System of a Down Returns to the Stage with Stadium Tour, Exploring the Future of the Band
Following the declaration of their massive stadium tour in 2025, System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian recently shed light on the band’s motivations and future plans during an interview on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.” The highly anticipated tour, featuring special guests korn, Avenged Sevenfold, and Deftones, has taken the music world by storm, with all six shows selling out in a matter of hours.
“Literally within a few hours we sold out every show, and it was a shock to us. But I’m very glad that the stadiums were available near those dates. We had a band conference that it sold out. My manager hit us up. He’s, like, ‘Dude, you guys sold it all out.’ … It floored me.People are, like, ‘Why shoudl it be so surprising to you?’ Everyone sees us a certain way. I still see us as that band from Hollywood. I’m not seeing us as this giant band that could sell out MetLife twice, two nights in a row.Football stadiums, bro,” said Odadjian, expressing his astonishment at the overwhelming response.
The decision to initially limit the tour to three cities – MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford,New Jersey,Soldier Field in Chicago,and Rogers Stadium in Toronto – stemmed from a desire to carefully test the waters after years of limited activity. Odadjian admitted, “We haven’t played a lot together for a while. We’ve been doing one or two shows a year as 2017. so, the relationships were not as great as they are now.it’s just everybody wasn’t on the same page. We’ve been talking. Everything’s great, knock on wood. Everyone’s happy,” attributing the renewed momentum to improved communication and a more positive band dynamic.
He further explained, “There is no strategy to it, there’s no plan to do the rest of the world just yet. I’m not saying it’s not gonna happen; I’m not saying it is gonna happen. We told each other, ‘Let’s play it by ear, do thes shows, see how we feel afterwards. if we don’t wanna do any more, we don’t do any more. If we wanna do more, we’ll do more.’ There’s no heavy responsibility on anyone, because I feel like a lot of it is just thinking too much, overthinking what could happen.”
The band’s decision to start with a smaller tour was also influenced by past experiences. Odadjian shared, “Bad experiences have happened to certain people, and they kind of hold that as PTSD, I think. And now that things are better, we’re older, we’re, like, ‘Dude, no pressure, bro. Let’s just do it. If we like it, we do. If we don’t like it,we [don’t].
The positive response from fans, particularly vocalist Serj Tankian’s rave reviews after performing at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, further solidified the band’s decision to continue. Odadjian recalled, “Serj had a great time at Sick New World last year. We had such an amazing, fun show and everyone left the stage hugging. And so he called back, he’s, like, ‘Dude, I loved it. Let’s do more of these.’ So that’s where that happened.We’re, like, ‘Let’s go.’ Provided that everyone is down. Daron [Malakian, System of a Down guitarist] was down. So we decided, ‘Let’s test the waters. Let’s not just go full blast and start doing months. Let’s just test the waters with three shows.’ Those three shows turned to six.”
The choice of East Rutherford, Chicago, and Toronto, according to Odadjian, wasn’t arbitrary.These cities had been absent from the band’s recent touring plans, and the relaxed approach allowed them to gauge fan enthusiasm in new territories. “We haven’t been there for a long time.we’ve been doing West Coast stuff a lot, as we haven’t been leaving the West Coast.Like I said, we’ve been kind of dipping our toe in the water, testing the temperature of the water. So,we’ve been kind of …really just focusing on those areas and seeing how things are going,” he explained.
The triumphant return of System of a down signifies a new chapter for the iconic band. While the future remains uncertain, the band’s current focus on enjoying the moment and connecting with fans promises an exciting ride for both longtime devotees and newcomers alike.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN Announces Resurgence: Stadium Tour and New Artistic Horizons
System of a Down is set to electrify fans worldwide with a string of highly anticipated stadium concerts this spring. Launching their “Wake Up! South America” tour on April 24th at Estadio Nemésio Camacho El Campin in Bogota, Colombia, the band will then travel across South America, captivating audiences in Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.The tour culminates with a powerful three-night residency in major Brazilian cities: Curitiba, Rio De Janieiro, and São Paulo. This marks the band’s return to South America since their captivating performances in 2015.
Shavo Odadjian, the band’s bassist, highlights the band’s organic approach to touring, stating, “We can’t be told what to do. The more we push each other to do something,the less we do. so I figure the less we push, the more we’ll do. It should be done because we wanna do it,we love to do it,and that’s why we do it.” This beliefs emphasizes the band’s authentic connection to their music and their desire to perform when it feels right, rather than adhering to rigid schedules.
System of a Down’s recent concert schedule has primarily involved one or two shows, with extensive rehearsals preceding each performance.Though, Shavo acknowledges that playing six shows on the upcoming tour will be a more lasting and satisfying experience for the band. “Six shows is better than one show to me,” he explains. “I think our band is that band — we can’t be told what to do.”
Last year,frontman Serj Tankian spoke candidly about his evolving relationship with touring during an appearance on the “soul Boom With Rainn Wilson” podcast. He reflected on the band’s rise to international recognition with their groundbreaking album “Toxicity” in 2001. After years of relentless touring, Tankian felt a need to re-evaluate the cycle of creating, promoting, and performing. “Before ‘mezmerize’ and ‘Hypnotize,’ I basically told the guys, ‘Listen, I’d like to take a hiatus. I’m not saying I never wanna do this, but…” he confided.
Tankian articulated the creative tension within the band, acknowledging the strengths and complexities of their dynamic. “Part of it was we had so much creativity and input coming into the band, specifically with Daron’s songwriting and me wanting to bring in music as well, because, over time, he became a better lyricist and I became a better musical songwriter, a better composer, so it became kind of like a push and pull, which is really good for bands, actually, ’cause it’s a yin-and-yang kind of thing — two strong, creative forces.And it also broken up so many bands.”
System of a Down’s forthcoming performances promise a high-energy experience that reflects the band’s unwavering commitment to their music, their fans, and their creative evolution.
From “Groundhog Day” to “Protect The Land”: Serj tankian on System of a Down’s Legacy
There’s a certain intensity that surrounds System of a Down, a band that seamlessly blends political commentary with Armenian heritage and undeniably heavy music. at the heart of this sonic whirlwind is Serj tankian, the band’s frontman and a visionary artist in his own right.In his book, Tankian delves into the band’s intricate history, offering a nuanced viewpoint on the creative differences that led to an extended hiatus.
looking back on the period, Tankian candidly states, “‘I’m saying I can’t do this right now anymore. And I wanna do my own thing and also take time off and have a life, and all of that stuff.’ It wasn’t taken well at the time. I won’t get into that. But years later, we started touring again in 2011, and it became a fun thing, ’cause it left… Nothing was totally resolved creatively, but it became a fun thing because we at least put everything to the side and said, ‘look, we’re friends, we’re brothers. We’ve known each other for a long time. We still respect and love each other.Let’s go have fun and tour together.'”
This journey back to the stage wasn’t without it’s complexities. Tankian admits, “I’m the least person that wants to tour. Part of that is physical, as it’s tiring.” He reflects on his past back surgery and the toll years of touring take on the body. But there’s a deeper reason: “Part of it is that it’s artistically redundant after a while, because it’s ‘Groundhog Day’; you’re repeating yourself. David Bowie said the first two weeks of every tour is basically — I’m paraphrasing — creative; after that, it’s redundant, kind of thing, which is correct. So it’s that.”
Despite his reservations, Tankian finds solace in the connection with his bandmates. “But I do enjoy playing with the guys, and when it’s a one-off, it’s actually fun, ’cause there’s no pressure to do this whole rigamarang of a long tour or press or anything.you just rehearse together, make your dumb jokes, have food together, and then go and play that one show and it becomes a hoorah. So that’s what we’ve been doing. And I’m grateful for that.”
Within the band’s dynamic, Tankian and Daron Malakian, the primary songwriter, had their share of creative clashes. As Tankian explains, “Daron’s been a lifer and he’s incredibly serious about his music and he’s incredibly protective of his music and vulnerable due to his music. All of those things kind of go together. So it’s those things, I think, that created some of the creative differences that we started finding.”
He points to their evolving roles within the band as another contributing factor: “And it’s also our progression. Listen, when Daron and I started working together, I didn’t really write a lot of instrumental music — I mostly wrote lyrics; I was the lyricist; I was the singer. And he didn’t write any lyrics; he just wrote music. But as time progressed and I played more musical instruments and I started becoming a songwriter/composer and he started writing more lyrics, we started kind of covering each other’s territory. And I was okay with that.If he wrote lyrics, I was trying to encourage him to write more, because I believe in artistic growth. I believe in progression.”
Tankian’s openness about these struggles resonated with fans and showcased his desire for honest reflection. When asked why he wanted to write about this in his book, Tankian says, “A lot of it has been publicized in a very sensationalist format by media, music media mostly, and I kind of wanted to put it in a proper perspective and grounding perspective, but with love and with balance and understanding that these things happen. This is normal. You have a relationship and you have differences in opinion as [to] how you wanna go forward,whether it’s a band or a marriage or whatever it is indeed. And these things happen. And so I wanted to take that aspect out, I wanted to take the sensationalist aspect out of the whole thing and be, like, this is not only what happened, but this is how I see things.”
The band’s recent reunion centered around a powerful cause: the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two singles, “Protect The Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz,” released in 2020, served as a call to action. Tankian shares, “along with other donations from fans on their social pages, they raised over $600,000.” This act demonstrated that despite their creative differences,system of a Down remains a force for change,using their platform to amplify vital issues.
Their story is a testament to the complexities of artistic collaboration, the enduring power of music, and the importance of speaking out for causes close to one’s heart.
The world of music can be a challenging one, especially for artists who strive for authenticity while navigating the expectations of a passionate fanbase. For Serj Tankian, frontman of the iconic band SYSTEM OF A DOWN, this struggle is a daily reality.in a recent conversation, Tankian spoke candidly about the band’s creative process and the weight of responsibility he feels towards their dedicated followers.
“We haven’t been making new music,” Tankian admitted. ”We only put out two songs when the invasion of Artsakh,Nagorno Karabakh happened in 2020 by Azerbaijan,as we felt like the Azeri trolls,the government-sponsored trolls were taking over social media and the news networks,and the victims of these attacks weren’t getting the word out. So we became kind of obsessed with getting the word out, as we were seeing our people suffer. So we put out those two songs because of that and we donated a lot of the proceeds for that to the cause as well.”
Tankian delved deeper into the complexities of balancing artistic expression with fan expectations. “That’s an incredibly smart question,” he said, acknowledging the inherent difficulty in catering to a diverse audience. “It’s really hard catering—when you’re an artist, it’s really hard catering. If you’re an entertainer,catering is [what you do],but if you’re an artist,then you’re just creating what comes to you. You’re almost unaware of what people want.”
He continued, “Yes, if it’s something heavier, you know people are gonna like it more. But if you’re a good songwriter, you could do both. I do orchestral music, I do film music, I do rock music—I do it all. So I enjoy ’em all, but I know that if I do rock, more people are going to listen to it than a piano, instrumental orchestral piece of music, soundtrack kind of music. But it doesn’t mean that you don’t do both, as an artist. So it’s hard to really cater to people’s feelings.”
Despite the challenges, Tankian expressed deep appreciation for the fans’ unwavering support. “What I love is, , and I know that I can speak for the rest of the guys in the band, that no matter what’s going on with our creative difference or the band not making new music or not touring fully or whatever, everyone’s incredibly appreciative of what we have in terms of the love that we get from our fans and the way that people react to our music and the way that we get all these e-mails about how it’s changed people’s lives and all of that stuff, and that is mind-blowing. It’s the biggest honor. And when I meet people on the street, I’m still incredibly honored that someone would pick me out and look at me in a positive light, not knowing who I am personally, but knowing me through my music, through our music, let’s say. And I think that’s a great fucking honor. I feel blessed for it. But it doesn’t mean that that thing should continue forever either.”
How do Serj Tankian and System of a Down navigate the challenges of balancing artistic expression with the expectations of their passionate fanbase?
Serj Tankian: On the Road Less Traveled
The world of music can be a challenging one, especially for artists who strive for authenticity while navigating the expectations of a passionate fanbase. For Serj Tankian, frontman of the iconic band SYSTEM OF A DOWN, this struggle is a daily reality. In a recent conversation, Tankian spoke candidly about the band’s creative process and the weight of duty he feels toward their dedicated followers.
“We haven’t been making new music,” Tankian admitted. “We only put out two songs when the invasion of Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh happened in 2020 by Azerbaijan, as we felt like the Azeri trolls, the government-sponsored trolls where taking over social media and the news networks, and the victims of these attacks weren’t getting the word out. So we became kind of obsessed with getting the word out, as we were seeing our people suffer. So we put out those two songs because of that and we donated a lot of the proceeds for that to the cause as well.”
Balancing Art and Fan Expectations
Tankian delved deeper into the complexities of balancing artistic expression with fan expectations. “That’s an incredibly smart question,” he said, acknowledging the inherent difficulty in catering to a diverse audience. “It’s really hard catering—when you’re an artist, it’s really hard catering. if you’re an entertainer, catering is [what you do], but if you’re an artist, than you’re just creating what comes to you. You’re almost unaware of what people want.”
He continued, “Yes, if it’s something heavier, you know people are gonna like it more. But if you’re a good songwriter, you could do both. I do orchestral music, I do film music, I do rock music—I do it all. So I enjoy ’em all, but I know that if I do rock, more people are gonna listen to it than a piano, instrumental orchestral piece of music, soundtrack kind of music. But it doesn’t mean that you don’t do both, as an artist. So it’s hard to really cater to people’s feelings.”
An Artist’s Thankfulness
Despite the challenges,Tankian expressed deep appreciation for the fans’ unwavering support. “What I love is, and I know that I can speak for the rest of the guys in the band, that no matter what’s going on with our creative differences or the band not making new music or not touring fully or whatever, everyone’s incredibly appreciative of what we have in terms of the love that we get from our fans and the way that people react to our music and the way that we get all these emails about how it’s changed people’s lives and all of that stuff, and that is mind-blowing. It’s the biggest honor. And when I meet people on the street, I’m still incredibly honored that someone would pick me out and look at me in a positive light, not knowing who I am personally, but knowing me through my music, through our music, let’s say. And I think that’s a great fucking honor. I feel blessed for it. but it doesn’t mean that that thing should continue forever either.”
