 Am
so freakin’ excited about the upcoming Scars on Broadway album (July 29/Interscope),
I tracked down Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan to bring you the
skinny.
The power players have been rocking you hard for the past decade as the
guitarist and drummer (respectively) for System of a Down, and all I can
tell you about Scars is to expect the unexpected.
HSC: Dudes, am so super super in love with the Scars single, “They Say”
can’t hear it enough. Is that an isolated incident or is the album all punked
out?
John: That’s the only straightforward song like that on the album.
We’re all over the place.
Daron: That’s just kind of how we flow. Diversity is something that
just comes naturally, even with System, it was always hard to explain what we
did. I have so many different things that happen to me every day and I just try
to relay it in my music.
HSC: John says by the time you come into the studio, you’ve already
done 95 percent of the work. How’s that?
Daron: Everything is singing in my head. It all flies out of me at
the same time. Playing it, listening to it, it’s all second nature. So by the
time I hit the studio, there are very few surprises.
John: One thing’s for sure, we’ve worked very hard on this album.
It’s more rock oriented than our last two albums, less metal, but still
aggressive.
HSC: Let’s talk about the title, Scars on Broadway. I heard it
comes from lampposts in Glendale on Broadway Ave. from the 1920s that have a
base in the shape of a swastika. That’s a hell of a visual.
Daron: That’s where it originated but it means a lot of different
things. I like to look at it like all the world’s a stage, and we are just the
scars.
HSC: : Most bands are like bad marriages. Members can’t stand each other
after a few years. How have you guys been able to sidestep that?
John: The funny thing is, me and Daron probably got along least of
all. But the bottom line is, we always had respect for each other. It hasn’t
been hard to put aside differences for the sake of good music.
HSC: You think about the Ramones, Johnny and Joey not talking to
each other for two decades while still riding in a van.
John: I just figure, why spend the best years of your career
wrapped up in petty bull**it? And then when you’re too old to play, you get back
together. I wanna kick ass in my prime. I mean, I saw the Rolling Stones in the
‘80s and I saw them last year. Big difference. They still rock but I mean,
c’mon…. It’s like watching a 55-year-old quarterback. (Below, John)
HSC: ou both started pretty young. How did you find music?
Daron: Music found me. I’ve got pictures of myself at five or six,
wearing band pins. When other kids were making their parents take them to Toys R
Us, I was dragging my mom to record stores. It was what I lived for. Still is.
John: My dad was a musician, so it was no surprise. I grew up
listening to jazz, I especially love jazz fusion. I love the aggressiveness of
it. I probably have another good 15 years to play drums. It’s such a demanding
instrument. Unless you play like a p*ssy.
HSC: You’ve played a few shows now. How are you feeling?
Daron: Good, the response has been amazing. People are responding
to songs like, ‘World Long Gone,’ and ‘3005.’ Also getting a good vibe on
‘Whoring Streets.’ It’s a song about Hollywood and it’s probably the saddest
song I’ve ever written.
HSC: Dang, can’t wait to hear more. How far you guys think you’re
gonna take this?
Daron: All I know is it feels good to be working this hard.
John: I’m thinking, we’re gonna take it as far as we can.
by heidicuda from Santa Monica - L.A.
Girl / L.A. World
photos: Greg Watermann
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