SYSTEM OF A DOWN - SYSTEM HIATUS BLAMED ON 'CREATIVE DIFFERENCES'

SYSTEM OF A DOWN's guitarist DARON MALAKIAN denies a rift within the band prompted them to take a break - insisting "creative differences" were behind the group's current hiatus.
The Chop Suey! rocker has hit out at speculation the band needed time away from each other due to personal conflicts, telling fans all the group's members wished to concentrate on side projects.
He tells British music magazine Kerrang, "You know how people separate because of 'creative differences'? I'd say System was more like that than any kind of hatred. The differences were respected instead of resented.
"I knew Serj (Tankian - lead vocals) had certain things he wanted to do, things he couldn't do in System. I had a whole thing I wanted to do that I probably couldn't have done in System."