Serj Tankian
| Serj Tankian | |
|---|---|
 Serj Tankian (right) performing in Gothenburg in August 2010 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 21, 1967 [1] Beirut, Lebanon[1] |
| Genres | experimental, alternative metal heavy metal |
| Occupations | Musician, singer–songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, political activist |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards, piano, guitar, bass, synthesizer, drum machine, melodica, theremin, sampler |
| Years active | 1992 - present |
| Labels | Serjical Strike, Reprise, American, Columbia, Axis of Justice |
| Associated acts | System of a Down, Axis of Justice, The F.C.C. |
| Website | www.serjtankian.com |
Serj Tankian (Armenian: Սերժ Թանգեան; born August 21, 1967) (pronounced ['sɛɾʒ tʰɑnkʰɛ'ɑn]) is an Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and a political activist. He is best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, keyboardist, and occasionally live rhythm guitarist of the Grammy Award-winning rock band, System of a Down.
In 2002, Tankian and Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello co-founded a non-profit political activist organization, Axis of Justice. During his musical career, he has released five albums with System of a Down, one with Arto Tunçboyacıyan (Serart), as well as his debut solo album Elect the Dead and a live orchestral version incorporating the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Elect the Dead Symphony. He is currently producing his second solo album, Imperfect Harmonies. Tankian also founded Serjical Strike Records, a label which promotes bands that may not otherwise be signed to a label.
Contents |
Biography
Early life
Tankian was born in Beirut, Lebanon on August 21, 1967.[2] His father is Khatchadour Tankian. When he was eight years old his family immigrated to Los Angeles, California.[2] In his youth, he attended a school for Armenian-Americans, The Rose & Alex Pilibos School,[3] which was also attended by Tankian's future System of a Down bandmates Daron Malakian and Shavo Odadjian.[4] Doing well academically[3] Tankian attended California State University. This is where Tankian first began to play instruments and write songs.[2]
Soil and System of a Down
The early beginnings of System of a Down lie in a band named Soil (not to be confused with the Chicago-based band Soil) with Tankian on vocals, Malakian on guitar, and Odadjian acting as the band's manager at that time.[4] The band soon changed their name to System of a Down, after a poem Malakian wrote called "Victims of a Down." The band later added drummer John Dolmayan, and Odadjian switched from manager to bass. The band quickly began touring the Southern California rock clubs, and began to attract a strong following.[4]
Solo works
During System of a Down's days, Tankian was the vocalist in other bands for certain songs such as "Mushroom Cult" by Dog Fashion Disco and lent his vocals to the song Mein by Deftones. He also sang backup vocals on a song for Hed PE called "Feel Good". He produced "Enter the Chicken" by Buckethead, and provided vocals to the Buckethead songs We Are One, Coma, and Waiting Hare. With Serjical Strike Records, he endeavors to offer those musicians often ignored by the mainstream a possibility to release their music and be heard. The first release of Tankian's new label was Serart, an album by Tankian himself, and Arto Tunçboyacıyan, a Turkish-Armenian friend of Tankian's.
In 2007, Serj composed and wrote "The Essence of Tequila" and "Chicakong" [5] for the video game soundtrack of John Woo Presents Stranglehold. He also helped with "Stranglehold Rough 2" and "Pianoimprovstrangle 2".[6]
More recently, he sang with Les Rita Mitsouko on the song "Terminal Beauty". Also, he sang with the band Fair to Midland during a live improvisational version of their song "Walls of Jericho", from the album Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True, which was a massive hit with fans. He often collaborates as well with his close friend, director Diran Noubar on various projects, including the voice-over of Noubar's "Armenia, a Country Under Blockade". Noubar played some guitar on Tankian's Elect the Dead album on the track "Saving Us" and directed the music video for "Baby".
Tankian is also politically involved. Together with Tom Morello, he founded the organization Axis of Justice. Tankian is a New Zealand resident and has a secondary vacation dwelling there.[7] There has been a misconception that he intends to stay in New Zealand until the Iraq War is over, but as stated in an interview, Tankian has no intention of doing so. He often speaks publicly against violence and injustice in the world. Tankian released a new song "Fears" in November 2008 exclusively in support of Amnesty International's Global Write-A-Thon [8]
Tankian told The Pulse of Radio that the highlights of his last eight months on the road may soon be documented in a DVD featuring videos, live performances and behind-the-scenes footage.
On March 16, 2009, Serj performed with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in New Zealand, an orchestral version of the album Elect the Dead. The live performance was captured in a CD/DVD titled Elect the Dead Symphony which was released om March 9, 2010.
Tankian is currently co-writing a musical with the American playwright Steven Sater. It is based on the Ancient Greek tragedy Prometheus Bound. He stated that eight songs have been completed and that there will be a record.[9]
In 2009, Tankian collaborated with the band Viza (previously known as Visa) for their track "Viktor".[10] Viza is signed to Tankian's Serjical Strike label.
On February 15, 2010, Serj Tankian released a new single, "The Charade." The song is available as a digital download on iTunes.
Tankian's second solo album was originally due in 2009. It is said to be more of a jazz and orchestral based sound. Said Tankian of the second album, "I'm structuring the next record kind of like a jazz orchestral. I've got a full orchestra interested, so I want this giant electric guitar in the air to be played by a full orchestra. I want the orchestra to be the electric guitar. I want to make an orchestra do what it's never done before, like a GG Allin type orchestra. Think of that." [11] The album had the working title Music Without Borders, however, the final album title is Imperfect Harmonies. On June 23, 2010, a promo single from his upcoming album Imperfect Harmonies was released called "Borders Are." The first radio single from Imperfect Harmonies, Left Of Center, was released in July 2010. A third single, "Disowned Inc." was released on August 9, 2010. Imperfect Harmonies is due for release September 21, 2010. Preceding the album's release, two contests were announced (one consisting of brainteasers related to the album/song titles, the other an art contest) in which fans could win prizes such as Tankian's autograph and merchandise. On August 22, 2010, a music video for Left Of Center was released on Tankian's MySpace account.
Animal rights
In recent years Tankian has taken a stance supporting animal rights. He also has become a vegetarian who has strong feelings against the establishment of industrial slaughterhouses. In an interview with PETA, he also claimed his change due to "touring and its variety of edible crap", and also he felt it was "instinctive somewhat". Furthermore, he also feels the need for respect towards 'mother earth'.[12]
In July 2009, Serj signed a PETA petition against the slaughtering methods of chickens in KFC slaughterhouses.[13]
The F.C.C.
The F.C.C. (Flying Cunts of Chaos) was Serj's backing band when he played live up until 2009.[14]
- Final line-up
- Mario Pagliarulo — bass, vocals
- Erwin Khackikian — keyboards, piano, synthesizers, vocals
- Troy Zeigler — drums, vocals
- Dan Monti — guitar, vocals
- Jeff Mallow — guitar, vocals (2008–present)
- Past members
- Larry "Ler" LaLonde — guitar, vocals (2007–2008)
Discography
- Solo
- Elect the Dead (2007)
- Elect the Dead Symphony (2010)
- Imperfect Harmonies (2010)
- With System of a Down
- System of a Down (1998)
- Toxicity (2001)
- Steal This Album! (2002)
- Mezmerize (2005)
- Hypnotize (2005)
- With Serart
- Serart (2003)
- With Buckethead
- Enter The Chicken (2005)
- With Tony Iommi
- Iommi (2000)
- With Wyclef Jean
- Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant (2007)
Bibliography
- Cool Gardens (2001)
- Glaring Through Oblivion (2011) [15]
Awards and nominations
System of a Down has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, of which has won one in 2006 for Best Hard Rock Performance for the song B.Y.O.B.. The band has also been nominated for several Kerrang! and MTV awards.
- Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Chop Suey!" | Best Metal Performance | Nominated |
| 2003 | "Aerials" | Best Hard Rock Performance | Nominated |
| 2006 | "B.Y.O.B." | Best Hard Rock Performance | Won |
| 2007 | "Lonely Day" | Best Hard Rock Performance | Nominated |
General
- In 2005, System of a Down won for Best Alternative Act in the Europe Music Awards
- In 2006, System of a Down won the "MTV Good Woodie Award" for their song "Question!"
- In 2006, System of a Down's song "Toxicity" was #14 on the VH1 Top 40 Metal Songs list
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Serj Tankian, MTV
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 McIntosh, Gregory. "Serj Tankian". Allmusic. http://www.ask.com/music/Serj-Tankian/338947. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Myers, Ben (2007). System Of A Down: Right Here In Hollywood. Disinformation Company. p. 14. ISBN 1-932857-88-5. http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1932857885/#reader_1932857885.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Brennan, Carol (Notable Biographies.com). "System of a Down Biography". English. http://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2006-Ra-Z/System-of-a-Down.html. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ↑ "Serj Tankian Biography". Monsters and Critics. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/Serj_Tankian/biography. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ↑ "Game Credits for John Woo presents Stranglehold". Mobygames.com. 2007-09-28. http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/john-woo-presents-stranglehold/credits. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ↑ Chris Schulz (December 17, 2008). "Serj Tankian to perform with APO". Stuff.co.nz. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4795853a1860.html. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
- ↑ "Music for Human Rights". Amnestyusa.org. http://www.amnestyusa.org/musicforhumanrights/. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ↑ Serj Tankian Co-Writing a Musical, Spinner, Last accessed May 22, 2008.
- ↑ "Serj Tankian &VISA". http://www.visabandfans.com/Videos/display/videoid/18?name=News&file=article&sid=685&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
- ↑ "Serj Tankian Talks SOAD, Next Solo Album | News @". Ultimate-guitar.com. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/serj_tankian_talks_soad_next_solo_album.html. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ↑ "PETA2 // Out There // Q&A with Serj Tankian of System of a Down". Peta2.com. http://www.peta2.com/Outthere/o-serj.asp. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ↑ https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1762
- ↑ "Full interview with musician Serj Tankian — Nightline — Video". 3 News. http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/Nightline/tabid/368/articleID/86989/cat/760/Default.aspx#video. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ↑ http://www.harpercollinscatalogs.com/harper/934_1772_333039343539.pdf
External links
- Serj Tankian's official Flash-based website
- Serjical Strike official website
- System of a Down's official website
- Serj Tankian's first interview in Armenian (Video)
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