System of a Down Perform ‘Pictures’ for First Time in 17 Years, Unleash More Deep Cuts at Switzerland Show
System of a Down fans in Zurich, Switzerland were given surprise after surprise last night (June 1). SOAD broke out a bunch of songs they haven’t played in over a decade, most notably “Pictures,” (video above) which they haven’t performed live since the dawn of the new millennium in 2000.
System of a Down just kicked off their string of European summer dates, marking the first time System took the stage in a year and a half. Playing a massive 31-song set in Zurich, there was plenty of room for deep cuts. Fourteen songs in, Shavo Odadjian’s bass kicked off “Pictures” and the crowd lost their minds, later chanting along with Daron Malakian’s guitar lines.
Earlier in the set, System shared “Violent Pornography” (video below) with everyone for the first time since 2006. Right after jamming “Pictures,” the band launched into another rarity with the Steal This Album! track “Highway Song,” which hadn’t been heard live since 2005. Near the end of the night, System hit fans with one more surprise, playing “This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m on This Song” (video below) for the first time in over a decade.
In other System news, drummer John Dolmayan recently offered some insight on the band’s highly anticipated new album. Dolmayan called System’s lack of progress on the record “disheartening,” though he added the material they’ve managed to write so far can “match or beat anything” they’ve done before.
SOAD will traverse Europe for a month before ending their series of shows in Moscow at the Park Live Festival. Click here for System of a Down’s full touring schedule.
System of a Down, "Violent Pornography"
System of a Down, "This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm on This Song"
System of a Down Albums Ranked