Serj Tankian: I'm not comfortable with just entertaining. Although I like entertaining, I also like bringing forward the truth of our times as minstrels used to in the old days.
Serj Tankian: I've had people come up to me with the strangest interpretations of what lyrics might mean, and I'm like, 'You go! I never thought of that, but that works,' ... I think true art is a universal reflection, and true artists are just messengers of that reflection - or, at best, skilled presenters.
Serj Tankian: People think our music's very aggressive or angry or whatever, and it's just the opposite, really, ... I like laughing. And I like being really calm before a show, and smiley.
(About the album Hypnotize) Shavo Odadjian: We wanted to start off really heavy.
Shavo Odadjian: We've all grown up not the same, but with very similar morals and values. We know how it is. We know not to talk about anyone's mother and sister
Serj Tankian: We first fought the heathens in the name of religion, then Communism, and now in the name of drugs and terrorism. Our excuses for global domination always change.
Serj Tankian: We’re artists for the sake of art.
Serj Tankian: Our music has always been critical, urgent and questioning, and that it still remains. Our expression is pure and natural in terms of where it comes from. I think that’s always better with art because, once you have something in mind and you try to achieve it, it becomes less pure in some ways. If you just let whatever expression there is come out—it might be socially viable, it might be political, romantic, humorous, a personal narrative, a philosophical thought, whatever it is—if it’s pure and it just comes out and you leave it that way, I think it’s more potent. I think it’s more real.
Serj Tankian: I like the dynamics of life,... I like it when it rains, and suddenly the sun comes out, and I like it when it's really silent and then a loud booming noise comes through. Or vice-versa.
Daron Malakian: I have no interest in murder, and I have no interest in people dying, ... But I'm interested in people's minds, and sometimes Manson puts thoughts together that I find really interesting. Have you ever seen his unedited videos? He starts making a lot of sense. I'm sure people are scared of that, but to me, it's scarier to watch George Bush try to make sense.
Serj Tankian: Civilization is a failure. We need to think what we can do together in love and peace.
Serj Tankian: I've had people come up to me with the strangest interpretations of what lyrics might mean, and I'm like, 'You go! I never thought of that, but that works,' ... I think true art is a universal reflection, and true artists are just messengers of that reflection - or, at best, skilled presenters.
Serj Tankian: Pretending that we live doesn't make us alive.
Daron Malakian: As for the group's political bite, there's no greater example than the recent single, B.Y.O.B ., inspired by a TV ad for the Army.] It glamorized going into the Army, ... It made it look like a party where everybody was going to have a good time.
Daron Malkian: We're misguided adults helping misguided teenagers.
'Mind' was in the movie 'Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2'
'Lonely Day' was in the movie 'Disturbia'
Daron has written the following all by himself: Radio/Video Violent Pornography Old School Hollywood
Daron wanted to learn drums, but his parents bought him a guitar so they can turn it off if necessary.
Daron's father Vartan Malakian, is a painter and a choreograph.
Daron placed 30th in Guitar World's List of "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists Of All Time". Daron has also been voted 4th best guitarist of the year by Metal Edge Magazine.
Shavo directs most of the System of a Down music videos.
Serj is a vegetarian.
'Shimmy' & 'Question!' were written entirely by Serj Tankian.
On the official website, a lot of the lyrics for 'Steal This Album!' are incorrect.
'Spiders' is believed by many fans to be about the V-Chip.
System of a Down made a movie called 'Screamers'. It is about the Armenian Genocide.
In an interview with MTV, Daron Malakian stated that the song 'Hypnotize' was written while he was actually sitting in his car waiting for his girlfriend.
B.Y.O.B stands for Bring Your Own Bombs.
In the album booklet, above the track number and the title, "P.L.U.C.K", there is a dedication which reads: "System of a Down would like to dedicate this song to the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Turkish Government in 1915." This also gives us a clue of what P.L.U.C.K is about
"Johnny" is a promo single released in 2001. It was available in stores for a short amount of time, but soon it was unavailable to buy. It was, though, in the Japanese and French releases of Toxicity
'Chop Suey!' was originally called 'Suicide' but they changed it but didnt get rid of 'Suicide' (Chop SueyCIDE)
There is a hidden track in "Toxicity". After 'Aerials' wait for 4 seconds and 'Arto' will start. It is a type of tribe music created by Arto Tun?boyacıyan
"Steal This Album!" is a reference to Abbie Hoffman's book named "Steal This Book".
SOAD's song A.D.D stands for american dream denial.
Their name comes from their idea/belief that if we don't act to change things for the better we will become less feeling and more cruel and animal like until the world is thrown into total chaos.
Two members of System of a Down were born in Lebanon and all are of Armenian heritage.
Singles: Sugar (1998), War? (1999), Spiders (1999), Chop Suey! (2001), Toxicity (2002), Aerials (2002), Boom! (2003), B.Y.O.B. (2005), Question! (2005), Hypnotize (2005), Lonely Day (2006), Kill Rock 'n Roll (2006).
The song Attack is about war.
The song “Needles” is about the singer sitting in a room with a needle in his hand because his tapeworm told him to.
The original name for the song “Chop Suey” was “Suicide”.
The album “Steal This Album!” is a reference to the Abbie Hoffman book “Steal This Book”.
Toxicity was released in 2001, and is said to be the most political album of that year.
“Steal This Album!” was released on 25th November, 2002 in the US, and a day later in the UK.
Daron was born in Glendale, California.
The song “Soil” is about a boy who shot himself because of personal issues.
Three members of the band attended Rose and Alex Pilibos’ Armenian School, which was founded in Hollywood in 1971.
The song “Holy Mountains” is about a range of mountains in Turkey, which the Armenians say are rightfully theirs. A reference is made in the song to “the river Aras”, which is the national border between Armenia and Turkey.
Serj is the oldest member of the band, born in 1967. John was born in 1973, Shavo in 1974 and Daron in 1975.
John Dolmayan is of Armenian descent.
Daron Malakian wrote both the music and lyrics to the song “Radio/Video” from the album “Mezmerize”.
John is left-handed, but he sets his drum kit up right-handed.
As a kid, music and comic books were John's two favorite things.
John Dolmayan (the drummer) is famous throughout the metal scene for his hi-hat to snare combo.
John Dolmayan's style of drumming has influenced a whole emerging generation of drummers. Many critics have called his style, which has attracted a significant portion of SOAD's audience, "schizophrenic", and it is generally agreed that his talent is a large part of SOAD's appeal.
Shavo is known to use these basses: Black Gibson Thunderbird IV (Main bass), Ibanez BTB1000 or BTB500, Music Man Sting Ray, Meatball Iron 8088 Pro Super Bass.
Shavo Odadjian started out as a guitarist, and says he plays guitar better than he does bass.
Shavo Odadjian made a cameo appearance in "Zoolander", as one of Hansel's friends.
Shavo Odadjian is a very popular DJ in the LA area.
Serj was very young when he moved to Los Angeles, California.
In his youth, Shavo Odadjian spent all his time skateboarding and listening to heavy metal and punk rock.
Serj Tankian is an avid supporter of the D.A.R.E. program, which helps with educating children on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.
Serj is currently trying to get Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
Serj Tankian has partnered with Tom Morello of Audioslave to create Axis of Justice, an activist organization aimed at motivating youth who are interest in politics.
Serj Tankian is a prominent activist, championing against violence and injustice.
Daron Malakian is now in the early stages of forming a new group - Scars on Broadway.
Daron Malakian is a collector of candles, Middle Eastern smoking devices, Persian rugs, instruments and skulls.
Daron Malakian lives in Glendale, California.
System contributed the song "Will They Die 4 You" (featuring Mase, Puffy, and Lil' Kim) to the soundtrack of "Chef Aid", episode 2-14 of "South Park".
System covered the Berlin song, "Metro" for the "Dracula 2000" Soundtrack.
When Serj plays guitar, he usually uses his bandmate Daron Malakian's old black Stratocaster, which can be seen in the "War?" video.
Serj is a vegetarian.
Serj produced and also appeared on "Enter the Chicken", the 2005 release by Buckethead & Friends.
System of a down singles for the album "Mezmerize" are: B.Y.O.B., Cigaro and Question!
The Song "ATWA" takes its name from a environmental organization founded by Charles Manson
Hypnotize has been released with the Singles Hypnotize and Lonely day.
system of a down's vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian and bassist Shavo Odadjian, are all originaly from the country of, Armenia.
The second part of System of a Down's new album Hypnotize is due for late fall 2005.
The current members of System of a Down are as follows: Serj Tankian - Vocals, Keyboards, Samples, Guitar Shavo Odadjian - Bass, Daron Malakian - Vocals, Guitar and John Dolmayan - Drums.
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