“We had labels offering us deals the first year we formed - 1995 - but we were afraid of them going, 'Let's change this and that.' We had labels telling us to get rid of our singer. I look back sometimes and go, 'Imagine if we had done that-what a shame it would have been?'”

Armenian-American musician

Shavarsh “Shavo” Odadjian is an Armenian-American musician best known as the bassist for the alternative metal band System of a Down. He was born into the Armenian diaspora and built a career around bass playing and collaboration in heavy music. He is also the bassist in North Kingsley, a trap group, and in Seven Hours After Violet, a metal band. His work is associated with alternative metal and related forms of heavy music, especially as a performer rather than a frontman.