System of a Down brought the WAKE UP! South American Stadium Tour and gathered a total audience of half a million people.
After a 10-year absence from Latin America, the Armenian-American band 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.
However, it was in Brazil that the band spent a significant amount of time and made history. Wikimetal has listed the best moments of System of a Down's visit to the country.
A tribute from fans to the band's hometown.
Brazilian fans launched a special campaign to honor the band, using their cell phone flashlights to form the Armenian flag. The idea originated with the Wake Up SP! and spread to audiences in Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba as well. System of a Down was moved by the fans' support for the fight for recognition of the Armenian genocide, a recurring theme in the band's music.
Drummer John Dolmayan visiting fans in the disabled area of the shows.
Before the show at each stadium, drummer John Dolmayan decided to surprise the fans in the accessible area. The musician appeared there, took photos, gave autographs, and chatted with the fans. This initiative touched everyone, and videos of it went viral online.
System of a Down meets fans at the hotel entrance.
Besides the insane show, the band also proved to be approachable. During their time in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Daron Malakian (guitar), Shavo Odadjian (bass), and John Dolmayan (drums) even met a line of over 100 fans waiting outside their hotel. Furthermore, John even handed out tickets to the shows.
The spectacular show put on by the fans during the concerts.
The shows were true spectacles, going beyond just System of a Down's performance. The fans created unforgettable moments, with several mosh pits and flares that provided a show of their own. The most anticipated moment was the song "Toxicity," where Daron said: "We don't use pyrotechnics on stage because our fans bring the fire."
The setlist with 38 songs for the final show of the tour.
System of a Down chose Brazil to close out their WAKE UP! South American Stadium Tour , so it couldn't have been any other way. The show brought together 70,000 people at the Interlagos racetrack and was the longest concert yet. Lasting two and a half hours, the band performed 38 songs, thus achieving another historic milestone in their career.
READ ALSO: 3 memorable moments of Avenged Sevenfold in Brazil
