"I'm not a giant rock star. I play one on TV, though," cracks Shavo Odadjian, bassist for nu-metal heavy hitters System of a Down. In episode one of a new series on Prohbtd.com, Odadjian recalls moments from the band's past when it became clear to him that SOAD were going to be more than a flash in the pan. One such incident came before the release of their breakthrough album Toxicity, when a seemingly straightforward KROQ promotional show the group had planned for around three or four thousand guests turned into a 15,000-person riot after the cops shut down the event.
Odadjian also describes his former role as band manager, juggling a bank job where he would handle wire transfers in between trying to call Los Angeles venue The Roxy to beg for gigs. He finally convinced someone at the club to let them play on the promise that the band would sell 75 tickets, which they doubled in no time.
Odadjian continues onto his new musical ventures before delving into his own branded strain of cannabis — weed, he says, has always been a big part of his life. "I can really represent the best quality with the best vibe," he told investors, continuing, "This is bigger than Shavo or System of a Down. This is something that could go buck-wild viral, you know?" The next episode reportedly will go deeper into his new role in the cannabis industry.
