The wait for System of a Down's return to Italy is growing. On Monday 6 July the historic Californian band will be the protagonist at the Snai La Maura Hippodrome in Milan for one of the most anticipated events of the I-Days Milano Coca-Cola 2026. Led by Serj Tankian, the group will bring to the stage a show that promises to be full of the great classics that have marked the history of nu metal.
The program of the day
The day will start in the afternoon with the opening act. Acid Bath will open, followed by Queens of the Stone Age, before System of a Down enters the scene at 9pm.
The official times are as follows:
- 2.30pm – Early Entry / VIP
- 3.00pm – Doors open
- 5.10pm – Acid Bath
- 18.10 – Virgin Radio DJ Set
- 7.00pm – Queens of the Stone Age
- 9.00pm – System of a Down
System Of A Down's setlist
As for System Of A Down's setlist, it is likely that a selection very similar to the one performed on June 29th in Sweden will be presented, based on some of the most famous songs from the group's repertoire, from “Chop Suey!” to “Toxicity”, passing through “BYOB”, “Aerials”, “Sugar” and “Lonely Day”.
Here is the possible lineup of the System Of A Down concert in Milan:
Soldier Side – Intro
BYOB
Suite-Pee
Chic 'N' Stu
Prison Song
Aerials
IEAIAIO
Innervision
Darts
Genocidal Humanoidz
Needles
Deer Dance
Radio/Video
Dreaming
Hypnotize
ATWA
Bounce
Suggestions
Psycho
Chop Suey!
Lonely Day
Lost In Hollywood
Streamline
Spiders
Forest
DAM
War?
Toxicity
Sugar
The book
Born in Los Angeles in 1994, System of a Down have become one of the most influential bands in the contemporary metal scene thanks to a style that blends heavy metal, alternative, hardcore and influences from the Armenian tradition. After the self-titled debut in 1998, consecration came with albums like “Toxicity”, “Mezmerize” and “Hypnotize”, which gave birth to a long series of classics. In 2006 the band won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance and still continues to gather millions of listeners on streaming platforms, confirming itself among the most loved names on the international rock scene.
Meanwhile, “Down with the System – An autobiography (or almost)”, Serj Tankian's memoir published by Il Castello in the Chinaski series, has also arrived in Italian bookstores. The volume traces the life of the singer of System of a Down, intertwining personal events, artistic career and political commitment.
More than a classic rock autobiography, the book recounts the path that led Tankian to become one of the most recognizable figures of contemporary music and international activism. “I was an activist long before I became an artist,” writes the musician, who traces the origins of his Armenian family, his childhood and adolescence in the United States, and the way in which cultural identity, historical memory and sense of justice have influenced his vision of the world.
Ample space is naturally dedicated to System of a Down, from the birth of the band to the worldwide explosion of success. Tankian recalls a symbolic moment in the group's career: “The day we reached number one with the second album, “Toxicity”, was September 11, 2001”. Among the most curious episodes also emerges the story of his first concert, in 1984, when his girlfriend took him to see Iron Maiden: “I never became a die-hard metal fan like the other members of the group”.
Recalling the nu metal boom years, the singer observes: “There was the explosion of bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Incubus, Slipknot, Linkin Park, A Perfect Circle and Papa Roach. Even if I didn't necessarily feel in tune with all those artists, their successes certainly paved the way for us.” And he claims a historical record for the band: “The video for “Chop Suey!” it was the first metal song to surpass one billion views on YouTube.”
Music is closely linked to civil commitment. Tankian recounts the long work he carried out for the recognition of the Armenian genocide and for the defense of human rights, a battle that also brought him unwanted attention: “The Turkish secret services kept an eye on me and followed my movements. The outcry I had raised had attracted their attention, but not in a positive sense”.
Among the most significant episodes stands out that of 2002, when he threatened to leave the band if Sony did not entrust Michael Moore with the direction of the video for “Boom!”. Similarly, he recalls the decision to refuse a concert in Istanbul as Slayer's support group: “As emerging artists, we refused to open a Slayer concert in Istanbul as a sign of protest against Turkey, which continues to deny the Armenian genocide. Tom Araya understood our position and didn't take it.”
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
