System of a Down Malfunctioning?
Launch Radio Networks reports: Despite repeated assurances that their forthcoming "hiatus" is not a break-up, SYSTEM OF A DOWN reportedly acted like a band on the brink at the opening day of this summer's Ozzfest last Thursday (June 29) in Auburn, Washington, about 30 miles from Seattle. According to MTV.com, the members of SYSTEM arrived at the venue in separate tour buses. Guitarist Daron Malakian "seemed to be struggling to keep up with the rest of the band" and improvised lyrics during the first few songs of their performance. During the song "Lonely Day", while looking at vocalist Serj Tankian, Malakian crooned, "Such a lonely day, hanging out with the band/ This motherf***er, I can't stand."
A source at SYSTEM's record label told Launch not to read all that much into last Thursday's events, adding that the members have traveled on separate buses for a while now. Malakian himself recently said that the group's plans to take an indefinite amount of time off after Ozzfest don't spell the end for SYSTEM OF A DOWN. "I think when a band says, 'Hey, you know, we're not gonna shoot out records consistently for a little while,'people are gonna assume that we're breaking up," he said. "But people can call it whatever they want. We know what it is, and we're comfortable with that. If we were breaking up, we wouldn't be able to get onstage together on this tour."
Malakian is currently assembling a new group called SCARS ON BROADWAY and plans to record its debut album this fall. SYSTEM bassist Shavo Odadjian may participate and is also planning a collaboration with the WU-TANG CLAN.
Singer Serj Tankian will most likely continue to sign and develop artists on his own label, Serjical Strike, while drummer John Dolmayan is planning to launch an online comic book company.
SYSTEM and the rest of the Ozzfest lineup hits Phoenix, Arizona tomorrow (Friday, July 7).
Source: Blabbermouth
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32 Comments on "System of a Down Malfunctioning? "

4. writes:
I'm not surprised their probably burnt out.
They put out Mezmerize early last spring and Hypnotize last fall and they've been touring pretty heavily since before Mez hit the streets....Granted, they're touring in gigantic not to mention seperate tour buses so there is some "rock star" childishness perhaps a lack of gratitude as well coming out, at least from Malakian....
But then I don't lead his life so who am I to judge?....

5. writes:
The 1st concert I have ever left early in my life was Ozzfest in Cali last Saturday. It was during the SOAD set. They were absolutely terrible. Daron Malakian was determined to steal the show from Serj. After about 5 early songs they broke into 8 newer songs in a row. These songs were performed near exclusively by Daron while Serj sat VERY bored looking infront of a keyboard singing back up. Daron would spout off some ridiculous things between songs like 'f*ck Rap, f*ck rock and F*ck all music'. What a retarted thing to say.
The strife between the band was obvious. Daron is trying to push Serj outta the band. Good thing I was up front for Ozzy on the SECOND stage or this Ozzfest would have been a total bust!



9. writes:
Great, Red Devil is back. But I stopped listening to System of a Down awhile ago. Most of there songs are very similar and the singing get annoying to me. I'm glad that the only CD I bought by them awhile back was Toxicity. Would of been a huge waste of money now. I'll be seeing them Sunday so hopefully they're still being a$$holes to each other so I can see how bad it is! lol ROCK!!!

10. writes:
anyone who doesn't like system of a down doesn't know what good music is. it's music that is way ahead of it's time and maybe that's why stupid people don't understand its greatness.
and daron can go f*** himself making an album without serj.
serj made you you mother f***er.

11. writes:
Damn linzy u sound hot ...I've stalked you at a few system shows....you have a nice ass......let me see if I can tap that once or twice
By the way soad is the sh**....and they are one of the only bands people will wait days inline to get tix like we have so eat my c***

12. writes:
I didn't say that they were a bad band but they do get old and a lot of there songs sound very similar. Obviousely is sells and that's all that record companies care about you stupid b****. And do you really think that because Serj made Daron's career that he's not going to try to take over. sh** changes, so deal with it. And you do not have any idea what the f*** is going on within the band so don't talk about what you don't know anything about. There's no way in hell I would stand in line for tickets for this band either. If you want to talk about good bands I guarentee that most of the people that ACTUALLY RETURN TO THE SITE could name a bunch of bands that are better then SOAD.
13. writes:
There are many bands that are better than Soad, what they have going for them is something thats kind of unique.....I (like many) favor the first album and "Steal this album!" over most of their other material though I'll admit there are some selected tunes on the double album that are pretty decent....
It's the one with Daron dominating the lead vocals that suck....
He's great for harmonies,high pitched eeps and screams and the seldom hard-core sounding vocal snippet but leave the lead to f***ing Serj.....

15. writes:
I like this band.Whenever I need music that makes me think I listen to them.Especially since Corporate America seem's to have stomped all political awareness out of Hip Hop for the most part.I really hope the rumors are not true.Then on the other hand even the ROLLING STONES , GENESIS & THE WHO have or had (depending on which band) been known to take big GIGANTIC BREAKS from each other from time to time.It may very well be no big deal.

17. writes:
I went to my 3rd system concert here in Edmonton not too long ago. Someone threw something on stage and serj picks it up and says"this is a f***ing eraser. Who brings a eraser to a concert?" well, buddy serj, in case you have not looked, your fan base if filled with kids from the age of 11-20. they probably came to the show straight out of school. And some brought their parents as well. I was tryly mesmerised and hypnotised by the crowd of midgets around me. The concert itself was wierd..here i was screaming my arse off and there they were..the kids singing along to only the last 2 albums..i think the boys from system have noticed this and that is why they are going on hiatus. So as to let their freakin support grow up a lil!!!! I did not go for a backstreet boys concert or bloody Christina Aguilera...f***in hell man..!!!!thank you!

18. writes:
i am relly big System's fan, and i am not happy to hear this, i feel so terrible about this, be'coz i am crazy about ther unique music, but that is life, i or some1 else can't handel our life so even their, they decide 4 that, i don't have enough money to go in other contry to listen their concerts so i'm buying them a year later, so i please to GOD to see SYSTEM OF A DOWN, in Macedonia.
many f***ed greetings to all of you.And , oh, sorry 4 my bad english.


22. writes:
you know what if malakin was a crooning martyr, he would be fighting the end of the giant closing his eyes.......sooner or later he would come upon the swill of the norse wine, and get HEELLLLLLLLLAAAA drunk, because you know, that sh** is unbearably gnarly......WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


25. writes:
I think SOAD are a f****** great band, and if they break up I`m gonna freak! Their music is so unique and awsome, that it would be a shame, if they really do break up... BUT Daron said, that they won`t, and I trust him...for now...We all, can just pray, if we want to have something called music in our lives for a long, long time! SyStEm Of A dOwN
26. writes:
wow al, that was very creative, very, VERY creative, lol I agree with guy, they've lost their sound, they used to sound original and really cool, but now...mesmerize and hypnotize are pretty much the same, f***, drugs, f***, drugs, f*** in a car....blah, some of their songs sound good, really different vocals, but they should either go back to the way they were, or they should just go they're seperate ways, they could probably do a lot of good stuff on their own, but you never can tell...


30. writes:
Al Bundy is gonna be my best friend over this...SOAD is so terrible now. And by "now" i mean "since 'steal this album'" They once were quite creative and had something to say but now they rely on their 'foreign-kookiness-factor' to get them by. If SOAD ever wrote another song like "Peephole" I'd be surprised. I think they've lost what made them original by trying to make 'toxicity' over and over again. I think they should've never let Daron sing. He sounds like a wounded ox or some other large cumbersome creature. Maybe if SOAD could focus on making good music instead of crap. They should be happy that they aren't detained at every single airport on the planet for being foreigeners. Not just foreigeners but talentless foreigeners who suck. At least the asian paparazzi foreigeners who inhabit Florida make people laugh. When I see SOAD, I'm not laughing, but I'm more scared that they're going to march their kid out onstage and start screaming about 'Jihad'. I think that SOAD can do the american population MORE damage by simply continuing to make sh**ty records! I will be at the Ozzfest in Detroit tomorrow and I hope that SOAD cancel. Honestly, how bad can a show be when I'd rather the bill end with Disturbed's (read: Korn-copiers) boring, idiotic rantings. But that's another post...
31. writes:
Crawford,
They are second generation Armenians...That makes them as American as you or I. Unless you are Native American....otherwise one or more of your ancestors rode a boat to get here.
They are no more foreign than you.
Anyway,
Peephole is fantastic song!! the solo alone makes it. Your also right on the Daron thing. He's a terrible lead singer. He should stick to harmonies and back vocals.
They had a song on the Strange Land soundtrack called Marmalade that was good too.
As far as their political angle is concerned it is what it is.
I think that message has lost alot of it's strength. "Mr Jack", "War?"(yes I know it's a cover) and "Prison Song" were commentary done well...Most of their political angle has turned to sludge even if I agree with some of it. They made interesting cold hard fact statements worth hearing once upon a time....1998-2001....
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Former Contributor
1. RememberMetal? writes:
I must be the bearer troubled band news lately. First SYL now this.