Serj Tankian | |
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Tankian performing with System of a Down at Rock en Seine festival in 2013.
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Background information | |
Born |
Beirut, Lebanon |
August 21, 1967
Origin | Los Angeles, California, US |
Genres | Alternative metal, nu metal, hard rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, progressive rock, art rock, jazz fusion, classical music, world music |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, political activist |
Instruments | Vocal, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, sampler, theremin, guitar, bass guitar, violin, harmonica, melodica, bouzouki, dulcimer, drums, kaossilator |
Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | Serjical Strike, Reprise, American, Columbia, Axis of Justice, |
Associated acts | System of a Down, Axis of Justice, The F.C.C., Tom Morello, Serart, Scars on Broadway, Deftones, Tool |
Website | www.serjtankian.com |
Serj Tankian (Western Armenian: Սերժ Թանկեան, pronounced [ˈsɛɾʒ tʰɑnˈkjɑn]; born August 21, 1967) is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and political activist. He is best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, keyboardist, and occasional live rhythm guitarist of the rock band System of a Down, formed in 1994 by four Armenian-American friends.
During his musical career, Tankian has released five albums with System of a Down, one with Arto Tunçboyacıyan (Serart), as well as the five solo albums Elect the Dead, Imperfect Harmonies, Harakiri, Orca, and Jazz-Iz-Christ. A live orchestral version of Elect the Dead incorporating the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra named Elect the Dead Symphony was released. In 2002, Tankian and Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello co-founded a non-profit political activist organization, Axis of Justice. Tankian also founded the music label Serjical Strike Records, and is represented by Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group under System of a Down. On August 12, 2011, Tankian was awarded the Armenian Prime Minister's Medal for his contributions to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the advancement of music.