System of a Down

System of a Down
System of a Down performing in England in 2005
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, USA
Genres	Alternative metal, nu metal, heavy metal, hard rock
Years active	1994 – 2006, 2010 – present
Members	Serj Tankian Daron Malakian Shavo Odadjian John Dolmayan
Past member(s)	Andy Khachaturian

System of a Down is an American metal band. They started in 1994 in Los Angeles, California with four members of Armenian descent, Serj Tankian (lead singer, born August 21, 1967), Daron Malakian (lead guitar, singer, born July 18, 1975), Shavo Odadjian (bass, background singer, born April 22, 1974) and drummer Andy Khachaturian (but was replaced with John Dolmayan).

The band became successful with popular songs like "Sugar", "Spiders", "Chop Suey!", "Toxicity", "Aerials", "B.Y.O.B.", "Question!", "Hypnotize", and "Lonely Day".

After the release of Mezmerize/Hypnotize, System of a Down went on a break, but they say they have not broken up.

Often described as very angry, Khachaturian was unhappy about his place as drummer, and wanted to lead the band. He left the band and the drummer from the band, "Friik", John Dolmayan, joined the band.