Daron Malakian

In 'Kill Rock n' Roll,' the choruses came about at the moment I was listening to a lot of the Supremes, and if you listen to that part, you can hear a melody and a harmony there that's not too far away from what the Supremes would probably be doing, but there's heavy guitars in the back.

If I was money-motivated, I wouldn't have joined a rock band with three other Armenian guys.

There's no rule that says you have to make records constantly, like clockwork, to continue being who you are.

I'll be honest with you: politically, I have no issue with people, but my beef sometimes is with religion at the end of the day.

I don't ever put down bands.

My dad is my biggest influence on me as a musician, even though he's not a musician.

I just think religion is something... It could be a beautiful thing for the individual, but when it becomes organized, that's when religion starts taking a kind of ugly turn to me.

A lot of times, I don't feel responsible for the songs myself. But that's my job or my place in life: to keep my search and catch the ideas before they pass me by.

You put too many songs on your record, and it ends up like a family with too many kids: some of them get neglected.

I'll always be a member of System of a Down. That will never change.

I'm not very happy. I'm frustrated with human beings. I'm the guy who just wants to smack people in the face and say, 'Wake up!'

You can't just release double albums and expect people to sit there and devote their time to it.