Shavo Odadjian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shavo Odadjian
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Odadjian performing live in 2002.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shavarsh Odadjian |
| Also known as | DJ Tactic DJ DecompozeR |
| Born | April 22, 1974 Yerevan, Armenian SSR |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Bass and guitar |
| Years active | 1992–present |
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Shavarsh Odadjian (born April 22, 1974), known as Shavo, is an Armenian-American musician. He is famous for being the bassist for the metal band System of a Down. He also plays bass in a group called North Kingsley and another band called Seven Hours After Violet.
When System of a Down took a break from 2006 to 2010, Shavo worked with RZA from the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Their project was called AcHoZeN. They made songs for the movie Babylon A.D. and released a collection of their music in 2015. Shavo also helped write the musical score for the movie with RZA and the famous composer Hans Zimmer.
Contents
Early Life and Influences
Shavo Odadjian was born in Yerevan, Armenia, which was then part of the Soviet Union. When he was five, his family moved to Los Angeles. He went to the Alex Pilibos Elementary School, a private Armenian school. Future bandmates Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian went to the same school.
As a kid, Shavo loved skateboarding and listening to punk rock and heavy metal music. He has said that bands like Dead Kennedys, Slayer, Black Sabbath, and Metallica were his favorites. These bands had a big impact on his own music.
Music Career
System of a Down
While in college, Shavo started managing a band called Soil, which included his school friends Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian. Shavo met them at a recording studio and soon became the band's manager. He said it was hard to get the band their first show.
"I was managing the band and we had no demo [tape], we had no money, but we wanted to play a show. I was working at the bank and between wire transfers, I would be calling the Roxy. 'Hey, can you give us a show, man? Eddie, give us a show.' He'd say, 'I need a demo tape, I can't just give you a show.' In five minutes, I'd call again. One day the Roxy just blew up and said, 'Fine! Go sell 75 tickets.' We sold 150."
In 1995, Shavo became the band's full-time bassist. The band changed its name to System of a Down. The name came from a poem Daron wrote called "Victims of a Down." Shavo thought "System" was a better word because it would appeal to more people. The band also wanted their CDs to be next to their favorite band, Slayer, in music stores.
In System of a Down, Shavo plays bass and sings backing vocals. He usually plays with a pick but sometimes uses his fingers. He helped write some of the band's most famous songs, like "Toxicity" and "Sugar". He has also directed many of the band's music videos and designs the stage and lighting for their live shows.
In 2001, during a concert in Michigan, Shavo was treated unfairly by security guards and removed from the building. He later filed a lawsuit over the incident.
Shavo is easily recognized by his long, braided beard and spiked bracelet, which have become his signature look.
The band took a break from 2006 to 2010 to work on other projects. In 2010, they announced they would reunite for shows in Europe and North America.
Other Music Projects
AcHoZeN
In 2006, Shavo started a side project called AcHoZeN. This group included Shavo, RZA from Wu-Tang Clan, Kinetic 9 from Killarmy, and Reverend William Burke. They described their music as a new style of "heavy hip hop."
Most of the music was recorded and produced by Shavo in his own studio. He played instruments like bass and sitar. The group's music featured guest artists like George Clinton and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. An AcHoZeN song called "Deuces" was in the movie Babylon A.D. In 2015, the group released an album of eight songs.
North Kingsley
In 2019, Shavo joined a project with musicians Ray Hawthorne and Saro Paparian. He first acted as a producer but soon became a member of the band. They named the group North Kingsley, after the first street Shavo lived on when he moved to Los Angeles. In 2020, the band released their first single, "Like That," followed by two EPs.
Seven Hours After Violet
In 2024, Shavo introduced his newest band, Seven Hours After Violet. The band features Shavo on bass, Michael Montoya and Alejandro Aranda on guitar, Josh Johnson on drums, and Taylor Barber as the lead singer. They played their first live show in October 2024 and released their first album the same month.
DJing and Collaborations
Shavo is also a popular DJ in Los Angeles, known as DJ Tactics. He plays a mix of hip-hop, rock, and metal. He has also performed with the funk legend George Clinton and appeared on his 2008 album, George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love.
Creative Work Outside of Music
Directing Videos
Shavo calls himself a "very visual person" and has directed music videos for System of a Down, including "Aerials" and "Toxicity". He said the idea for the "Question!" video came to him in a dream. His directing style is often inspired by the classic TV show The Twilight Zone. He also directed a TV commercial for the video game Mortal Kombat X, which featured his band's song "Chop Suey!".
Writing Music for Movies
In 2007, Shavo and RZA worked with composer Hans Zimmer to create the music for the movie Babylon A.D., starring Vin Diesel. Shavo is credited with writing several songs for the film's score.
Acting and Film Appearances
Shavo has appeared in movies and music videos. In 1993, he was in the AC/DC music video for "Big Gun", standing next to Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also had a small part in the movie Zoolander.
In 2006, Shavo was featured in the documentary film Screamers. The film follows System of a Down on tour as they raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and other human rights issues.
Painting
Besides music, Shavo is a passionate painter. His art, which is abstract and uses bright, bold colors, has been used in System of a Down's music videos and live shows. For the 2006 Ozzfest tour, he created a set of 27 paintings that were used as the backdrop for the band's performance. He carefully matched each painting to the mood of the song being played.
Activism and Charity Work
Shavo is a human rights activist. He works to raise awareness about genocide and other terrible events around the world. He also enjoys mentoring young people and supports charities that help children with cancer.
In 2009, he received the "Community Hero Award" from a youth organization for being a great role model for young Armenian-Americans. During his acceptance speech, he said:
"If anyone has a voice in today's society, they should use that voice righteously and benevolently."
He later said that being nominated for the award by kids meant more to him than winning a Grammy.
Personal Life
Shavo is married to Sonia Odadjian. They have three children together.
Discography
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- Other appearances
| Year | Artist | Song | Release | ||||||||
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| Albums and soundtracks | |||||||||||
| 2003 | Serart | "Narina" | Serart | ||||||||
| 2007 | Wu-Tang Clan | "Unpredictable" | 8 Diagrams | ||||||||
| "Starter" | |||||||||||
| 2009 | Sunz of Man & Shavo Odadjian | "Dead Birds" | The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Resurrection OST | ||||||||
| Brooklyn Zu | "If I had a Gun" | Chamber#9, Verse 32 | |||||||||
| Raekwon | "Gihad" | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II | |||||||||
| "Penitentiary" | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Ice Nine Kills | "A Work of Art" | Terrifier 3 Soundtrack | ||||||||
Awards
- In 2002, System of a Down was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for their song Chop Suey!.
- In 2003, System of a Down was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for Aerials.
- 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 BYOB.
- 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 for Best Hard Rock Performance for their song Lonely Day.
Images for kids
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Odadjian DJing at a club in Hollywood, California.
See also
In Spanish: Shavo Odadjian para niños
