Members:
Serj Tankian (vocals)
Daron Malakian (guitars)
David Hakopyan (bass)
Domingo Laranio (drums)
Shavo Odadjian (manager)

Timelife:
1994

Notes:
• During the first and only Soil show ever, at this blues club, Daron fall off the stage during the first song.
• The band wanted to replace Serj at some point because they were not enjoying his singing methods.

Known Performances:
[1994-??-??] USA, Los Angeles, CA – Cafe Club Fais Do-Do

Members:
Serj Tankian (backing vocals + keyboards)
Raffi Shanihian (vocals)
Vartan Taikaldiranian then Steve Rifle (guitars)
Mike Tchakmakjian then David Hakopyan (bass)
Vic Kazaryan (drums)

Notes:
Forever Young put out an album, which was released on PE-KO International Records. It was available on cassette only, the CD version never came out. A track off the album is called ‘Prisoner of Faith’. Both lyrics and music were written by Serj, but he didn’t sing in it.
On Forever Young, Serj wrote a song called Waco Jesus, regarding David Koresh and the Waco siege, Daron did guitar solos and backgroud vocals on that song.

Lifetime:
19??-1993 (inaccurate)

Known Performances:
[199?-??-??] USA, Los Angeles, CA – Armenian Center of Hollywood

Members:
Daron Malakian (guitars)
Jack Hakopyan (vocals)
Dave Hakopyan (bass)
Andy Khachaturian (drums)

Lifetime:
1991-1992 (inaccurate)

Notes:
The band last less than a year.

Known Performances:
[1991-??-??] USA, Los Angeles, CA – Night Rock Cafe
[1992-04-22] USA, Hollywood, CA – Shavo’s Uncle’s Backyard

Members:
Shavo Odadjian (guitars + backing vocals)
Raffi (vocals)
Gevork (guitars)
Fred (bass)
Chris then Armand Hartoyan (drums)

Lifetime:
1992-1993 (inaccurate)

Known Performances:
[1992-12-04] USA, Glendale, CA – Glendale College Auditorium

Notes:
A rehearsal video of the band exist. The band only performed live once.

Members:
Shavo Odadjian (bass)
Shon Kornfeld (guitars)
Ron Edison (vocals)

Notes:
Roswell was a garage band made up of friends who used to jam together while also playing in other bands around the same time. Some of the group’s riffs eventually turned into songs, but they never released anything. Rehearsal tapes do exist, The band last less than a year.

Members:
John Dolmayan (drums)
Kyle Spicer then Mike Fitzgerald (vocals)
Dave Hakopyan (bass)
Fabrice Favre (guitar)

Lifetime:
1996-1997

Notes:
System of a Down’s song ‘Friik’ was named after this band.

Known Performances:
[1996-11-16] USA, West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
[1996-12-13] USA, West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
[1996-12-15] USA, West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
[1997-01-08] USA, West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
[199?-??-??] USA, Van Nuys, CA – Los Angeles Valley College

Members:
John Dolmayan (drums)
Tim Michaels (vocals)
Robert Elias (guitars)
Chris Morris (bass)
Raymond Sanderian (backing vocals)

Lifetime:
1991-1993

Notes:
PERA’s music sounded like alternative rock genre like The Jam, REM, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, etc. The band released at least one demo tape.

Known Performances:
12 shows found – click to open

Members:
John Dolmayan (drums)
Julien Colberg (vocals)
Fabrice Favre (guitars)
David Chavez then David Hakopyan (bass)

Lifetime:
1993-1995 (inaccurate)

Notes:
The band released at least one demo tape.

Known Performances:
22 shows found – click to open

Members:
John Dolmayan (drums)
Sid

Lifetime:
1991 (inaccurate)

Known Performances:
[1991-03-15] Goodies Nightclub, Fullerton, CA