Serj Tankian explains his creative differences with Daron Malakian and how they met (2024) 

Thank you for that link!

its perfectly fine for system to go on without serj yes

​@freebirdus6839 and who would frankly listen to an album by system of a down without serj? It already exists and it's called scars on broadway. Nobody except you and 12 people on the planet would ever listen to a system of a down record without serj on vocals. It's like the queen without freddy mercury or van halen without eddie van halen

Yup, I have to agree with that person 👆🏻 System of a Down without Serj is not System of a Down.

Sounds more like Ego problems than creative differences.

​@@hv1225Yup Serj has a massive ego but pretends it's tiny. He's the only reason they aren't making new music. Creative differences? No. Daron writes 80% of the music and lyrics. So what is he complaining about? Not having enough of his material in? Well dude you gotta write something.

@@antonio155 No it’s pretty explicit that it’s creative.

​@@antonio155 Realmente son diferencias creativas, Serj acaba de decir que Daron es muy protector, sensible y apasionado por su música Además conoce a Daron desde los 16, básicamente lo conoce desde niño, así que sabe lo que dice. Y shavo mencionó una vez en una entrevista que el problema entre ellos no es nada que no se pueda solucionar

you might need to listen to or at least be knowledgeable on more than one band then

this happens in many, many bands i'm not sure what his comment is supposed to mean.

Sometimes it helps to hear it first hand.

You know

Serj could have continued with SOAD and his own music. Instead, he's sitting there for years now and giving ambiguous reasons for not.

Daron may have musical talent but his lyrics are utterly stupid. Sometimes that works for the song, and sometimes it doesn't. Lyrically, the band made their best work when Serj was writing, far and away.

You’re actually just describing what he said in the video. Daron wouldn’t take or accept what he considers intrusions into his wheelhouse.

I said more, actually: Serj said that there are only "creative differences" between them but that they would get along on the rest and that differences can exist in a band, in a MARRIAGE, etc... really? I hope for him that things go a little better with his wife than they did between him and Daron. I'm pretty sure that the relationship between Serj and the guitarist is now practically non-existent except when they do those two concerts a year together. Even on Armenia (the other topic that united them besides music), it seems to me that everyone goes their own way. Then, I appreciate that Serj wants to show the matter in an overall positive light, minimizing the problems, but he does so because he is a born gentleman, as there are few, not because he is actually like that.

Daron is an immensely talented musician, but every fan I’ve ever asked share my opinion that when Daron started “taking over”, the quality suffered. SoaD is first and foremost Serj in my mind, because he’s the stage presence, he’s the face, he’s the voice.

Doubt it

bet you have a lot of friends

Didn't even notice it until you mentioned it. -_-

Reminds me of the Weird Al Eminem interview

​@@Jk-zv6tzyou didn't get it, did you

There are so many rumors that Daron’s cooking something up in the studio for scars but it’s never really been hinted at too much by Daron lately.

You're right to lose hope for a new album as it almost definitely won't ever happen. If you read Serj's book he says how the creative conflict has gotten so much worse. For the 2020 double single 'Protect the Land' and 'Genocidal Humanoidz', Daron basically steamrolled the entire creative process, almost dictating what and how every person plays their instrument. In 2018 Serj said he was ready to write a new SOAD album but wanted to set out clear boundaries so every member of the band gets equal creative input. Everything quickly broke down as Daron's ego seemed hurt that he wasn't allowed to have complete control. Serj said how he couldn't make an album under those conditions - it's what drove him away in the first place. I think the conflict between Daron and Serj will never subside. Daron comes across as emotionally immature whilst Serj occasionally seems to come off as pretentious and slightly eccentric. A perfect storm for 2 people to constantly butt heads over every detail. Serj is now nearing 60, I can't ever see another album ever happening.

Sometimes we have to understand there are BIGGER things than ourselves and that we should get over ourselves for the bigger picture

the last couple singles they put out on RU-vid were awful so I don't know why you would want another album

@@truuuupR A WHOLE lot of assumptions there, buddy. You speak as if you were in the studio space as well as in the heads of the 4 guys...quite the accomplishment. All I know is 3 guys were ready to go and Serj wasn't.

It also takes, time, to learn, how and when, to use, commas

Wow, this was so beautifully written i had to screenshot it

I thought the same 😄

Right, me too. Would be very interesting

Totally agree.

He should be hired in Slipknot as a guitar player and music writer.

😂😂

23 :) Show Transcript > F3 type it in

Fuck you made me aware now I can't listen to what he's actually saying😹😹

i know

Daron ruined the band

​@@KM-zw9qb Did you even watch the video? Daron is the reason Mezmerize/Hypnotize even came out, for starters.

Axl Rose

Opeth band.

@@stevemuzak8526Opeth? His band mates quit, Peter and Martin wanted different things.

​@@bisusdadinle1726 Nonsense. Axl was the one carrying GnR. He's the only one not to have killed himself with drugs. Read Slashs autobiography. Slash was a mess.

Billy Corgan

Yeah, it really felt like he was pushing Serj to the side with all the vocal leads he was taking.

Daron's the real musical genius of SOAD. Serj was just along for the ride.

@@damonomstead4765 being the genius in the band doesn't mean you don't need the rest of the band. Many greats have made that mistake.

Their first 3 albums were great. Then they suddenly died imo.

Man, compare Scars on Broadway with Serj's solo career. Daron defined what we think of SOAD, it's not for no reason that he is protective of his music since that's his style mostly.

I agree. I love his early piano singer stuff as well as the later experimental stuff.

I highly even doubt they even wanted to release those albums

This

It's such a good book! I'm not a diehard system fan (although i really like them) but goddam, its the best autobiography ive read.

Me too

What elementary lyricism are you referring to ?

I know

@@uzziake I'll wait here, you're crazy Those vicious streets are filled with strays You should've never gone to Hollywood They find you, two-time you Say you're the best they've ever seen You should've never trusted Hollywood I wrote you and told you You were the biggest fish out here You should've never gone to Hollywood They take you and make you They look at you in disgusting ways You should've never trusted Hollywood Lots of Daron shit was beginner shit. I applaud him for making the effort, but going from Toxicity to emo whiney stuff really got under a lot fo fans' skin.

@@intrnlprym84evrlmao simple song writing isn’t “elementary” shit. It sounds like you just don’t like his style of songwriting, especially since you could’ve used songs like Lonely Day and it would’ve been a better example. Lost in Hollywood’s lyrics aren’t bad at all.

@@DiamondDawgsRuleOK We arent talking about song writing. We are talking about lyricism. Daron is an excellent performer, excellent guitarist and excellent singer, real unique. His lyrics in SOAD were not good. A few moments, but nothing that sends people into wonder like Serj.

Go Go down… I sincerely hope that never happens. A matter of taste, I I don’t mean this disrespectfully. But in my opinion Serj would downgrade himself into a circus act if he would do a collab like that

I wish Serj would collaborate with Lionel Hutz.

Won't somebody think of the fans 😱

@@crashingthroughnothing I’m not harping on the woe of the fan base if that’s what you’re getting at. I’m thinking about how rewarding it would feel if he could fully grasp the greatness of his band.

He knows that, they were at their peak when they went on a hiatus. It's not about the music or the money, it's about how you feel working with someone you no longer respect or feel appreciation. The best example I can give you is a marriage... when "things go south", the way to go is always the healthiest (part ways).

Artist first, fans second. Music is not a service but an art form. You'd be the first in line to complain if a new album turned out lackluster, thus didn't live up to your silly expectations, so zip it for good. Thanks in advance.

@@NPC-ej4ql how many assumptions are you making? Your reply has nothing to do with what I said

Easily the best song of either hypnotize or mesmerize

You never think you know why Know, you never think you know why

Who is number 3?

@@SLIMZ34 5 are tied for first place

@@Hotsauce-cj7kj who is number 2?

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CQSsjLZPiU4.html

The full interview is on the 'Q With Tom Powers' channel.

No

@@Guthix198 Yes.

Would be nice to see a new variety in SOAD. The merges of their music all together would be great in my opinion

Wouldn't agreeing with someone like that back going somewhere in the conversation?

Fair I guess - but personally, I can't stand the sorts of people who insist on continuing conversations through serious disagreements even when they're not going anywhere and neither said is getting through to the other. Especially when it is _clearly_ in the form of a debate, but they go "Why does it have to be an argument/debate? We're just having a conversation!" Yeah, a conversation in the form of a useless debate, lol. I'm not saying everyone should shut down/fold whenever there's a disagreement or misunderstanding!! But sometimes it really is going nowhere, and neither side is really willing to listen to the other or consider their perspective. Or it's one-sided, which is just as bad. There's no point to forcing a "conversation" like that. The worst is when the debate-lover pretends that it's for both sides to understand each other, but they themselves are the biggest culprit. These types only want to continue the "conversation" to say their own piece, or to convince the other person, and are never really interested in changing their own minds. Then they accuse the other person of being "quick to give up" or going "how are we supposed to have a conversation then??" Bro, that's not a conversation, that's you trying to lecture the other person.

@@calliopeshif7581 Fair. And I agree. You can get to a point where it really is 'agree to disagree'. However, some people start there, which is what I was talking about. I'll admit it usually takes me a fair bit before the 'agree to disagree' comes. Everything and everyone needs to be exhausted, basically. But when someone is too quick to shut down all conversation prematurely, it's really just a major cock block imo. See, the real problem is where you draw the line, isn't it?

John’s probably exasperated, and in his mind he wants his mates to reconcile and just enjoy what time they have. Shavo has a cymbal-banging monkey toy in his head.

​@@methanedirigiblejohn said in an interview not long ago that they should have replaced serj years ago, so theres that...

@@knekt6874 they should have and Serj said the same. Daron didn't want to.

What’s number one?

@@littlejerryseinfeld4168 Tool

Radiohead

@@littlejerryseinfeld4168 Tool

​@@littlejerryseinfeld4168Igorrr

Well, you know.

You know?

You never think you know why Know, you never think you know why

that’d be kind of sick actually

@@Owibi they already went daron direction hell they still have a label to release it on with Sony

Because Daron can't not write the music he want to write. And i don't think that he will compromise. If you want good SOAD music then for listen to Scars on Broadway. In my opinion it is almost as good as any SOAD music.

@@tonyperez8594 no one wants scars on Broadway man what are you talking about? Plus daron did the last two LPs man produce by himself and will Rubin

@@tonyperez8594 what are you talking about daron did the last two LPs

You never think you know why Know, you never think you know why

No, Serj, we don’t know, that’s why we’re asking the questions!

​@@ObeseChessdo we die?

…why?

it's spelled soad*

@@nameisnotrelevant before he made System Of A Down

@@Alastorthe_radi0_Dem0n Yeah...what do you mean? soad

the first band he was ever in was Forever Young

@@nameisnotrelevant his first ever band was forever young

you mean SoD? Cuz people are SoB's

@@JeremyOuelletteNHScars on Broadway = SoB

sob and solo serj suck

@@ericspring2033 you suck

@@ericspring2033 Nah, your comment sucks

Wow, no way. I knew about the reason they disbanded but not that Serj managed them. That's a shame, they were really good

Says Serj's fan I guess. Didn't you just listen to your favourite talk about how it was their voices synergy that was so unique? Stop treating this like your parents' divorce, choosing side and badmouthing the other one..

the "guitar player" wrote 95% of soad's catalogue that you love so much. have some respect

Couldn't agree more. Their voices together, great. Darron's voice: a horrible little screechy wail. Doesn't matter that he wrote the songs, he should have had the humility and self-awareness not to sing lead vocals on them.

*breaks down in tears*

@@hichaelhighers laughs and shrieks like a bird