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The story of System of a Down roots back to when vocalist Serj Tankian and guitarist Daron Malakian met each other around mid-1993 when they both rehearsed in the same studio in Los Angeles, California. Late that same year Serj and Daron, along with two other people, formed the band Soil. Early 1994 Soil's bass player intorduces Shavo Odadjian to the band. For a short time, Shavo actually manages the band --although he did not yer play with them. Early next year Shavo begins to play bass for Soil, after the original bass player leaves the band. It just happens that all three othem, Shavo, Serj, and Daron, went to the same Armenian school in Holywood when they were younger. Soil soon disbanded in early 1995 and from this disbandment a new band was born.
Daron wrote a poem entitled "Victims of a Down", aftetr the band reads the poem, they are influenced and inspired by it. they briefly decided to call their new band Victims of the Down, but later the name is changed to System of a Down. Midway through that year John Dolmayan becomes the band's drummer and System of a Down is now complete. Their first show as Shavo reencounters was at the Roxy, and remembers how much he isisted that they could pack the place with people, and they sure did. From then on System of a Down gain a huge fan-based, they were local, had the support of their family and fellow Aremenians, and to top it off the totally rocked.
Thanks to their street teams and many fans System of a Down's demos hit the street of L.A. in 1996. Songs on the demos included: "Blue", "Frikk", "Honey", "Temper", and "Mutilpy". Mid-1997 System of a Down played at the Viper Room in Hollywood. American Recordings, Rick Rubin, persuaded by Silvia Plath (important System of a Down fan), attended this show and was completely "blown away" by the band. He immediately offered them to be signed, and after much deliberation System of a Down decided to take his offer. Late that year System of a Down released a second demo tape, containing alternate recordings of the songs: "Know", "War?", and "Peephole".
In 1998, System of a Down joins the Ozzfest '98 lineup, and tours with Ozzy Osbourne and others. This brings alot more attention to the band and an increasing set of fans around the United States. later that year System of a Down is realeased, the band's first album. For the remainder of the year and so forth they tour relentlessly promoting their recently released album.
Towards mid-1999 the band once again joins the Ozzfest '99 lineup, and keeps touring and rocking-out at shows. Later that year their first music video is realesed for the public. The video for the song "Sugar". Let me add that they did an awesome job with the video and that the song is great.
Early 2000, writing for their second album comences. "KITT" and "Chic N Stew" are among the first songs written. "KITTI is said to be a song about David Hasselhoff. Soon after the band releases their second video for the song "Spiders". One of their most creatively genious videos. Midway in the year the tour with KoRn, Metallica, PM5K, and Kid rock on the Summer Sanitarium Tour 2000. Writing for the second album was halted until the tour was compelted. Later that eyar System of a Down plays at the Smokeout 2000 concert in Sanbernadino, California with Taroot, 311, Redman, Pennywise, Cypress Hill, and more. Also later that year, System of a Down got into 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. All this was completely nonsensical, but then again most of the world is nonsensical. Regardless system of a Down went on to play at the Souls concert at the Palace in Los Angeles. Souls was a benefit concert for the recognition od the Armenian Genocide of 1917. Serj sang Starlit Eyes, a song written by James Lynn Strait of the band Snot before hsi death, on the album Strait Up. The album, which also included performances by Corey Taylor and Jonathan Davis, was a tribute to Strait.
Early next year, after numerous delays caused by concerts and touring, System of a Down's second album (which was still untitled) neared the release date of June 20, 2001. A few current songs were: "Walls", "A.T.W.A.", "Chick N' Stew", "X", "KITT", "PJs", "Forest", and "Pictures". Demos supporting the album were manufactured in early May that year. Mid-2001 rumors arose of Toxicity being delayed yet again. The rumored release date was now in August, which was not such a rumor after all since the releas date was indeed pusehd to August 14th. A preliminar track listing for Toxicity was released: 1. Prison Song, 2. Needles, 3. Deer Dance, 4. Jet Pilot, 5. X, 6. Chop Suey (formerly known as Suicide, the named Chop Suey, Suey sounding like the latin word for self "Sui"), 7. Bounce, 8. Forest, 9. ATWA, 10. Science, 11. Shimmy, 12. Psycho, 13.Aerials, 14. Version 7.0, 15. Outro. The following sides were besides: "Johnny", "Fuck the System", and "Innervision". Then, suprisingly once again the release date was delayed to September 4th. Toxicity was finally released in North America on September 4, 2001. The first batch of the CD's contained the bonus disc Behind the Scenes/The Making of the Record. The final and official track listing was: 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. Soon afterwards Serj commented on the World trade Center Attacks on the Official System Of A Down site. These comments, which have since been pulled from the site can be read here. Many people were offended by the comments; I leave it to you to judge whether the comments are offencive or not. On October 30, 2001 The Pledge of Allegiance Tour with System of a Down, Slipknot, Mudvayne, and Rammstein began in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Early 2002, System of a Down released a limited time bonus DVD with their album Toxicity. System of a Down then went on to tour on Ozzfest 2002; their third Ozzfest since they began. later that year System of a Down decided to compile a set of songs that were otehrwise known as rare and beside tracks in an album they titled Steal This Album for reasons all should know by now.
As for 2003 all that is known is that Daron has been writing some new songs for their future releases. They did not tour with Ozzfest 2003, which must have been a disappointment for those who could attend Ozzfest this year, but will not be able to see SOAD. System of a Down is one of the bands on my top bands list, and I am anxious to hear from them soon. I still have not had the opportunity to see them live, for they do not come to Houston [very sad for me].
Alright guys, hope that everything is accurate and that you guys liked it. I encourage all to listen to System of a Down, they have some powerful stuff. I have all their albums, and have gone broke so many times buying their merchandise. Then again I am a music freak and love so many bands, that I am willing to spend so much of my money and time on them.
Well, thanks once again for coming, enjoy the website.
- Nancy Velasquez
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