Down with the System

A Memoir (of Sorts)

De: Serj Tankian

Narrado por: Serj Tankian

An exhilarating, thoughtful, and beautifully written memoir by musician, songwriter, and lead singer-lyricist of Grammy award-winning metal band, System Of A Down, Serj Tankian.

Serj Tankian will be the first to admit that his band, System Of A Down, was “unlikely a chart-topper as had ever existed in modern music history: a band of Armenian-Americans playing a practically unclassifiable clash of wildly aggressive metal riffs, unconventional tempo-twisting rhythms, and Armenian folk melodies, with me alternately growling, screaming, and crooning lyrics that could pivot from avant-garde silliness to raging socio-political rants in the space of a single line.” After all, as Serj concedes, “it’s not easy listening.”

Even so, there’s no doubt that System’s music had struck a chord with millions of listeners across the globe ever since they burst on the scene in the mid-1990s. With nearly 40 million album sales, three albums topping the Billboard charts, and a devoted legion of fans, the band dominated the alt-rock and metal scenes just as the world hurtled into a new millennium, redefining the very idea of what rockstars could and couldn’t talk about, could and couldn’t do, could and couldn’t represent.

In DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM, Serj presents listeners with a memoir that is far more than just a rock 'n' roll fable. It's an immigrant's tale, it’s an activist's awakening, and it's a spiritual journey from darkness toward light. And all of this comes down to the fact that Serj himself has had the chance to live an extraordinary life—thanks to a combination of luck, circumstance, struggle, talent, and spiritual awakening. Born to Armenian parents in Beirut, Serj grows up hearing bombs drop outside his childhood home during the country’s civil war, before moving to Los Angeles at the age of seven. As a young man, he is immersed in the SoCal community of “Little Armenia,” learning more and more about the brutal genocide faced by his ancestors while helping his parents adapt to the constraints and contradictions of the American Dream. Then, during a pivotal drive home from an LSAT class, Serj decides to turn away from a promising future in business and law to make music instead—a decision that leads him to touring five continents as the lead singer of a hugely popular rock band, hitting number #1 on the Billboard album charts the morning of 9/11, and then having the hit single from the same album banned from radio two days later. In the years that follow, his uniquely singular story continues, as he evades glass bottles hurled at a cancelled show by angry Slayer fans, teams up with Tom Morello to push social justice causes on unsuspecting metalheads, argues with LAPD officers over the best way to quell rioting fans, and defines new sounds and singing tactics with Rick Rubin.

Braiding together Serj’s thought-provoking insight with heartfelt and poetic prose, DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM retraces Serj’s remarkable and unlikely journey, and explores what it’s taught him—about music, about art, about activism, and about himself. It’s an unforgettable ride that will leave you breathless—and an absolute delight for new fans and old ones alike.

©2024 Serj Tankian (P)2024 Hachette Books

A must for every SOAD fun and not only

An honest and touching self biography by Serj Tankian that tells not only his perspective of SOAD story but also the context and background that defined his perosnal search for justice through art and activism. Was so capitvated that I've finshed listening to it within two day

READ THIS BOOK NOW

READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT !!! READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT !!! ‼️r e a d i t

Serj's Journey made me love his music even more than I already did.

Serj takes you through not only his life, but his family and friends' lives as well. He explains the struggles of living in war, fighting for freedom, and spreads awareness to those ot is hidden from. He explains his thoughts, feelings and emotions of experimenting his expressions through art. This is a great book, not just for his fans of his music but for anyone who wants to hear the story of war to freedom, the realities of "life on the road", or someone who has built numerous successful companies and projects from the ground up.

Great storytelling of his life, music, and activism

I loved this book! He's a very interesting person, great writer, and his performance reading it was great. I highly recommend.

Informative and enjoyable

Great book and the narration adds so much to the story telling. Highly recommend this.

I loved it 💕

Serj has beautiful energy and it was lovely to hear more about his story and his background and journey. I loved his enthusiastic, down to earth performance and learning more about the SOAD lore. The only part I didn't like was hearing about his meeting of his wife, who was 20 when they met, while he was 37. Hearing him describe the beginning of their relationship as "bright, sparkling, and new" gave me the ick, though I know he didn't mean it that way. But they're still married and have been together for 20 years at this point, so what do I know. Still love Serj and I definitely recommend this book.

Thought provoking, entertaining, & informative memoir

As I sit here listening to the end credits of this wonderful book, I find it difficult to convey my thoughts into something tangible. During many times, this book made me weep, laugh, and ponder with Serj's thoughts. I recommend this book to everyone I know.

Armenian Genocide.

I'm a long time fan of System of the Down. I remember the first time I ever listen to them. I was 12 years old at a new friends house. I can't even remember her name but I do remember hearing prison playing from her radio. It was true a turning moment for me. I went home that night and found out everything I could find out about the toxicity album. I love the music I love the passion I love the activism something I didn't even truly understand at the time but I myself believe in standing for what you believe in. I had never felt that kind of connection with any band ever I have never had that connection with any kind of music. haha never stopped stop listening to them from that day on. I have raised every one of my children to listen to System. i had always heard the rumors of why the band didn't produce more music or tour . I knew that the band was Armenia. I somewhat knew of the Armenian Genocide only because of Systems music. To be truthful though that was the only information I had ever received on either and even with that truly did not understand. After this book I have learned so much, that I caught myself being caught up more in System's activism then System the band. I feel like as Americans that share a country with so many Armenian immigrants and their culture this Injustice should be more well-known in our country then it is currently. I also reinsured myself of a lot of my opinions and thoughts about the band by reading this book. I have definitely gained a whole different respect for System other than them being a highly popular American rock band.

In gratitude for this insightful autobiography

Fascinating and enlightening. Thank you. This has made me much more mindful of not only how to approach the plight of others, but also how to navigate my own journey. Also, SOAD has always been one of my favorite bands since 1995.

Wow!

Amazing book, full of historical lessons and life ones as well - besides the band’s, of course.