System of A Down reunion in doubt

by Kev Geoghegan
Radio 1 music reporter

Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan

System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian says fans shouldn't expect the band to reform "any time in the near future".

The award-winning LA-based rock band announced they were taking a break from music in 2006.

Malakian now fronts his own band, Scars on Broadway, who are about to release their debut album.

He said: "I can't say that I want to go and write a System album right now because I don't."

System of a Down's final performance took place on 13 August 2006.

Malakian told the audience in Florida: "Tonight will be the last show we play for a long time together.

This is my band right now, I don't really put any thought into System when I'm doing Scars Daron Malakian

"We'll be back. We just don't know when."

But speaking to Newsbeat from Los Angeles, he said: "I don't use the word 'hiatus', I use the word 'separation'.

"I don't sit there and think about that and we don't talk about that.

"I wouldn't say never but I also wouldn't say anytime in the near future."

Project Scars

In the meantime, Malakian and his System bandmate, drummer John Dolmayan have recorded an album with Scars, and are playing at Underworld in London on 4 July.

Their debut single, They Say, is out on 23 July, with a self-titled album hitting the shelves on 28 July.

System Of A Down

Malakian cites 60's Britpop artists like The Beatles, The Kinks and The Who as major influences and claims Scars' sound is much more melodic than System's harder edged metal.

He's been talking about the project in interviews since 2005 and, with some downtime from System, he says he's finally had time to work on the band.

He said: "Basically I write songs, and I need for there to be a home for these songs.

"And the way I look at it is, System Of A Down may or may not get back together so I'm not sitting there waiting on System.

"This is my band right now, I don't really put any thought into System when I'm doing Scars."