System of a Down

ARTISTS

System of a Down

Vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan formed this Armenian-American, politically conscious alt-metal band in Los Angeles in 1995. They put together a three-song demo that spread around L.A. and eventually to metal fans everywhere. In 1998 they released their eponymous (Rick Rubin-produced) debut, opened for Slayer and played on the Ozzfest tour. As their popularity continued, so did the summer tours. In 1999 System of a Down played the Family Values tour and Metallica’s Summer Sanitarium in 2000.

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