SYSTEM’S GOT IT DOWN
Edmonton Journal, Canada
June 24 2006
With: Hatebreed
When: Sunday, 7 p.m.
Where: Rexall Place
Tickets: $39.75 to $55.75 (plus service charges) at Ticketmaster
– – –
Band hasn’t let success overshadow personal pursuits — like poker
and brokering an apology for a century-old wrong
EDMONTON – Photos rarely capture the true essence of a band, but
this portrait of System of a Down comes close to representing the
four faces of the Armenian-American metal acrobats.
Goofy. Devilish. Aloof. Brooding.
There’s vocalist Serj Tankian, the curly-haired Rasputin figure with
a silly grin.
His lyrics on System’s last two albums, Mezmerize and Hypnotize,
are just as loopy. Interspersed with biting condemnations of war,
politics and Hollywood are unexpected bursts of nonsense: "Banana
banana banana terra cotta!" he sings on Vicinity of Obscenity.
Then, there’s guitarist Daron Malakian, the wide-eyed scamp who looks
like he’s trying to conjure up a halo over his head.
His bratty vocals on Lost In Hollywood and B.Y.O.B. provide a
counterpoint to Tankian’s deeper, richer tones.
There’s bassist Shavo Odadjian, who looks more interested in what’s
beyond the camera’s reach.
Similarly, you won’t find any of System’s members hamming it up for the
paparazzi, hanging out with the likes of Paris Hilton or Tara Reid in
the pages of Us or In Touch. Instead, the musicians would rather remain
distant from the Hollywood machine — or talk about issues that don’t
get a lot of media exposure, such as the Armenian genocide of 1915.
Finally, there’s drummer John Dolmayan, who admits he never smiles in
snapshots or on stage. His menacing look mirrors the group’s heavier,
darker side. It also comes in handy when he visits his favourite Las
Vegas casinos.
What this photo doesn’t reveal is Dolmayan’s passion for poker. He
even lives in Sin City, making him the only band member who doesn’t
reside in the Los Angeles area.
"I don’t know if I’m good … yet," he says via cellphone, on his
way to a poker game.
"Let’s just say that I’ve only been playing for 10 years. I was
playing mostly home games and now I’m playing more at the casinos
so I’m getting better, learning a lot more. You don’t learn sh–
at the home games because everyone sucks just like you.
"For me, it’s relaxing, it takes my mind off everyday life. I do it
occasionally, but I play to win. I look at it as a game of chess. I’m
pretty much even — I haven’t had great successes but I haven’t had
great failures either. I’ve got a great poker face."
True, but even Dolmayan wasn’t willing to bet System could release
two chart-topping metal masterpieces in less than a year — 2005’s
Mezmerize and Hypnotize. Nor did he think he’d ever end up hobnobbing
with U.S. politicians. But earlier this year, Dolmayan and Tankian
flew to Washington, D.C., to talk to U.S. senators and congressmen
about an issue close to their hearts.
In 1915, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were evacuated and later
killed by the Ottoman Empire, now known as Turkey.
Dolmayan thinks it’s about time for an official apology and wants
the U.S. to lean on the Turkish government.
"We had families who were extinguished in this genocide and the
people who perpetrated it have never been brought to justice," he
says. "That’s wrong. I can’t live a happy life without making an
effort to make that right. We don’t necessarily blame the Turkish
people because they’re taught from birth it didn’t happen. And during
the genocide, a lot of Turkish people helped Armenians at great risk
to themselves. We were neighbours; we helped each other. Our ancestors
were really close."
Dolmayan believes his words were taken seriously by politicians,
but he doesn’t think it will lead to an instant solution.
"All efforts lead to something," he says. "It might not be this year,
it might not be because of our trip, but if you’re going to run a
marathon, you have to take the first step. … We’re going to continue
to fight for it. It should be important to other people, too. As you
can see, genocides are still being committed. If we don’t care what
happened in the past, why should we care what’s happening now?"
By year’s end, Dolmayan will have a lot more time to lobby
politicians. After 11 years and five albums, the band members want
to take a bit of a breather and work on other projects.
Tankian will be busy with his label, Serjical Strike Records.
Odadjian will channel his inner hip-hop homie while recording with
members of Wu-Tang Clan. Malakian plans to start another group,
Scars on Broadway.
Dolmayan says he’ll take part in some of these extra-curricural
recordings. "I’ll be more than happy to help them out." You’ll also
find the drummer playing poker — but don’t expect him to turn up
on one of those celebrity TV games. "Definitely not interested,"
he says. "They’re godawful."
He’ll also be hanging out in his warehouse, where he keeps his
collection of old-school arcade games — including Tempest, Donkey
Kong and Tron — and four million comic books. His favourite title?
Fantastic Four. "It’s a great hobby," he says. "It fulfils my nerd
credentials."
His nerdiness was apparent as a kid.
"I treated (comics) pretty seriously right away," he says.
"Being a drummer, I’m kind of anal — it’s the truth; most drummers
are. I wanted to take care of them, organize them; I was pretty
meticulous. So I didn’t just buy them and throw them away. They were
a great introduction to reading novels. I think they’re very healthy
for kids — they expand your mind, your imagination, your reading.
It’s a great way to achieve learning for kids who get sick of some
of the more boring stuff they teach you in school. Which I hated."
Comics are also a great way to achieve your dreams. During System’s
hiatus, Dolmayan also plans to start up an Internet company based
on comics. He doesn’t want to reveal much, but he says it will be up
and running within the next 18 months.
"Believe me, you’ll find out about it," he says.
You can almost hear him smiling. Almost.
ssperounes@thejournal.canwest.com
Read Sandra’s blog at
SYSTEM SNAPSHOT
– Formed: In 1995 in Los Angeles.
– Members: Serj Tankian (vocals/guitar), Daron Malakian
(guitar/vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass), John Dolmayan (drums).
– Heritage: All four are Armenian. Dolmayan was born in Lebanon,
then moved to Montreal, where he demolished his first drum set at
the age of seven. After a few years, his family headed to Los Angeles.
– Discography: System of a Down (1998), Toxicity (2001), Steal This
Album! (2002), Mezmerize (2005), Hypnotize (2005).
– Quote: "A lot of people look at System and see us as very serious
and political or however they want to look at us," says Dolmayan. "We
are. We have that side, but each of us have another side to us. We
enjoy being fans of other things and being kids in a lot of ways.
"Believe me, if you want to get into other aspects of my life, I’m
very serious about bringing to light the Armenian genocide issue.
There’s a lot of things wrong with the planet that I’d like to see
righted. But you can’t be that all the time, otherwise it just gets
boring. I like to enjoy things, too, I don’t want to sit in my room
and sulk all day."