BIO/NEWS
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
Serj Tankian - vocals, keyboard
Daron Malakian - guitar, backup vocals
Shavo Odadjian - bass, backup vocals
John Dolmayan - drums
YEAR
RECENT
2001
2000
1999
97-98
95-96
93-94
1993, mid:
Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian meet each other while they both reherse in same studio in Los Angeles, California.
1993, late:
Serj, Daron and two 'unnamed' people form a band that is named Soil.
1994, early:
Soil's bass player introduces Shavo Odadjian to band. For a short time, Shavo actually manages the band (although he did not yet play with them).
1995, early:
Shavo begins to play bass for Soil after the original bass player leaves.
1995, early:
Daron writes poem 'Victims of a Down'. Once the band reads the poem, it influences them to briefly change their name to Victims of a Down. Of course, Serj later changes it to 'System of a Down' feeling that System was a stronger word.
1995, mid:
John Dolmayan becomes drummer for System of a Down.
1996:
System of a Down releases first demo tape in L.A. area. Songs on the demos include: Blue, Frikk, Honey, Temper, and Multiply.
1997, mid:
System of a Down plays a show at The Viper Room in Hollywood. One of their audience members happens to be American Recordings producer Rick Rubin (producer of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Beastie Boys). After the show he tells the band he was "blown away" and that he would like to sign them immediatly. Shortly after, System of a Down signed on to the label.
1997, late:
System of a Down releases second demo tape. It contains the alternate recordings of the songs Know, War?, and Peephole.
1998, mid:
System of a Down tours on Ozzfest '98.
1998, late:
Self-titled album 'System of a Down' is released.
1998:
Relentless touring by System of a Down as they promote their CD.
1999, mid:
System of a Down tours with Ozzfest '99.
1999, late:
System of a Down releases their first music video. The video is for the song "Sugar".
1999, late:
Serj is interviewed about marijuana legalization at 420bands.com.
2000, early:
Writing for System of a Down's second album begins. 'KITT' and 'Chic N Stew' are among the first songs written. KITT is said to be a song about David Hasselhoff.
2000, early:
System of a Down releases their second music video. The video is for the song "Spiders".
2000, mid:
System of a Down tours with Korn, Metallica, PM5K, and Kid Rock on the Summer Sanitarium tour. Writing of the second cd, which began earlier that year, is halted until the tour is completed.
2000, late:
System of a Down plays at the Smokeout 2000 concert in Sanbenardino, CA with Taproot, 311, Redman, Pennywise, Cypress Hill and more.
2000, late:
System of a Down gets in a minor legal dispute against Micheal Buffer (Mr. Buffer yells the trademarked lines, "Let's get ready to rumble!" before boxing matches). At the beginning of System's set at the Summer Sanitarium tour, Shavo would yell "Let's get ready to rumble!". Apparently Mr. Buffer's lawyers did not like this and demanded System cease using the trademarked phrase or they would press trademark infringement charges. Fuck lawyers...
2000, late:
System of a Down plays at the 'Souls' concert at the Palace in Los Angeles. Souls was a benefit concert for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1917.
2000, late:
Serj sings Starlit Eyes, a song written by James Lynn Strait of the band Snot before his death, on the album 'Strait Up'. The album, which also included performances by Corey Taylor and Jonathan Davis, was a tribute to Strait (R.I.P.).
2001, early:
After numerous delays caused by concerts and touring, System of a Down's second CD (which was still untitled) neared the release date: June 20, 2001! A few of the current songs are: Walls, A.T.W.A., Chick N' Stew, X, KITT, PJs, Forests, and Pictures. Demos supporting the CD were manufactured in early May.
2001, mid:
Rumors arise of 'Toxicity' being delayed yet again. The rumored release date is in August.
2001, mid:
'Toxicity's' delay is confirmed! August 14th is the new release date.
2001, mid:
Preliminary track list for 'Toxicity' is released:
1. Prison Song
2. Needles
3. Deer Dance
4. Jet Pilot
5. X
6. Chop Suey! (formerly known as 'Suicide')
7. Bounce
8. Forest
9. ATWA
10. Science
11. Shimmy
12. Psycho
13. Aerials
14. Version 7.0
15. Outro
The following songs are B-sides:
1. Johnny
2. Fuck the System
3. Innervision
2001, mid:
'Toxicity' is delayed again. September 4th is the new release date.
2001, mid:
'Toxicity' is finally released in North America on September 4th. The first batch of CD's contain the bonus disc "Behind the Scenes/The making of the Record".
The track list is:
1. Prison Song
2. Needles
3. Deer Dance
4. Jet Pilot
5. X
6. Chop Suey
7. Bounce
8. Forest
9. ATWA
10. Science
11. Shimmy
12. Toxicity
13. Psycho
14. Aerials
2001, late:
Serj comments on the World Trade Center attacks on the official System Of A Down site. These comments, which have since been pulled from the site (some people were offended by the statements he made) can be read here.
2001, late:
System Of A Down tours on the Pledge of Allegiance Tour with Slipknot, Mudvayne, and Rammstein. The tour began on October 30th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2002, early:
System Of A Down releases a limited time bonus DVD with 'Toxicity'.
2002, early:
System Of A Down tours on the Ozzfest 2002 tour. This will be their third time to appear at Ozzfest.
NOTE: If you find any inaccurate information, please let me know.
