David Hakopyan, the former bassist of Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian’s pre-System of a Down band Soil, has revealed the real reason he was let go from the group. His dismissal came down to his personality not matching the band’s intense musical energy. That decision ultimately led to Shavo Odadjian stepping in as bassist.
“I was asked to leave,” Hakopyan said. “I remember them telling me, ‘You aren’t angry enough, you don’t play angry.’ I was like, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not that angry a person.'”
Following his departure, Hakopyan played a direct role in shaping what would become System of a Down’s classic lineup.
“I called Shavo and said, ‘I think you could step in as bass player – you’re incredibly excited about the project as well as just managing it,'” he continued. “He thought it was a cool idea.”
Hakopyan’s candid account sheds new light on the early formation of one of rock’s most iconic bands. A matter of temperament helped define its final lineup.
Soil was formed around 1993–1994 in Los Angeles. The band brought together Serj Tankian on vocals, Daron Malakian on guitar, Dave Hakopyan on bass, and Domingo Laranio on drums. It served as the direct embryo of what would eventually become System of a Down.
Hakopyan’s exit proved to be one of the most consequential personnel decisions in the band’s history. It opened the door for Shavo Odadjian — who had been serving as the band’s manager — to transition into the bassist role. That move completed the four-piece lineup that would go on to define System of a Down’s sound and legacy. Odadjian’s crossover from manager to musician was a rare one. It was Hakopyan himself who saw the potential in that shift. His recommendation not only filled the vacant spot but brought in someone whose enthusiasm for the project matched the band’s intensity in a way Hakopyan openly admitted he could not.
It is also worth noting that Soil, the pre-System of a Down band, is entirely separate from the Chicago heavy rock band SOiL, formed in 1997 and best known for the song “Halo.” The two acts share only a name. The distinction matters when tracing the true origins of System of a Down’s formation.
Source: Louder Sound
