What Happened to System of a Down? All about Members of System of a Down
by Kavitha
Updated Aug 31, 2023
What Happened to System of a Down?
After achieving significant commercial success and critical acclaim with their unique blend of heavy metal and socially conscious lyrics, System of a Down, often abbreviated as SOAD, went on a hiatus in 2006. The band members cited creative differences and personal pursuits as reasons for this break. During the hiatus, the band members pursued various solo projects and explored their individual musical interests.
However, the band's hiatus did not last indefinitely. System of a Down reunited in 2010 for a series of tour dates and festival appearances, reigniting the excitement among fans. Despite their reunion, the band faced challenges in terms of producing new music. While they released two new songs, "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz," in 2020, these tracks were aimed at raising awareness and funds for the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and not part of a larger album release.
The lack of a full-length record since their 2005 albums "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" has left fans eagerly anticipating a new album from the band. The members of System of a Down have indicated that they have struggled to find common ground creatively and logistically, which has contributed to the delay in releasing a new album. Both Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian, the primary songwriters of the band, have expressed differing opinions on the direction the music should take, which has added to the complexity of their situation.
Despite these challenges, the band's legacy remains strong. Their earlier albums continue to resonate with fans, and their impact on the heavy metal and alternative music scenes is undeniable. System of a Down's activism and commitment to raising awareness about social and political issues, particularly those affecting Armenia and its people, have also contributed to their lasting influence.
System of a Down went on a hiatus in 2006 due to creative differences and personal pursuits among the band members. While they reunited in 2010 for performances and even released two new songs in 2020, they have not released a full-length album since 2005. The band's legacy and impact on the music industry, coupled with their activism, continue to make them an iconic and respected presence in the world of music. Fans remain hopeful for the possibility of new music from the band in the future, although no official announcements have been made.
Members of System of a Down 2023
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian, born August 21, 1967, is an Armenian-American musician renowned as the lead vocalist, lyricist, and keyboardist of heavy metal band System of a Down. With the band, he's released five albums. Tankian also boasts a solo career, delivering five albums and collaborating with artists like Tech N9ne and Arto Tunçboyacıyan. He's recognized for his distinct vocals and extensive range, ranked 26th on Hit Parader's "Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists." Beyond music, he co-founded Axis of Justice for activism and was honored with Armenia's Prime Minister's Medal for his work on Armenian genocide recognition and music advancement.
Full Name
Serj Tankian
Date of Birth
August 21, 1967
Nationality
Armenian-American
Role
Lead Vocalist, Lyricist, Keyboardist
Notable Work
System of a Down's Five Albums, Five Solo Albums
Accolades
Ranked 26th on Hit Parader's "Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists"
Activism
Co-founded Axis of Justice
Specifications
Details
Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian, born July 18, 1975, is an American musician with Armenian heritage. He's famed as the guitarist, songwriter, and secondary vocalist for metal band System of a Down, and as lead vocalist, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist for Scars on Broadway. Renowned for his unique guitar work, he's ranked 47th on Loudwire's "Top 50 Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists of All Time" and 11th in MusicRadar's "The 20 Greatest Metal Guitarists Ever." Malakian is the sole U.S.-born member of System of a Down, as the others are Armenian immigrants. He holds a notable position among heavy metal guitarists worldwide.
Specifications
Details
Full Name
Daron Malakian
Date of Birth
July 18, 1975
Nationality
American (Armenian Heritage)
Role
Guitarist, Songwriter, Secondary Vocalist
Bands
System of a Down, Scars on Broadway
Shavo Odadjian
Armenian-American musician Shavo Odadjian, born April 22, 1974, is renowned as the bassist for heavy metal band System of a Down. He's also a member of the trap group North Kingsley. During the band's hiatus (2006-2010), he collaborated with RZA on the project AcHoZeN, contributing to the Babylon A.D. movie. He's credited for musical scoring of the film alongside RZA and Hans Zimmer. Odadjian's diverse musical involvement spans across metal, trap, and film scoring, showcasing his versatility and creativity in various genres.
Specification
Details
Full Name
Shavo Odadjian
Date of Birth
April 22, 1974
Nationality
Armenian-American
Role
Bassist
Bands
System of a Down, North Kingsley
Collaboration
Collaborated with RZA on AcHoZeN and Babylon A.D. film scoring
Versatility
Active in Metal, Trap, and Film Scoring
Diverse Involvement
Showcases Musical Versatility and Creativity in Different Genres
John Dolmayan
Armenian-American musician John Dolmayan, born July 15, 1972, gained fame as System of a Down's drummer. He's also a drummer for Indicator and was previously with Scars on Broadway. Dolmayan is ranked 33rd in Loudwire's Top 200 Hard Rock + Metal Drummers of All Time list, showcasing his prominent role in the music industry.
Specification
Details
Full Name
John Dolmayan
Date of Birth
July 15, 1972
Nationality
Armenian-American
Role
Drummer
Bands
System of a Down, Indicator (Current), Scars on Broadway (Previous)
Drum Ranking
Ranked 33rd on Loudwire's Top 200 Hard Rock + Metal Drummers of All Time List
History of System of Down
Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian, both attendees of Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, formed a band named Soil with other members, later joined by Shavo Odadjian. Renamed System of a Down, they released demos and signed with producer Rick Rubin.
The debut album "System of a Down" arrived in 1998, followed by the successful "Toxicity" in 2001. Their second album launch resulted in a riot due to overcrowding. "Toxicity" reached No. 1 and faced controversy around the 9/11 attacks. "Steal This Album!" emerged in 2002. Amidst tours and collaborations, the band's dynamic growth continued.
System of Down Awards
System of a Down has received recognition through numerous awards and nominations for their impactful contributions to the music industry. Among their notable awards are the following:
Year
Awards
Category
Result
1999
Kerrang! Awards
Best International Live Act
Winner
2002
Grammy Awards
Best Metal Performance for "Chop Suey!"
Nominee
2003
Grammy Awards
Best Hard Rock Performance for "Aerials"
Nominee
2005
Kerrang! Awards
Best Alternative Metal Album for "Mezmerize"
Winner
2006
Grammy Awards
Best Hard Rock Performance for "B.Y.O.B."
Winner
2006
MTV Europe Music Awards
Best Alternative
Nominee
2006
ECHO Awards
Best International Rock/Alternative Group for "Mezmerize"
Winner
2006
mtvU Woodie Awards
Greatest Social Impact for "Question!"
Winner
2007
Grammy Awards
Best Hard Rock Performance for "Lonely Day"
Nominee
2015 Parajanov-Vartanov Institute Awards: Best Film for "Wake Up The Souls Tour" - Winner
These awards highlight the band's impact on alternative and hard rock music, as well as their ability to create socially impactful songs. Their innovative music and thought-provoking lyrics have earned them recognition and acclaim in various music industry circles.
What Happened to System of a Down? - FAQ
System of a Down went on hiatus in 2006 due to creative differences and personal pursuits among the band members.
System of a Down reunited in 2010 for a series of tour dates and festival appearances.
The band faced challenges in producing new music during their reunion due to creative and logistical differences among the members.
The songs "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz" released in 2020 aimed to raise awareness and funds for the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).
The members of System of a Down are Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass, backing vocals), and John Dolmayan (drums).