System Of A Down
Formed: 1995
From:
Los Angeles,
CA,
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Background
This Los Angeles, California, USA-based alternative metal band comprises three members of Armenian heritage, Serj Tankian (vocals), Daron Malakian (guitar) and Shavo Odadjian (bass), and John Dolmayan (drums). Tankian, Malakian and Odadjian first played together in 1993 as Soil, renaming themselves System Of A Down, from a poem by Malakian, in 1995. Recruiting drummer Dolmayan they built up a following on the southern California circuit with their explosive live act.
System was signed in 1997 and quickly released their self titled debut in 1998. They were taking metal to a political level with such titles as "P.L.U.C.K." ("Politically, Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers") and live favorite "War?." Their next release (Toxicity) went certified Platinum and took the band to yet another level.
System have left an impression on metal, being compared to the likes of Korn and The Deftones. Here is a quote out of Towe Pulse Mag.: "The band's songs are fueled with rebellion and protest. And its diverse music which blends metal, rap, hardcore, jazz and Middle-Eastern melodies expresses the need to stir up the great American melting pot and unite against prejudice and injustice."
Latest System Of A Down News
Below is our complete System Of A Down news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
Displaying records 161 - 180 of 252 1 2 ... 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Last
KCUF Prepare To Unleash Debut Album
KCUF, the new project of Crazy "White" Sean (Ex-GWAR roadie) and former Snot/Amen/Lo-Pro bassist John "Tumor" Fahnestock, will release their debut on February 21st via 313 Recordings/Corporate Punishment Records. The album titled 'Modern Primitive Punk' includes guest appearances from Shavo Odajian (System of a Down), Sid "DJ Starscream" Wilson (Skipknot) and James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn). Audio is available on from the band's MySpace page.
UPDATE: You can also check out the track "Bloodbath" (featuring Shavo of System of a Down on guitar and Tumor from Snot/Amen on Bass) on the Corporate Punishment Records Myspace page.
Sean says "KCUF was just a project I had in my head for a long time, and I hooked up with Tumor and T-Shirt (AKA Jeff Myers, also one a significant musical contributor to the record), and they helped bring it to life,”he says remembering how the project came together. “And from doing my Freakshow thing, I'd meet all the touring bands that come through Europe and a lot of them became friends, so I just asked them to be involved. A lot of people have called it a "side-project", or whatever, but it is what it is. It's just a record we made for fun, and asked some of our friends to come jam on."
The result is Modern Primitive Punk, a fiery punk-thrash explosion much more akin to the likes of DRI, SOD, and the Circle Jerks than the modern metal styles one would expect from such a collaboration.
According to Tumor, it comes as a result of growing up with a musically mixed background. " I can speak for myself that I really am not trying to appeal to any one genre. I grew up, and it’s safe to say the same for Sean, with both sides of the coin. I mean one minute I was headbanging to Judas Priest and the next I was worshipping bands like DRI, SOD or DEAD KENNEDYS."
Initial Ozzfest 2006 Tour Dates Released
The initial dates for Ozzfest 2006 have been announced. The tour dates are as follows:
Jul. 01 - San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
Jul. 02 - Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheater
Jul. 07 - Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
Jul. 08 - San Bernardino, CA @ Hyundai Pavilion
Jul. 14 - Kansas City, KS @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jul. 15 - St. Louis, MO @ UMB Bank Pavilion
Jul. 16 - Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Jul. 19 - Detroit, MI @ DTE Music Energy Center
Jul. 21 - Columbus, OH @ Germain Amphitheatre
Jul. 22 - East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Jul. 23 - Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
Jul. 26 - Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
Jul. 27 - Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Jul. 29 - New York, NY @ Randall's Island
Jul. 30 - Hartford, CA @ New England Dodge Music Center
Aug. 01 - Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
Aug. 04 - Camden, NJ @ Tweeter Center at The Waterfront
Aug. 05 - Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion
Aug. 06 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Virginia Beach
Aug. 09 - Raleigh, NC @ Alltel Pavilion
Aug. 13 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Sound Advice Amphiheatre
To recap, the official lineup for this year's Ozzfest is as follows:
Main Stage:
OZZY OSBOURNE (10 shows only)
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
DISTURBED
TBA**
HATEBREED
LACUNA COIL
**Major main-stage band to be announced on May 23
Second Stage:
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
ATREYU
UNEARTH
BLEEDING THROUGH
NORMA JEAN
Second Stage (rotating):
A LIFE ONCE LOST
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD
THE RED CHORD
FULL BLOWN CHAOS
WALLS OF JERICHO
ALL THAT REMAINS
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
Watch Buckethead & Friends' 'We Are One' Online
Buckethead is out with the video from his new single 'We Are One', featuring vocals from Serj Tankian of System of a Down, from Bucket's Tankian produced album 'Enter The Chicken'. You can watch it online at Buckethead's myspace.
Breaking News
Official Ozzfest 2006 Lineup Revealed
Here is the lineup for Ozzfest 2006 according to a posting on Ozzfest.com, a few hours prior to the previously announced 9 p.m. EST:
Main Stage:
Ozzy Osbourne
System of A Down
Disturbed
Hatebreed
Lacuna Coil
Second Stage:
Black Label Society
Atreyu
Unearth
Bleeding Through
Norma Jean
A Life Once Lost
Strapping Young Lad
The Red Chord
Full Blown Chaos
Walls of Jericho
All That Remains
Between The Buried and Me
A major mainstage act is also said to be announced on May 23rd. There's much speculation of this being Metallica, although their record label and the band have denied those rumors. The full press release posted on Ozzfest.com follows. More...
New System of a Down Video Posted Online
System Of A Down's video for their track "Lonely Day" has premiered online, you can check it out at www.systemofadown.com. The band are expected to make a "big announcement" on Monday, with current rumors pointing to it being their involvement with this years "Ozzfest" run.
Just For Fun
Antimusic.com Has Fun With Ozzfest Rumors
With all the rumors going around about the bands on Ozzfest, Antimusic.com thought it would be fun to look at some of the latest rumors:
Guns N' Roses - We now know that Axl and company are making the rounds at European festivals this Spring but will they headline Ozzfest? It could happen but then again they could easily sellout the same venues on their own and keep all the cash instead of sharing with Sharon.
AC/DC - Given that Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, two bands that do well on their own, have done the tour in the past it's not too crazy to think of AC/DC heading the fest but again they might be better off on their own.
Korn - Since they aren't drawing like they used to on their own this might make be a good fit.
Alice in Chains - Judas Priest used Ozzfest for their comeback but a Layne-less AIC might not attract enough $$ for Sharon.
System of a Down - Given how much they love greedy capitalist like Sharon, who knows?
Body Count - Ice T supposedly told a radio DJ that they are doing it. Would be kind of cool to have a credible rap rock band on the tour for a change.
Tool - would be cool but they are supposed to have some conflicting summer gigs already in the can.
Metallica - management killed this rumor. Maybe they will team up with Guns N Roses again and do stadiums? Hey we can start rumors too, just look at the next section!
Since rumors are so fun, we're gonna start our own. Sharon wants to expand Ozzfest's reach and wants to sell as many tickets as possible so what about these bookings? Backstreet Boys, 50 Cent and Britney Spears. Think it's a stretch? Sharon did put Crazy Town on the main stage one year and let's not forget about Linkin Park and Adema.
Metallica, System of a Down Rumored For Ozzfest 06
METALLICA and SYSTEM OF A DOWN are strongly rumored to have secured the "headliner" and "special guest" slots at this year's Ozzfest, according to BLABBERMOUTH.NET, citing "industry insiders."
Although no bands have been officially announced for this year's festival, DISTURBED frontman David Draiman revealed during an appearance on the Seattle station 99.9 KISW in January that his band will be appearing on this summer's Ozzfest. Meanwhile, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's booking agent recently told Billboard magazine that Zakk Wylde and Co. have also been confirmed for this year's trek. UNEARTH guitarist Ken Susi told the Alternative Press on Feb. 14 that his band will be one of the rotating headliners on the second stage of Ozzfest 2006, while Jesse Hayes of the Cleveland radio station WMMS 100.7 FM announced last month during his daily "Buzzard Rock Report" segment that BODY COUNT — the heavy metal band fronted by rapper/actor Ice T — will be performing at this year's traveling festival. BLEEDING THROUGH frontman Brandon Schieppati reportedly revealed at the conclusion of the band's performance at Neumo's in Seattle, Washington Sunday night (Feb. 19) that they will be taking part in Ozzfest 2006. Additional offers to play the tour have been extended to AVENGED SEVENFOLD and ATREYU, according to recently published interviews with both artists.
The Ozzfest organizers are expected to announce the official lineup for this year's festival sometime in March.
SOAD Not Worried About Government Pressure
Launch Radio Networks reports: With the controversy growing over George W. Bush's possibly illegal wiretapping of U.S. citizens, it is not too far-fetched to imagine politically outspoken artists such as SYSTEM OF A DOWN being seen as enemies of the state. But SYSTEM vocalist Serj Tankian says he's not particularly worried about the government trying to silence his band. "People always ask us this question — are you pressured in any way, or are you threatened in any way by an intelligence agency or certain organizations?" he said. "And I would say, well, if someone wanted to kill us, they could, you know. I mean, it's not that hard. I think the pressure that I see that we receive is based on commercial ways of doing things, the channels and the way that the machine goes. Those are the pressures that you get."
Tankian and AUDIOSLAVE guitarist Tom Morello kick off a new season of their monthly radio program, Axis Of Justice, tonight (Friday, January 13) with an appearance by famed political writer and activist Noam Chomsky. Information on where to hear Axis Of Justice can be found at axisofjustice.org. A recording of the show will also be archived at the site.
The radio program is an offshoot of Axis Of Justice, a non-profit organization formed by Morello and Tankian to bring together musicians, fans, and grassroots political groups to fight for social justice, peace and human rights.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN has yet to announce 2006 tour plans in support of last year's two album releases, "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize".
Axis of Justice Launches 2006 With Noam Chomsky
The Axis of Justice Radio Network, the monthly radio program hosted by Tom Morello (Audioslave) and Serj Tankian (System of a Down), will launch its 2006 season with a very special show set to air Friday, January 13. Morello and Tankian will welcome Noam Chomsky, the famed scholar, political activist and libertarian socialist. The Axis of Justice Radio Network can be heard on KPFK in Los Angeles (90.7 FM) and in Santa Barbara (98.7 FM) at 7:00PM, online at www.kpfk.org, and on XM Satellite Radio on XM channel 53. The show will also be archived at axisofjustice.org.
The interview was conducted and taped in December and over the course of the one-hour program, Chomsky discusses subjects such as Iraq, propaganda, American activism, the international labor movement, and hope for the future. When Chomsky was asked "what gives you hope for the future", he
responded, "What gives me hope is people like you, and your listeners. In fact, the general population of the United States." He goes on to say how, despite right-wing politicians and a massive campaign to shift American values to the right, Americans maintain startlingly progressive, humane values.
AXIS OF JUSTICE is a non-profit organization formed by Morello and Tankian. Its purpose is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice together. AXIS OF JUSTICE aims to build a bridge between fans of music around the world and local political organizations to effectively organize around issues of peace, human rights, and economic justice.
SOAD, Mudvayne, Slipknot Among Grammy Nominees
SYSTEM OF A DOWN, AUDIOSLAVE, NINE INCH NAILS, MUDVAYNE, SHADOWS FALL and SLIPKNOT are among the nominees for the 48th annual Grammy Awards, set to be broadcast live on CBS from Los Angeles' Staples Center on February 8, 2006. The nominees in the "Hard Rock" and "Metal" categories are as follows:
Hard Rock Performance:
AUDIOSLAVE - "Doesn't Remind Me"
NINE INCH NAILS - "The Hand That Feeds"
ROBERT PLANT - "Tin Pan Valley"
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - "Little Sister"
SYSTEM OF A DOWN - "B.Y.O.B."
Metal Performance:
MINISTRY - "The Great Satan"
MUDVAYNE - "Determined"
RAMMSTEIN - "Mein Teil"
SHADOWS FALL - "What Drives the Weak"
SLIPKNOT - "Before I Forget"
Close-Up Magazine Announce Top Albums Of The Year
A total of 30 metal, rock and punk writers at Sweden's Close–Up magazine have voted in the magazine's annual critics' album-of-the-year poll. The final results were as follows:
01. SYSTEM OF A DOWN – "Mezmerize"
02. OPETH – "Ghost Reveries"
03. NINE INCH NAILS – "With Teeth"
04. THE MARS VOLTA – "Frances the Mute"
05. MUNICIPAL WASTE – "Hazardous Mutation"
06. TURBONEGRO – "Party Animals"
07. NILE – "Annihilation of the Wicked"
08. HELLACOPTERS – "Rock & Roll Is Dead"
09. NEVERMORE – "This Godless Endeavor"
10. BLINDSIDE – "The Great Depression"
11. CANDLEMASS – "Candlemass"
12. DARK FUNERAL – "Attera Totus Sanctus"
13. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – "Lullabies to Paralyze"
14. ANNIHILATION TIME – "II"
15. BIG BUSINESS – "Head for the Shallow"
16. STATIC–X – "Start a War"
17. CROWBAR – "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden"
18. HYPOCRISY – "Virus"
19. PORCUPINE TREE – "Deadwing"
20. DOZER – "Through the Eyes of Heathens"
For more information on Close-Up, visit www.closeupmagazine.net.
SOAD Guitarist Looks Towards Electronic Music
Launch Radio Networks reports: Will SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist Daron Malakian's next stop be electronic music? Malakian told Launch that the other writing he's been doing lately includes electronic material, though he said he hopes it will be as fresh to that genre as SYSTEM OF A DOWN's music is to rock. "I'm probably gonna do some electronic music," he said. "That's really where I'm going right now with some stuff. I don't know — I'm still kind of, like, developing it, I'm still kinda...It won't be typical, I guess (chuckles). It's not gonna be your, like, you know, normal techno beat. It'll be somewhat experimental."
Malakian would not predict when he might release any of his electronic music for public consumption.
System of a Down Debut At #1 Twice in 2005
With first-week sales of Hypnotize coming it at over 320,000, System of a Down have pulled off two Billboard albums chart #1 debuts in 2005. Other bands to do this include the Beatles, who did it five times (though they had anthologies and collections, not two studio LPs, in the mix) and DMX in 1998. According to the latest SoundScan figures, Hypnotize gives System of a Down the third #1 debut of its decade-long career. SOAD bumped pop icon Madonna from Billboard's top spot.
Buckethead Video Featuring Serj Tankian Online Now
The video for "We Are One" featuring Serj Tankian of SYSTEM OF A DOWN and BUCKETHEAD is now available for repeated viewing on UGO. Go check it out here.
NIN, SOAD, Korn, A7X on Almost Acoustic Christmas
NINE INCH NAILS, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, KORN, THRICE, FALLOUT BOY, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and RISE AGAINST have been confirmed for KROQ/106.7 FM's annual Almost Acoustic Christmas, set to take place at Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk, California on Dec. 10. Tickets go on sale at 6 p.m. Monday. Check kroq.com for updates and more information.
MTV.com To Stream SoaD's "Hypnotize" Album
Beginning the afternoon of November 15th, MTV.com and MTV2.com will be exclusively streaming the new System of a Down album, "Hypnotize," in its entirety until its release on November 22nd.
Buckethead's 'We Are One' Video w/ Serj Online
Buckethead is out with the video to his latest single 'We Are One', featuring System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian. You can watch it online at Yahoo! Music.
Buckethead On Tour
BUCKETHEAD set off on October 21 on the 'Disneyworld To Disneyland Tour' at The Social in Orlando, FL, wrapping up November 22 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. The 24-city trek will stretch coast to coast with stops in all major markets including Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and more.
On the road, the masked mystery man known for the fried chicken bucket he wears on his head will be joined by Dan Monti (bass, programming) and Pinchface (drums). Together they will perform various Buckethead favorites as well as instrumental versions of tracks from the upcoming Buckethead & Friends release Enter The Chicken, due October 25 on Serjical Strike Records, the label fronted by Serj of System of a Down.
Remaining tour dates are as follows: More...
Watch System of a Down's Video For "Hypnotize"
System of a Down's new video for "Hypnotize" from their upcoming same-named album is available for viewing on MTV.com. "Hypnotize" will be in stores November 22 through American/Columbia. The album art for "Hypnotize" can be viewed here.
If you have trouble with the direct video link above, try this link instead. The video should show up in a popup, which may require that you whitelist MTV.com or disable your popup blocker to view it. At the time of this posting, Hypnotize is not showing up on SOAD's band page video listings.
'Masters Of Horror' Soundtrack Listening Party
AOL Music is hosting an online listening party for new two-disc soundtrack for the upcoming Showtime 'Masters Of Horror' series, released today (Tuesday, October 18). The double disc features music from Mudvayne, Funeral For A Friend, Andrew WK, Shadows Fall, Buckethead featuring Serj Tankian, Matchbook Romance, and many more. You can listen to the two albums in full at AOL.com (disc 1 / disc 2).
Displaying records 161 - 180 of 252 1 2 ... 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Last