System of a Down

Latest about System of a Down

Daron Malakian and James Hetfield
Daron Malakian on the time he saved a Metallica gig – and ended up filling in for an injured James Hetfield

By Phil Weller Published

Malakian stepped up to sub for Hetfield at the last minute while on tour – and stuck around until he was fully recovered

Guitarists
Daron Malakian of System of A Down wears a red blazer, black shirt and plays his white Gibson SG onstage in 2005.
Daron Malakian on the time his prized Gibson was swiped from the stage – while System of a Down were headlining Ozzfest

By Jonathan Horsley Published

It’s a lesson that your gear isn’t safe anywhere – even when it is onstage with you and you’re at the top of the bill

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Guitarists
Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway performs at Slim's on March 06, 2019 in San Francisco, California
Daron Malakian wrote System of a Down’s career-defining album while still living with his parents

By Janelle Borg Published

As Toxicity celebrates its 24th anniversary, the SOAD guitarist looks back on the record that spawned some of the band’s most beloved and mosh-worthy tracks

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Guitarists
Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian joins System of a Down tribute band onstage – after wandering into their gig off the street

By Phil Weller Published

The guitarist was enjoying a day off before SOAD’s Chicago show and suddenly found himself playing one of the band's classics in front of a shell-shocked audience

Guitarists
Daron Malakian, guitarist of the band System of a Down, in concert at Firenze Rocks Festival. Florence, Italy. 25th June 2017
How the Ibanez Iceman became System of a Down’s Daron Malakian’s go-to guitar – and why he initially didn’t play it live

By Janelle Borg Published

The System of a Down guitarist even got his own limited-edition signature version in 2004

Guitarists
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian reflects on his guitar journey with System of a Down, Tony Iommi, Buckethead and beyond

By Amit Sharma Published

In a rare guitar interview, Serj Tankian breaks down his “fast folk” playing style and upcoming signature Gibson Les Paul, his love of shredders, and freaking out Maynard James Keenan (and being freaked out by Buckethead)

Guitarists
Daron Malakian (L) and Serj Tankian of System of a Down perform during Riot Fest at the National Western Complex on August 28, 2015 in Denver, Colorado
Serj Tankian reveals he has a Gibson signature model on the way

By Janelle Borg Published

The System of a Down frontman discusses his penchant for Gibsons, particularly Les Pauls, and elaborates on what we can expect from his signature model

Guitars
Left-Serj Tankian of System of a Down performs at the Banc of California Stadium on February 04, 2022 in Los Angeles, California; Right - Buckethead performs in support of his "Happy Birthday MJ 23" release at Ace of Spades on July 3, 2016 in Sacramento, California
Serj Tankian on his collaborations with the enigmatic Buckethead – and the time they played a high school battle of the bands together

By Janelle Borg Published

From taxidermy-inspired music videos to playing a high school battle of the bands as fully grown adults, the System of a Down frontman recalls his artistic camaraderie with Buckethead

Artists
Shavo Odadjian, bassist of the band System of a Down, in concert at Firenze Rocks Festival. Florence, Italy. 25th June 2017
“We were auditioning for bass players, but most of the guys who came in were too good. One day I just said, ‘What if I play bass?’” Shavo Odadjian on why he switched from guitar to the bass

By Joel McIver Published

Shavo Odadjian holds down the low-end in System of a Down, America’s most uncategorisable band

Bassists
[L-R] Scott Ian and Revel Young Ian
Anthrax's Scott Ian and his 10-year-old son get hyped for the Super Bowl with a wholesome yet hard-rocking cover of System of a Down's Bounce

By Sam Roche Published

The Toxicity cut is the third cover the father-son duo have tackled, after Sepultura's Roots Bloody Roots and Territory

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