Rock & Soul

Image credit: Tankian: Myriam Santos-Kayda/Retna

If Serj is this band's brain, bassist Shavo Odadjian, 27, its heart, and John its muscle, then Daron is its soul.

A metalhead by nature, Daron broadened his scope after playing in a series of unfulfilling bands. ''I got to know the Beatles and Bowie and all these great writers that kept it tight and simple,'' he says. ''I look at songs like roller-coaster rides. The best rides aren't five minutes long. They last a minute, but you go through such an emotional trip.''

As the band's primary musical creative force, Daron struggles with System's identity more than his mates. ''I want people to respect us as art, not as a product, not as a T-shirt,'' he says. ''I don't want people to one day say 'System of a Down' and roll their eyes.''

Despite a penchant for darkness and protest, it isn't all about toxicity. ''Serj talks about politics more,'' Daron says. ''But I don't want to lose touch with just being a fun band. We're a rock band, and as an artist, I don't want to get caught up in just being about politics.''