Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is the voice of System of a Down, a solo musician and composer whose work also spans poetry, painting and human rights advocacy.
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Latest
Serj’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- August 21, 1967 · Beirut, Lebanon
- Roots
- Armenian-American; raised in Los Angeles after moving there at seven
- Known for
- Lead singer and lyricist of System of a Down
- Breakout
- Toxicity (2001), featuring “Chop Suey!”, “Toxicity” and “Aerials”
- Beyond the band
- Solo records, orchestral music, film scores, poetry and painting
Mini bio
Finding his path.
Born to Armenian parents in Beirut, Serj moved to Los Angeles at seven. His memoir describes a turning point on the drive home from an LSAT class, when he decided to pursue music instead of business and law. Before System of a Down, he and Daron Malakian played together in Soil.
The voice fans found.
System of a Down formed in 1994 and built a following in Southern California clubs. Their 2001 album Toxicity took them to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Serj’s vocals and lyrics helped make songs such as “Chop Suey!” and “Aerials” a lasting part of the band’s identity. “B.Y.O.B.” later earned the band a Grammy.
Following the next idea.
Serj began his solo album career with Elect the Dead in 2007. He went on to write the four-act Orca Symphony No. 1 and film scores, while publishing poetry and making paintings paired with original music. He also co-founded Axis of Justice with Tom Morello in 2002. His 2024 memoir, Down with the System, follows the connections between his Armenian heritage, music and activism.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2025Covers, Collaborations & CollagesSolo artist
- 2013Orca Symphony No. 1Composer
- 2007Elect the DeadSolo artist, songwriter and arranger
- 2001ToxicitySystem of a Down vocalist, lyricist and co-producer
Books
Film
- 2021Truth to PowerDocumentary subject and score composer
Awards
Quotes
I wanted to put out a record of collaborations I haven’t released before, along with covers, which I haven’t done.Serj Tankian, official Covers, Collaborations & Collages album notes
Explaining the archival recordings behind his 2025 collection.
Trivia
- He founded Serjical Strike Records in 2001.
- His first visual-art exhibition, Disarming Time Musical Paintings, opened in Los Angeles in 2013.
- Orca Symphony No. 1 was recorded in Linz, Austria, after a Kickstarter campaign helped fund its recording and debut performance.
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