System Of A Down is currently slated to play 13 shows in 2025, which is the most shows they've played since 2017. And that's assuming that the band isn't going to announce any other live performances for the rest of the year. The shows include six in New Jersey, Illinois, and Ontario, as well as a trek through South America.
So why all of a sudden is System Of A Down getting back out there and playing shows a little more regularly again? According to bassist Shavo Odadjian in an interview with Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, they're "testing the waters." Odadjian said everyone in System Of A Down is getting along better than they have in a while, though he notes there's no grand master plan for massive tours or anything like that.
"We haven't played a lot together for a while. We've been doing one or two shows a year since 2017," said Odadjian. "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. So we decided to test the waters and play some shows. And that's what it is. 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 these 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."
"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].' 'Cause you know what? 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.' As long as everyone is down. Daron 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."
As for any future tours, Odadjian added: "We can do it. Look, for the last few years, we've been doing one or two shows. And we go and we rehearse two weeks for one show. I think that's not smart. So six shows is better than one show to me. I'll take it. I'll take it, and I'm not gonna ask for more. I want it to happen organically. I think our band is that band — 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."
So here's hoping System Of A Down decides to finally get back out there and kick all the asses we collectively know they can… and y'know, finally do a new album. System Of A Down's touring plans for 2025 are as follows:
4/24 Bogota, Columbia Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campin
4/27 Lima, Peru Estadio Nacional
4/30 Santigo, Chile Parque Estadio Nacional
5/3 Buenos Aires, Argentina Estadio Velez Sarsfield
5/6 Curitiba, Brazila Estadio Couto Pereira
5/8 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Estadio Nilton Santos
5/10 São Paulo, Brazil Allianz Parque
8/27 MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (System Of A Down, Korn, Polyphia & Wisp)
8/28 MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (System Of A Down, Korn, Polyphia & Wisp)
8/31 Soldier Field Chicago, IL (System Of A Down, Avenged Sevenfold, Polyphia & Wisp)
9/1 Soldier Field Chicago, IL (System Of A Down, Avenged Sevenfold, Polyphia & Wisp)
9/3 Rogers Stadium Toronto, ON (System Of A Down, Deftones, Polyphia & Wisp)
9/5 Rogers Stadium Toronto, ON (System Of A Down, Deftones, Polyphia & Wisp)
