
The second part of the double album,Hypnotize, was released on November 22, 2005. LikeMezmerize, it debuted at No. 1 in the US. With this release, System of a Down joined The Beatles and rappers 2Pac and DMX as the fourth artist ever to have two studio albums debut at No. 1 in the same year.[20] "Hypnotize" was released as the lead single and was followed by "Lonely Day" and "Vicinity of Obscenity", all three of which were also released asEPs, including several B-sides from 1999 to 2000, such as a collaboration with theWu-Tang Clan, titled "Shame". "Kill Rock 'N Roll" was released as the final promotional single.[21]
Whereas on System of a Down's previous albums, most of the lyrics were written and sung by Tankian and the music was co-written by Tankian and Malakian (and sometimes Odadjian), much of the music and lyrics onMezmerize/Hypnotize were written by Malakian, who also took on a much more dominant role as vocalist on both albums, often leaving Tankian providing keyboards and backing vocals.
A biography of the band entitledSystem of a Down: Right Here in Hollywood, written byBen Myers, was published in May 2006, later being published in the U.S. in 2007 throughThe Disinformation Company. Additionally in 2006, concert footage and interviews with the band concerning the importance of helping create awareness and recognition of theArmenian genocide were featured in the filmScreamers, directed byCarla Garapedian. An interview with Tankian's grandfather, a survivor of the genocide, was also included in the film as well as Tankian's and Dolmayan's meeting with then-Speaker of the HouseDennis Hastert during which the two musicians campaigned for the United States government's official recognition of the genocide. Footage of Tankian and Dolmayan marching with protesters outside the Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C., was also used inScreamers.
In May 2006, the band announced they were going on hiatus. Malakian confirmed the break would probably last a few years, which Odadjian specified as a minimum of three years in an interview withGuitar magazine. He told MTV, "We're not breaking up. If that was the case, we wouldn't be doing this Ozzfest. We're going to take a very long break after Ozzfest and do our own things. We've done System for over ten years, and I think it's healthy to take some rest."[22] System of a Down's final performance before their separation took place on August 13, 2006, inWest Palm Beach, Florida. "Tonight will be the last show we play for a long time together," Malakian told the crowd during Sunday's last performance. "We'll be back. We just don't know when."[23]
The band members continued with their own projects; Malakian formed a band calledScars on Broadway, which was joined by Dolmayan. After oneself-titled album, the project became dormant and Dolmayan left the band. It released the long-awaited sophomore album in 2018, titledDictator, under the name "Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway". Dolmayan, alongside working with Scars on Broadway, formed his own band, Indicator.[24] Dolmayan has also opened Torpedo Comics, an online comic bookstore. Odadjian pursued his project withRZA ofWu-Tang Clan, a hip-hop group namedAcHoZeN, worked on his urSESSION website/record label and performed as a member of funk legendGeorge Clinton's backing band. Meanwhile, Tankian opted for a solo career and released his debut solo albumElect the Dead in the autumn of 2007.[25] He has continued releasing solo albums, recording them almost entirely by himself even after System of a Down had begun to reunite for tours.
Reunion and touring (2010–2020)
On November 29, 2010, following several weeks of Internet rumors, System of a Down officially announced that they would be reuniting for a string of large European festival dates in June 2011.[26] Among the announced tour dates included UK'sDownload Festival, Switzerland'sGreenfield Festival, Germany'sRock am Ring/Rock im Park, Sweden'sMetaltown, Austria'sNova Rock Festival and Finland'sProvinssirock.The reunion tour commenced on May 10, 2011, inEdmonton, Alberta.[27] System's first tour through Mexico and South America began on September 28, 2011, inMexico City, ending inSantiago, Chile on October 7, 2011.[28] From late February to early March 2012, they headlined five dates atSoundwave festival.[29] The band have continued playing around the world. On August 11 and 12, 2012, they played theHeavy MTL andHeavy T.O. music festivals in Montreal and Toronto respectively.[30] In August 2013, System of a Down played at the UK'sReading and Leeds Festivals, among other festivals and venues that year.[31]
System of a Down played their only 2013 U.S. performance at the Hollywood Bowl on July 29; tickets sold out hours after going on sale on March 22. On November 23, 2014, System of a Down announced theWake Up The Souls Tour to commemorate the 100th anniversary of theArmenian genocide. The tour included a free concert in Republic Square inYerevan, Armenia, on April 23, 2015, their first show in the country.[32]
In a November 2016 interview withKerrang!, drummer John Dolmayan revealed that System of a Down was working on more than a dozen songs for their follow-up to theMezmerize andHypnotize albums. Although he stated that the band does not know when the album will be released, he added that, "I want everyone on board and feeling good about it. That's what we're trying to accomplish right now. There's a tremendous amount of pressure on us, though, because it's been 11 years—at least 12 by the time it comes out."[33]
In a video Q&A session with fans on July 2, 2017, Shavo Odadjian was asked about the status of the next album and he responded, "I'm waiting for a new album too. It's not happening. I don't know. I don't know when it's gonna be. Not right now."[34] In a December 2017 interview withRolling Stone, Serj Tankian said that System of a Down wrote some new material but was uncertain of what to do with it. He then said that he doesn't want to commit to a new album due to the lack of committing to longform touring.[35]
Malakian singled Tankian out as the reason no new album had yet been released.[36] Tankian detailed his view of the band's past and present conflicts and their overall situation, saying, "As we couldn't see eye to eye on all these points we decided to put aside the idea of a record altogether for the time being."[37] Dolmayan blamed all of the members due to the personal and creative differences that have been preventing them from recording a new studio album.[38] Tankian also expressed uncertainty on whether the new album would be made or not but did not rule out the possibility. He went on to describe how he imagined the album sounding: "It's gotta be organic, it's gotta feel right in every way."[39]
Odadjian said that the band has material written from "like the last 10, 12 years", but expressed uncertainty on if it would form into a System of a Down album or not. He also said that Malakian and Tankian have visual differences on what the album should sound like, and that the band's inner tension had been building far longer than fans would be aware, despite having love and respect for one another nonetheless.[40] He would later say that there was no extant conflict between the members, expressing confidence that System of a Down would eventually record a new album and claimed that they have material written that would be their best to date.[41] Tankian denied any talk of the band recording a new album.[42]
Malakian explained that there was a mixture between the matter of different creative perspectives for the band's hesitation to record a new studio album and the lack of desire to tour. He did not dismiss a possible new album in the more distant future.[43] He felt that the fans don't care that the band wasn't making an album, "but I think a lot of the fans just want an album." He expressed hopes that the members would get together and record new music but was content with the direction of his bandScars on Broadway, noting the members' good friendship, "But at the same time, I don't see that happening anytime soon that we're all going to get together and make a new System of a Down album."[44] Malakian said that Tankian and the rest of the band members have been unable to come to an agreement over how to go about making new music, but insisted that there was no negativity between them.[45]
Despite System of a Down's ability to perform live, Odadjian expressed disappointment at their inability to record new music, explaining that there has been new material written by the other members in the form of a possible new album. Without Tankian's presence, no recordings had been made. He questioned why the band still has not made an album, citing creative differences as the problem.[46] With the lack of commitment to record new music, Tankian was open to releasing a collection of previously unreleased System of a Down songs from past recording sessions if his bandmates agreed.[47]
Dolmayan had started in 2014 a Kickstarter to fund a cover project, titled "These Grey Men", alongside friend James Hazley.[48][49] In 2020, he released the first single, a cover ofRadiohead's "Street Spirit", on January 23.[50]Avenged Sevenfold singerM. Shadows contributes vocals to the track;Tom Morello contributes the guitar solo at the song's close.[51] The second single features Tankian in a cover ofDavid Bowie's "Starman".[52] The album, titledThese Grey Men, was released on February 28, 2020.[53] It consists of covers/reimaginations of other songs by artists such as Radiohead, AFI, Madonna, and Talking Heads, among others.
With the differences concerning the band members, Dolmayan became uncertain in wanting to make new music anymore. Although he did not want to put Tankian and Malakian at fault for the band's inability to record a new album, he said, "It takes four people to make this band, and it takes four people to unmake it. I think that we're all to blame. I could just blame Daron and Serj, because, quite frankly, they're the primary songwriters, so it's easy to blame them. But it's not just their fault. A lot of it is their fault, but it's not just their fault."[54] In an interview, Dolmayan exclaimed that putting the band on hiatus was a grave mistake: "I never wanted System to take a hiatus. I think it was a disastrous move for us because we never reached our peak." Dolmayan believed that the band could have risen through the charts if they had just kept going.[55] On December 17, 2020, Serj Tankian announced in aRolling Stone interview that he would release an EP by the name ofElasticity under his own name. Tankian had planned to release the EP in October. Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, he released it in February 2021 instead. In the interview, he explained that the EP contains songs he had written for System of a Down that the band ultimately opted not to record.[56]
Artsakh benefit singles and possible sixth studio album (2020–present)
On November 5, 2020, in response to theSecond Nagorno-Karabakh War, System of a Down released their first songs in 15 years, "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz", both of which "speak of a dire and serious war being perpetrated upon our cultural homelands ofArtsakh andArmenia."[2][57] Music videos were made for both singles, and "Protect the Land" marks the band's first music video in 14 years, since "Lonely Day". Proceeds from the songs were to helpArmenia Fund and for humanitarian needs of displaced families from the war.[58][59]
As for a possible new album, Dolmayan toldRolling Stone, "If it was up to me, we'd have a new album every three years. But things aren't up to me. I'm at the mercy of my team, and although I fought for it for many years with band members, I've accepted that it is what it is. We do have five albums and [now] two songs. We've accomplished a lot in our careers. If it ends at that, so be it."[2] In the same interview, Malakian claimed that "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz" were originally going to be released under his own bandScars on Broadway. As the conflict came to fruition, System of a Down came back to release them instead.[2] Malakian also said he does not see the band making new music anytime soon, saying that the singles were a "one-off kind of thing".[60]Shavo Odadjian spoke withWall of Sound in a follow-up interview discussing the conception of the songs, stating, "It was amazing... Even though we have had our differences, when we're in there it's just like brothers making music together, like it all started."[61] When asked if the two songs had inspired a new era of creativity for System of a Down, Tankian said toTriple J in December 2020, "I don't know, because right now we're focused on what's going on in Armenia. There's a huge humanitarian catastrophe. We're still focused on raising funds, raising awareness about this. Time will tell whether this leads to something else or not."[62]
In January 2023, Dolmayan claimed that Tankian "hasn't really wanted to be in a band for a long time [...] and quite frankly, we probably should have parted ways around 2006. We tried to get together multiple times to make an album, but there were certain rules set in place that made it difficult to do so and maintain the integrity of what System of a Down stood for." Despite the major setback, he said the chemistry to play live together as a band is still great.[63] On May 14 of the same year, System of a Down hosted their only live performance of 2023 as co-headliners of the Sick New World festival inLas Vegas.[64]
In 2024, the band performed two gigs: in the former case, they made their second headline appearance in a row at Sick New World on April 27;[65][66] in the latter one, they co-headlined (together withDeftones) a standalone concert at theGolden Gate Park inSan Francisco, making it the first-ever ticketed concert to take place at the venue.[67][68]
In May 2024, Tankian revealed in hismemoir, "Down with the System," that back when System of a Down was on hiatus in 2005, he offered to step down and suggested the band find a new vocalist due to his back injury and disinterest in touring. Although the band did audition an unnamed singer without Tankian's knowledge, they discarded the idea and continued onward with their original vocalist.[69]
In February 2025, Malakian gave his thoughts about making a new System of a Down album.
"I'm proud of the records. I don't live with any regret of anything like that, but it would have been nice to see where the band would have evolved if we kept putting music out. If we put out an album now, it's just so far away from [Hypnotize andMezmerize], it doesn't continue the story to me. There was a time that [making a new System Of A Down record] might have been something I wanted. I'm not sure how much I want that anymore — I'm sure people won't be too happy to hear that from me. I'm not at the same place I was maybe 10 years ago."
System of a Down's lyrics are often oblique[71] ordadaist[71][72] and have discussed topics such as drug abuse,[71] politics[71][73] and suicide.[71] "Prison Song" criticizes theWar on Drugs[74] whereasRolling Stone describes "Roulette" as a "scared, wounded love letter".[75] "Boom!", among the band's most straightforward and unambiguous songs, lambastsglobalization and spending on bombs and armament.[76] Commenting on the track "I-E-A-I-A-I-O", drummer John Dolmayan said it was inspired by an encounter he had withKnight Rider's actorDavid Hasselhoff in a liquor store in Los Angeles when he was around 12.[77] OnMezmerize, "Cigaro" makes explicit references tophallic imagery[78] andbureaucracy[72] while "Violent Pornography" harshly views television[78] and degradation of women.[79] System of a Down's discontent toward the controversialIraq War arises in "B.Y.O.B.",[72][80] which is adouble entendre reference to beer and bombs,[81] containing the forthright lyric "Why don't presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?",[72][78][79] "Old School Hollywood" describes a celebrity baseball game.[79][82] On their album "Hypnotize", "Tentative" describeswar,[83][84] "Hypnotize" refers to theTiananmen Square events,[85][86] and "Lonely Day" describesangst.[82] The album titleSteal This Album! is a play on the bookSteal This Book byleft-wing political activistAbbie Hoffman.[76][87][88] System of a Down's firm commitment for theArmenian genocide to be recognized appears in two songs: "P.L.U.C.K." and "Holy Mountains", which rank among the band's most political songs.[84]
The band has used a wide range of instruments, such aselectric mandolins,baritone electric guitars,acoustic guitars,ouds,sitars, andtwelve string guitars.[121] According to Malakian, he would often write songs inE♭ tuning, which would later be changed todrop C tuning in order to be performed by the band.[117] Malakian states that "For me, the drop-C tuning is right down the center. It has enough of the clarity and the crisp sound—most of our riffy stuff is done on the top two strings, anyway—but it's also thicker and ballsier."[117]
In 2002,Jack Black performed a cover of "Chop Suey!" onChannel [V] Australia.[140] In an interview withStereogum, Tankian commented on various covers of "Chop Suey!", stating: "One of my favorite ones is Jack Black’s, when he just kind of makes shit up, and he’s so great."[141] In 2020, British music magazineKerrang! ranked "Chop Suey!" as the band's greatest song.[142]
In an interview withThe Ringer in 2021, Malakian commented on their future:
"We are four of the most different people that you’ll find for each other. Even the musical tastes have changed. Where some people want to see the band go is not necessarily where other people want to see the band go, so there are a lot of artistic differences. But we’re still friends. Our differences are within the band, and that has made it a little difficult to move forward when it comes to writing or playing new material together." – Daron Malakian[144]
In 2024, Tankian appeared on theBroken Record podcast and suggested that he would be open to the band continuing with a new lead singer.[145]
^Lancaster, Mike (March 28, 2003)."The Daron Malakian Interview". Glendale High School Newspaper-the Explosion. Archived fromthe original on July 16, 2011. RetrievedJuly 26, 2010.
^DeRogatis, Jim (September 14, 2001)."They're an Armenian band".The Chicago Tribune.Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. RetrievedApril 4, 2009.
^abcdDillon Collins (November 21, 2022)."SERJ TANKIAN Discusses His Varied Solo Career, Not Being Tied To One Genre Anymore".Metal Injection.Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. RetrievedNovember 23, 2022.From Depeche Mode to Radiohead, Tankian's tastes and influences on Perplex Cities venture into areas far removed from his heavy metal roots." Serj Tankian: "Yeah, definitely, I was into Depeche Mode and New Order and a lot of the kind of goth bands, goth pop type of bands as well Bauhaus. It definitely has all those elements that I like, and even Radiohead. Kind of a little of the Kid A starting Radiohead moments. There's a lot of that, but it's mostly experimentation and kind of this brooding attitude, but it becomes more intimate. Like there's something more intimate and something deeper about it than a lot of the rock songs that are very kind of upbeat and sung high and, you know, mighty and epic. There's kind of like the opposite effect here. And that's what I liked about it."
