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. Shows played: 132 Shows played: 89 and Mastodon announced the co-headlining tour during critical points in both bands' careers, especially since it was just before Against Me! Alanis Morissette- Cant Not Tour (1995-96), Oh, what a difference a few years can make. The complex arrangements on the new album saw her performing more nuanced, in-depth material both instrumentally and vocally. We limited each artist to just one tour, to promote inclusion and diversity, and strived to include tours of various genres and eras. Rod Stewart at Copacabana Beach (1994) - 4.2 million attendees. As single after single climbed both country and mainstream charts, you were just as likely to hear Shania Twain blasting from a 16-year-old teen girls first car as a rugged pickup truck. Billy Joel An Innocent Man Tour (1984), After fighting for much of his young career to be viewed as a rock and roller, Billy Joel did the damndest thing in the early 90s: he stopped writing rock songs. Consider it Americas belated response to the British Invasion. Run-DMCandBeastie Boys- Together Forever Tour (1987), In 1986, Run-DMC broke hip-hop stereotypes when their rap rock take on Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" hit No. The band reunited for 156 shows, playing theirfinal show at Madison Square Garden. Two of the tours on the list are still announcing new dates, so if you want to be part of concert tour history, consider snagging tickets now while you have the chance. But, seriously, give the old man credit for this pick. Nina Corcoran, 40. The Rolling Stones American Tour 1969 (1969), Oh, to be a rock legend in your prime. Shows played: 100, For many an instrumentalist, landing a job withthe E Street Band would be a dream come true. For starters, it was the tour that gave us Live at Montreux, her first-ever concert film, capturing how powerful her delivery is onstage for anyone to see. The "Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour is a perfect example of that. 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. concert series St. Vincent- Fear the Future Tour (2017-18), What do you do when youre one of the greatest guitarists of all time? your CMS. Matt Melis, Its not that the German band Kraftwerk were ignored in their heyday; in fact, they were one of the first groups to popularize electronic music. AC/DC didnt so much replace Bon as they went out and found another brother with the same electric current pumping through his veins. Its so iconic that its routinely covered today (down to every last detail) by The Musical Box, a Genesis cover band that Gabriel himself donated instruments and set design pieces to so the tour can reach a new generation. Nina Corcoran, 21. What began in August of 1991 stretched into a worldwide tour until the end of February in 1992. By the mid-1980s, the rock and roll scene had begun to feel a little stale. Matt Melis, 54. Richards said he only "spent a couple of days in the hospital; it later came out that hed actuallyhad brain surgery to remove a blood clot resulting from the fall. The disaster resulted in the tragic deaths of 7 concert-goers. To this day, critics and fans alike have proclaimed that theyve yet to see anything quite touch these shows. Radiohead In Rainbows Tour (2008-09), The best Radiohead album, the best Radiohead tour, and the best Radiohead mood? Year(s): 201213. Discover with Concertful the best upcoming concerts, gigs and music festivals taking place in your area. Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Alec John Such, and Richie Sambora made up the original band, which had hits like "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name." "Then came Omicron, and we stopped dancing," he adds. Total tour attendance: 6.0 million Voices that feel like forces of nature that need tamed just enough to fit into the confines of a song. This seminal, month-long run in the band's history is the tour that could turn the most oblivious listener into a cultish fan. 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. Matt Melis, Ramones spent their first two years as a band playing almost exclusively in New York City and, more often than not, at the legendary CBGB. Nina Corcoran, Lilith Fair, the brainchild of singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, struck an early victory for womens inclusion in the modern touring industry. From 2007-2008, the band joined Springsteen for a23-songs-per-set tour that was called "euphoric and "profound., Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $279,110,786 Both legs were out of this world, but lets face it: one just makes for a slightly cooler story to tell the grandkids -- Matt Melis, 15. The English rock bandPink Floyd formed in 1965. Nina Corcoran, Yes, we can look back to a time before Lindsey Buckingham was fired from Fleetwood Mac. Pink Floyd- The Dark Side of the Moon Tour (1972-73), Concertgoers can be a tough crowd to please. After hitting it big time with their second studio album, Nirvana took their grunge to the mainstream level, shifting from modest clubs to arenas and festivals. 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. by Madison Marx, January 31, 2023 Arcade Fire was the band whose live shows spread like wildfire. 4. by Will, December 15, 2014 Total tour attendance: 2.89 million Total tour attendance: 3.55 million Which was more awesome, The Joshua Tree or Zoo TV? 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. Privacy Policy and Rights Stacker has rounded up 30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time. Its a particularly impressive feat when you consider that the band, which by this time had been performing together for 30 years,had just lost a member. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Magic Tour, #27. It did include an impressive array of the pop divas most famous hits from her 30-year career, as well as some iconic dance moves, but it was perhapsthe pop stars most family-friendly tour ever. 1 $817,900,000: $870,000,000: Elton John: Farewell . The short winter tour in intimate venues across the US ended with two nights at Bowery Ballroom mere hours before Christmas. 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. The iconic soul singer has a youthfulness to him that seems dependent upon gratitude, something Wonder has never been in short supply of. In 2005, Smith's live performances were bigger and better for a range of reasons. 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). I'm the last person to pretend that I'm a radio. Matt Melis, 41. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Vintage Ted Nugent Scream Dream Wango Tango Tour 1980 t-shirt Condition: Pre-owned Time left: 4d 22h | Starting bid: US $50.00 [ 0 bids ] Bid Amount Enter US $50.00 or more Place bid Best Offer: Make offer Add to Watchlist Ships from United States Shipping: US $5.85 Standard Shipping. 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. 107 of the biggest stars from the '80s are on tour in 2023 including Madonna, Guns N' Roses, Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran, The B-52s, Metallica, Reba McEntire, Ice Cube, Billy Idol and Kenny . It was the tour to watch an artist on top of the world prove she still, somehow, was getting better and better. Songs that began quietly grew into a dark, rumbling experience, with Cave descending into the crowd as if he and the crowd became one. Phish leveled up and its impossible to deny. los angeles Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $674,547,559. by Madison Marx, February 03, 2023 Shows played: 51 And yet, when it finally hit the road, Roger Waters' tour managed to be even better in person than any press could've described. Bruce Springsteenand the E Street Band - Darkness Tour (1978), Road warriors might be the best way to describe Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Total tour attendance: 4.85 million At 73 years old, he was the inspiration for youthful elders everywhere. 30 day returns. 9 Backstreet Boys - 73,337 The Backstreet Boys were at the height of their popularity when they drew over 73,000 fans into the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on February 19, 2000. In 2012, Madonnas "MDNA Tour, which followed the release of her 12th studio album of the same name, was thehighest-grossing tour of the year. Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan World Tour 1966 (1966), Not everyone was thrilled when Bob Dylan chose to go electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. By the traveling fests second year, the lineup flexed an undeniable whos who of talent, including eclectic acts ranging from Sinad OConnor and Liz Phair to Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott across three stages. While it's hard to pick a single best year, as Warped Tour turned into an all-ages space for kids and adults alike to embrace the music they loved regardless of stereotypes that may follow, it was the festival's first year that truly would have been a sight to see. If youre hoping to hear some of your favorite tracks from yesteryear live, heres a list of the 50 biggest groups across all genres you can catch live this year. 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. Still, it felt like the odd couple were truly homeward bound when they ended their 10-year separation to play before half a million in their now legendary Concert at Central Park. 1 Name Just One - 10 to 1: Music . For the first time since 1994, Radiohead performed in Mexico, and they made their live debut in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile come the end of the tour. Their first UK Tour saw the band sharing a bill with, among others, a young Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck. And who can blame him? Sometimes, the tour has a special, personal meaning to the individual fan, like the first time seeing a show with a future spouse. It was the year of the big suit, a year that lives on in cartoonish costume design fame. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour, #15. The success of that one-off night in September 81 led Simon & Garfunkel to put harmonies before harmony and embark on what many consider their finest tour ever. Do they have fees? Michael Jackson - Bad World Tour (1987-89), Sometimes, we forget that Michael Jackson had already charmed much of the world before he ever undertook his first solo tour in 1987. And for the final touch? To have seen Hendrix during this period might have been too blinding to fully appreciate. (It always seems to take critics a little bit longer.) Matt Melis, 62. Little Richard 1962 European Tour (1962), By the early 60s, Little Richard (born Richard Penniman) had traded in rock and roll for gospel. Shows played: 120 In 2013, he embarked on his solo"Out There! tour, during which he played 91 gigs, sang a total of 3,631 songs (an average of 40 a show)including 13 that hed never performed beforeanddrank zero glasses of water while on stage. Cyndi Lauper. So many fans are still demanding to see him that there are regular shows scheduled until August 2019, with the possibility of adding even more dates. To borrow from Ms. 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. Year(s): 200203. Hislongest concert ever took place during this tour, clocking in at just over four hours. The album won critical acclaim for how well it captured the feelings and aftermath of 9/11. Year(s): 201618. So her sound engineer Martin Fisher used a wire clothes hanger to create a wireless headset microphone. While these dates werent the marathon shows that fans would become familiar with on future tours, recordings capture an intense experience unlike any other Springsteen tour, where fast songs were sped up to breakneck speed and slower cuts were allowed to stretch out and get moodier than ever. It was the first time wireless mics would ever be used onstage. Avid Stones fans claim that this is the groups best tour, but its also one that almost didnt happen. Odd Future- Golf Wang Tour 2011 (2011), Rap collectives come and go, but Odd Futures lasting effects were made to stand forever. The 40 Most Anticipated Tours of 2023: Taylor Swift, SZA, Blink-182, Arctic Monkeys, Beyonc, and More Angel Olsen, Big Thief, Coldplay, Dry Cleaning, Fever Ray, Glorilla, Kelela, and more of the. The Rolling Stones knew that rock was ready for melodic pop choruses, and their first massive stadium tour of the states had everyone singing along -- inside and outside of the stadium. Yet, despite all of this, it's considered to be the band's best tour because they were peaking in popularity, the album's intense themes translated well live, and the hype that surrounded them lived up to the live version. Nina Corcoran, 96. Others would say the band was never better than when setting endurance records on a nightly basis on the Wrecking Ball Tour. by Madison Marx, 2023 Vivid Seats LLC. 1984 and 85 was peak Prince. To this day, the image of knock-knee frontman Steven Tyler, pursing the poutiest lips this side of Mick Jagger, spitting out debauched lines while playing hot potato with his scarved microphone stand remains one of the most iconic visuals in rock history. And maybe none of their tours warrants cracking open a nostalgic beer more than the One of These Nights Tour. In doing so, youre agreeing to the below guidelines. Matt Melis, 24. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - The So Far Tour (1974), Getting along doesnt always make for the best music. No matter how big the crowds would get or how elaborate the stage setups would one day become, theres still something utterly mesmerizing about the band, as captured forever in their Red Rocks performance on that tour. Along with this resurgence of fame came Aerosmiths most ambitious arena tour yet, spanning a mindblowing 240 shows across 13 legs. Thats what makes the groups earlier tours so intriguing. Nina Corcoran, Whats bigger than god? She rose to a new level of fame that was pulled off gracefully as expected --even prompting aSimpsons sketchfrom Matt Groening himself. It was the tour where a swatch of die-hard fans who would follow them on tour intentionally decided to fall off, certain Radiohead could never top a tour like this again. Back in 2003, the White Stripes had just released Elephant and were in the midst of defining the garage rock revival. Though their comically large beards would suggest they'd been in hiding, the Neutral Milk Hotel crew seemed just as delightfully unhinged as their music always painted them as being, from the warped singing saw solos to the slightly out-of-key reckless hollers. Nina Corcoran, Selling out sure does sound good. -- Matt Melis, 35. Someone in the audience shouted out Judas!, prompting Dylan to turn to his band and order them to play it fucking loud. The Hawks obliged, and rock and roll has never been the same since. Stevie Wonder- Songs in the Key of Life Tour (2015), To hear Stevie Wonder is to hear what it feels like to smile from the joy of being alive. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $526,158,550