Thats what makes the groups earlier tours so intriguing. Odd Future- Golf Wang Tour 2011 (2011), Rap collectives come and go, but Odd Futures lasting effects were made to stand forever. Year(s): 2014, Afterfinishing third on "The X Factor in 2003, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne found almost unprecedented levels of success with One Direction. It would be one of the first times that Redding, the equivalent of a powerful locomotive as a performer, would look out and see predominantly white faces in one of his audiences. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $301,000,000 Its no surprise, then, that this long-anticipated tour set attendance records at each of its stops and resulted in a hit HBO special, a successful VHS release (later DVD), and a multi-platinum live album -- not to mention several subsequent tours. Do they have fees? Phish- Phish Destroys America (1997), Its hard to pick a single best Phish tour, especially if youre a die-hard fan. The tour opened ona cathedral backdrop with biblical scriptures booming from the speakersand men dressed as monks filling the stage, before quickly shifting into Madonnas #1 hits "Girl Gone Wild and "Material Girl. Later in the show, Madonna pulled out a fake gun and "shot multiple people, a move that didnt go over well with some audience members. Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation Tour (1989), Stardom runs deep in the Jackson family. In the case of Mercury, they would be his final shows ever due to being diagnosed with AIDS the following year. Shows played: 155 Maybe not, but soon enough everyone else did. The shows themselves saw Prince, oozing sexuality, dive right into the best of Purple Rain and 1999, not hesitating to bring out openers Apolonia 6 or Sheila E. to sing along or to extend a jam by 20 or 30 mesmerizing minutes. by Stephen Spiewak, July 20, 2016 Send us a tip using our anonymous form. After striking shrapnel on their joint cover of Public Enemys Bring the Noise, Scott Ian and Anthrax took to the road alongside Chuck Ds crew, with each night culminating in the two acts joining each other onstage for the tours namesake jam. Their biggest album, "For Those About to Rock, We Salute You, topped charts in 1983, but in 2008 they were still going strong. Young packed plenty of new material into the shows, which he divided into two parts: a solo acoustic set and an electric set with Crazy Horse. While the group sometimes cringed at trying to harmonize over stadium-ready guitars and sound systems, their mix of acoustic and electric sets are legendary and could go on for more than three hours. It was the opportunity to watch an artist put on a fully immersive production that was parts story, groove, and liberation, and Mones ability to do so this smoothly was a sign of what was to come. -- Matt Melis, Becks slow ascent upwards came after a string of unexpected hits. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $345,700,000 December 3, 1980 Previous Dynasty Tour Next 10th Anniversary Tour The Unmasked Tour was a 1980 concert tour by the hard rock group KISS. Nina Corcoran, 27. Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler mixed elements of classic rock with metal undertones and slasher influences and brought something totally new to the industry. The Top 100 Music Festival Lineups of All Time, The Top 10 Music Venues in 10 American Cities. So big, in fact, that as of 2013, the tour holds the record for the highest-grossing tour by a solo musician, surpassing Madonna. Matt Melis, Since she first asked, Where did our love go? as a Supreme, Diana Ross has been a national treasure. [emailprotected]. by Alyssa, July 07, 2016 Discover with Concertful the best upcoming concerts, gigs and music festivals taking place in your area. It was a hint of what was to come before infighting became the norm, the band broke up, and Strummer eventually passed away. Roger Waters- The Wall Live (2010-13), The hype surrounding The Wall Live could give anyone shivers. Proving that we often dont know a good thing til its gone, The Polices reunion tour grossed more than any of their heyday tours. In some ways, it felt like Prince was the orchestra leader and finally had all the pieces to conduct his grand vision. Total tour attendance: 3.50 million Total tour attendance: 4.62 million The Rolling Stones American Tour 1969 (1969), Oh, to be a rock legend in your prime. Its funny how history tells a slightly different story, though. 1980s Uprising Tour was the largest in Europe that year and saw Marley playing several new countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, and Scotland. Notable, but, sure, normal for McCartney's lively stamina. Sufjan Stevens- Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long: Seasonal Affective Disorder Yuletide Disaster Pageant on Ice (2012), Out of everything in his toiling discography, its arguably Sufjan Stevens yearly voyage into holiday music that makes him so intriguing. And, whats more, they should be seen and heard among a massive throng of other Deadheads. Thats why were more curious about the months Hendrix and The Experience spent building a name for themselves in the UK before coming to America. But over the course of their massive reunion tour playing at more than 40 festivals worldwide, OutKast found their footing, transforming from an underwhelming reunion set to a highlight-laden performance remembered for its stacked setlist, culture commentary via Andrs custom jumpsuits, and the energy the duo still brought out of one another after all of these years. All rights reserved (About Us). Taylor Swift- The 1989 World Tour (2015), If Taylor Swift is an icon who will go down in history, then the 1989 World Tour is what future generations will study to understand why. It was a transformation of human expectations, stage design, and low-to-high delivery, thankfully captured on film for preservation. Simon needed a new inspiration to take hold of him, and he found that muse in the traditional music of South Africa, which he would combine with pop to create Graceland, his best-selling album as a solo artist. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, some of the best music the 20th century had to offer. 1983, so it was a pretty big deal. However, the one triumph that had evaded Barbra Streisand was a successful tour. Buyer pays for return shipping. After all, Alive was the dance party everybody wanted to see and the tour everyone regrets not going to, even if nabbing tickets was nearly impossible anyway. Stacker has rounded up 30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time. And yet for what a supposed destructive slog it was, the Sex Pistols' subpar tour turned sour, fizzling out on live radio while captivating everyone who tuned it. In truth, so was his creativity as a songwriter. The run included the bands legendary May 8th stop at Cornell, considered by many to be the holy grail of Dead shows. Thanks to streaming services and the preference of audiences for singles,album sales are down overall, but it's clear fans are still willing to pay to see their favorite artists in person. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). List of the Largest Concerts Ever. Because little did fans know, this would wind up being the bands final big tour before eventually breaking up. But, seriously, give the old man credit for this pick. released their major label debut and after Mastodon made theirs. Guns N' Roses: Not in This Lifetime Tour, #2. Year(s): 2018. It marked the zenith of the Eagles as a country-rock outfit, and many argue the band has never soared higher. All three members of Run-DMC were 22 years old and all three members of Beastie Boys were between 21 and 23. On their 1970 tour, The Who hit the road to support the recently released Tommy. Triumph 1985 Thunder World Tour Concert Rock 1980's Vintage T-shirt Condition: New with tags Last One Price: US $16.95 Buy It Now Add to cart Add to Watchlist Returns accepted Ships from United States Shipping: Standard Shipping. The iconic soul singer has a youthfulness to him that seems dependent upon gratitude, something Wonder has never been in short supply of. By the time the 73 leg started, the album was already a smash, and the band had blown up to stadiums and arenas rather than more intimate venues like theaters. It was the tour that saw them flood Madison Square Garden, the tour that represented a new financial model for rock acts, and the tour that produced one of the first live bootleg recordings (the second concert in Oakland, for those who don't know). Rio Grande Mud ( 43 ) The Tonnage Tour ( 89 ) Tres Hombres ( 123 ) Viva Las Vegas Residency 2018 ( 5 ) Viva Las Vegas Residency 2019 ( 8 ) Whack Attack ( 71 ) Worldwide Texas ( 107 ) XXX ( 109 ) ZZ Top's First Album ( 35 ) Songs Albums Avg Setlist Covers With Concert Map Concert Map 1 1 26 26 Zoom : Countries Browse artists A B C D E F G H I J K L And who can forget those skin-tight pants and spangled jackets? Closing in on six decades of being "the greatest rock & roll band in the world, the Rolling Stones are one of theoldest bands still performing today. The kings of the genre shared the stage back in 2002, though, proving it had rightly emerged as a force to be reckoned with. On the Victory Tour, his last stint as a Jackson, he actually performed his solo albums Off the Wall and Thriller with the group and stunned the world with his moonwalk, single glove, and sequined jacket trademarks hed take with him into his solo career. Conversely, if the same band neglects their back catalog, we can feel cheated on that account. The honor for top-grossing music tour of all timeis held by U2. While it may have been unusual for its time, everyone from Depeche Mode to Bjrk have cited the band as a major influence. Despite trying to do the opposite, The Cure became a stadium rock band, the bands outside relationships fell apart, and they almost broke up. 29. They also went on a year-long tour, primarily playing thesongs on the compilation, but sprinkling in a handful of other band favorites. Total tour attendance: N/A -- Matt Melis, 33. Matt Levy covers the entertainment industry live, writing about upcoming concerts, festivals, shows and events. Hislongest concert ever took place during this tour, clocking in at just over four hours. Various Artists --Warped Tour(1995), Warped Tour was the swan song of a generation bent on flipping off the status quo. Its roster of artists, which included Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, EPMD and Slick Rick, was unparalleled in range and cultural dominance. Stayin alive, stayin alive. And while his fans have had many opportunities to see him play his old hits since then and even perform face-to-face with Elton John dozens of times, footage from the Innocent Man Tour makes us long for, or at least look back fondly on, the days when rock and roll was, well, still rock and roll to Billy Joel. No big deal. With two extensive Christmas box sets to his name, 2006's Songs for Christmas and 2012s Silver & Gold, Stevens decided it was time to throw a special tour to play the material live. Shows played: 132 Whitney Houston - The Moment of Truth World Tour (1987-88), Only a few voices like Whitney Houstons come along each generation. Privacy Policy and Rights When the tour was announced in 2002, Cher claimed that it would be her last (spoiler alert: it wasnt), and planned a massive, glittery farewell for herself with an incredible 326 stops. In 2005, Smith's live performances were bigger and better for a range of reasons. The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang Tour, 100 best sci-fi films of all time, according to critics, Best New Artist winners, ranked by popularity today, most successful musical acts of the 1970s, the greatest rock & roll band in the world, Coldplays breakthrough single, "Yellow,, marked the first time in over two decades, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1. by Alyssa, June 25, 2015 My, my. and Mastodon announced the co-headlining tour during critical points in both bands' careers, especially since it was just before Against Me! by Alyssa, April 04, 2016 Matt Melis, 61. Total tour attendance: 6.0 million A couple of years later we met at my studio in New York City. Bookmark Quiz Bookmark Quiz Bookmark. LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening Tour (2010), Dance music had a major glow-up moment in the 2000s, and the label DFA Records had a big hand in creating it. Live, the band played their greatest hits and every passage in between, nailing their sets. One of two tours on the list that is still announcing new dates, Billy Joels "Billy Joel in Concert tour so far has booked 16 dates for 2019. His 2021 cover headline was "The Great Return. With eight digital sources acting as video streams, LED screens projected various video and lighting effects that the band could add effects to on the fly. She announced her tour shortly after performing at the Super Bowl that winter and tickets sold out -- without anyone knowing what was to come. Depeche Mode- World Violation Tour (1990), One of the most popular tours among Depeche Mode fans and electronic fans in general, the World Violation tour saw them kick off 1990 in style. 1 (their first in a string of four chart-toppers) on the strength of Henley-Frey singles, and this would be the last time founding member Bernie Leadon would be a part of the band. Nina Corcoran, 99. republish under a Creative Commons License, and we encourage you to Alanis Morissette- Cant Not Tour (1995-96), Oh, what a difference a few years can make. The tour has been far and away Sheerans best. Blink-182andGreen Day- Pop Disaster Tour (2002), Pop punk is as serious or as childish as you want to choose to see it. To this day, critics and fans alike have proclaimed that theyve yet to see anything quite touch these shows. The Flaming Lips- 2003 Summer Tour (2003), The Flaming Lips have been weird for a very long time and have pushed the boundaries of live spectacle as much as, if not more than, any other band of their era. Matt Melis, For half a year, Beyonc didn't just run the world; the world ran around her. Both occurred during Queens Magic Tour. 1980s ZZ Top Eliminator Red Satin Roadie Tour Concert Jacket USA small Condition: -- "Pre-owned" Price: US $99.00 No Interest if paid in full in 6 mo on $99+* Buy It Now Add to cart Best Offer: Make offer Add to Watchlist Ships from United States Shipping: US $10.55Expedited Shipping. Most nights of the tour opened with their classic hit "Message in a Bottle, but the August 2008 show began withCreams "Sunshine of Your Lovea moving tribute to the band who had played their own final show at MSG years prior. It was The Police in their prime era at their highest point, before drama got in the way. by Alyssa, March 03, 2023 Not all iconic tours are flawless, as sometimes its their flaws that make them stand out. Some would argue that lunch box and pail mentality is best summed up by the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. Mones live show on the tour was broken into parts, essentially like a Broadway play, complete with minor costume changes, narrative turns, and mood swings. January 23, 2019 As Joey once said, People looked at us like we were from Mars. If the band couldnt play a single note, their appearance alone could have influenced a generation. Equal parts fantasy and character development about an emasculated youth, the record's plot translated to the stage through a bizarre combination of grotesque costumes, hundreds of slides, and the largest drum kit ever used by Collins. Divorced from Ike Turner and with their glory days together well in her rearview mirror, Turner not only reignited her career with a series of energetic tours in the 80s and 90s, but she actually found her star burning brighter than ever. The 26 dates across Europe marked the last tour with bassist John Deacon and singer Freddie Mercury. He proved that a pop star could outdraw the hottest bands on the planet and that a pop concert could be an elaborate stage production on a scale never before seen. We limited each artist to just one tour, to promote inclusion and diversity, and strived to include tours of various genres and eras. Daft Punk Alive 2006/2007 (2006-07), Daft Punk have existed for 26 years now, yet the French electronic duo have only toured two times. Jawbreaker- 2018 Reunion Tour (2018), For 10 solid years, punk fans and emo kids got to soak up the earnest talent that was Jawbreaker. Simon and Garfunkel-- Summer Evening Tour (1981-83), Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were destined to sing together. It was the year of the big suit, a year that lives on in cartoonish costume design fame. Year(s): 200205. Its The Boss at his best. That tells you about all you need to know. And who can blame him? Kate Bush was adamant about dancing as she sang, using movements that were broad and wide, the type that would get you tangled in a cord should you try. Matt Melis, 52. See details Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Many of these performances would find their way onto his classic Rust Never Sleeps and Live Rust albums, with Youngs aggressive playing alongside Crazy Horse having a direct influence on both punk rock and the future alternative scene. -- Matt Melis, The frenzy has its own name: Beatlemania. Year(s): 2012. Tom Waits had left his drunken piano lounge act long behind him by the mid-'80s and stumbled into his alter ego of Frank O'Brien, a character he and wife Kathleen Brennan would both incorporate into his records and adapt for the stage. On a circular stage placed in the middle of the room, Bjrk worked instruments like a midi-controlled gamelan-celesta hybrid and a giant pendulum-harp that used the Earth's gravitational pull to create musical patterns, essentially turning her set into a artful take on factory work. Seeing a live performer on tour forever links both artist and fan to a particular venue, on a particular date, in a certain moment in time. The set, like the tour, is known for catering to both hardcore Deadheads and welcoming newcomers. Matt Melis, 41. More than anything else, it was a tour marked by a rigorous routine full of strenuous dance movements -- moves so intense that she developed a break and labral tear of her right hip come the end, as if we couldn't already tell Gaga gives performances her all. And thats precisely what she did. OutKast at Emory University (September 1999) (Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) The late '90s/early 2000s was a great time to be a college student. Unfortunately, the magic thats yielded some of the finest folk albums and live moments of all time has often taken a backseat to the duos clashing personal differences. During their reunion shows in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, Jawbreaker gave generations new and old the chance to hear their material live and sounding better than most everyone expected them to, too. List of the top 20 highest-grossing tours (by actual gross, not adjusted for inflation) of all time Rank Actual gross Gross adjusted for inflation (2023 $) Artist Tour name Year(s) Shows Attendance Average gross per show (millions) Average attendance per show Average gross per attendee Ref. Nina Corcoran, 40. However, Floyd fans who saw the first leg of The Dark Side of the Moon Tour got a preview theyll never forget (and one the rest of the universe will forever be insanely jealous of). And live, he could flaunt that wide range of material while flaunting why he is, more than anything else, a born performer. (Malik left in the spring of 2015. Matt Melis, 58. Debbie Harry and Blondie are one of the many iconic '80s acts going on tour in 2022.Evan Agostini/Invision/AP. Matt Melis, Don't overlook the power of a comeback, though, to be fair, Patti Smith never truly faded out to merit a proper comeback. Talking to Radiohead fans about their favorite moments in the bands career is like pouring a bucket of fresh food into a pool of piranhas. Tina Weymouth rocked back and forth with her bass, a sneaky grin on her face. David Bowie The Ziggy Stardust Tour (1972-73), With three months to absorb the songs on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, American David Bowie fans weren't prepared for what the musical icon would bring to the stage when he visited the US for the first time in 1972. Agora (Dec. 15, 1983) After releasing her 1986 monster album "True Colors," Cyndi Lauper became one of the biggest pop stars of the 1980s. Looking unassuming and average, the members of Talking Heads took the stage on their Speaking in Tongues tour like any normal passersby. Journey is one of the most influential arena rock bands of the 1970s and '80s. His tour "The Wall Live has been called "one of the most ambitious and complex rock shows ever staged. It also markedthe first time that "The Wall had been played in its entirety since a one-off performance beside the (fallen) Berlin Wall in 1990. Their manager booked dates that dodged major markets, sending the band through cities like Atlanta, Memphis, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Dallas, and Tulsa before concluding in San Francisco. But when scouring through live bootlegs from back then, the 1997 fall tour stands out because of how energized the jam band sounds -- and when it comes to Phish shows, its the energy in the air that can turn an already memorable performance into one that feels like magic. Genesis- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Tour (1974-75), Few prog rock tours are as infamous as Genesis' jaunt in support of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, the band's sixth studio album and last with Peter Gabriel as the lead singer. It was the tour to watch an artist on top of the world prove she still, somehow, was getting better and better. Her performance, her costumes, and the stage and multimedia setup had all been taken to new levels for this tour. At the age of 64, Wonder brought more exuberance and glee to the stage than anyone could have expected, so much so that he chose to add over 20 more dates to the tour to keep it going. Elton John, Foreigner, Queen and Eric Clapton hit the road. Nina Corcoran, Def Jam in the mid-80s can be compared to Motown in its heyday.