Daron Malakian was born July 18 1975 in Los Angeles and plays guitar in the band System of a Down, as well as writing most of the music for the band, and lyrics. As a child Malakian went to Alex Pilibo's Armenian school and has said he still has nightmares from things he'd endured there. He went to Roosevelt Middle School and Glendale High School, where he frequently cut class. Malakian now lives in Los Angeles in a home by himself and likes to collect candles, persian rugs, instruments, and skulls over his house. Daron has been voted 4th best guitarist of the year by 'Metal Edge.'

He co-produced System of a Down's albums with Rick Rubin and also produces The Ambulance and Bad Acid Trip (a band on fellow member Serj Tankian's Serjical Strike Records). He recently got his own label: EatUrMusic on which Amen are the first signing. Also involved in a project called Scars on Broadway, with Amen-singer Casey Chaos and Zach Hill from Team Sleep.