Serj Tankian is an Armenian-American musician best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band System of a Down.
Tankian moved to the U.S. at the age of 7, fleeing the Lebanese Civil War with his family.
System of a Down, formed in 1994, quickly rose to fame with three albums debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.
Biography
Early Life
Serj Tankian was born on August 21, 1967, in Beirut, Lebanon, to Armenian parents Khachadour and Alice Tankian. His family traces its roots to cities in modern-day Turkey, and all four of his grandparents were survivors of the Armenian genocide. Amid the Lebanese Civil War, Tankian moved to the United States at the age of seven, settling in Los Angeles. He attended the bilingual Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, where he would later meet his future bandmates from System of a Down. Tankian graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a marketing degree in 1989, during which he began to explore music more seriously, particularly through playing the keyboard and writing songs.
Career
Tankian's musical journey began with a band called Soil, which included future System of a Down members Daron Malakian and Shavo Odadjian. After Soil disbanded, Tankian, Malakian, and Odadjian formed System of a Down in 1994, named after a poem by Malakian. The band quickly gained popularity, releasing five studio albums, three of which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. System of a Down has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, solidifying their place in the music industry. Tankian is also known for his solo work, with albums such as "Elect the Dead" and "Imperfect Harmonies," showcasing his diverse musical influences and styles.
Activism and Views
Beyond music, Tankian is a passionate advocate for human rights and social justice, often addressing these themes in his lyrics. He has participated in numerous protests, including those for Armenian genocide recognition, and has been involved in various humanitarian efforts. His views on religion are eclectic, blending elements from various belief systems, and he emphasizes a deep connection to nature. Tankian's activism and artistic expression continue to inspire many, making him a significant figure in both music and social justice.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Covers, Collaborations & Collages2025
- 1.Electric Dreams2:23
- 2.A Seed5:44
- 3.I’m Counting on You4:01
- 4.I’m in Heaven2:37
- 5.Things Unspoken4:04
- 6.I Found You4:13
- 7.Kneeling Away From the Sun4:11
- 8.Apocalyptic Dance4:56
- 9.Sonic Expulsions3:04
- 10.When Death Arrives4:19
Invocations2023
- 1.Green Mountain4:45
- 2.Free the Piano3:49
- 3.Der Voghormia4:08
- 4.Aurora's Dream6:54
- 5.Fragile3:00
- 6.Rembetica3:24
- 7.Gaia3:05
- 8.Ghost in the Machine4:59
- 9.Five Heads4:20
- 10.Desara3:06
- 11.Moment2:19
- 12.Kul Ena4:19
- 13.Stringopolous4:18
- 14.Sad Romance4:10
- 15.Flying Phone Medley6:22
MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street2022
- 1.Madoff in Motion0:53
- 2.The Convoy2:14
- 3.Action2:38
- 4.Action 21:38
- 5.Evidence2:36
- 6.Annette 22:24
- 7.Cliffhanger 21:41
- 8.Suspencer2:29
- 9.Violin Textures2:26
- 10.Bright Day1:24
- 11.Careful Moves1:40
- 12.Classical Dance2:12
- 13.Classical Dance 21:51
- 14.Complex Club1:37
- 15.Creepy Typing3:54
- 16.Drones 41:55
- 17.High Life Theme3:08
- 18.Made2:56
- 19.Men’s Choir0:59
- 20.Office Sounds1:43
- 21.On the Move1:59
- 22.Printer Escape1:14
- 23.Requiem Choir 22:48
- 24.Run and Hide2:45
- 25.Stock Market Crash2:11
- 26.They’re Coming1:20
- 27.Motions - Alt1:30
Live at Leeds2022
- 1.Empty Walls3:52
- 2.Feed Us4:15
- 3.Lie Lie Lie3:22
- 4.Saving Us5:23
- 5.Baby4:06
- 6.Sky Is Over2:47
- 7.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition5:45
- 8.Jam1:36
- 9.Honking Antelope3:57
- 10.Beethoven's Cunt5:25
- 11.The Unthinking Majority3:47
Cinematique Series: Illuminate2021
- 1.Entitled3:45
- 2.Film Piano2:26
- 3.Blues2:41
- 4.E‐Motive4:51
- 5.Free Thoughts4:51
- 6.New Like Glass3:14
- 7.Free the Piano3:56
- 8.Bellissimo Piannissimo2:55
- 9.Sad Romance4:25
- 10.Flying Phone Medley6:38
- 11.Snow on Ararat4:02
- 12.Opera Sundays4:04
I Am Not Alone (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)2021
- 1.Intro2:40
- 2.March Has Begun1:39
- 3.Early History3:08
- 4.New History0:43
- 5.After Release2:49
- 6.Stand With Us2:56
- 7.Beside Us1:30
- 8.Step to Make1:01
- 9.Storming the Station1:26
- 10.Just Games1:29
- 11.Operation Failed0:23
- 12.Front of Bus0:40
- 13.A Lot Will Change1:45
- 14.Baghramian5:11
- 15.Explosion1:29
- 16.Breakthrough6:35
- 17.Republic Square2:50
- 18.Completely Different2:12
- 19.Violent Forces2:35
- 20.The Meeting1:09
- 21.Arrested3:22
- 22.Women of the Revolution4:30
- 23.Nikol in Prison1:07
- 24.Noise of Pans2:24
- 25.April 242:10
- 26.Resignation3:58
- 27.Paying Tribute0:52
- 28.Victory2:05
- 29.Big Office1:57
- 30.My Step (English)3:24
Cinematique Series: Violent Violins2021
- 1.Rasputin2:02
- 2.Waiting for the Submarine3:10
- 3.Cyber Criminal2:14
- 4.Love at the Border1:57
- 5.Grieving Banner2:21
- 6.Spitfire Bombs2:49
- 7.Prelude to a Diss2:51
- 8.Minor Jazz2:28
- 9.Discovery of Self5:02
- 10.Pretty Cinematique of You3:04
- 11.Cinema Piano3:24
- 12.Play Her Piano3:43
- 13.Stringolopous Choir3:49
Cool Gardens Poetry Suite2021
- 1.Cinematic Piano Theme (with Poetry)3:24
- 2.Les Melodies (with Poetry)10:20
- 3.Percussion (with Poetry)10:07
- 4.Disarming Time: A Modern Piano Concerto (with Poetry)23:40
Live in Edmonton2021
- 1.Sounds of War5:45
- 2.Empty Walls3:51
- 3.Feed Us4:17
- 4.Lie Lie Lie4:05
- 5.Saving Us4:46
- 6.Baby3:31
- 7.Sky Is Over2:42
- 8.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition5:06
- 9.Charades4:25
- 10.Honking Antelope5:36
- 11.Holiday in Cambodia4:42
- 12.Beethoven's Cunt6:35
- 13.The Unthinking Majority4:02
- 14.Elect the Dead3:26
Truth to Power (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)2021
- 1.A Simple Question1:44
- 2.Home0:40
- 3.Poetry1:12
- 4.Little Armenia0:38
- 5.Family Story1:57
- 6.College0:47
- 7.Not My Pain1:13
- 8.Shavo1:04
- 9.They Don't Get It0:22
- 10.Rick Rubin0:47
- 11.Solidified0:58
- 12.Sept 114:06
- 13.Boom0:55
- 14.Axis of Justice1:18
- 15.Get the Word Out1:01
- 16.Chicago1:20
- 17.Impact0:30
- 18.Claustrophobia1:58
- 19.Ertegun2:27
- 20.Social Media0:44
- 21.Human Imbalance1:25
- 22.Coming Back1:47
- 23.Back to Lebanon0:37
- 24.Dear Mr. President3:04
- 25.Centennial2:46
- 26.The Future2:54
- 27.Down with the System2:17
- 28.Civil Disobedience3:09
- 29.A Beautiful Revolution3:03
- 30.A Lesson to the World1:42
Fuktronic2020
- 1.Chase4:11
- 2.Parole2:45
- 3.Shot3:17
- 4.Frenchy2:37
- 5.Guns3:09
- 6.Ladies3:38
- 7.Kit Kat Klub3:43
- 8.Russian4:02
- 9.TTFO2:38
- 10.Flight1:54
- 11.Fail4:22
- 12.Credits2:53
Midnight Star (Original Game Soundtrack)2019
- 1.Midnight Star Theme1:39
- 2.After the Battle0:28
- 3.Enemies Await0:45
- 4.Oberon1:45
- 5.Gear Up1:54
- 6.Heading to the Battlefield5:06
- 7.Mending Wounds2:12
- 8.Alien Landscape1:54
- 9.Lost in Space3:32
- 10.Opening Theme Alt0:24
- 11.Joplin1:06
- 12.Artifact2:00
- 13.Onto the Next Skirmish2:05
- 14.Colossus2:56
- 15.Immortal1:54
- 16.Boss Fight0:44
- 17.Surrounded by Enemies1:22
- 18.Victorious?1:31
- 19.Alien Vengeance2:01
- 20.Space2:08
- 21.No Hope in Sight1:02
- 22.Closing in on Us1:40
- 23.Battle to Victory1:59
Spitak (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)2018
Tracklist not collected yet.
Intent to Destroy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)2017
Tracklist not collected yet.
Furious: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack2017
Tracklist not collected yet.
1915: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack2016
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Last Inhabitant (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)2016
Tracklist not collected yet.
Harakiri2012
Tracklist not collected yet.
Orca Symphony No. 12012
Tracklist not collected yet.
Imperfect Harmonies2010
Tracklist not collected yet.
Elect the Dead Symphony2010
Tracklist not collected yet.
Elect the Dead2007
Tracklist not collected yet.
Foundations2024
Tracklist not collected yet.
Perplex Cities2022
Tracklist not collected yet.
Elasticity2021
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Serjical Strike Records
- Record label
- Reprise Records
- Record label
- American Recordings
- Record label
- Columbia Records
- Record label
- Axis of Justice
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Awards
Groups
- System of a Downlead vocals, original · 1994current
- Jazz-Iz-Christoriginal, synthesizer · 2012current
- Axis of Justiceoriginalcurrent
- Fuktroniccurrent
- Serartcurrent
- Forever Youngbackground vocals · 1991–1993
Played together with
- Andy KhatchaturianSystem of a Down · 1994–1997 · drums (drum set)
Daron MalakianSystem of a Down · 1994 · guitar, lead vocals, original
John DolmayanSystem of a Down · 1997 · drums (drum set), percussion- Ontronik KhachaturianSystem of a Down · 1994–1997 · drums (drum set), original
Shavo OdadjianSystem of a Down · 1994 · background vocals, bass guitar, original
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Tankian
Serj Tankian is an Armenian-American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the heavy metal band System of a Down, which was formed in 1994.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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