Shavo Odadjian
Shavo Odadjian
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Shavo Odadjian was born in Yerevan, Armenia. During his youth, Shavo has stated that he spent most of his time skateboarding and listening to punk rock and heavy metal music. Among others, he credits Dead Kennedys, KISS, Slayer, The Beatles, and Black Sabbath as his favorite bands, and the most substantial influence on his musical development and career. Odadjian moved to Los Angeles at a very young age. He attended the Alex Pilibos Elementary School in Los Angeles, an Armenian parochial school, along with future bandmates Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, although they were not acquainted at the time due to a gap in their ages.
While attending college (majoring in Psychology and minoring in Art) and working in a bank, Odadjian began managing Soil -the band Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian were a part of in 1993. Shavo had met Malakian and Tankian in a recording studio, where he was recording with his own band. The two members called upon Shavo Odadjian for assistance, and Shavo became manager of the band. Shavo says in an early interview that securing System's first local gig was a struggle:
In 1995, Odadjian became the permanent bassist of the band. They named themselves System of a Down, after a poem written by band mate Daron Malakian entitled "Victims of a Down." Odadjian was not keen on being labeled "Victims," and thought that the word "System" appealed to a much broader audience. The band has stated that they also wanted their CDs to be placed in stores alongside their favorite band, Slayer. It was at this time that Odadjian passed on his original managerial responsibilities to Velvet Hammer Music. Their first release was titled "Sugar." Soon after, drummer Andy Khachaturian joined the band but was replaced in 1997 by current drummer, John Dolmayan, due to a hand injury. Henceforth, System of a Down was born.
Odadjian plays bass in System of a Down, and also sings live backing vocals. His usual style of playing bass is with a pick, although he also has been seen using his fingers during certain songs. Shavo is credited with writing noted System of a Down songs "Toxicity", "Sugar," "Jet-Pilot", "Bounce," "Mind," "Dreaming," "U Fig," along with others. He also has directed a majority of the band's music videos, and is responsible for stage design and lighting for each of their live performances.
Odadjian became renowned for his notoriously scaling, braided beard, spiked arm bracelet, towering 6'1" height, 6-pack abdomens, rugby socks, and altogether edgy demeanor. In 2006, Shavo's famous beard hung past his belly button. Shavo's beard quickly became a part of his signature look. His high-energy, rhythmic movement during live performances have also become signature with fans.
In 2004–2005, System released a double album six months apart. The albums, Hypnotize and Mezmerize, both debuted at #1 in the US, making System of a Down, along with the Beatles, Guns 'N Roses, and rappers 2Pac and DMX, the only artists to ever have two studio albums debut at #1 in the same year. Notably, System of a Down made Billboard history by becoming the first band ever to release two original records (Hypnotize and Mezmerize) in the same year that hit #1 on the charts (contrasting from the aforementioned artists, whose double records were compilations and Greatest Hits records). In February 2006, System of a Down won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for "B.Y.O.B.", beating out other established artists such as Nine Inch Nails and Robert Plant.
Along with their distinctive music, System of a Down is equally known for the biting, tongue-in-cheek lyrics – often comical, yet socially and politically charged. Odadjian refutes the label of System as a "political band" in an interview:
The band is currently on hiatus, as group members explore and take on outside projects.
On October 31, 2009, Shavo hosted the event "Hallow9een" at The Roxy, in which he and fellow System band mates Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan reunited to jam on stage and perform various songs together, including System of a Down's "Suite-Pee." The System of a Down trio also came together on November 20, 2009 and performed System songs together for a benefit honoring coma-stricken Chi Cheng of The Deftones, with Chino Moreno of Deftones singing on lead vocals.
Odadjian started a side project in May 2006 named Achozen. Achozen is the musical alliance between Shavo, Wu-Tang Clan founder The RZA, Kinetic-9 (aka: Beretta 9 from Killarmy), and up-and-comer, the Reverend William Burke from Chicago. Achozen's mantra is:
While attending college (majoring in Psychology and minoring in Art) and working in a bank, Odadjian began managing Soil -the band Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian were a part of in 1993. Shavo had met Malakian and Tankian in a recording studio, where he was recording with his own band. The two members called upon Shavo Odadjian for assistance, and Shavo became manager of the band. Shavo says in an early interview that securing System's first local gig was a struggle:
In 1995, Odadjian became the permanent bassist of the band. They named themselves System of a Down, after a poem written by band mate Daron Malakian entitled "Victims of a Down." Odadjian was not keen on being labeled "Victims," and thought that the word "System" appealed to a much broader audience. The band has stated that they also wanted their CDs to be placed in stores alongside their favorite band, Slayer. It was at this time that Odadjian passed on his original managerial responsibilities to Velvet Hammer Music. Their first release was titled "Sugar." Soon after, drummer Andy Khachaturian joined the band but was replaced in 1997 by current drummer, John Dolmayan, due to a hand injury. Henceforth, System of a Down was born.
Odadjian plays bass in System of a Down, and also sings live backing vocals. His usual style of playing bass is with a pick, although he also has been seen using his fingers during certain songs. Shavo is credited with writing noted System of a Down songs "Toxicity", "Sugar," "Jet-Pilot", "Bounce," "Mind," "Dreaming," "U Fig," along with others. He also has directed a majority of the band's music videos, and is responsible for stage design and lighting for each of their live performances.
Odadjian became renowned for his notoriously scaling, braided beard, spiked arm bracelet, towering 6'1" height, 6-pack abdomens, rugby socks, and altogether edgy demeanor. In 2006, Shavo's famous beard hung past his belly button. Shavo's beard quickly became a part of his signature look. His high-energy, rhythmic movement during live performances have also become signature with fans.
In 2004–2005, System released a double album six months apart. The albums, Hypnotize and Mezmerize, both debuted at #1 in the US, making System of a Down, along with the Beatles, Guns 'N Roses, and rappers 2Pac and DMX, the only artists to ever have two studio albums debut at #1 in the same year. Notably, System of a Down made Billboard history by becoming the first band ever to release two original records (Hypnotize and Mezmerize) in the same year that hit #1 on the charts (contrasting from the aforementioned artists, whose double records were compilations and Greatest Hits records). In February 2006, System of a Down won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for "B.Y.O.B.", beating out other established artists such as Nine Inch Nails and Robert Plant.
Along with their distinctive music, System of a Down is equally known for the biting, tongue-in-cheek lyrics – often comical, yet socially and politically charged. Odadjian refutes the label of System as a "political band" in an interview:
The band is currently on hiatus, as group members explore and take on outside projects.
On October 31, 2009, Shavo hosted the event "Hallow9een" at The Roxy, in which he and fellow System band mates Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan reunited to jam on stage and perform various songs together, including System of a Down's "Suite-Pee." The System of a Down trio also came together on November 20, 2009 and performed System songs together for a benefit honoring coma-stricken Chi Cheng of The Deftones, with Chino Moreno of Deftones singing on lead vocals.
Odadjian started a side project in May 2006 named Achozen. Achozen is the musical alliance between Shavo, Wu-Tang Clan founder The RZA, Kinetic-9 (aka: Beretta 9 from Killarmy), and up-and-comer, the Reverend William Burke from Chicago. Achozen's mantra is:
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