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Shavo Odadjian (Armenian: Շավո Օդադջյան) (born April 20, 1974, Yerevan, Armenian SSR as Shavarsh Odadjian) is the bassist for the Armenian American-based alternative metal band System of a Down.
Early life
In his youth, Shavo used to spend his time skateboarding and listening to punk rock and heavy metal music; his favorites included Pink Angel, the Dead Kennedys, Slayer, KISS and Black Sabbath.
Odadjian moved to Los Angeles, California at a 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 Alex Pilibos Elementary School in Los Angeles, an Armenian parochial school, along with future bandmates Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, although they were not acquainted at the time due to the age difference. Serj being the oldest, born 1967, Daron, born 1975 and Shavo, born 1974.
Career
While working in a bank, he started managing the band Soil with Malakian and Tankian in 1993 after meeting them in a recording studio. 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" authored by bandmate Daron Malakian.
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 and collaborating with bandmate Tankian on SerArt, the singer's side project with Armenian musician Arto Tunçboyacıyan. He is known to use the name "DJ Tactic." He is also the executive producer for the band Onesidezero.
Film work
Stating himself to be a "very visual person", he has also directed music videos for System of a Down ("Aerials," "Toxicity," "Question!," and "Hypnotize") and Taproot creating surreal atmospheres and using innovative methods in filming. He appeared in the 1993 "Big Gun" video by AC/DC, standing alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the crowd, sporting a backwards baseball cap. Shavo will co-produce a horror movie: the director saw the SOAD music videos and thought his work can be good for the movie. Shavo didn't want to say the name of the director or the name of the movie.'
Basses
* Gibson Thunderbird IV (Main bass)
* Gibson Blackbird
* Ibanez BTB1000 or BTB500
* Music Man StingRay
* Meatball Iron 8088 Pro Super Bass
Birth name Shavarsh Odadjian
Born April 22, 1974
Origin Yerevan, Armenia Flag of Armenia
Genre(s) Metal
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) bass
backing vocals
Years active 1993 – present
Associated
acts Scars On Broadway
ACHOZEN
System of a Down
Serart
Soil
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