System of a Down brought the WAKE UP! South American Stadium Tour to Brazil, drawing a total audience of half a million people. However, it was in Brazil that the band spent a significant portion of their time and made history.
Not only does drummer John Dolmayan infectious live performances but he also revealed on his social media that he donated $50,000 (approximately R$285,000 at the current exchange rate) to two children's charities. The money was raised through autograph sessions for his comic books across South America.
“It was a blast meeting so many of you during the autograph events all over South America! Sharing our love for music and comics, taking photos, long and loving hugs. And the joy on your faces made it all so memorable,” said the drummer.
John Dolmayan made donations in Brazil and Argentina.
John Dolmayan chose the Alma de Batera in São Paulo, Brazil, and Hogar María Luisa in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to receive the donations, as described in his post:
“Thanks to all of you, we managed to raise US$50,000! These funds will go to two noble causes: @almadebatera in São Paulo, where they use the healing powers of drums to help people with severe autism and Down syndrome. And @hogarmarialuisa in Buenos Aires, where they help children as young as three years old, removing them from abusive situations and giving them a loving and welcoming environment.”
The drummer continued: “These were incredible experiences for me, as I was able to spend some time in both places and was lucky enough to meet the children and interact with them. This is just the beginning, I will do this more often and in many other cities. Thank you, I hope you enjoyed the comics and that meeting me was as fun for you as it was for me. A special thank you to @shavoodadjian for surprising us at some of the autograph sessions and to the staff at all the stores who made everything perfect.”
As a result of a 10-year absence from Latin America, System of a Down sold out shows in every city they visited: Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. According to the production company 30e, the group's last show, held at the Interlagos racetrack , drew a total of 70,000 people – the same number as their performance in Santiago, Chile.
READ ALSO: System of a Down makes an impact with hits on Billboard's Hot 100 after shows in Brazil.
