Chop Suey on La Brea, System of a Down Marks 25 Years of Toxicity at Beyond the Streets
The Los Angeles band takes over Roger Gastman’s gallery for a free six-day exhibition of rare artifacts, installations and exclusive merch.
Twenty-five years after Toxicity came out, System of a Down is bringing it back to the city where the band began. A week-long exhibition at Beyond the Streets on La Brea Avenue opens Tuesday, October 13, and runs through Sunday, October 18, with free entry and no ticket required, according to the gallery.
The show promises rare artifacts and ephemera from the Toxicity era, immersive installations, the album’s iconography and history, and merch sold only at the exhibition. The gallery describes it as a living tribute to one of rock’s most impactful records.
Toxicity was released on September 4, 2001, and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. SPIN named it the album of the year. Its radio hits “Chop Suey!,” “Aerials” and the title track sat beside “ATWA,” “Prison Song” and “Psycho,” and the record was recently certified seven times platinum for 7 million units sold in the United States, Consequence reported. The band announced a reissue and a merch capsule for the anniversary in September.
System of a Down formed in Los Angeles and released its multi-platinum self-titled debut in 1998. The lineup is Serj Tankian on vocals and keys, Daron Malakian on guitars and vocals, Shavo Odadjian on bass and John Dolmayan on drums. The band has sold more than 42 million albums worldwide and draws over 26 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the gallery says.
Beyond the Streets, founded by Roger Gastman, is a gallery and cultural venue devoted to graffiti and street art. Its Los Angeles home at 434 N. La Brea Avenue holds rotating galleries that are free and open to the public, plus a curated shop.
Rock fans already have a reason to be in the neighborhood. About a mile west on Fairfax Avenue, Linkin Park’s Unshatter pop-up wraps up today.
