System of a Down don't play very often any more, so it makes sense that when they do, people go crazy. But at this past weekend's Riot Fest performance, fans were going a little too crazy and the show had to be stopped multiple times to avoid any serious injuries to fans in the pit.
A pro wrestling student, Steve Schneider, submitted this first hand account of how he was also trampled to death at the show to WrestleZone:
I fell over during system of a down, then someone fell on top of me so I couldn’t breathe. Then once they got up, someone else fell on top of me. It was never ending. At one point I had someone on top of my back, and someone either sitting or standing on my head, pushing my face down into mud. I couldn’t breathe the entire time, but then any breath I could take I was close to inhaling muddy water. It was the scariest thing in my entire life cause I had no idea how long I’d be trapped for. Apparently System of a Down had to stop playing so paramedics could get me out, I was unconscious at that point so I have no memory of it. Both of my eyes are blood red from passing out due to lack of air + someone crushing my head + screaming for my life.
The video below show System of a Down stopping their set at the conclusion of "Aerials" and the band asks fans to create an open space after the pile got huge. Tankian can be heard saying “We love playing these shows, but it’s not worth one person getting hurt" and later adding “It’s extremely awkward to sing when there are people who look like they’re dying right in front of me."
The band were eventually allowed to continue their set without any further problems.
