Daron Malakian was born July 18 1975 in Los Angeles, California, USA and plays guitar in the American band System of a Down, as well as writing most of the music and lyrics for the band. Like the other band members, Malakian is of Armenian heritage.

As a child Malakian went to Rose & Alex Pilibos' Armenian school in Hollywood and has said he still has nightmares from things he'd endured there (e.g. the teachers would lock children in a room full of rats if they ever misbehaved or cried for their mothers). He went to Roosevelt Middle School and Glendale High School, where he frequently cut class.

Malakian now lives in Glendale in a beautiful large 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 Magazine. He has family living in Iraq.He likes Cheese steaks and home made soup.

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.

Daron Malakian plays his signature Ibanez Iceman, with custom graphics done by his father, Vartar Malakian. All of his guitars that he plays on stage have a one-of-a-kind finish and cannot be found in retail. Daron is considered by his fans a brilliant guitar player, who uses methods of playing that give him a signature sound. He plays through Marshall Amplifiers and uses Ernie Ball guitar strings. His guitar playing is one of a kind.