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{{About|the band|their self-titled album|System of a Down (album)}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = System of a Down
| image = System of a Down, Download Festival 2005 (1).JPG
| caption = System of a Down at ] On June 12, 2005.
| landscape = yes
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Los Angeles, US
| genre = <!--Please do not add or remove any genre from this list without consensus. DO NOT ADD NU METAL!!-->], ], ], ]
| alias = Soil (1992–1994)
| years_active = 1994–2006, 2011–<!-- Do not change 2011 unless the band announces further dates -->
| label = ], ], ]
| associated_acts = <!-- Alphabetical order. The F.C.C. will remain where it is because it's part of Serj Tankian and The F.C.C.. I removed Serart because it's more of a collaboration album between Serj and Arto than a side project or band. Please discuss if you'd like. --> ], ], ]<!-- Shavo has performed as a member of this band both in the studio and live -->, ], ] and ], ]<!--DO NOT ADD THE MARS VOLTA! NO MEMBERS OF SYSTEM OF A DOWN HAVE BEEN IN THE MARS VOLTA OR VICE VERSA! Do NOT add The Mars Volta as an associated act just because The Mars Volta opened for SOAD!-->
| website = {{url|systemofadown.com}}
| current_members = <!-- THE FOUR MEMBERS ARE LISTED HOW THEY ARE IN THE CREDITS OF THEIR STUDIO ALBUMS. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE LISTED -->]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]
| past_members = ]
}}

'''System of a Down''', also known by the ] '''SOAD''' and often shortened to '''System''', is a ] band from ]. The band was formed in 1994<!-- Soil was formed in 1992/1993, SOAD was formed until circa 1994 -->. It consists of ] (lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), ] (guitar, vocals), ] (bass, background vocals) and ] (drums). All four members are of Armenian descent, and are widely known for their outspoken views expressed in many of their songs confronting the ] of 1915 as well as the ongoing ].

The band has achieved commercial success with the release of five studio albums; three of their studio albums debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200. System of a Down has been nominated for four ], and won the award in 2006 for ] for the song "]" On August 13, 2006, the group went on indefinite hiatus, but announced a reunion on November 29, 2010 with several shows planned at European music festivals for the summer of 2011. This tour has continued through the west coast of North America as well as South America, with dates announced throughout the summer.

==History==
===Soil (1992–1994)===
Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, and Shavo Odadjian all attended ] while children, although because of their eight-year age difference they did not meet until 1992 while working on separate projects at the same recording studio.<ref>Meyers, Ben. ''System Of A Down: Right Here In Hollywood'' (2007), p.&nbsp;14.</ref> They formed a band named ''Soil'' with Tankian on vocals and keyboards, Malakian on vocals and guitar, Dave Hakopyan (who later played in '']''/'']'') on bass and Domingo "Dingo" Laranio on drums. The band hired Shavo Odadjian (another Rose and Alex Pilibos alumnus) as manager, although he eventually joined Soil as rhythm guitarist. After three years, only one live show, and one jam session recording, Hakopyan and Laranio quit the band, feeling that it was not going anywhere.

===Demo tapes and signing (1994–1997)===
After Soil split up, Tankian, Odadjian, and Malakian formed a new band, System of a Down. The group took its name from a poem that Malakian had written titled “Victims of the Down."<ref name="blogs.myspace.com">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=512654515&blogId=526325472|title=OnTroniK: System of a Down Information|accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref> The word "victims" was changed to "system" because Odadjian believed that the alteration would appeal to a much wider audience and also because the group wanted their records to be alphabetically shelved closer to their musical heroes, ]. Odadjian switched from guitar to bass and passed on his managerial duties to ] and its founder David “Beno” Benveniste.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}} The band recruited drummer ], an old school friend of Malakian's and Odadjian's who had played with Malakian in a band called Snowblind during their teens.<ref name="blogs.myspace.com"/>

System of a Down quickly 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 '']'' about six years later. ''Demo Tape 2'' was released in 1996. At the beginning of 1997, System of a Down recorded their final publicly released demo tape, ''Demo Tape 3''. In mid 1997, drummer Khachaturian left the band because of a hand injury (he subsequently co-founded The Apex Theory, which included former Soil bassist Dave Hakopyan).<ref name="blogs.myspace.com"/> Khachaturian was replaced by John Dolmayan.

The band's first official release of a professionally recorded song was on a collection called ''Hye Enk'' ("we're Armenian" in English), an Armenian Genocide recognition compilation, in 1997. Soon after playing at notable Hollywood clubs such as the ] and ] the band caught famed producer ]'s attention who asked them to keep in touch with him. Showing great interest, the group recorded ''Demo Tape 4'' near the end of 1997. Unlike the previous demo tapes, however, ''Demo Tape 4'' was made only to be sent to ] (although it has since been leaked onto the internet). Rubin signed the group onto his ], and System of a Down began to record in Rubin's studio, laying down tracks that would eventually be released on their debut album.

Also in 1997, the group won the Best Signed Band Award from the Rock City Awards.<ref name="rc_awards_97">{{cite web| title = Rock City Awards 1997 | work=rockcitynews.com | url = http://www.rockcitynews.com/awards/ballot97.html | accessdate =July 25, 2007}}</ref>

=== ''System of a Down'' (1998–2000) ===
In June 1998, System of a Down released their debut album, ''].'' They enjoyed moderate success as their first singles "]" and "]" became radio favorites and the music videos for both songs were frequently aired on MTV. After the release of the album, the band toured extensively, opening for Slayer and ] before making their way to the second stage of ]. Following Ozzfest, they toured with ] and ] before headlining the ] with ], ], The Cat and Incubus providing support.

In November 1998, System of a Down appeared on ]'s '']'' album, providing the music for the song "Will They Die 4 You?" Near the end of the song Tankian can be heard saying, "Why must we kill our own kind?" a line that would later be used in the song "Boom!" Although System of a Down is credited on the album, South Park character ] doesn't introduce them as he does for all other artist featured on the record.

System of a Down's former drummer, Ontronik Khachaturian, briefly reunited with the band at a show at ] in 1999, filling in on vocals for an ill Tankian.<ref name="blogs.myspace.com"/> In 2000, the band contributed their cover of the ] song "]" to the Black Sabbath tribute album ''].''

===''Toxicity'' and ''Steal This Album!'' (2001–2003)===
On September 3, 2001, System of a Down had planned on launching their second album at a free concert in Hollywood as a "thank you" to fans. The concert, which was to be held in a parking lot, was set up to accommodate 3,500 people, however, an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 fans showed up. Because of the large excess number of fans the performance was cancelled by police officers just before the group took the stage. No announcement was made that the concert had been cancelled. Fans waited for more than an hour for the group to appear, but when a banner hanging at the back of the stage that read "System of a Down" was removed by security, the audience rushed the stage, destroying all the band's touring gear (approximately $30,000 worth of equipment) and began to riot, throwing rocks at police, breaking windows, and knocking over portable toilets. The riot lasted six hours, during which six arrests were made. The band's manager, David "Beno" Benveniste, later said that the riot could have been avoided if the group had been permitted to perform or had they been allowed to make a statement at the concert regarding the cancellation. System of a Down's scheduled in-store performance the next day was cancelled to prevent a similar riot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/3600.html|title=System Of A Down cancellation sparks riot |date=September 4, 2001 |publisher=Live Daily |accessdate=July 20, 2010}}</ref>

The group's big break arrived when their second album '']'' debuted at No.1 on the American and Canadian charts, despite the events of September 11. The album eventually achieved ] certification {{Citation needed|date=March 2010}} and has since sold over 12 million copies worldwide.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}} It was still on top in America during the week of the ] and the political environment caused by the attacks added to the controversy surrounding the album's hit single "]" The song was taken off the radio as it contained politically sensitive lyrics at the time such as "(I don't think you) trust in my self-righteous suicide." Regardless, the video gained constant play on MTV as did the album's second single, "]". 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 "]". In May 2006, ] listed Toxicity in the No.14 slot in the 40 Greatest Metal Songs.

In 2001, the band went on tour with ] throughout the United States and Mexico. Following a performance in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Odadjian was harassed, ethnically intimidated, and was physically assaulted by security guards backstage, who then dragged him out of the venue. Odadjian received medical attention from police and later filed a suit against the security company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1470460/20030310/system_of_a_down.jhtml|title=System Of A Down Bassist Sues Security Team For Humiliating Him In Front Of Fans|author=Gil Kaufman|date=March 10, 2003 |publisher=MTV |accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref> Despite the incident, the tour was a success and System of a Down and Slipknot went on the Pledge of Allegiance Tour with ] in 2001.

In late 2001, unreleased tracks from the ''Toxicity'' sessions made their way onto the internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glendalehigh.com/malakian.html|title=The Daron Malakian Interview|author=Mike Lancaster|date=March 28, 2003 |publisher=Glendale High School Newspaper-the Explosion|accessdate=July 26, 2010}}</ref> This collection of tracks was dubbed ''Toxicity II'' by fans. The group released a statement that the tracks were unfinished material and subsequently released the final versions of the songs as their third album, '']'', which was released in November 2002. ''Steal This Album!'' resembled a burnable CD that was marked with a felt-tip marker. 50,000 special copies of the album with different CD designs were also released, each designed by a different member of the band. The name of the album is a reference to ]'s counter-culture book, '']'' as well as a message to those who leaked the songs onto the internet. The song "Innervision" was released as a promo single and received constant airplay on alternative radio. A video for "]" was filmed with director ] as a protest against the ].

===''Mezmerize'' and ''Hypnotize'' (2004–2006)===
] in 2006]]
Between 2004 to 2005, the group recorded the follow-up to ''Steal This Album!'', a double album, which they released as separate installments six months apart from each other, notably including album cover artwork by Malakian's father, Vartan Malakian, which was designed to connect the two separate album covers. The first album, ''],'' was released on May 17, 2005 to favorable reviews by critics. It debuted at No.1 in the United States, Canada, Australia and all around the world, making it System of A Down's second No.1 album. First week sales rocketed to over 800,000 copies worldwide. The Grammy Award-winning single "]", which questions the integrity of military recruiting in America, worked its way up the Billboard Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts. The next single, "]" was released with Shavo Odadjian co-directing the music video. Following the release of ''Mezmerize,'' the band toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada with ] and ] supporting.

The second part of the double album, ''],'' was released on November 22, 2005. Like ''],'' it debuted at No.1 in the US, making System of a Down, along with ], ], and rappers ] and ], the only artists to ever have two studio albums debut at No.1 in the same year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1516656/20051130/system_of_a_down.jhtml|title=System of a Down Make It a Double with Chart-Topping Hypnotize|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=November 30, 2005|work=MTV News|accessdate=February 18, 2009}}</ref> In February 2006, System of a Down won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for "]", beating out other established artists such as ] and ]. Their second single off the Hypnotize album, "]" was released in March in the United States. System of a Down released "]" and "]" as their next ] singles. The band headlined ] 2006 in cities where tour founder ] opted not to appear or wasn't playing on the main stage.

Whereas on System of a Down's previous albums most of the lyrics were written and sung by Tankian and the music was co-written by Tankian and Malakian (and sometimes Odadjian) much of the music and lyrics on ''Mezmerize''/''Hypnotize'' were written by Malakian who also took on a much more dominant role as vocalist on both albums, often leaving Tankian providing keyboards and backing vocals.

Concert footage and interviews with the band concerning the importance of helping create awareness and recognition of the ] were featured in the 2006 film ''],'' directed by ]. An interview with Tankian's grandfather, a survivor of the Genocide, was also included in the film as well as Tankian's and Dolmayan's meeting with (then) Speaker of the House ] during which the two musicians campaigned for the United States government's official recognition of the Genocide. Footage of Tankian and Dolmayan marching with protesters outside of the Turkish embassy in Washington D.C. was also used in ''Screamers''.

System of a Down was honored at a ] game at the ] in Los Angeles, California in 2006. The Trojan Marching Band, along with Dolmayan and Odadjian, performed three System of a Down songs: "]," "]," and "]." System of a Down's song "]" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance in the ] in 2007, but lost to "]" by ].

In May 2006, the band announced they were going on hiatus. Malakian confirmed the break would probably last a few years, which Odadjian specified as a minimum of three years in an interview with ''Guitar'' magazine. He told MTV, "We're not breaking up. If that was the case, we wouldn't be doing this Ozzfest. We're going to take a very long break after Ozzfest and do our own things. We've done System for over ten years, and I think it's healthy to take some rest."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1530066/20060503/system_of_a_down.jhtml|title=System of a Down Aren't Breaking Up—They're Going on Hiatus|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=May 3, 2006|work=MTV News|accessdate=<nowiki>February 2, 2009</nowiki>}}</ref>

May 2006 also saw the UK publication of a biography of the band entitled '''' by writer ]. It was published in the US in 2007 through ].

===Hiatus (2006–2010)===
Malakian announced he was forming a band called ], which was joined by Dolmayan. System of a Down's final performance before their hiatus took place on August 13, 2006 in ], Florida. "Tonight will be the last show we play for a long time together," Malakian told the crowd during Sunday's last performance. "We'll be back. We just don't know when."<ref name="soadfans_last_show">{{cite web| title = West Palm Beach, FL&nbsp;— August 13, 2006 Review| work=soadfans.com| date = July 13, 2006| url = http://www.soadfans.com/Article427.htm| accessdate =July 25, 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070515070110/http://www.soadfans.com/Article427.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = May 15, 2007}}</ref>

Tankian released his debut solo album '']'' in the autumn of 2007 to great critical and commercial acclaim. Malakian and Dolmayan released Scars On Broadway's ] on July 29, 2008. Dolmayan, alongside working with Scars on Broadway, formed his own band, ], as well as opened Torpedo Comics, an online comic book store.<ref name="soadfans_comic">{{cite web| title = SOAD talk about side projects| work=soadfans.com | date = July 13, 2006 | url = http://www.soadfans.com/Article400.htm| accessdate =July 25, 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070310170916/http://www.soadfans.com/Article400.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = March 10, 2007}}</ref> Odadjian pursued his project with ] of ], a hip-hop group named ], worked on his urSESSION website/record label, and performed as a member of funk legend ]'s backing band.

===Reunion and tour (2011-)===
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.<ref>{{cite web| last = Karan| first = Tim| title = System Of A Down to reunite, headline Download Festival| work=]| date = November 29, 2010| url = http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/system_of_a_down_to_reunite_co-headline_download_festival_with_avenged_seve/| accessdate =November 29, 2010}}</ref>
Among the announced tour dates included UK's ], Switzerland's ], Germany's ], Sweden's ], Austria's ] and Finland's ]. In their reunion statement posted on their website, the band was unclear as to the extent of their reformation. It read, "We have no master plan of sorts – we are playing these shows simply because we want to play together again as a band and for you, our amazing fans."<ref>{{cite web| last = Sciarretto| first = Amy| title = System of a Down Reunite to Play European Tour Dates| work=]| publisher=]| date = November 29, 2010| url = http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/11/29/system-of-a-down-reunion-european-tour-dates-2011/| accessdate =November 29, 2010}}</ref>
On March 1, 2011 the band announced they will play several shows in western North America in May and June. The reunion tour commenced on May 10, 2011 in ], Alberta.<ref>{{cite web| author=ChartAttack Staff| title = System Of A Down Announce North American Dates With Gogol Bordello| work=]| date = March 1, 2011| url = http://www.chartattack.com/news/2011/mar/01/system-of-a-down-announce-north-american-dates-with-gogol-bordello| accessdate =March 3, 2011}}</ref>
On May 4, 2011, ] event organiser and promoter Roberto Medina announced that System will be headlining, alongside ], his ] festival on October 2 in ].<ref>{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref>

System's first tour through Mexico and South America began on September&nbsp;28, 2011 in ], ending in ], ] on October&nbsp;7, 2011.<ref></ref> From late February to early March 2012, they will headline five dates at the ] festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundwavefestival.com/ |title=Soundwave Festival 2012 |publisher=Soundwavefestival.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-11}}</ref> This will be the first visit in ], since 2005.

Asked in October 2011 whether System of a Down will record a new album, drummer ] replied, "We're gonna take it day by day. For the people who are waiting for an album — I know there's a lot of people waiting for an album; I'm waiting for an album just like they are. It's gonna happen when it's right and when we can make something that tops what we've done in the past. Because we don't really wanna rest on our laurels — where what you've done in the past is what you depend on. Well, I don't wanna do that, and I know the rest of the guys don't wanna do that. Instead of resting on our laurels, we wanna throw them away and create something new and specific for this generation that they can say that's their System of a Down."<ref>{{cite web| title = System Of A Down Drummer On New Studio Album: 'It's Gonna Happen When It's Right'| work=]| date = October 3, 2011| url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=164101| accessdate = October 3, 2011}}</ref>

==Style and influences==
The stylistic variety and level of ]<ref>{{cite web| last= Nettleton| first = Chris| title= Review of ''System of a Down'' | publisher=] | url= http://drownedinsound.com/releases/4822/reviews/6744| accessdate =July 25, 2007}}</ref> in System of a Down's music has made it difficult to describe, but System of a Down has, for the most part, maintained a single style throughout their body of work. This style has variously been termed ],<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web| first = Stephen Thomas | last = Erlewine| title = Biography of System of a Down| publisher=Allmusic| url = {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p302874|pure_url=yes}}| accessdate =July 24, 2007}}</ref> ], rock,<ref name="IGN">{{cite web| author=Spence D. | title=Review of ''Mesmerize'' | url=http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/622/622270p1.html | date=June 3, 2005 | publisher=IGN | accessdate=April 22, 2009 }}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web| last=Christgau | first=Robert | title=Reviews of System of a Down | url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=system+of+a+down | accessdate=April 2, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last=Hoard | first=Christian | title=Review of ''Elect the Dead'' | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16797401/review/16928118/elect_the_dead | date=November 1, 2007 |work=Rolling Stone | accessdate=April 22, 2009 }}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite news|first=Dan |last=Aquilante |title=''This Week's CDs'': ''Hypnotize'' |url=http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=NYPO000020051121e1bk00037 |work=New York Post |date=November 20, 2005 |accessdate=March 3, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Gary |last=Friedman |title=''System of a Down leader releases first solo album'' |url=http://news.therecord.com/arts/article/261818 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 27, 2007 |accessdate=March 3, 2009 }}</ref> ],<ref name="Erlewine"/><ref>{{cite web|first=David |first=Fricke | title=Review of ''Hypnotize'' | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/systemofadown/albums/album/7690031/review/8796404/hypnotize |work=Rolling Stone | date=November 17, 2005 | accessdate=April 22, 2009}}</ref> ],<ref name="Erlewine"/> ],<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Rough Guide to Heavy Metal|last=Berelian |first=Essi |isbn=1843534150 |page=349}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Sound of the Beast|last=Christe |first=Ian |year= 2004|publisher=Allison and Bubsy |isbn=0749083514 |page=329}}</ref> ]<ref name="McDonnell">{{Cite news|first=Evelyn |last=McDonnell |title=''System of a Down carves a distinct path with prog-thrash sound.'' |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9562759_ITM |work=] |date=August 16, 2005 |accessdate=March 3, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Serpick |first=Evan |title=System of a Down&nbsp;— Prog-metal Radicals |work=Rolling Stone |date=December 15, 2005 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/8957307/system_of_a_down |accessdate =July 24, 2007 }}</ref> and ].<ref name="Sinclair">{{cite web| last=Sinclair | first=Tom | title=Review of ''Toxicity'' | url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,173181,00.html | date=September 3, 2001|work=Entertainment Weekly | accessdate=April 2, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last=Lynskey | first=Dorian | title=Review of ''Hypnotize'' | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2005/nov/18/popandrock.shopping | date=November 18, 2005 |work=The Guardian |location=UK | accessdate=April 2, 2009 }}</ref> Malakian has stated that "We don't belong to any one scene"<ref name="Morse">{{Cite news|first=Steve |last=Morse |title=''Pounding out a blistering attack: System of a Down lashes out at Hollywood, war, and hypocrisy'' |url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/08/26/pounding_out_a_blistering_attack/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=August 26, 2005 |accessdate=April 5, 2009 }}</ref> and that "I don't like the nu-metal ] ] sound; it is not my thing, at least not yet".<ref name="Perry">{{Cite book|last1=Perry |first1=Megan |title=Wired: musicians' home studios : tools & techniques of the musical mavericks |year=2004 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=0879307943 |page=79 |chapter=Daron's Guitar Tunings }}</ref> According to Tankian, "As far as arrangement and everything, is pretty much pop. To me, System of a Down isn't a progressive band. But it's not a typical pop project, obviously. We definitely pay attention to the music to make sure that it's not something someone's heard before."<ref name="DeRogatis">{{Cite news|first=Jim|last=DeRogatis |title=''They're an Armenian band'' |url= http://www.jimdero.com/News2001/Sept14SOAD.htm |work=The Chicago Tribune |date=September 14, 2001|accessdate=April 4, 2009}}</ref>

The band has used a wide range of instruments, including ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s and ]s.<ref name="8notes">{{cite web| title = System of a Down biography| work=8notes.com| url = http://www.8notes.com/biographies/system_of_a_down.asp#History.2C_style_and_influences| accessdate =June 26, 2006}}</ref> According to Malakian, he would often write songs in ], which would later be changed to ] in order to be performed by the band.<ref name="Perry"/> Malakian states that "For me, the drop-C tuning is right down the center. It has enough of the clarity and the crisp sound—most of our riffy stuff is done on the top two strings, anyway—but it's also thicker and ballsier."<ref name="Perry"/>

The band's influences include ],<ref name="interview_nalbandian">{{cite web| last= Nalbandian| first= Bob| title= Interview with System of a Down| work=Shockwaves Online | url = http://www.hardradio.com/hr3.html?http://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/system1.php3| accessdate =July 21, 2007}}</ref> ],<ref name="Morse"/><ref name="interview_nalbandian" /> ],<ref name="Candellari">{{Cite journal|first=Gianni |last=Candellari |title=''System of a Down: Rabbia armena'' |journal=Ondarock |language=Italian |url=http://www.ondarock.it/rockedintorni/systemofadown.htm }}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7470955/zappas_making_zappa_film|title=Zappas Making Zappa Film |first=Greg|last=Prato|work=Rolling Stone|date= July 7, 2005 }}. Retrieved on November 13, 2008</ref> ],<ref name="interview_nalbandian" /> ], ], and ].<ref name="Candellari"/> One reviewer claimed that their music encompasses different sounds, from sounding like "] playing ]" to sometimes "tread close to Frank Zappa territory".<ref name="Sinclair"/> Malakian has stated that "I'm a fan of music. I'm not necessarily a fan of any one band."<ref>{{Cite news|title=''Many musical influences in System of a Down'' |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10FB700A80EB8CC8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=] |date=August 3, 2005 |accessdate=April 5, 2009 }}</ref> Dolmayan stated "I don't think we sound like anybody else. I consider us System of a Down."<ref name="soad_myspace"/> Odadjian stated "You can compare us to whoever you want. I don't care. Comparisons and labels have no effect on this band. Fact is fact: We are who we are and they are who they are."<ref name="soad_myspace">"{{cite web| title= Official System of a Down MySpace| work=myspace.com/soad| url= http://myspace.com/soad| accessdate =July 21, 2007}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
System of a Down has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, of which has won one in 2006 for Best Hard Rock Performance for the song ''B.Y.O.B.''. The band has also been nominated for several ] and MTV awards.

;Grammy Awards
{{awards table}}
|-
| {{grammy|2002}} || "]" || ] || {{nom}}
|-
| {{grammy|2003}} || "]" || ] || {{nom}}
|-
| {{grammy|2006}} || "]" || ] || {{won}}
|-
| {{grammy|2007}} || "]" || ] || {{nom}}
{{end}}

'''General'''
*In 2005, System of a Down won for Best Alternative Act in the Europe Music Awards
*In 2006, System of a Down won the "MTV Good Woodie Award" for their song "]"
*In 2006, System of a Down's song "]" was No.14 on the VH1 Top 40 Metal Songs list

==Band members==
<!-- THE FOUR MEMBERS ARE LISTED HOW THEY ARE IN THE CREDITS OF THEIR STUDIO ALBUMS. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE LISTED. DO NOT ADD OR REMOVE INSTRUMENTS WITHOUT A SOURCE -->

{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:width:375px; margin:0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse:collapse; border:2px solid #666;"
|- style="border-bottom:solid 2px #666;"
! style="border:solid 1px #e2e2e2; background:#e7ebee;"| First Soil line-up<br />(1992–1993)
| style="border:solid 1px #e2e2e2; border-right:solid 2px #666;"|
*] – ], ]
*] – ], ]
*Dave Hakopyan – ]
*Domingo Laranio – ]
! style="border:solid 1px #e2e2e2; background:#e7ebee;"| Soil's second line-up<br />(1993–1995)
|style="border:solid 1px #E2E2E2;"|
*] – ], back-vocals
*] – vocals, keyboard
*Dave Hakopyan – bass
*Domingo Laranio – drums
*] – ]
|-
! style="border:solid 1px #e2e2e2; background:#e7ebee;"| System of a Down's first line-up<br />(1995–1997)
| style="border:solid 1px #e2e2e2; border-right:solid 2px #666;"|
*] – guitar, back-vocals
*] – vocals, keyboard, ]
*] – bass, back-vocals
*] – drums
! style="border:solid 1px #e2e2e2; background:#e7ebee;"| System of a Down's standard line-up<br />(1997–present)
|style="border:solid 1px #E2E2E2;"|
*] – guitar, vocals
*] – ], keyboard, keytar
*] – bass, back-vocals
*] – drums
|}
;Occasional contributors:
*] – percussion, composition <small>(on ''Toxicity'': "Science" and "Arto". ''Steal This Album!'': "Bubbles" and some live concerts in 2005)</small><ref>{{cite album-notes|title=]|bandname=System of a Down|year=2001|format=booklet|publisher=]|publisherid=86059|location=Los Angeles, California}}</ref>
*] – rhythm guitar <small>(] 2006)</small>

==Discography==
{{Main|System of a Down discography}}
<!-- This section is for studio albums only. All other releases (EPs, singles, etc.) are covered in the discography article and are not to be listed in this section. See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians/Article_guidelines#Discography_section-->
* '']'' (1998)
* '']'' (2001)
* '']'' (2002)
* '']'' (2005)
* '']'' (2005)
<!-- This section is for studio albums only. All other releases (EPs, singles, etc.) are covered in the discography article and are not to be listed in this section. See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians/Article_guidelines#Discography_section-->

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|System of a Down}}
*{{Official website|http://www.systemofadown.com}}

{{System of a Down}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2011}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:System Of A Down}}
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{{Link GA|is}}
{{Link FA|it}}
{{Link GA|ru}}

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Revision as of 18:01, 25 October 2011