System of a Down was a sonically unique beast during its heyday, but after five studio albums, the Armenian-American Californians brought their brand of protest rock, sporadic musical arrangements, and lyrical surrealism to an unexpected halt on August 13th, 2006.
Fans in West Palm Beach, FL witnessed what was rumored, for a time, to be System Of A Down’s final performance. Members graciously announced only an indefinite hiatus (which we missed upon blinking), but side project after side project kept them busy otherwise, further fanning flames: guitarist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan pursued Scars On Broadway, lead vocalist Serj Tankian followed up his poetry collection Cool Gardens with two solo albums, and bassist Shavo Odadjian collaborated with Wu-Tang member The RZA, among other things.
I have persisted, since reviewing Scars On Broadway, that the so-called hiatus was merely temporary, as has the band itself; I believed it to merely be everyone’s opportunity for new endeavors, each with a varying degree of notoriety. On that note, in a long overdue followup to this January tweet, November 29th, 2010 (according to Blabbermouth) marks the announcement of a European tour return from the four-year rest period. The reinvigorated rock act has snagged spots at the 2011 editions of Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany, Download Festival in England, and Nova Rock in Sweden, as well as headlining dates in Milan, Paris, and Berlin.
The band says they have “no master plan of sorts,” so we’re not sure if the future also holds North American tour dates or a new studio album. While we wait to find out, you can find a listing of all confirmed European tour dates below. Complete ticket on-sale information can be found on the band’s website.
System of a Down 2011 Tour Dates:
06/02- Milan, IT @ Fiera Arena
06/04 – Nurnberg, DE @ Rock im Park
06/05 – Nurburgring, DE @ Rock am Ring
06/06 – Paris, FR @ Omnisports de Bercy
06/09 – Interlaken, SZ @ Greenfield Festival
06/11 – Donington, UK @ Download Festival
06/13 – Nickelsdorf, AT @ Nova Rock
06/15 – Berlin, DE @ Wuhlheide
06/17 – Gothenburg, SE @ Metaltown Festival
06/19 – Turku, FI @ Provinssirock
