Daron Malakyan, guitarist of the rock band System of a Down: biography, personal life

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The rock quartet SOAD is known all over the world. Each of its members occupies a special position in the world of rock music. Daron Malakian is the guitarist for System of a Down and frontman for Scars on Broadway.

Dossier of Daron Malakian

Here are some brief biographical facts about the life of the famous guitarist, which were collected by curious journalists. Read more about some of the points later in the article.

• Birthday: 1975-18-07
• Father and mother: Vartan and Zepyur Malakyan.
• Country and city of birth: USA, Hollywood.
• Zodiac sign: Cancer (by month) and Rabbit (by year).
• Eye color: honey.
• Natural hair shade: Light Brown.
• Height: 1 m 71 cm.
• Residence: Los Angeles, California.
• Hobby: collecting art, musical instruments.
• Marital Status: Single
• School: Glendale High School.
• Preferred colors: purple, magenta, black.
• Favorite band: The Beatles.

Biography

In 1975, on July 18, a son was born in a family of immigrants from Western Armenia (now the territory of Turkey) Vartan and Zepyur Malakyanov. During the Armenian genocide, their ancestors managed to escape from their historical homeland and find refuge in neighboring countries - Iraq and Iran. Then, in search of a better life and educational opportunities, Zepyur and Vartan each went to the States in a hotel. She graduated as a sculptor, and he became an artist. Once, at one of the Armenian parties, young people met and decided to unite destinies. Then their son was born, the first-born, who was named Daron (Taron). The family lived in Hollywood. Both spouses were artists: the father is an artist, choreographer and dancer, and the mother is a sculptor. From early childhood, the future musician Daron Malakyan was fond of heavy metal. All this was the influence of his second cousin. When he grew up a little, he started listening to Motörhead, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Ozzy Osbourne, collecting records.

Becoming a musician

The boy wanted to become a drummer, but his father and mother gave him an electric guitar for his 11th birthday. Daron was disappointed, but his parents didn't want to have problems with the neighbors. After all, they did not live in a private house, but in a small apartment in the Glendale area. And as a very young boy, he first picked up a real musical instrument. He was not sent to a music school. He himself played the guitar for 10 hours a day. In the first year, Daron learned to listen and tune the instrument correctly,then - to take chords, and in the senior classes he was already considered, although a beginner, but a rather intelligent guitarist. By the age of 17, he was already composing music.

One of his favorite bands was The Beatles, young Daron Malakyan simply reveled in their work. Lennon's quotes struck him with deep meaning and conciseness. It is the leader of the Beatles that can be considered an indirect teacher of the young musician. Such well-known British bands as The Who, The Kinks and others also had a great influence on his work.

Meet future SOAD members

Daron attended the Armenian school of Alex and Rose Pilibos. Here he met Andy Khachaturian and Shavo Odadjian - future colleagues. By the way, Serj Tankian - the leader of the System of a Down - also studied at this school, but a few years before them. Daron first took to the stage when he was 16 years old with the Hard Rock Band.

Meeting with Tankian

They met in the early 90s. Each was a member of a rock band. Serge was the keyboardist and Daron was the guitarist. That day they were rehearsing in the same music studio. After this meeting, several Armenian musicians decided to unite and create their own group “Soyl”. They were joined by Dave Hakobyan, Domingo Lareno. Shavo Odadjian became their manager. After the collapse of Soil, Tankian, Malakian and Odadjian together created the System of A Down group. Daren, in addition to music, also wrote poetry. One of them was called Victims of a Down. Replacing the first word with “System”, the name of the group was formed, whichsoon became known throughout the world. And after a while Andy Khachaturian joined them.

Rock band System of a down: producing activity

Daron Malakyan is not only the guitarist and vocalist of this musical group, but also produced his albums. For greater convenience, he founded a personal record label, which was called Eat Ur Music. The album "Amen" was the first release of the music studio.

Daron Malakyan: Personal Life. About myself

A well-known guitarist tells about himself that he does not like to go to different gatherings, parties, he is not comfortable in crowded places. The only place he is drawn to is hockey games. His favorite team is the Los Angeles Kings. Daron Malakyan likes to spend his free time alone and listen to music. Unlike other colleagues, he does not like to hang out in bars or strip clubs, choosing the family comfort that his mother knows how to create, so he still lives with his parents. He also prefers chatting with old friends to new acquaintances. Many fans, of course, are interested in whether he is married. Daron Malakyan and his girlfriend tried not to advertise their relationship. In addition, Daron does not like to talk about his personal life at all. However, the paparazzi kept trying to catch a couple in the camera lens. And then articles with screaming titles appeared in the press: "Lars Ulrich marries Daron Malakian's girlfriend Jessica Miller", "Daron was abandoned by a girl." After all this, the musician wrote in one of the social networks: “I am a melancholic, unhe althy and I haveconstant stress. My popularity annoys me. Once upon a time, my only listener was my mother, and that suited me more.”

Interesting facts

• Until 1998, Malakian played a Fender Stratocaster, and from 1998 to 2005 he used various Ibanez Iceman models. By the way, their design was developed by the father of the musician. Since 2005, Darom Malakyan switched to Gibson SG. It was a real rarity of 1961 release. Let's not talk about its price.
• At the age of 33, Malakyan grew his hair and beard, and everyone noticed his resemblance to the Savior. After that, the name of Jesus was often heard in his songs.
• Daron is a big collector. In his arsenal there are skulls, paraphernalia of his favorite hockey team (banners, helmets, uniform details, sticks and pucks, etc.), carpets, guitars, as well as musical records from different times. His signature DMM1 guitar was painted in Hypnotize style by his father.
• The most interesting of his carnival images was the horned astronaut. He wore it for Halloween.
• Did you know in which famous German band Daron Malakyan played? Rammstein! Surely everyone knows her. Of course, it was temporary, and he replaced the band's guitarist who broke his leg.
• For a long time, his girlfriend was model Jessica Miller. Her photographs often graced the covers of Vogue magazine.

In Armenia

The day before the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on April 23, 2014, the System of A Down group gave a grand concert on the main square of the Republic. She is in the verycenter of Yerevan. The huge oval square was completely packed with the band's fans. Among the spectators were not only residents of Armenia, but also representatives of neighboring countries - Georgia and Iran. They were also joined by numerous tourists from all over the world. The concert was to take place outdoors. In the morning the weather was overcast, and during the concert it started to rain. None of the spectators left the square.

The concert was truly grandiose and was remembered by all those present for a long time. And a few weeks before this, Kanye West, who came to Armenia with his wife Kim Kardashian, surprised the Yerevan audience with his eccentric act. He jumped into an artificial swan lake (where real swans and ducks swim) and, standing waist-deep in water, sang songs from his repertoire.

Filmography

Daron Malakyan starred in three films where he played himself. These are pictures:

• "Screamers" (filmed in 2006);
• "We sold our souls for rock and roll";
• Saturday Night Live.

The quotes of the hero of our article are quite original. For example, he says that "art has no laws and rules", "one should be afraid only of fear, which closes the mind from trying to do something" and "the main thing is positive energy on stage".