Daron Malakian Reveals Why SYSTEM OF A DOWN Didn’t Replace Serj Tankian Despite Auditioning A New Vocalist

Despite remaining a formidable live act and personal friends, System Of A Down’s long-running creative stalemate has kept them out of the studio in any meaningful way for nearly two decades. Creative and business differences—most publicly aired by Serj Tankian in 2018—have left the band inactive as recording artists, with Tankian proposing a more collaborative and equal structure that wasn’t fully embraced by his bandmates.

Back in 2017, Tankian even suggested the band move on without him, citing back problems and a desire to tour less. He discussed the moment in his 2024 memoir, ‘Down With The System’, saying:

“I wanted them to be happy. I wanted them not to have to depend on my health, my back, or my willingness to spend months on the road each year… I told them I’d even help train a new singer… I’ll do press and talk about it positively.”

While Tankian believed the band had moved on from the idea, he was later surprised to learn they had secretly auditioned a replacement:

“We were at a fundraiser in Glendale… this singer I knew got up and sang this beautiful Armenian song. Shavo tapped me and said, ‘We tried this guy out as a singer. The only problem was he couldn’t scream and growl.’ I was taken aback—not that they had been auditioning replacements, but that they’d kept it a secret.”

Now, guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian has weighed in during a recent appearance on ‘On The Record’ by Ultimate Guitar, offering his perspective:

“It was something that I never really wanted to do. For me, System Of A Down is us four. If one of us four isn’t doing System Of A Down, I don’t really wanna do System Of A Down… People would think, ‘Oh, Daron is the one that would want that.’ I was the one that was most against it.”

Malakian further pushed back against Tankian’s claim that the auditioned vocalist was passed over due to screaming limitations:

“That’s not true… [Serj] and I have never had this conversation of why it didn’t happen. But really the reason why it didn’t happen is I kind of was the one that was, like, ‘I don’t think I wanna pursue this. I don’t wanna do this without him.’”

While the band’s internal dynamics have had their share of friction, Malakian made it clear:

“System is System, and if that’s not gonna be System, then I don’t know if that’s the System I wanna be a part of.”

Malakian recently released the third album from his side project Scars On Broadway, titled ‘Addicted To The Violence’. Meanwhile, System Of A Down will return to the stage later this month for several stadium shows.

With Korn, Polyphia & Wisp:
08/27 New York City, NY – Metlife Stadium
08/28 New York City, NY – Metlife Stadium

With Avenged Sevenfold, Polyphia & Wisp:
08/31 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
09/01 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field

With Deftones, Polyphia & Wisp:
09/03 Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
09/05 Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium

[via Blabbermouth.net]

---

Do you love independent bands, or are you in one? The Mosh Network is not just a rock/metal news website, but it doubles as an independent band directory, designed so that visitors can browse independent bands by not just subgenre, but location as well. It’s perfect to keep your finger on the pulse of your area’s hottest and newest bands or if you’re in a band, it’s a great way to find bands to network with! Click the banner below and start discovering bands all over the world, now!