Band Members
Serj Tankian - vocals
Daron Malakian - guitar
Shavo Odadjian - bass
John Dolmayan - drums
"Our heritage, our politics are really important, but our musical vibe together is the thing. Our live performances speak for themselves." -- System Of A Down
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
System of a Down Psychological Evaluations: Case Studies In Rock & Revolution
Over a period of several days, all four members of the Los Angeles-based heavy rock band System of a Down were psychologically examined for concise profiling by an area expert. Subjects, having recently completed ?Toxicity,? their "sophomore album" (note: industry term), were probed on the complex relationship properties linking the creation of inventive, melodic, fusion-minded metal to the sub-conscious discourse between childhood, ritual/habit, familial interplay and/or socio-political ideologies.
Methods employed included the Schwartz & Bristol six strata system of self-classification ("Rational," "Altruist," "Magician," "Innocent," "Orphan," "Wanderer" and "Warrior"), interrogation via the traditional Jungian perception vs. judgement dichotomy and an author-devised categorization based on character/idol association as sub-divided into: The Rational, The Artisan, The Guardian and The Idealist.
Examiner observed curious ties relating to heritage (in this instance Armenian) and common goals of defining, rather than following, supposed musical rules, borders or dictums. Elsewhere examiner noted the foursome to be a disparate mix of individuals, united by the Hegelian montage theory reasoning the sum of four great parts to be infinitely grander than any part in and of itself.
Reports on System of a Down singer Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan follow in turn:
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Case No.: 4.987.11Q
Subject: Serj Tankian
Position: Singer
ANALYSIS: Subject Serj Tankian requests meeting at a local playground so that he might "shoot hoops." Examiner notes subject has a nice outside shot. Subject's warm, non-judgmental demeanor vis a vis the brutality with which he sings in System of a Down indicates, if not an interior struggle, a complex duality. Subject may or may not have been influenced by producer Rick Rubin's beard.
As with many perpetual searchers, subject Tankian strolls a path towards tranquility not in and of itself flower-lined or emotionally perfumed. A confessed devotee of the meditational arts, subject is nonetheless felled by bouts of existential angst, here centered, most old-worldly enough, on doubts of the human animal's capacity to salvage intrinsic beliefs in an increasingly self-conscious global village, "We pay so much attention to our mind that we're losing touch with our true vision, our instinct," he says. "Ever since the day we were separated from the Earth, as a culture, as a religion, we've become very left-brained, very logical. We've lost something."
Subject freely drops political jargon ("cooperate Darwinism," "Chomsky-esque") and expresses clear skepticism regarding modes and means of information dissemination, "We see the same thing on every channel," he says. "It's all very devised. It's very filtered.? Well-versed on pressing issues, he's neither apathist nor activist but instead one fascinated by the nature and conclusions of international transactions, policies and ideologies. Awareness and keen knowledge of national or global cause and effect traditionally signifies: a.) sub-conscious desire to avoid examination of the self b.) phobias regarding species extinction c.) revolutionary aspirations (imagined or real) and/or d.) imminent career as college professor.
As with Daron Malakian, this subject proves hard to classify under the four principal character orders. His curiosity regarding the validity and meaning of the methodology itself is paramount to immersion in the questioning. Subject is at times evasive, but not necessarily in standoffish manner. Inference is that, to Tankian, nothing proactive stems from absolute answers or even their quest. That established, subject identifies with members of all four orders. As former CEO of a marketing management software company, Tankian logically identifies with Bill Gates, a Rational, but seems more keenly attuned to or in reverence of Mother Teresa, a Guardian, and Gandhi, an Idealist.
It's possible subject Tankian may be a "quadjunctionary," psychoanalytically defined as "pertaining to all four orders but possessing a majority of none." Entered as evidence to the above, subject's elusory response when questioned on the nature and bias of System of a Down's curious euphony, specifically: Is their music opti or pessimistic? "I think it's neither," he says. "At some points it might be one or the other but the sum total is neither."
Subject is questioned from the six stratas as defined by Schwartz & Bristol("Altruist," "Magician," "Innocent," "Orphan," "Wanderer" and "Warrior"). Tankian's most telling responses come amid the Altruist portion, a division tackling interpersonal needs and offerings. Brief, almost Zen-esque replies to the following: What do you ask most of those around you ("a smile") and What do you offer in return ("a smile"), soundly suggest an association with simplicity as wisdom and the defeat of restrictive logic or malice via universally understood, non-lingual communication.
CONCLUSION: System of a Down singer Serj Tankian is happily trapped in an evolution towards the capacity for blind trust that intrinsically mandates eternal questioning of self and surroundings. Poetic in his musings, subject has faith in the arts for cross-cultural discourse and reserves the balance of his vitriol for stage and studio. In layman's terms: Not that many people think, sing or front a band like Serj Tankian. The guy whoops ass.
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Case No.: 2.989.261
Subject: Daron Malakian
Position: Guitarist, Vocals
Analysis: Subject Daron Malakian is met at his house. Examiner is shown the subject's room, a dark hovel in dire need of janitorial assistance. Both the bedroom and living room are strewn with guitars and roadcases, symbolizing a strong desire for perpetual inundation in work. Absence of order (subject notes he's "no good at paying his bills") also strongly suggests Malakian prioritizes creativity above all else. Subject consumes a massive "cheese steak" during examination process.
Malakian radiates the telltale unease and intensity of a creative wizard. Examiner notes that at no time do his wheels appear to stop turning, as though even mid-analysis he's conjuring compositions or pondering certain licks, riffs and time changes. Malakian admits to being " defensive and aggro" when faced with critique of his work. "I take any criticism very personally," he says. "How can I not? This comes out of my soul. I'm like, 'Well, if you don't like it, fuck you.'"
Subject does not retreat, but overtly responds to questions, nevertheless displays a thick emotional shield. This behavior may likely stem from Malakian's prior experience with the psychoanalytical arts. Following System of a Down's initial popularity surge, subject was subject to panic attacks and, in therapy sessions that followed, lost faith in the practice. "I've been wanting to do this since I was four," Malakian asserts. "I didn't just wake up when I was eighteen and decide I wanted to join a band. If you had asked me when I was a kid what I wanted to do, I'd have said, 'Be on stage playing music.' Then it actually happened.
"I was having panic attacks, seeing shrinks. It has a lot to do with this being a business. Art and business to me just don't mix. The therapy wasn't worth shit. You go to a shrink and all they do is put you on a bunch of pills. I was like, 'fuck that.' I did it my own way. I started meditating."
Subject Malakian, a professed "people-hater," is logically hard to pin one of the four fundamental orders upon. Among those cultural icons he identifies with: Madonna and Charles Manson (both Artisans), Gandhi (an Idealist) and Karem Abdul-Jabar (a Guardian). Said methodology is thus deemed moot and subject is instead defined by a most curious footnote from his formative stage, "I used to fall asleep listening to Cannibal Corpse and Deicide when I was a teenager," he says.
Malakian displays deep vulnerability when, in detailing the primary pivotal event of his life thus far, the death of his grandmother, he's asked how he dealt with the loss. "A lot of fighting," he says. "I kicked a lot of peoples' fuckin' asses. I realized that I had a lot of aggression in me. I've had to learn to keep it in check. If someone turns around to look at my chick, I want to fucking kill them. If someone fucks with my homeboys, I want to fucking kill them. I've got to keep it in check now."
Conclusion: System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian cautiously welcomes those who welcome him but reserves heavy artillery for those who'd wrong him or any loved ones. However misanthropic, he's forever faithful to those permitted passage to his exclusive sanctum. Would be fair to call a musical savant, headstrong with a devout belief in his own capacity to create titanic chunks of progressive metal. In laymen's terms: subject is an uncompromising kick ass guitar player and songwriter.
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Case No.: 17.189.03Y
Subject: Shavo Odadjian
Position: Bassist
ANALYSIS: System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian is met in his living room. Though sunny and warm outside, subject's blinds are drawn. A vast library of DVD's, an impressive home entertainment system, DJ equipment and other such gear would indicate subject's child-like predilection for fiscal indulgence in playthings. A colorful array of suspect, long glass vases also dot his interior landscape. Subject expresses an unusually deep reverence for actor Christopher Walken, something classically indicating a fetish for enigma and the occult.
Subject Odadjian is a case study in emotional duality and prolonged adolescence. His immersion in sound and pursuit of aural satisfaction stems as much from an innate drive to mold progressive metal as it does from lingering boyhood rock star obsession ("After I took tests as a kid, I'd always draw big KISS logos on the back.").
Clearly headstrong and keenly focused in the musical scope, subject seems elsewhere unsure or needing of group approval. Example: Odadjian might compose and stand steadfast by intricate and challenging basslines but may suffer unspeakable anxiety when selecting from a takeout menu and seek second or even third opinions regarding an ideal dish. Consistent with this analysis, subject seems uncomfortable at the examination's onset, initially wondering if there might be ?right? or ?wrong? answers.
Born and raised in Armenia 'till age five, subject Odadjian's early musical memories, beyond the compulsory pot and pan banging, are of watching in awe as curious images were bounced from the cosmos. "I'd see Abba on the satellite," he says. "And I'd sing all those songs, you know, 'money, money, money.'"
More so than his bandmates, subject's upbringing seems to have been somewhat emotionally sheltered. Dual maternal ethos installation -- mother and grandmother -- as well as the relative asylum of a private Christian school created circumstances ripe for eventual upheaval. Abrupt change came when, within scant years, subject transferred to public learning facility and his grandmother passed suddenly. The shift and loss seem clearly subject's benchmark episodes; radical, formative events foretelling religious doubt and forced acceptance of larger social structures.
Of the four principal character orders, subject overwhelmingly identifies with an aggregate of Artisans. Among those names eliciting instant, excited response: "Magic" Johnson, Elvis Presley, Picasso, Hugh Hefner and Mozart. However vocationally disparate (note: Christopher Walken is also and Artisan), subject's selections indicate creative virtuosity and a universal embrace of expression as release. Odadjian's secondary appreciation for Guardians, notably George Washington and Karem Abdul-Jabar (subject is apparently a Lakers' fan), disclose pride in self as ethically grounded.
Logically, when questioned from the six stratas as defined by Schwartz & Bristol ("Altruist," "Magician," "Innocent," "Orphan," "Wanderer" and "Warrior"), subject's key responses fall within the Orphan segment. Reaction to his grandmother's unforeseen death is explained as follows, "I totally lost faith, faith in everything. I was pissed. I used to pray every night and I haven't ever since. Not once. It doesn't mean I don't believe in God anymore, but I believe in my God."
CONCLUSION: System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian brims with zeal and is smartly aware of any inner pockets that might be jaded. Subject approaches life firstly with exuberance, is perpetually curious and so open to both hurt and learning. His association with music as suspended youth is tempered with a mature sense of its power to exorcise pesky personal demons. In laymen's terms: Shavo Odadjian is having a pretty good time and plays a whoop-ass bass.
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Case No.: 1298.986J
Subject: John Dolmayan
Position: Percussionist
ANALYSIS: Subject Dolmayan, despite being a "rock & roller," agrees to meet in the most un-rock A.M. hours, signaling motivation and order, again, something most un-rock. Subject maintains a meticulous room -- collections of comics, compact discs and novels are painstakingly organized for optimum efficiency. Subject's walls are covered in whimsical works of art, an ironic indicator of vicarious fancy for a man clearly rooted in reality. Later it surfaces that his bunk on System of a Down's "tour bus" is similarly arranged with soothing tokens and diversions, "I put up pictures of things I enjoy, things that comfort me," he says. "If you don't feel at home, you will get very uncomfortable."
Not twenty minutes into the examination, as dialogue turns literary, Dolmayan gifts the examiner a copy of James Clavell's "Shogun," tellingly indicating the cultural clash love epic as an inspirational favorite. Subject himself was born into war-torn Lebanon to a sax-blowing father who chose family over music, discouraging young John from pursuing the rhythmic arts as a vocation lest he suffer invariable hardships, "He knows what a musician's life is like," Dolmayan says of his paternal unit. "He had no clue I would be in a signed band one day, he figured I'd be struggling my whole life."
Clearly Dolmayan's jazz-deluged upbringing could and should be cited when attempting to explain his unorthodox drumming flare. Subject's eclectically populated personal hero Pantheon furthermore elucidates the point: Keith Moon, Maynard Ferguson, Jaco Pastorius, The Dickies, Billy Idol and Rush. Idolatry aside, subject rightfully asserts System of a Down the result of disparate roots blending mysteriously. "There's no way we can be imitated," he maintains. "We have so many influences -- we barely know what they are. How could someone copy us?"
Of the four fundamental character orders subject Dolmayan is principally a Rational with a secondary association as Artisan. His primary alignment with the likes of Douglas MacAuthur, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein would imply a methodical mentality with emphasis on goal-sighting and eventual conquest and/or the ability to judiciously problem solve. "You have to have discipline in drumming,? he says. ?Timing is very important, but I don't want to be a robot. I like the fact that every now and then I'll go off time a little bit, every now and then my rolls aren't perfect."
Subject is questioned from the six stratas as defined by Schwartz & Bristol ("Altruist," "Magician," "Innocent," "Orphan," "Wanderer" and "Warrior"). Beneath the Innocent banner, a realm delving into childhood issues, Dolmayan is asked when he first recognized drumming as his calling. "Probably when I was one or two." he says. His early understanding of personal destiny strongly suggests fate's intervention in placing him behind the traps in System of a Down.
Dolmayan would seem the least politically motivated member of the quartet. While clearly aware of and in tune with global maladies, his wishes are immediate. As with many Rationals, he's acutely aware of his own power to affect change and so is logical and relative when asked which problem in the world he most complains about. "I've been looking for a '69 Dodge Charger for a while now," he says. "I can't find one. We've got a pretty good life here man. There's people out there who can't see, can't hear, don't have food. What I have are inconveniences."
CONCLUSION: Subject John Dolmayan cherishes order but understands and treats with reverence System of a Down's musical chaos. While his Rational instincts anchor a curious band given to amble, his Artisan element understands the importance of stretching out and travel beyond the known. In laymen's terms, the guy whoops ass on drums.
