SOUND CHECK: TANKIAN ROCKING OUTSIDE SYSTEM
By Jon Waterhouse; For the Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
February 7, 2008 Thursday
Main Edition

WHEN HARD ROCK outfit System of a Down began its indefinite hiatus in
August 2006, frontman Serj Tankian set his sights on a solo project
he’d reportedly longed for underneath that trademark top hat.

Tankian is currently hitting concert halls promoting "Elect
the Dead," a multi-genre influenced rock record that, with the
exception of a small guest list, features Tankian handling most of
the instrumentation. But don’t expect a one-man-band arrangement when
Tankian hits the Roxy on Feb. 11. His backup band FCC and opener Fair
to Midland join the show.

While waiting in line for the restroom at the show, impress fellow
fans with the following bits of Tankian trivia.

Music business: Tankian wasn’t always rocking the stage. After
graduating with a degree in marketing and business from California
State University, he was once a 9-to-5 entrepreneur and accounting
software developer.

Active activist: Don’t call him Bono, but Tankian has a political
mission, too. He and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello
formed Axis of Justice, a nonprofit group that, according to its
Web site, hopes to "build a bridge between fans of music around the
world and local political organizations to effectively organize around
issues of peace, human rights, and economic justice."

What’s with the voice? The Lebanese born Armenian-American cites
hearing his dad croon classic Armenian tunes as a big influence on
his unconventional singing style.

He’s a poet … and he knows it: Although he resembles the love child
of Perry Farrell and Les Claypool, Tankian has something in common
with the late Jim Morrison of the Doors. In 2002, Tankian released
his own book of poetry, "Cool Gardens." Contemporary wordsmith Saul
Williams cites himself as a fan of Tankian’s work.

Serj on film: In addition to turning it up to 11, Tankian dabbles
in film work including composing music for the 2006 flick "Bug"
and narrating the 2005 documentary "Armenia: A Country Under Blockade."

* THE 411: Serj Tankian. $25.50. 8 p.m. Feb. 11. Coca-Cola
Roxy Theatre, 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 404-249-6400,