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 1 - 20 of 218 1 2 3 ... 10 11 Last
System Of A Down Comments On Facebook Meltdown
A series of posts appeared earlier today on Shavo Odadjian's Facebook profile calling out Serj Tankian for slowing down the process of a new System of a Down album.
System of a Down has now issued the following statement about the situation:
"Earlier today, Shavo posted a few statements on his personal Facebook page that do not reflect the sentiments of System Of A Down as a collective band. These were misleading statements that were made during a temporary state of bad judgment on his part alone.
"To be clear, the full band lineup of Serj, Daron, Shavo and John will be performing all scheduled tour dates. With respect to new SOAD music, although we have not agreed on a timetable for a new album, we all believe that having the four of us do it together is the way to be true to the band and our fans."
The original string of comments on Shavo's page follow:
ok..... Ill come clean.. Its not us(meaning Daron,John Or Shavo!! Its Sej, who doesn' want to do a new album!!!! so please stop harassing us about it!!! We are just waiting for SERJ! Now He might hate me for exposing the truth but i Had too.. Sorry folks!!! we're trying to get a new album out, its just not passing Serj's RULES! . Kinda funny, since we started the band and now he's holding us back!! I think we should should release another album again??? As for me.. I'm ready to release one with someone who wants to be the singer of SYSTEM. not soeome we have to beg to be a part of SYSTEM!! So with that in mind, what do you guys w should do? Just remember, Hes been holding us back for 7 years so far.. wanna wait another $-5 years? or shall we release a record without Serj? u tell us?????More...
George Lynch Filming New Documentary
Rock legend George Lynch and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Mark McLaughlin have been working on a great documentary that is nearing completion. But they need your help, via their indiegogo page. "Shadowtrain: Under a Crooked Sky" will illuminate the cost of the destruction of the Native American community; to both the indigenous population as well as to their European conquerors.
The documentary will reveal the qualities inherent in indigenous people’s world views that should be recognized and adopted if we all, collectively, intend to not only survive, but to find a way to live happier, more meaningful lives. While engaging a wide variety of opinions from notable activists, authors, artists, elders and shaman, politicians and government officials, clergy, teachers and everyday people, the film will reveal its message through a powerful music-driven road trip.
The journey begins as renowned guitarist George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), drummer, artist and activist Vinnie Nicastro and a musical band of politically engaged musicians climb into an old station wagon in the southwest desert. They pull a vintage horse trailer, retro-fitted to carry band equipment, solar panels, generators and camping gear.
They travel the back roads, searching for a truth that can speak to power. They visit the Apache, Navajo and Hopi reservations in Arizona, Zuni and Tewa in New Mexico, Shoshone in Nevada, Utes in Utah and Colorado and then on to the Dakotas to visit the people and places that were (and still are) the epicenter of conflict between the native peoples and their European conquerors.
The film is set to feature interviews with Ted Nugent, System Of A Down singer Serj Tankian, Native American Poet and AIM spokesperson John Trudell, Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, Philospher and Activist Noam Chomsky and many others. Watch the trailer below.
Born Of Osiris Covers System Of A Down
Born of Osiris has posted a lyric video online for the band's cover of "Science," originally taken from System of a Down's "Toxicity" album. Check out the song in the video clip available below.
You can also catch Born of Osiris live on this year's edition of the Van's Warped tour. Full details on the tour are available at this location.
Serj Tankian Posts New Lyric Video
Serj Tankian has revealed the cover art for his new album, "Harakiri," which comes out July 10th. The artwork can be viewed after the jump. Serj Tankian has also now released a lyric video for new single "Figure It Out," available below.
"Harakiri" is now available for pre-order at Serj's webstore. Fans can advance order the album or pick up a limited edition "Harakiri" album bundle which includes a 18' x 24' lithograph poster, download of two bonus tracks (to be delivered on 7/10) and a CD. Both pre-orders come with an instant download of the new single, "Figure It Out." $2 from the sale of each pre-order will be donated to a non-profit organization to fight global hunger.
Last week, it was announced that Serj and the rest of his bandmates in System of a Down will be performing a handful of dates in August. Dates are as follows:
08/02 Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Bank Center
08/04 Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
08/05 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
08/07 Washington, DC - Verizon Center Arena
08/09 Boston, MA - Comcast Center
08/11 Montreal, QC - Heavy Metal Festival Parterre @ Parc Jean Drapeau
08/12 Toronto, ON - Heavy Metal Festival Downsview Park
08/14 Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Amphitheater
08/15 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena More...
Heavy MTL Fest 2012 Lineup Announced
The organizers of the Heavy MTL festival have now announced the lineup for the 2012 edition, which will take place on August 11th and 12th in Montreal. Further details on the festival are available here, and the currently announced lineup is as follows:
Saturday August 11th
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
CANNIBAL CORPSE
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
JOB FOR A COWBOY
KATAKLYSM
PERIPHERY
THE FACELESS
VEIL OF MAYA
GOATWHORE
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE
ROSE FUNERAL
ORIGIN
EXHUMED More...
More Bands Confirmed For Soundwave Festival 2012
Although it wasn't expected until December, the organizers of Australia's Soundwave Festival have made their second band announcement. Joining the 60 bands already announced are Staind, Wednesday 13, Unearth, Cathedral, Shadows Fall, Heaven Shall Burn, Your Demise, Kittie, and 14 other (mostly non-metal) bands.
Hole has pulled out of the festival after frontwoman Courtney Love refused to play before Limp Bizkit. Soundwave boss AJ Maddah said on Twitter that he was "relieved we got the moody old cow off the bill. [There’s] no point talking her back, only for her to cancel later, or turn up & act like a rotten twat to other artists, fans, etc."
A third announcement in early December will add another five bands to the lineup, and Danzig is one of the confirmed possibilities. More...
Soundwave 2012 Lineup Announced
Organizers of the Australian Soundwave Festival have made the first official lineup announcement. Joining the reformed Coal Chamber as previously reported will be headline acts System Of A Down, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Marilyn Manson, Machine Head, Lamb Of God and Trivium as well as 53 other bands.
Bands of particular interest to metal fans include Devin Townsend Project, Dillinger Escape Plan, Black Label Society, Mastodon, Steel Panther, Meshuggah, Hatebreed, Biohazard, Dragonforce, Gojira, Kvelertak, Hellyeah, Chimaira, Watain, and Turisas.
A second announcement for the series of one day festivals is reportedly coming in December, with 88 bands expected to be included in the final billing. More...
Entire System Of A Down Concert Posted Online
High quality DVD style footage of System of a Down's June 5, 2011 performance at the Rock Am Ring festival in Nurburg, Germany has been made available for streaming, courtesy of Zildjian. You can view the concert spread across three parts in the players below.
New System Of A Down Live Footage Posted Online
Bootleg video footage has been posted online from System of a Down's first show in its ongoing reunion tour. You can view the band's setlist for the North American leg of its reunion tour at this location while checking out the band's performance of the song "Toxicity" in the player provided.
Setlist Revealed For System Of A Down Tour
The setlist has been revealed for System of a Down's reunion tour which kicked off recently in Canada and will reach multiple cities through North America before heading oversees into Europe. The setlist for the band's reunion tour is as follow, with six songs to alternate at each stop - based on fan voted selections.
1. Prison Song
2. B.Y.O.B.
3. Know
4. Needles
5. Deer Dance
6. Attack
7. Radio/Video
8. Hypnotize
9. Question!
10. Suggestions
11. Psycho
12. Chop Suey
13. Lonely Day
14. Soldier Side Interlude
15. Soldier Side
16. Kill Rock ‘n Roll
17. Lost in Hollywood
18. Forest
19. Science
20. Holy Mountains
21. Aerials
22. Tentative
23. Cigaro
24. Suite-Pee
25. War?
26. Toxicity
27. P.L.U.C.K.
28. Sartarabad
29. Sugar
System Of A Down Added To Rock In Rio 2011
Reunited nu-metal act System of a Down has announced that it will be participating in the forthcoming Rock In Rio festival. The 2011 edition of the event is set to take place between September 23 - October 2, 2011 in Olympic Park, Barra da Tijuca/Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Other notable acts scheduled to appear include;
METALLICA
MOTÖRHEAD
SLIPKNOT
SEPULTURA
GUNS N' ROSES
ANGRA
COHEED AND CAMBRIA
EVANESCENCE
System Of A Down Wants Fans To Choose Setlists
Reunited nu-metal act System Of A Down has revealed that it wants its fans to choose the setlist for a large portion of its upcoming reunion tour dates. The band has also revealed that one winner from each tour city will win a pair of tickets to his/her local show. They will also recieve a setlist from the show they attended, signed by all four members of the group. You can vote for your favourite songs at this location. The participating dates can be found in the list below.
May 10 - Edmonton, AB - Canada Rexall Place
May 12 - Vancouver, BC - Canada Rogers Arena
May 13 - Seattle, WA, USA - Key Arena
May 15 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
May 18 - Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
May 19 - Albuquerque, NM - Hard Rock Casino presents The Pavilion
May 21 - San Diego, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
May 22 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl
May 24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
May 25 - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
June 04 - Nürnberg, Germany - Rock in Park
June 05 - Nürburgring, Germany - Rock am Ring
June 06 - Paris, France - Omnisports de Bercy
June 08 - Paris, France - Omnisports de Bercy
June 09 - Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival
June 11 - Castle Donington, UK - Download Festival
June 13 - Nickelsdorf, Austria - Novarock
June 15 - Berlin, Germany - Wulheide
June 17 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Meltdown Festival
June 19 - Seinajoki, Finland - Provinssirock
June 21 - Moscow, Russia - Olympisky
Forty Three More Bands Confirmed For Download
The organisers of Britain's largest hard rock and heavy metal festival, Download, has confirmed a further forty three names for this year's event, including such big names as Children of Bodom and Biohazard. The festival will be held at the legendary Donington Castle in Leicestershire from June 10th-12th.
The lineup is now as follows:
Alice Cooper
All That Remains
Alter Bridge
Anti-Flag
Asking Alexandria
Avenged Sevenfold
Baptized In Blood
Bellligerence
Biohazard
Black Stone Cherry
Black Veil Brides
Blitz Kids
Bosshoss
Bowling For Soup
Bring Me The Horizon
Buckcherry
Bullet For My Valentine
Cheap Trick
Children Of Bodom
Chthonic
CKY
Clutch
Dan Reed
Danzig
Deaf Havana
Def Leppard
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows
Devil Wears Prada
Dio Disciples
Disturbed
Down
Duff McKagan's Loaded
Envy Of The State
Escape The Fate
FM
Framing Hanley
Frank Turner
Funeral For A Friend
Gaslight Anthem
Ghost
Gwar
Heights
Hollywood Undead
Hyro Da Hero
Illuminatus
Jameson Raid
Karma To Burn
Kellermench
Korn
Kverlatak
Letlive
Linkin Park
Lower Than Atlantis
Madina Lake
Malefice
Mr. Big
My Darkest Days
Oaf
October File
Pendulum
Plain White T’S,
Puddle Of Mudd
Rise To Remain
Rob Zombie
Rock Sugar
Royal Republic
Sacred Mother Tongue
Sevendust
Silverstein
Skeletal Damage
Skunk Anansie
Starseed
Straight Line Stitch
Suicide Silence
System Of A Down
T-34
The Cult
The Damned Things
The Dangerous Summer
The Darkness
The Dead Lay Waiting
The King Blues
The Morning After
The Pretty Reckless
The Rods
Thin Lizzy
Times Of Grace
Trash Talk
Trc
Turisas
Twisted Sister
Versamerge
Wayne Static
Yashin
Young Guns
Your Demise
Amon Amarth Covers System Of A Down
Audio has surfaced online of Amon Amarth's cover of the System of a Down track "Aerials." The track is featured as a "Surtur Rising" downloadable track on copies ordered through FYE stores in the United States. You can stream the track in the player below. "Surtur Rising" will arrive in stores on March 29, 2011 through Metal Blade Records.
Three More Bands Confirmed For Download 2011
The organizers of Britain's Download Festival has announced that three more bands have been confirmed for this year's event. The biggest announcement comes in the form of The Darkness, who have recently reunited and are expected to be releasing a new album by the end of the year.
Also confirmed for festival are Funeral For A Friend and Kverlatak. The event takes place at Donington Castle from June 10th - 12th and will feature the following lineup: More...
2011 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Nominees Revealed
The nominees have been revealed for the forthcoming edition of the Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards. The 2011 event is set to take place on Monday, June 13 in London, England. The list of nominees and the award categories can be viewed below. You can vote for the award nominees at this location.
Best International Band:
1. AVENGED SEVENFOLD
2. DIMMU BORGIR
3. STONE SOUR
4. CHILDREN OF BODOM
5. DOWN
Best U.K. Band:
1. IRON MAIDEN
2. BRING ME THE HORIZON
3. SKINDRED
4. ARCHITECTS
5. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Best Live Band:
1. CANCER BATS
2. DEVILDRIVER
3. ROB ZOMBIE
4. SKINDRED
5. MACHINE HEAD
Best New Band:
1. THE DEFILED
2. KVELERTAK
3. TESSERACT
4. THE DAMNED THINGS
5. LETLIVE
Best Underground:
1. WATAIN
2. KYLESA
3. PRIMORDIAL
4. THE DEAD LAY WAITING
5. CLUTCH
Best Breakthrough:
1. PARKWAY DRIVE
2. A DAY TO REMEMBER
3. SYLOSIS
4. SABATON
5. VOLBEAT
Shredder(s):
1. Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE)
2. Mark Tremonti (ALTER BRIDGE)
3. Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM)
4. Marc Rizzo (CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SOULFLY)
5. Synyster Gates (AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
Metal As Fuck:
1. SLAYER
2. BEHEMOTH
3. SLIPKNOT
4. Zakk Wylde
6. DEFTONES
Event Of The Year:
1. Rob Zombie's return
2. Manowar's return
3. System of a Down reforming
4. The "Big Four" U.K. announcement
5. "Beavis And Butthead"'s resurrection
System Of A Down Adds More Tour Dates
The newly reactivated System Of A Down has revealed that the band has added additional shows for both Los Angeles, California and San Diego, California to an upcoming North American tour. The newly announced dates will now run as follows:
05/10 Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
05/12 Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
05/13 Seattle, WA – Key Arena
05/15 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
05/18 Denver, CO – Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
05/19 Albuquerque, NM – Journal Pavilion
05/21 San Diego, CA – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
05/22 Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl
05/24 Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
Avenged Sevenfold To Headline Golden Gods Show
Orange County, California based hard rockers Avenged Sevenfold have been confirmed as the headliners for this year's edition of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which will take place on April 20th at the Nokia Centre in Los Angeles, California and will be televised by VH1 on May 28th.
Also performing at the show will be the original lineup of the Alice Cooper band, as well as Duff McKagen's Loaded, Devildriver, Asking Alexandria, Volbeat and Fozzy, who's lead singer Chris Jericho will also be hosting the event. Alice Cooper is also set to receive the eponymous Golden God award, while Motley Crue will be picking up the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award. The list of other nominees for the awards are as follows: More...
System Of A Down Announces North American Shows
The recently reunited System Of A Down has announced that they will be performing a small number of shows in North America before they head to Europe this Summer. A message from the band reads as follows:
"We're excited to announce a handful of North American headline shows before our trip to Europe this summer. Gogol Bordello will be joining us as special guests.
"The first group of dates is listed below, along with on-sale dates and ticketing information. Stay tuned to the newly launched SystemofaDown.com for more touring news, to follow very soon!"
The tour dates are as follows:
May 10th Edmonton, AL - Rexall Place
May 12th Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
May 13th Seattle, WA – Key Arena
May 15th Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
May 18th Denver, CO – Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
May 19th Albuquerque, NM – Journal Pavilion
May 22nd Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl
Serj Tankian Composing Theater Production Score
The Boston Herald is reporting that System of a Down's Serj Tankian is currently composing the score for an upcoming production of "Prometheus Bound." An excerpt from the article follows.
Serj Tankian has spent the past decade rocking the world with his quirky, politically charged brand of prog-metal as frontman of System of a Down.
But in recent years, the Lebanon-born musician has branched out, writing poetry, recording solo albums, working on social justice issues and composing orchestral pieces.
His latest venture brought him to Cambridge, where he’s composed the score for American Repertory Theater’s interpretation of the ancient Greek tragedy “Prometheus Bound.”
“Politically, I’m getting off on this project because it works with everything I’ve worked with . . . the edginess and the themes of injustice and tyranny and civilization and torture,” Tankian said during a break from rehearsals last week at the Harvard University-based theater’s space on Church Street. The production, which starts a five-week run Friday at Oberon in Harvard Square, tells the story of Prometheus, the mythical figure punished by the gods for giving fire to humans. Tony- and Grammy-winning playwright Steven Sater (“Spring Awakening”) reworked the play, bringing in Tankian and turning it into a modern rock opera.
“I guess I felt around me such a feeling of power-lessness and voicelessness . . . and a growing sense of tyranny around the world,” Sater said. “And I thought about ‘Prometheus Bound.’ It’s perhaps the most searing indictment of tyranny ever written and it was written right at the birth of Western democracy.”
Read the full article at Boston Herald.
