Buyer pays for return shipping. The band turned into nine-piece rock band-turned-funk group, amping the stakes up to the point where everyone would get out of their seats to dance along -- at shows and in movie theaters, when some of the last tour dates were filmed to create the concert documentary Stop Making Sense. Twain was the perfect blend of show woman, sex appeal, and girl power, which translated into a country-flavored pop show with crossover appeal that hadnt been seen since Garth Brooks proved country and rock and roll belonged onstage together earlier that decade. Each concert was the backdrop for an impromptu (yet wholly expected) speech about motivation and perseverance. Like Madonna, Bon Jovi, and Metallica, U2 is one of the biggest bands in the world. While the tour's production was notable, particularly it's rotating LED cube dubbed "the Monolith," it was Beyonc's ever-improving talent that stole the show. Some of the best moments can be found on his acclaimed Otis Redding: Live in Europe album, and it would be only three months later at Monterey Pop that Redding would largely wash away the color line at a music festival in his own country. With their valiant Ticketmaster battles behind them, a newfound sense of camaraderie, and Soundgardens Matt Cameron solidifying the bands revolving spot behind the drum kit, Pearl Jam were finally able to commit to making each and every outing be it an intimate show in their hometown of Seattle or under the stars at Wrigley Field a night where anything could, and often does, happen. symphony orchestra -- Matt Melis, 33. Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd, embarked on a solo career in the mid-1980s. distribution partner, email us at Do they have fees? The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Tour, #3. 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. The finished product captures memorable tours that hopefully all music fans can appreciate. Wonder had you fooled, though, as the shows lasted over three hours without a single dip in energy or mood. Total tour attendance: 4.85 million Year(s): 199495. Live videos from the tour capture what it felt like to be there, from people's shrieking screams for the band at the start of songs to the mischievous air that hung during their stripped-down, acoustic renditions. The 1980s brought some of the best music of the 20th century to the world. While it may have been unusual for its time, everyone from Depeche Mode to Bjrk have cited the band as a major influence. The tour thrilled millions, sent Prince even higher into the stratosphere, and pissed off Tipper Gore. In addition, U2 had astage set that was 164 feet high that accompanied them to every venuetwice the height of the previous stage set record. Onstage, she proved how she was born to be an artist. Matt Melis, Some might equate Pearl Jams live show with a young, longhaired Eddie Vedder scaling stage scaffolding and leaping into a sea of denim and flannel. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $421,181,298 Does it get any better than that? To publish, simply grab the HTML code or text to the left and paste into The tours namesake album had just gone No. Nina Corcoran, 08. Year(s): 200203. los angeles But, seriously, give the old man credit for this pick. Thats what makes the groups earlier tours so intriguing. We want to hear it. Beginning with the "Voodoo tour, Wyman was replaced with the groupscurrent bassist, Darryl Jones. On the sprawling Out There tour, the average setlist included 39 songs, a smattering of superstar cameos, and some comedic asides from Paul. 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. Shows played: 53 Gene Simmons was Uncle Sam, and he wanted YOU in his army. It was also the year she curated Meltdown Festival, where she performed Horses in its entirety for the first time ever, giving fans a transformative experience. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $563,300,000 Wed be excused if thats the case with Jimi Hendrix. Five words that nearly every music fan has uttered. 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. 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. 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. They were joined by David Gilmour, who became an official member in the late 1980s, and eight other musicians who filled the holes left by Syd Barrett and Roger Waters. On top of this, the 1970 tour saw their iconic headlining set at the Isle of Wight Festival. And the most miraculous part was that Madonna transcended all the hype by offering a larger-than-life event. 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. 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. -- Matt Melis, Pop wouldn't be weird without the help of Kate Bush, and that includes her aura on the live stage. 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. Back in 2003, the White Stripes had just released Elephant and were in the midst of defining the garage rock revival. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - First UK Tour (1967), Sometimes a candle burns so brightly that we almost forget how briefly it was lit. 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. Follow. Total tour attendance: 3.47 million 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. A couple of years later we met at my studio in New York City. It didn'tcome without controversy, though. Heres everything to know, The biggest music festivals in 2022: Dates, cities, ticket info, lineups announced, What is MegaSeats? The Big Time shows captured those two worlds colliding. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $307,106,208 Comments. By this time, the band was not only playing dream venues like Madison Square Garden and Budokan, but selling them out multiple nights. Though she's already blessed with one of the all-time greatest voices of any artist, Beyonc's choreography, stamina, and ability to never lose her breath was astounding. Though Earl Sweatshirt was still nowhere to be found, it was essentially Odd Future in full form, goofing off onstage, flexing their cadences, and occasionally incitingso-called riots. The alternative dream was still alive . Shows played: 390 Can you name the Highest Grossing Concert Tours of the 1980's? But it wasnt until the 1998 Yield Tour that the frontman and his colleagues matured and settled into being the best touring band on the planet. Its just a question of which version of Young reigns supreme onstage: the solo folkie, the &Y sometimes added to CSN, or maybe the grunge godfather backed by Crazy Horse. 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. ), Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $319,972,060 While artists like Madonna doubled down on creative costumes and Janet Jackson would go on to make her shows all about electric dance routines, Houston eschewed much of that showmanship in favor of wowing audiences with her musical creativity: improvising, scatting with her band, or adding jazzy or gospel inflections to her vocal arrangements. The band reunited for 156 shows, playing theirfinal show at Madison Square Garden. If live music is all about reaching out and connecting with an audience, Coyne can be credited for finally improving on the classic crowd surf. Many fans got to hear that robot pop sound live for the first time, not to mention see instruments like synthesizers, vocoders, and homemade electronic percussion devices stand in for standard rock and roll gear. Picking out the best 80s rock bands is no easy task. And this tour was big. Nina Corcoran, 60. Despite trying to do the opposite, The Cure became a stadium rock band, the bands outside relationships fell apart, and they almost broke up. Total tour attendance: 6.34 million However, the one triumph that had evaded Barbra Streisand was a successful tour. This saw a growth spurt where Newsom brought a full band with her on tour to nail the orchestral-style parts, played at a handful of festivals, and performed four times on live late-night TV shows (somewhat of a rarity for the notoriously secretive artist). Clark used half of the tour as a way to give a solo show, performing older tracks with just her guitar and her voice, and then played newer songs with the help of a backing track. ), 02. Total tour attendance: 5.50 million On a crisp fall afternoon in Dublinin 1976, Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. gathered in Mullens kitchen anddecided to form a band:U2. Joanna Newsom- Have One on Me Tour (2010), Though one could say Joanna Newsom continues to outdo herself in live settings today, the singer-songwriter and harpist outdid herself in 2010 while touring behind the triple-LP Have One on Me. -- Matt Melis, 04. Last year, when the Rolling Stones tour grossed over $130 million and the Eagles earned $59 million, "we were all doing victory dances," says Andy Gensler, editor of the concert industry bible Pollstar. That boldness swells in size when people realize just how powerful that can be -- powerful enough for the radio, even. Nina Corcoran, 88. Just look at the setlists. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $364,300,000 It was the first time wireless mics would ever be used onstage. 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. In many ways, the Highway to Hell Tour can be seen as Bon, on his last tour, handing the mic to Brian to continue down that satanic highway. Matt Melis, 98. 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. The Tour of Life was her first-ever concert tour and lasted just over one month. Sometimes, the tour has a special, personal meaning to the individual fan, like the first time seeing a show with a future spouse. But perhaps more importantly, it was a bill stacked with powerful women, a first for the Honda Civic Tour and one that paved the way for other acts that followed. The audience responses to Pennimans high-energy show were so intense that word spread, and Brian Epstein, manager of a young band called The Beatles, begged for his act to get to open for Little Richard on some of his dates. Total tour attendance: N/A Elton John- 1974 North American Tour (1974), Elton John is taking his time and sparing no expense on his current farewell tour. Even more impressive than the bevy of talent was the fact that the tour raised more than 10 million dollars for charities in its successful short run. Nina Corcoran, 09. In 20162017, their tour "A Head Full of Dreams became one of the top-grossing tours of all time, showing just how big an influence the group has had on the music scene. They were merely a group of local musicians who came together for a paid gig (the album recording) and then ended up getting enough paid gigs after that (for both Springsteen and other musicians) that it made sense to become a band. Few things functioned as intended, be it the backdrops or the microphone pickups, which turned the tour into a legendary catastrophe-turned-spectacle. The veteran band had finally made it that long way to the top and were reveling in every last second of it. List of the Largest Concerts Ever. Stayin alive, stayin alive. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour, #15. While 3.5 million fans were lucky enough to attend the concerts, millions more were able to watch a televised special thatwon three Emmy Awards. Discover with Concertful the best upcoming concerts, gigs and music festivals taking place in your area. Known for gimmicks like hanging from a cross, the "Sticky & Sweet tour had none of that. The Jesus and Mary Chain's Jim Reid curated the tour in hopes of proving independent rock artists could be worthy of bigger venues, using Lollapalooza as a blueprint for how to do it. Her kick-off shows in London sold out in record time, the Japanese military was brought in to control the 25,000 fans who greeted her at an airport, and she played to record crowds in numerous countries and cities. Notable, but, sure, normal for McCartney's lively stamina. Year(s): 2018. Never has so much vocal talent been on one bill, and while some of these shows would be segregated (one show for whites and a separate one for blacks or the two groups partitioned off during the same performance), The Motortown Revue ultimately helped to break down racial boundaries at a critical time during the American civil rights movement. tour dates While touring behind it, she upped the popstar ante with silicone outfits and flashy stage props, but decided to return to her humble roots, too. So strange seeing Maynard in the daylight. The 50 Greatest Concerts of the Last 50 Years From Led Zeppelin's U.S. debut to Jay Z and Kanye West's 'Watch the Throne' spectacle, and beyond By Christopher R. Weingarten, David Browne, Jon. The Top 100 Music Festival Lineups of All Time, The Top 10 Music Venues in 10 American Cities. 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. Florence + the Machine- How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Tour (2015), With each passing year, Florence + the Machine seem to thrive on lifes most daunting moments, and never was it more evident than during their tour in support of How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. It was the first tour not to feature original drummer Peter Criss, and the touring debut of his replacement Eric Carr. Asking ourselves, "Would we want to go back in time to check out this show if we had tickets?". The tour also spawned the groupsonly live album"Live in Buenos Aires, recorded at the final show. So big, in fact, that as of 2013, the tour holds the record for the highest-grossing tour by a solo musician, surpassing Madonna. Nina Corcoran, Theres no science to picking out the best tours, especially when some of the artists on this list have more great tours than you can count on a single hand. 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. Take that, Tito! 1966 marked the first time that Stax Records the spiritual home of Memphis Soul had sent its artists out on tour, and Reddings 1967 European Tour met with ecstatic fanfare six months later. A half-dozen albums later, U2 released "The Joshua Tree in 1987, which won them the Grammy for Album of the Year and spawned two of their most classic tracks, "With or Without You and "I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For. In 2017, marking the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, the group embarked on their "Joshua Tree Tour, in which they played the entire song list in order every night. The concerts and tours that made the final cut werent just huge spectacles, they deepened the power of rock & roll itself from Neil Young thrashing out 20-minute jams with Crazy Horse to Beyonc turning stadium glitz into a personal outpouring. David Byrne wiggled like a nervous, fidgeting, unsure nerd. Over a stretch of roughly three months, she brought a jazz and rock fusion to her sound with the help of a proper backing band -- a first for Mitchell, whose previous tours mainly consisted of her playing solo. 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. In 2010, it finally glowed bright enough for everyone to notice. A list of 80s concerts people have attended and their reviews of the concerts. restrictions, which you can review below. Shows played: 136 Nina Corcoran, 50. Nina Corcoran, 91. Year(s): 200708. Yes, the Dead have great albums, like Workingmans Dead, and more bootlegs showcasing their live chops than most people could ever get around to listening to, but, more than any band in history, what they toured from city to city was a culture and brotherhood, and their people followed.