Rick Rubin, legendary producer who co-produced every System Of A Down album from 1998 to 2005, has revealed that he laughed through an entire concert of the band the first time he saw them live. In an interview with Rick Beato, he explains why their performance amused him so much and nevertheless appealed to him.
An unforgettable first meeting with System Of A Down
Rick Rubin, who has worked with a variety of artists throughout his career, discovered System Of A Down even before the release of their debut album. During his interview with Rick Beato, he talks about what attracted him to this special group: “I like weird things. I like to be surprised, I like to hear something I’ve never heard before, I like to be challenged by music.”
Rubin immediately saw the originality and authenticity of System Of A Down, but he didn’t expect them to become a popular band: “With System Of A Down, I don’t think I thought, ‘This is going to be popular.’ I never think about that with the artists I work with. That wouldn’t be realistic.”
When he attended his first concert with the band, Rubin admits to laughing throughout the performance: “If you had seen System Of A Down around the time I saw them, playing at the Viper Room [un club à Hollywood] with 200 people going crazy, and them doing these Armenian folk dances while playing Heavy Metal… I laughed throughout the whole show. It was ridiculous! But I loved it.” This unique blend of metal music with influences from Armenian folk music immediately captivated Rubin, even though the idea of the band one day going mainstream seemed unimaginable at the time.
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Difficult beginnings for a group that has become cult
Although System Of A Down is now recognized as one of the most influential bands in metal, their rise has not been easy. Rubin remembers the skeptical reactions the band initially received, including from figures like Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, who, after listening Chop Suey!reportedly said: “It’s crazy music!”
Even the radio station KROQ, one of the most influential in Los Angeles and specializing in this type of music, initially refused to broadcast their songs. Rubin says: “I remember when we released the first System Of A Down album, the program director at KROQ said, ‘We’ll never play this band on our station. Never.’ A year later, [System était] the most requested group on the station.”
A legacy that endures
Despite a difficult start, System Of A Down has established itself as a major player in Alternative Metal. Although the band has not released a new album since mesmerized et Hypnotize in 2005, and they haven’t toured since 2021, its influence remains intact. Singer Serj Tankian recently released his memoir, titled Down With The Systemwhich retrace his journey and that of the group.
Rick Rubin’s memories are a reminder of how System Of A Down has always been a band apart, defying expectations and shaking up musical conventions. Rubin’s laugh, far from being mocking, testifies to the wonder and admiration he felt at the group’s uncompromising originality.
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