Shavo Odadjian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shavo Odadjian
Շավո Օդադջյան |
Shavo live at Rock IM Park 2002 |
| Background information |
| Birth name | Shavarsh S. Odadjian |
| Also known as | Tactic |
| Born | April 22, 1974 (1974-04-22) (age 35) |
| Origin | Yerevan, Armenian SSR |
| Genre(s) | Alternative metal, Alternative rock, Experimental, Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, director |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, guitar, vocals, beats, sitar, drums, violin |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Label(s) | American, Columbia, urSESSION |
| Associated acts | System of a Down, Achozen, George Clinton |
| Notable instrument(s) |
| Gibson Thunderbird |
Shavarsh "Shavo" Odadjian (born April 22, 1974) is an Armenian-American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and director. He is best known as the bassist and occasional songwriter of the Grammy Award-winning rock band, System of a Down. The band has been on hiatus since 2006, and Odadjian has since been working on a project called Achozen with RZA.
[edit] Early life
Odadjian was born in Yerevan, Armenian SSR. In his youth, Shavo used to spend all his time skateboarding and listening to punk rock and heavy metal music. Among others, he names Dead Kennedys, KISS, Slayer and Black Sabbath as his favorite bands with great influence on his future musical development.
Odadjian moved to Los Angeles, California at a very young age, where he was raised in large part by his grandmother, after whose death he claims to have lost faith and to have stopped praying every night as he did before. He attended the Alex Pilibos Elementary School in Los Angeles, an Armenian parochial school, along with his future bandmates Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, although they were not acquainted at the time due to the age difference.
[edit] Career
[edit] System of a Down
While working in a bank, he started managing Soil, the band of Malakian and Tankian in 1993 after meeting them in a recording studio, where he was recording with his own band. In 1995, Shavo became the permanent bassist of the band. They then named themselves System of a Down after a poem titled Victims of a Down, which was written by bandmate Daron Malakian.
Shavo Odadjian plays both guitar and bass, and claims to play guitar better than he does bass. He usually plays bass with a pick, but he can be seen using his fingers during certain songs.
Without knowing, Shavo became famous for his long large braided beard, spiked arm bracelet, large height, bald head, and freaky faces. Bandmate Serj Tankian had mentioned to him that he should have one like his. In 2006 the band all had beards that reached past their shoulders.
[edit] AcHoZeN
Odadjian has started a side project with The RZA from The Wu-Tang Clan, and they have already begun recording. They have plans for tours and a movie.[1] They recently picked up a name for the band, Achozen, and their first live show was at the Key Club in L.A in December 1, 2006.[2]
[edit] Other projects
In addition, Odadjian is a popular DJ in the LA area, taking part in such events as the "Rock/DJ Explosion" on March 2 2001 at The Roxy in Hollywood, CA and collaborating with System of a Down bandmate Serj Tankian on Serart, the singer's collaboration album with multitalented Armenian musician Arto Tunçboyacıyan. He goes by the name DJ Tactic.
Recently, Odadjian has appeared playing as part of the backing band of George Clinton (of Parliament/Funkadelic). In September 2008 he appeared (playing guitar instead of bass) in a live performance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno with Clinton. Shavo also appears on Clinton's 2008 album George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love, which features many guest musicians, including Shavo's Achozen bandmate RZA, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Carlos Santana.
Odadjian was executive producer for Abloom, a side project of members of Onesidezero, Snot, and Soulfly. Odadjian is currently helping the band Chameleon Conductor record their debut album. Shavo's brother Dave plays bass in this band. [3]
[edit] Film work
Stating himself to be a "very visual person," he has also directed music videos for System of a Down (being Aerials, Toxicity, Question! and Hypnotize), and Taproot (Mine), creating surreal atmospheres and using innovative methods in filming. On May 15, 2007, it was revealed that Shavo Odadjian would be directing the first video from Bad Brains's album Build a Nation.[4] Director Shavo Odadjian makes an appearance at the end of the concert video with frontman H.R. The two are seen charismatically walking stageside, passing and smoking a marijuana joint. Shavo also appeared in the 1993 "Big Gun" video by AC/DC, standing alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the crowd, sporting a backwards baseball cap and a white t-shirt, when Arnold catches a stick of dynamite. He also appears as an audience member during the awards ceremony in Zoolander.
[edit] Discography
[edit] System of a Down | [edit] George Clinton [edit] Achozen |
[edit] Other appearances
[edit] Equipment
[edit] Basses
[edit] Effects
[edit] Amplifiers
[edit] Awards
- In 2002, System of a Down was nominated for a Grammy Award in Best Metal Performance for their song Chop Suey! but lost to Schism by Tool
- In 2003, System of a Down was nominated for a Grammy Award in Best Hard Rock Performance for Aerials but lost to All My Life by Foo Fighters
- In 2005, System of a Down won for Best Alternative Act in the Europe Music Awards
- In 2006, System of a Down won their first Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for B.Y.O.B.
- In 2006, System of a Down won the "MTV Good Woodie Award" for their song Question!
- In 2006, System of a Down's song Toxicity was #14 on the VH1 Top 40 Metal Songs list
- In 2007, System of a Down was nominated for a Grammy Award in Best Hard Rock Performance for their song Lonely Day but lost to Woman by Wolfmother
[edit] References
[edit] External links
