System of a Down

An American rock band formed in 1994 in Glendale, California, by four musicians of Armenian descent: vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer Andy Khachaturian. Initially performing under the name Soil, they soon changed their name to System of a Down, inspired by Malakian's poem "Victims of a Down," altering "Victims" to "System" for broader appeal. In 1997, Khachaturian left the band due to a hand injury and was replaced by John Dolmayan. After releasing several demo tapes, the band caught the attention of producer Rick Rubin, who signed them to American Recordings. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1998, but it was the 2001 album "Toxicity" that brought them mainstream success, topping the Billboard 200 chart and featuring hits like "Chop Suey!", "Toxicity," and "Aerials." In 2002, they released "Steal This Album!", followed by "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" in 2005, both of which also topped the charts. The band went on hiatus in 2006 but reunited in 2010 for live performances. In 2020, after a 15-year hiatus from releasing new music, they released the singles "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz," addressing the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. System of a Down is known for their politically charged lyrics, blending elements of nu-metal, alternative metal, and Armenian folk music. Throughout their career, they have sold over 40 million albums worldwide and won a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Hard Rock Performance with "B.Y.O.B.," along with three additional nominations. Their work has significantly influenced modern rock music and continues to address issues of social justice and human rights.