The band has sold over 40 million records worldwide, while two of their singles "Aerials" and "Hypnotize" reached number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. == History == === Soil (1992–1994) === Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian attended Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School as children, although due to their eight-year age difference they did not meet until 1992 while working on separate projects at the same recording studio.
System of a Down (also known as SoaD or simply System) is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994.
In 1994, after only one live show at the Roxy and one jam session recording, Hakopyan and Laranio left the band. === Demo tapes and signing (1994–1997) === After Soil split up, Tankian, Odadjian, and Malakian formed a new band, System of a Down.
The band recruited drummer Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian, an old school friend of Malakian and Odadjian who had played with Malakian in a band called Snowblind during their teens. In early 1995, System played as "Soil" at the Cafe Club Fais Do-Do, a nightclub in Los Angeles.
Shortly after the event, System of a Down made what is known as Untitled 1995 Demo Tape, which was not commercially released but appeared on file sharing networks around the time of the band's success with Toxicity about six years later.
Demo Tape 2 was released in 1996.
It currently consists of members Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass, backing vocals), and John Dolmayan (drums), who replaced original drummer Andy Khachaturian in 1997. The band achieved commercial success with the release of five studio albums, three of which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
At the beginning of 1997, System of a Down recorded their final publicly released demo tape, Demo Tape 3.
Khachaturian was replaced by John Dolmayan. The band's first official and professionally recorded song was on a collection called Hye Enk ("we're Armenian" in English), an Armenian genocide recognition compilation in 1997.
Showing great interest, the group recorded Demo Tape 4 near the end of 1997, specifically to be sent to record companies.
It had to be so good that it transcended all of that." In 1997, the group won the Best Signed Band Award from the Rock City Awards. === Self-titled album (1998–2000) === In June 1998, System of a Down released their debut album, System of a Down.
It had to be so good that it transcended all of that." In 1997, the group won the Best Signed Band Award from the Rock City Awards. === Self-titled album (1998–2000) === In June 1998, System of a Down released their debut album, System of a Down.
Even with the controversy surrounding "Chop Suey!" (which earned a Grammy nomination), System of a Down still received constant airplay in the United States throughout late 2001 and 2002 with "Toxicity" and "Aerials".
In May 2006, VH1 listed "Toxicity" in the number 14 slot in the 40 Greatest Metal Songs. In 2001, the band went on tour with Slipknot throughout the United States and Mexico.
Despite the incident, the tour was a success and System of a Down and Slipknot went on the Pledge of Allegiance Tour together with Rammstein in 2001. In late 2001, unreleased tracks from the Toxicity sessions made their way onto the internet.
Even with the controversy surrounding "Chop Suey!" (which earned a Grammy nomination), System of a Down still received constant airplay in the United States throughout late 2001 and 2002 with "Toxicity" and "Aerials".
The group released a statement that the tracks were unfinished material and subsequently released the final versions of the songs as their third album, Steal This Album!, which was released in November 2002.
A video for "Boom!" was filmed with director Michael Moore as a protest against the War in Iraq. === Mezmerize, Hypnotize, and hiatus (2004–2006) === Between 2004 and 2005, the group recorded the follow-up to Steal This Album!, a double album, which they released as separate installments six months apart.
Other than two new songs in 2020 ("Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz"), System of a Down has not released a full-length record since the Mezmerize and Hypnotize albums in 2005.
A video for "Boom!" was filmed with director Michael Moore as a protest against the War in Iraq. === Mezmerize, Hypnotize, and hiatus (2004–2006) === Between 2004 and 2005, the group recorded the follow-up to Steal This Album!, a double album, which they released as separate installments six months apart.
The first album, Mezmerize, was released on May 17, 2005 to favorable reviews by critics.
Following the album's release, the band toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada with The Mars Volta and Bad Acid Trip supporting. The second part of the double album, Hypnotize, was released on November 22, 2005.
This was the band's first visit to Australia since 2005.
System of a Down has been nominated for four Grammy Awards and their song "B.Y.O.B." won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006.
The band went on hiatus in 2006 and reunited in 2010.
In May 2006, VH1 listed "Toxicity" in the number 14 slot in the 40 Greatest Metal Songs. In 2001, the band went on tour with Slipknot throughout the United States and Mexico.
The lead single "B.Y.O.B.", which questions the integrity of military recruiting in America, worked its way up the Billboard Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, and would go on to win the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.
Additionally in 2006, concert footage and interviews with the band concerning the importance of helping create awareness and recognition of the Armenian genocide were featured in the film Screamers, directed by Carla Garapedian.
We've done System for over ten years, and I think it's healthy to take some rest." System of a Down's final performance before their separation took place on August 13, 2006 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
It was published in the US in 2007 through The Disinformation Company.
Meanwhile, Tankian opted for a solo career and released his debut solo album Elect the Dead in the autumn of 2007.
The band went on hiatus in 2006 and reunited in 2010.
He has continued releasing solo albums, recording them almost entirely by himself even after System of a Down had begun to reunite for tours. === Reunion and touring (2010–2020) === On November 29, 2010, following several weeks of Internet rumors, System of a Down officially announced that they would be reuniting for a string of large European festival dates in June 2011.
He has continued releasing solo albums, recording them almost entirely by himself even after System of a Down had begun to reunite for tours. === Reunion and touring (2010–2020) === On November 29, 2010, following several weeks of Internet rumors, System of a Down officially announced that they would be reuniting for a string of large European festival dates in June 2011.
The reunion tour commenced on May 10, 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta.
System's first tour through Mexico and South America began on September 28, 2011 in Mexico City, ending in Santiago, Chile on October 7, 2011.
From late February to early March 2012, they headlined five dates at Soundwave festival.
On August 11 and 12, 2012, they played the Heavy MTL and Heavy T.O.
In August 2013 System of a Down played at the UK's Reading and Leeds Festivals, among other festivals and venues that year. System of a Down played their only 2013 US performance at the Hollywood Bowl on July 29; tickets sold out hours after going on sale on March 22.
On November 23, 2014, System of a Down announced the Wake Up The Souls Tour to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
The tour included a free concert in Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia on April 23, 2015, their first show in the country. In a November 2016 interview with Kerrang!, drummer John Dolmayan revealed that System of a Down was working on more than a dozen songs for their follow-up to the Mezmerize and Hypnotize albums.
The tour included a free concert in Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia on April 23, 2015, their first show in the country. In a November 2016 interview with Kerrang!, drummer John Dolmayan revealed that System of a Down was working on more than a dozen songs for their follow-up to the Mezmerize and Hypnotize albums.
There's a tremendous amount of pressure on us, though, because it's been 11 years—at least 12 by the time it comes out." In a video Q&A session with fans on July 2, 2017, Shavo Odadjian was asked about the status of the next album and he responded, "I'm waiting for a new album too.
Not right now." In a December 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Serj Tankian said that System of a Down wrote some new material but was uncertain of what to do with it.
However, the band released their long-awaited sophomore album in 2018, titled "Dictator," under the name Daron Malakian and Scars On Broadway.
Other than two new songs in 2020 ("Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz"), System of a Down has not released a full-length record since the Mezmerize and Hypnotize albums in 2005.
Dolmayan also released an album titled "These Grey Men." in 2020.
On December 17, 2020 Serj Tankian announced in a Rolling Stones interview that he would release an EP by the name of, "Elasticity" under his own name.
Even though we have had our differences, when we’re in there it’s just like brothers making music together, like it all started." When asked if the two songs had inspired a new era of creativity for System of a Down, Tankian said to Triple J in December 2020, "I don't know, because right now we're focused on what's going on in Armenia.
Tankian had planned to release the EP in October, however due to COVID-19, changed plans in order to release it in February 2021.
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