System of a Down (commonly abbreviated as SOAD) is an American rock band from Glendale, California, formed in 1994. System of a Down consists of Serj Tankian (lead vocals), Daron Malakian (vocals and guitar), Shavo Odadjian (bass), and John Dolmayan (drums). A staple on mainstream rock radio, their works have earned them four Grammy Award nominations, of which they have won one in 2006 for Best Hard Rock Performance.
System of a Down are noted for the left-wing political views expressed in their songs, tackling several subjects including the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Armenian Genocide, the Iraq War, capitalism, minority rights, the War on Drugs, anti-religious sentiment, and censorship. The band is a part of the Axis of Justice, a non-profit organization co-founded by Tankian and fellow musician Tom Morello, dedicated to bringing together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.
In 2006, the group went on 'permanent' hiatus, and all four members are currently working on various side projects. The band has released five studio albums and have sold over 20 million records worldwide.
