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SOADFans: Supremely Original And Delightful |
Posted by renae on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 07:06 PM
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S-O-A-D. What does that spell? No, it is not a typo, it’s the Supremely Original And Delightful band, System of a Down. Turn on the radio and the timbre of Serj Tankian’s shrill psychotic vocals, Daron Malakian’s erratic harmonies, and the infusion of decidedly non-Western melodies make their music unmistakable. Part of what makes System of a Down unique is their array of influences from which they draw, namely Black Sabbath, Slayer, Jaco Pastorias, The Beatles, Faith No More, Rage Against the Machine and most notably, Armenian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Folk Music.
All of the band members are of Armenian descent, with Serj and John having been born in Lebanon, and Shavo having been born in Armenia (incidentally, Cher is also of Armenian descent). Says Daron about the coincidence of their heritage, “We’re four Armenians, Armenians! What the f**k?!”. The band is definitely aware of their signature sound, and Shavo quips, “You can compare us to whatever you want. I don’t care. Comparisons and labels have no effect on this band. Fact is fact: We are who we are and they are who they are.” John adds, “I don’t think we sound like anybody else. I consider us System of a Down.”
Currently, they live near each other in the Los Angeles area, but originally all were from Hollywood. Serj, Daron and Shavo met at the same Armenian high school they attended, where Serj and Daron first formed the fledgling band Soil, which Shavo managed. In 1995, they abandoned their first project and started System of a Down with their current lineup of Serj Tankian on lead vocals, Shavo Odadjian on bass, Daron Malakian on guitar and vocals, and a new addition (they got rid of their original drummer, Andy Khatchadurian), John Dolmayan, on drums.
Since their discovery playing a show at the Viper Room in Hollywood, where they were spied be American Recordings producer and head, Rick Rubin, their music career skyrocketed. By September of 1997, they had signed with American Recordings and were touring with Slayer, and the group was playing at Ozzfest by 1998. To date, they released System of a Down (1998), Toxicity (2001), Steal This Album (2002), and Mezmerize (2005). Hypnotize (the other half of Mezmerize/Hypnotize set) is due out fall of 2005.
The band’s odd name came from a poem by Daron called “Victims of a Down”, but it was later decided that “system” was a better word than “Victim”. According to Serj, it was “…a better, stronger word, and it makes us into a ‘whole’, instead of the people in particular, it’s the society”, and so the moniker stuck.
System has agreed to be tight-lipped about their personal and private lives, but unfortunately, if you’re looking for a nice Armenian boy to bring home to Mom, SOAD is probably not the best place to look. Last known, Daron had a girlfriend (a model and his personal assistant/guitar tech), John had a girlfriend, and Shavo’s “thanks” in the liner notes of Mezmerize say “Phene, I love you”. It’s unclear whether he loves his aunt, sister or cat, but chances are, it’s his girlfriend. Despite their fame, most of the members are quite shy and prefer to stay out of the limelight. John (a comic book geek) especially despises the cameras. “If it was up to me” he says, “I wouldn’t even be in the videos. I only feel comfortable behind my drum set.”
In the past, Serj had been the primary writer of the lyrics and melodies, but on the new album(s) Daron has stepped into these shoes. Daron, whose biggest influence is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, says that he would like to write lyrics “as badass as ‘itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini’.” Serj, however, doesn’t mind, demurely stating “When someone writes the music and has the vision for it lyrically, you have to respect that, you have to let it happen. The important thing is the song, no matter who writes the music.”
System of a Down has positively used those intricately phased lyrics and their growing popularity as a podium from which to educate and encourage their listeners to hear something worth saying. Shavo says of their unconventional messages, “It’s time for the bands these kids are listening to deliver something deeper than just ‘let’s party’.”
System isn’t all talk (sing), though, and they definitely practice what they preach. The band has been working with the Armenian National Committee of America in hopes of getting the U.S. Government to recognize the extermination of approximately 1.5 million Armenians by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1915, which had impacted the families of all the members, and Serj formed Axis of Justice (with Tom Morello of Audioslave); a political activist organization.
Furthermore, Serj narrated a documentary “Armenia, a County under Blockade’, which they were all involved in, and all are supporters of Amnesty International, and were one of the first bands to join the USA Music for Human Rights Initiative. A little known, but deserving much lauding fact is that at the 2002 Ozzfest, and with the help of the band and the aforementioned organizations, a POW Tibetan nun named Phuntsog Nyidron was freed. They have donated over $20,000 to the Zoryan Institute of Canada to help with the education about the eradication of genocide as well. System is also involved in trying to banish mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws and loves to criticize the Bush administration. Says Serj, “our songs and themes range from political to social to daily angst to love to hate to dope.”
Not only concentrating on political issues, the band has other side projects as well. Shavo started the eatURmusic label, Serj started the Serjical Strike label, and John is currently touring with members of Powerman 5000 and Rob Zombie in Scum of the Earth.
Their efforts have not gone unrewarded, however, Esquire awarded them the 2005 Esky award for “Best Agitators”, and Toxicity had 4 top ten singles and has sold 4 million copies worldwide.
You Rock Revue
The Inland Empire's music and entertainment guide
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Comments
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cigarosmoker
14.10.05, 21:49
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fools. Daron has eaturmusic
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mrs.serjtankian_05
14.10.05, 22:56
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hey they didnt talk about serj having a someone. Does that mean he's single? Anways i didnt now Daron's girlfriend could play guitar.
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shavosofficiallover
15.10.05, 01:28
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so daorn and jessica are not going out anymore? yay!
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whosthemaniam
15.10.05, 01:39
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im with u cigarosmoker. they are idiots thats def. darons label. morons.
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SirLemming
15.10.05, 04:54
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"In the past, Serj had been the primary writer of the lyrics and melodies..." Strike one, you're out! As far as SOAD fans are concerned.
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Elcuchon
15.10.05, 06:50
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u're all right but perhaps u agree hat the toxicity/system of a down -songs written by serj ( and only by serj) had got an element that gave the songs the right " spice" --the new songs influenced by daron are different, a lot more melodic....thats a good way because daron is a very talented singer and guitarist but i miss the sense in some of the new songs...hhowever hypnotize iss gonna be good..
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weirdood99
15.10.05, 09:25
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"daron is a very talented singer" riiiiiight...
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Sqeek
15.10.05, 10:39
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uhm, i think shavo wrote their first single o.O
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guns
15.10.05, 11:35
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it says, " Daron had a girlfriend (a model and his personal assistant/guitar tech)" was Jessica his personal assistant/guitar tech?
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ArmenianPrincess
15.10.05, 14:54
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(they got rid of their original drummer, Andy Khatchadurian), heh heh what nice way to put it
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15.10.05, 15:13
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Andy Khatchadurian is the now the singer for apex theory another armenian band .. they are really good!
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AwE
15.10.05, 19:28
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nobody asked that lol
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Theinfectedangel
15.10.05, 19:56
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<FONT color=#00ff00>nice article...except for you kno...the mistakes...but i had fun reading it...
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renae
16.10.05, 01:19
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The paper was free, so I am happy, despite the mistakes.
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emilythestrange
16.10.05, 01:27
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lol i dont think jess is his guitar tech or assisstant. its that Kevin guy whos last name starts with Z
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LadyMarmalade
16.10.05, 11:37
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so...that means...Daron's going out with Kevin!? 0.o
j/k
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lanubez99
17.10.05, 09:46
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i don't like this jessica person...  daron should be mine!
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strike-x
19.10.05, 13:10
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lanubez99 aah, u daronfreakk you'll never get him ^^
hey is....ääääh....dont know, but u wont ^^
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