After it�s done Daron Malakian and I sit downstairs, on the small sun lit patio, to do the last of the four interviews. The guitarist is the least approachable member of the band - not unfriendly in the slightest; more closed off, and certainly more intense. Even though he�s easy to talk to, it seems to take him longer to fell comfortable in this situation, and only towards the end does his turn into something approaching a conversation rather than a formal interview.
�I�m not really open to new relationships,� he confesses, �And I have to say that being in this band has changed me in that way. I�ve got the same friends that I�ve had since I was about 11 years old. I�ve always known who my friends are and I�ve not really let a lot of people in since then.�
Ironically, considering he�s he one member of SOAD to receive what he calls �hate male� for detracting the seriousness of the band, he�s the only one really to discuss politics during these interviews. He hasn�t missed the fact that the kids who once turned up at a SOAD show with inverted US flags are now waving them along with everyone else during wartime.
�Certain things have changed for people after September 11,� he reasons. �But some people changed their whole values. People in this country didn�t have a love for the country and it�s healthy they do now, but lets not be blind. I feel like the government can get away with a lot of stuff because people are scared, like, do anything you�ve gotta do to protect us, even if it is taking away our rights; that�s what I�m scared of. I love this country, but you can�t tell me that after September 11 we have to trust what the media says. That hasn�t changed for me. I still question authority.�
You�re the only member of the band who was born in the United States. What effect has that had on your music?
Daron: �Anytime time you say you were born in Hollywood people go �Wow!�. But I grew up with hookers and pimps in my back yard and homeless people walking the streets. There was no glamour. When you think of Hollywood, you think of glamour, and I wanted people to think of something a little more depressing - y�know?, the family of immigrants who�ve just moved here and are living on welfare seven to a one bedroom apartment.�
Do you realise that System Of A Down are dangerously subversive band in certain people�s eyes?
Daron (shrugging): �I don�t worry about it. What could they possibly do to stop us? Threaten our families? We�ve all got our own opinions and I don�t see anybody shutting up. But we also have a respect. I mean, you might dislike someone, but you don�t go to their house after their mother died and dislike them at that point, y�know? We might have our beliefs, but there were people that died and while I was with my family at New Year I couldn�t help but think of a lot of people that don�t have their family now for absolutely no reason. F**k Bin Laden and f**k Bush; they�re both twisted. What matters to me is the innocent people, and there�s innocent people on both sides dying. I mean, that old lady who died of anthrax. What has she got to do with it? Those are the real casualties. But I can�t help having sympathy for innocent people in Afghanistan and Iraq and countries that maybe aren�t our friends at the moment.
What if SOAD do become as big as Metalica? What then?
Daron: �That�s when it�s dangerous and people start coming after you. I mean, the Beatles did it and see what where they ended up. I give a lot of props to Sin�ad O�Connor because she did a lot of thing that were gutsy and she got booed off the stage. But she�s right and a lot of people don�t have the guts to do that. We�re just a rock band like anybody else, but I think if we get big we�ll help out causes like the Beastie Boys do. And the type of personalities we have - especially me and Serj - it�s like, �Okay, so kill us�. I don�t think we would stop.�