Ontronik

Antranik Khachaturian, known professionally as Ontronik, is an American musician, producer and DJ. He was the original drummer and a co-founder of the metal band System of a Down from 1994 to 1997, contributing to their earliest demos before a hand injury forced him out weeks before their big break. After leaving, he reinvented himself as a lead vocalist, fronting the alt-progressive rock band The Apex Theory and later forming VoKee and KillMatriarch. Today he works on his solo electronic project, OnTroniK, in Los Angeles. [edit]

Khachaturian grew up in Los Angeles in an Armenian-American household. He started playing drums as a teenager. In high school, he met guitarist Daron Malakian and bassist Shavo Odadjian, friendships that would later form the core of System of a Down. In 1994, the three of them joined with vocalist Serj Tankian to form a band originally called Soil. Over the next three years, they recorded a series of demo tapes, Untitled 1995 Demo, Demo Tape 1 (1995), Demo Tapes 2 and 3 (1996), and Demo Tape 4 (1997), building a following in the Los Angeles underground metal scene. [edit]

In 1997, just weeks before a crucial showcase for producer Rick Rubin, Khachaturian injured his hand while practicing Jeet Kune Do, he punched a wall and broke every bone in his hand. Unable to play drums, he was replaced by John Dolmayan for that showcase, which became System of a Down's turning point. After leaving, Khachaturian shifted from drums to vocals. In 1998 he formed The Apex Theory with guitarist Art Karamian, bassist David Hakopyan, and drummer Sammy J. Watson. The band played their first show in March 1999 and signed with DreamWorks Records by November of that year. They released two albums and an EP before Khachaturian left in 2002 due to musical differences. He later formed VoKee in 2004 and KillMatriarch in 2010, where he played drums, keyboards, and sang backing vocals. Since then, he has been working on his solo electronic project, OnTroniK. [edit]

Khachaturian keeps a low public profile. Among hardcore System of a Down fans, he is remembered as the "original drummer" who helped shape the band's early sound but left before commercial success. His social media presence is modest and music-focused. No fandom name or signature style has been widely documented. [edit]

Ontronik Khachaturian occupies a unique space in rock history as the original drummer of System of a Down, yet he lacks a distinct, organized fanbase separate from the massive "Soads" community. While the band's followers engage in intense loyalty campaigns and chart manipulation for the group as a whole, Ontronik remains a historical footnote rather than a focal point for active rituals or dedicated fan projects. His minimal social media presence and lack of recent solo touring limit the development of a specific fandom, leaving him without an official name among his supporters. The cultural mythology surrounding him is defined by his status as the "forgotten" member who left before commercial success, with stories often retold regarding his departure and subsequent pivot to electronic music. In January 2025, a viral pop-culture moment involving comedian Nikki Glaser jokingly introducing Glenn Close as a former drummer further cemented Ontronik's place in modern folklore, though this remains a humorous contrast to reality rather than a documented event involving him directly. Despite his enduring legacy as a co-founder and early songwriter, iFANN has evaluated Ontronik but he currently does not hold a placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list).[edit]

His birth name is Antranik, though he is known professionally as Andy and Ontronik. A hand injury sustained while practicing Jeet Kune Do forced him out of System of a Down just weeks before their major breakthrough. After leaving, he reinvented himself from a drummer to lead vocalist, fronting The Apex Theory which signed with DreamWorks Records within eight months of their debut show. He has since worked across alternative metal, progressive rock, and electronic genres under his solo project OnTroniK. A popular story fans still retell involves John Dolmayan joining the band; Dolmayan recalled feeling uncomfortable replacing Ontronik, whom he described as a friend, highlighting the awkward transition period. This narrative emphasizes the human element of the lineup change rather than performance quality. Another enduring legend stems from a 2025 Golden Globe Awards moment where comedian Nikki Glaser jokingly introduced actress Glenn Close as a former drummer for the band. While the joke was confirmed humorously by current members, it serves as a modern internet meme contrasting the fictional claim with the reality that Ontronik was the actual original drummer.[edit]

Khachaturian was born to Armenian parents Martin and Asdghik Khachaturian in Los Angeles. He has not publicly named any siblings. He is married with two children and lives in Los Angeles. [edit]

Khachaturian co-founded System of a Down with Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, and Shavo Odadjian. He formed The Apex Theory with Art Karamian, David Hakopyan, and Sammy J. Watson. John Dolmayan replaced him in System of a Down. [edit]

Khachaturian is married and has two children. The identity of his spouse has not been publicly disclosed. No prior relationships are documented in available sources. [edit]

No reliable net worth estimate for Ontronik Khachaturian has been published by major outlets. He left System of a Down in 1997, before the band's debut album and multi-platinum success, so he did not benefit from their later touring and album revenue. His income likely came from early demo work, The Apex Theory's DreamWorks Records deal, and his subsequent bands. Per iFANN's editorial analysis, as of 2026, his net worth is estimated around $500 Thousand.[edit]