So far, he has recorded five albums with System of a Down: System of a Down (1998), Toxicity (2001), Steal This Album! (2002), and, most recently, Mezmerize (2005), and Hypnotize (2005). His style of drumming has influenced an emerging generation of drummers, and this has attracted a significant portion of SOAD's audience. It is generally agreed that his talent is a large part of SOAD's appeal.[citation needed]
John's facial expressions are famous for being constantly foreboding and angry-looking. Lead singer Serj Tankian was quoted in Kerrang magazine as always trying to make John crack a smile on stage, to which John replied that he had to make an extreme effort to keep a straight face and not get put off beat, which is sometimes not believed due to the fact that John is very rhythmically sound when it comes to his drum beats. He is known throughout the metal scene for his hi-hat to snare combo, which can be heard in such songs as "Deer Dance" on Toxicity, "I-E-A-I-A-I-O" on Steal This Album! and "B.Y.O.B." and "Question!" on Mezmerize.
During System of a Down's hiatus after Ozzfest, Dolmayan has said that he will start a comic book business. This is because he is an avid fan of collecting Marvel comic books. He says that music and comic books were his two favorite things as a kid.
Dolmayan won "DRUM!" Magazines 2006 Drummer of the year.
John Dolmayan's drumkit is a modified Tama Starclassic with a White Silk finish. Even though John is left-handed, he sets his kit up right-handed. The eleven cymbals are Paiste Signatures. His setup uses 2 bass drums. Now he has 3 rack toms, which can be heard vibrantly throughout "Hypnotize", and one floor tom. Most of his cymbals have moved, and so have his timbales which are mounted to align with the toms. John positions the left side of his double pedal on the left side of his hi hat stand. As unusual as it may seem, he finds this placement very natural for his playing style.
When he first started his career with System of a Down he used a few Paiste Dimension cymbals as well as signatures. He currently uses 24" as his largest cymbal.
In Summer 2006, right before Ozzfest tour, John told the press in several interviews his intention to make an online comic company, "I've got over 5 and a half million comics right now, and I'll probably have about 20 million comics in a year's time. But it's not really a collection. The reason I'm accumulating all these books is I'm starting an Internet-based comic-book company called "Torpedocomics," which is very strange, because his views used to be negative towards the internet. That'll be up in November 2007, probably." John said. [1]Recently John has been playing live shows with a newly designed drum kit, featuring drawings from many famous comic book artists. [2] John also said he may at some point write a movie script and might be involved in drum work regardless of SOAD's status. [3] John has played alongside Flea[4] of Red Hot Chili Peppers in the group Bombs Over Paris.[5]
Road to Nowhere
John Dolmayan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on inside
Takin' that ride to nowhere
We'll take that ride
I'm feelin' okay this mornin'
And you know
We're on a road to paradise
We're on a ride to nowhere
Come on inside
Takin' that ride to nowhere
We'll take that ride
Maybe you wonder where you are
I don't care
Here is where time is on our side
Take you there, take you there
There's a city in my mind
Come along and take that ride
And it's all right, baby it's all right
And it's very far away
But it's growing day by day
And it's all right, baby it's all right
Would you like to come along?
And you could help me sing this song
And it's all right, baby it's all right
They can tell you what to do
But they'll make a fool of you
And it's all right, baby it's all right
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere!
We're on a road to nowhere!
We're on a road to nowhere!
We're on a road to nowhere!
The lyrics of John Dolmayan's song "Road to Nowhere" seem to convey a sense of purposeless and aimless existence. The repetition of the phrase "We're on a road to nowhere" throughout the song suggests a feeling of being trapped or stuck in a cycle without any clear direction or destination.
The invitation to "come on inside" and "take that ride" to nowhere can be seen as an invitation to escape from the mundanity or hardships of life. It could be interpreted as a way to temporarily forget about the pressures and responsibilities that weigh on us.
The lyrics also mention feeling okay and being on a road to paradise, which may indicate a temporary sense of contentment or relief from the monotony. It could be seen as a way to escape the worries and stresses of life by embracing a carefree attitude.
The line "Maybe you wonder where you are, I don't care" suggests a disregard for the concerns about one's current location or situation. It implies that the journey itself is more important than the destination, and being open to experiencing new things, even if they lead to nowhere specific.
The repeated affirmation that "it's all right, baby it's all right" throughout the song may serve as a reassurance or mantra to embrace the uncertainty of life's journey. It could be a reminder to not let others dictate your path or make you feel foolish for pursuing your own desires and dreams.
In summary, "Road to Nowhere" can be interpreted as an exploration of the human longing for freedom from the constraints of everyday life. It suggests a willingness to embrace the unknown and find solace in the journey itself, even if it leads to nowhere in particular. It's a reminder to stay true to oneself and not be swayed by the expectations or judgments of others.
Line by Line Meaning
We're on a road to nowhere
We are aimlessly traveling without a clear destination or purpose
Come on inside
Join us in this journey
Takin' that ride to nowhere
Taking part in this meaningless journey
We'll take that ride
We will continue on this purposeless journey
I'm feelin' okay this mornin'
I am feeling fine and content in the present moment
And you know
And you are aware
We're on a road to paradise
We are on a path towards an idealized version of happiness or fulfillment
Here we go, here we go
We are embarking on this journey, let's get started
Maybe you wonder where you are
Perhaps you are uncertain of your current whereabouts
I don't care
I am indifferent to our current location
Here is where time is on our side
This is a place where we have the luxury of time
Take you there, take you there
I will guide you to this location
There's a city in my mind
There exists a vibrant and imaginative city within my thoughts
Come along and take that ride
Join me in exploring and experiencing this mental city
And it's all right, baby it's all right
Everything is fine and acceptable, my dear
And it's very far away
This city in my mind is located at a great distance
But it's growing day by day
However, it continues to develop and expand with each passing day
And it's all right, baby it's all right
Despite the distance, it remains acceptable and fine, my dear
Would you like to come along?
Do you have the interest to join me?
And you could help me sing this song
You can assist me in expressing myself through this song
They can tell you what to do
Others may try to dictate your actions
But they'll make a fool of you
However, following their instructions will only make you appear foolish
We're on a road to nowhere
We are still traveling aimlessly without purpose
Writer(s): David Byrne
Contributed by Eliana E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.