System of a Down has made "Johnny" available on streaming platforms for the first time, releasing the long-obscure track as part of a larger celebration of the 25th anniversary of their landmark album "Toxicity," according to Billboard.
Until now, "Johnny" had only appeared on international editions of the album and a UK 7-inch single pressed alongside "Chop Suey!" It had never received a standalone release.
"Toxicity" originally came out on September 4, 2001, produced by Rick Rubin. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, though its early rollout was immediately shadowed by the September 11 attacks. In the days that followed, "Chop Suey!" was pulled from radio playlists because some listeners found its lyrics sensitive in the context of the attacks.
The album still broke through. "Chop Suey!" became the band's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and all three of the album's singles reached the chart. "Aerials" eventually topped both Billboard's Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock tallies. Critics and fans responded to the album's unusual blend of heavy guitar riffs, progressive structure, and Armenian folk influences, combined with lyrics addressing the environment, protest movements, and U.S. foreign policy.
"Toxicity" has since been certified seven-times platinum in the United States and two-times platinum in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 15 million units sold worldwide. "Chop Suey!" alone surpassed 2 billion Spotify streams as of this past May.
The anniversary rollout includes a vinyl reissue pressed on red smoke-colored vinyl, bundled with a one-sided bonus 7-inch featuring "Johnny" on the A-side and a custom "25" etching on the B-side. The package also comes with a custom double-sided poster.
The reissue corrects a longstanding error in the album's tracklist. The hidden closing track, long referred to informally by fans as "Arto," is now officially credited as "Der Voghormia," a traditional Armenian hymn.
The reissue is available now for preorder.
