Daron Malakian American guitarist and vocalist Date of Birth: 18.07.1975 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Influences
2. Musical Development
3. System of a Down and Beyond
4. Own Records and Scars on Broadway
5. Hiatus and Return
6. Personal Life

Early Life and Influences

Darron Vartan Malakianwas born on July 18, 1975, in Hollywood, California, to Armenian parents who had immigrated from Iraq. His father was a gifted artist, dancer, and choreographer, while his mother taught at the California Institute of the Arts.

In kindergarten, influenced by his cousin, Malakian developed a passion for heavy metal music, particularly after he heard Kiss in 1979. His parents supported his musical aspirations and provided him with records by bands like Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, and others.

Musical Development

Inspired by heavy rock legends, Malakian initially wanted to be a drummer. However, due to space constraints, he picked up an electric guitar, which he could easily mute when necessary. Self-taught, he learned to play by ear.

In high school, Malakian's guitar skills earned him recognition among his peers. He realized that guitar playing could bring him public validation. He drew inspiration from the songwriting and arrangements of Slayer, Metallica, Sepultura, and Pantera. Surprisingly, he also became a fan of the Beatles, citing John Lennon as one of his influences.

Through an Armenian cultural school, Malakian met future bandmates Shavo Odadjian and Andranik "Andy" Khatchaturian. System of a Down's frontman, Serj Tankian, also attended the school, albeit a few years ahead of Malakian.

System of a Down and Beyond

Malakian's professional career began in 1993 when he met Lebanese-born Serj Tankian. The two, who played in separate bands, met at a rehearsal space in Hollywood. After an impromptu jam session with bassist Dave Hakopyan and drummer Domingo Laraino, they decided to form Soil.

Producer Shavo Odadjian suggested a change in direction, becoming the bassist of a new band called System of a Down, featuring Malakian, Tankian, drummer Andy Khatchaturian, and later, John Dolmayan.

Own Records and Scars on Broadway

As System of a Down gained popularity, Malakian collaborated with Rick Rubin, Bad Acid Trip, and The Ambulance on their studio albums. In early 2003, the guitarist established his own independent label, EatUrMusic, and signed a first deal with the California-based nu-metal band Amen.

Around the same time, Malakian released a demo track with Casey Chaos, Greg Kells, and Zak Hill. "B.Y.O.B.," which later became a System of a Down hit in the mid-2000s, was featured on this demo, titled "Ghetto Blaster Rehearsals."

When Tankian announced a hiatus for System of a Down, Malakian, supported by drummer John Dolmayan, founded an experimental project called Scars on Broadway. He began to explore a unique sound and style, releasing a debut self-titled album and the single "They Say."

Hiatus and Return

In 2009, Malakian made a surprise appearance at Shavo Odadjian's Halloween party, performing "Suite-Pee" and "They Say" with his former System of a Down bandmates. However, he did not participate in his band's subsequent tours or a USO performance for US soldiers in Iraq.

After a period of introspection and guest appearances as a musician, Malakian returned to Scars on Broadway, working on a new album. "Fucking" became the first single, accompanied by a music video directed by Greg Waterman.

During this time, he reunited with System of a Down and performed at summer festivals in Europe in 2011, including Metaltown, Rock am Ring, and Download Festival.

In 2018, Malakian and Scars on Broadway recorded the song "Lives," which chronicled the history and culture of Armenia. It became a hit and was featured on the album "Dictator."

Personal Life

Malakian's personal life is relatively private. He avoids tabloids, but colleagues have shared that one of his favorite pastimes is attending hockey games. He resides with his parents in California and enjoys listening to music and having conversations with his parents.

Malakian briefly dated model Jessica Miller. The relationship was mutually secretive, although paparazzi occasionally captured images of the couple. Miller later married Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, and Malakian, though initially devastated, reportedly accepted the situation.