Nina Corcoran, 11. December 3, 1980 Previous Dynasty Tour Next 10th Anniversary Tour The Unmasked Tour was a 1980 concert tour by the hard rock group KISS. 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. Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain Tour (1984-85), How huge was Purple Rain? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. performing arts Total tour attendance: 3.23 million So strange seeing Maynard in the daylight. On one hand, we love to brag when we experience something -- like a song premiere -- at our tour stop that others cant lay claim to. Critical darlings like Grizzly Bear and Bat for Lashes were tapped as openers, and Kraftwerk opened in Latin America. Nina Corcoran, 50. The sheer size of the audiences overwhelmed Smith. Those shows broke box-office records across the US previously held by The Rolling Stones as magician and skeptic James Randi introduced a series of gruesome stage effects, freakiest of all a guillotine beheading that put the roll in rock and roll. The set, like the tour, is known for catering to both hardcore Deadheads and welcoming newcomers. The Big Time shows captured those two worlds colliding. The run would not only feature openers like Joni Mitchell, Santana, and The Beach Boys, but would also act as a prototype for the massive stadium tours that would come to dominate subsequent decades. Nobody did 70s soft rock better than the Eagles, which millions of album sales, a cool dozen classic rock radio staples, and a forests worth of fading ticket stubs all testify to. Depeche Mode still sound strong today, but catching them during their peak in the middle of a tour fans still gush over is a bucket list for any synthpop-loving music obsessive. Shows played: 155 Matt Melis, Few punk rock bands cause as much of a ruckus before even getting to the stage as the Sex Pistols, which explains why their first and last US tour was one in the same. Ask Stephen Stills and Neil Young, who have spent much of their Hall of Fame careers either playing in bands with each other or quitting them. If youre going to get people grooving to your work, you better up the funk, and Phish turned that knob way the hell up. The Eagles One of These Nights Tour (1975), Ah, this ones for the dads. (Note: NJ.com readers using Vivid Seats for the first time can get $20 off ticket orders over $200 with promo code NJ20 at checkout. Nina Corcoran, 38. A loose narrative about Frank trying to break into show business connected a series of avant-garde performances, including the pencil-mustachioed Waits singing Innocent When You Dream in a bathtub and hammering on boiler room steam pipes during 16 Shells from a 30-Ought Six. (It always seems to take critics a little bit longer.) Nina Corcoran, Selling out sure does sound good. It marked the zenith of the Eagles as a country-rock outfit, and many argue the band has never soared higher. Check out SoundMojo to discover tomorrow's. Nina Corcoran, 76. That doesnt mean we can take you back to a harmonious time in band history, though. Not only had Simon found his spark again in his mid-40s, but he had also turned the masses on to the worldbeat sound. With multiple tributes to Phife Dawg, moving pauses where Q-Tip and Jarobi White stood off to the side for Phife's verses to be played over the speakers while his image flashed on screen, and '90s hits being sung back to them, word for word, from audiences of all ages, the tour felt like a moment solidifying their place in history: right now, back then, and forever more. 2. Again, a lot of time to spend onstage with someone you cant stand. The legendary rock group, The Who, perform on stage during the band's final . By the mid-1980s, the rock and roll scene had begun to feel a little stale. Jackson had hits, set touring records, and even played before royalty with his siblings. On the live stage, Jack and Meg Whites crunchy, loud, perfectly imperfect sound came stomping out, unabashedly messy and all the more charming because of it. Nina Corcoran, 97. concert tickets Pop and the Stooges would go on to get their due as a seminal proto-punk outfit, but their largest impact may just be Pop demonstrating the lengths a frontman could go to connect to an audience. Not too shabby. Matt Melis, 07. The slate saw Springsteen finally headlining full-size arenas and adding several soon-to-be staples to the setlist. distribution partner, email us at In an era of eclectic festivals and post-nu-metal, it may not seem so groundbreaking, but to bring these genres together 30 years ago absolutely busted down doors and changed how fans thought about different types of music. Nina Corcoran, The Cure doesn't tour abroad often because of Robert Smith and Simon Gallup's fear of flying, which makes any trek to the US (by boat!) 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." Another wildly popular Bruce Springsteen tour, "The Rising Tour began a week after the release of Springsteens 12th studio album, "The Rising." June 10, 1982. The 1980s brought the world some of the best music the 20th century had to offer. "Then came Omicron, and we stopped dancing," he adds. Her eighth toursupporting her 11th album"Hard Candy, the "Sticky & Sweet tour was Madonnasleast controversial tour. Watching them turn into the geniuses they would become was surreal, a vision of genuine artistic joy and collaboration. Winning comparisons to The Beatles forboth their popularity and their British origins, their "Where We Are Tour was the groups fourth and final tour as a complete band. By the time they returned for 16 dates traversing the country the following year -- most of which lasted only about 30 minutes and included several other acts on the bill -- Beatlemania was in full effect. It was The Police in their prime era at their highest point, before drama got in the way. Announced at a news conferenceheld under the Brooklyn Bridge, the Stones "Bridges to Babylon tour supported their album of the same nametheir 23rd U.S. studio album. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Throw in Faith No More, Body Count, Motrhead, and, um, Andrew Dice Clay as select openers, and what more could a metalhead want? Simon and Garfunkel-- Summer Evening Tour (1981-83), Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were destined to sing together. Do they have fees? 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. Paul McCartney- Out There Tour (2013-15), No musical artist appears on the average bucket list in concert form more than Paul McCartney. Following Autobahns chart success overseas in 1974, the group visited the States, Canada, and the UK for the first time the following year. symphony orchestra The tour thrilled millions, sent Prince even higher into the stratosphere, and pissed off Tipper Gore. Year(s): 200810. Jean Michel Jarre at State University of Moscow (1997) - 3.5 million attendees. There were so many great bands and amazing songs that it's hard to narrow it down to just a few. The veteran band had finally made it that long way to the top and were reveling in every last second of it. 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. On the bands fifth and last studio album, The Police showed their skills not just as musicians, but as a trio of outstanding musicians who could find the best possible way to fuse their ideas together. 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. It came as no surprise. While its true he wasnt quite yet the King of Pop, catching him on the Victory Tour could definitely be considered seeing him a mere shamone or two away from his throne. 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 ), Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $319,972,060 -- Matt Melis, Grateful Dead are one of those bands that really need to be seen and not just heard. arts center And there to flesh things out even more was a star-studded list of openers like Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, R.E.M., and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Wonder had you fooled, though, as the shows lasted over three hours without a single dip in energy or mood. Luckily, nobody told that to Tina Turner, or at least she didnt pay them any attention if they did. 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. While on this tour, Joel has created a sort ofresidency for himself at Madison Square Garden, playing one show there a month, as long as ticket sales stay high (already six dates at MSG have been announced for 2019). Total tour attendance: 1.96 million Both occurred during Queens Magic Tour. The British pop-rock band, fronted by Chris Martin, has had a series of wildly successful albums over the past two decades. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $674,547,559. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs Tour (2010-11), When touring behind The Suburbs, Arcade Fire was at the perfect crossing point of the famous indie rock band it had become. While earlier that year, they recorded a live set that would become Live at Leeds, it was the combination of these sounds -- the blues-rooted, riff-heavy early material with the more adventurous, cinematic, crescendo-filled material of a rock opera -- that nailed this tour down as a career peak. Guns N' Roses: Not in This Lifetime Tour, #2. 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. Avid Stones fans claim that this is the groups best tour, but its also one that almost didnt happen. It was a hint of what was to come before infighting became the norm, the band broke up, and Strummer eventually passed away. Cyndi Lauper. Although the decade of excess came to a close over 32 years ago, many of the biggest acts that came of age. It was the first time wireless mics would ever be used onstage. But, its more than safe to say that the pop concert was never the same after the Queen of Pop hit the road. Nina Corcoran, 25. Matt Melis, 61. However, it was a chance to see our favorite rain dog performing some of his finest material at the height of his quirky powers. 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. 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. The truth is that many of the same fans who had championed Dylan, revered his songwriting, or looked to him as the voice of their generation thought of plugging in as a waste of talent and a desecration of his message. In 1973, Australian brothers Malcolm and Angus Youngfounded AC/DC. With those guidelines listed out, let's take a look at nine of the biggest concerts in American history. Beginning with my taking the bus to see Depeche Mode at Gloucester Leisure Centre in 1984. Total tour attendance: 2.60 million When Dylan and his backing band, The Hawks (later known as The Band), set out on their world tour in 1966, the controversy followed them. While preferences will vary, at least everyone can agree: the In Rainbows tour was a moment of magic in real life. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $364,300,000 The first tour in 1997 was hyped but still small, as they had yet to make it big. Commercially viable and artistically varied, grindcore earned itself the space to be taken seriously and grow on that tour, eventually developing into the monolith it is today. Along with this resurgence of fame came Aerosmiths most ambitious arena tour yet, spanning a mindblowing 240 shows across 13 legs. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - First UK Tour (1967), Sometimes a candle burns so brightly that we almost forget how briefly it was lit. Shows played: 53 . In other words, Dead freaks unite! Matt Melis(Several former members of Grateful Dead now tour as part ofDead and Company. Osbourne wasnt in the healthiest state at the time, but who could resist being the proverbial flying rodent on the wall as Ozzy legendarily bit a dead bat thrown onstage (and had to subsequently get rabies shots) or went outlaw by donning his wifes nightgown, getting smashed, and pissing on The Alamo? To a less confusing time, when both werent out on tour separately. 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: Wrecking Ball World Tour, #14. It was a moment in time where people across the world got to witness Bowie before them and realize, yes, this was a rock star about to take his position at the forefront for generations. 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. And this tour was big. While Simons project put him in some political hot water at the time due to issues of apartheid in South Africa, most critics and crowds around the world came to love these songs both on record and onstage, where Simon embraced the culture he had borrowed from by deferring to his fellow artists and sharing his own jubilant performance. Total tour attendance: 2.66 million high school Give Orange. By embracing 80s camp, the self-love themes of the record, and tour-specific Versace outfits, Gaga used innovative stage installations like a medieval castle and a puppeteered horse to create a world all her own through which to relay her music. The English rock bandPink Floyd formed in 1965. It was the era of young adults claiming their thrones in hip-hop, and seeing that moment in history live was (and still is) a coveted thing. & Rakim, Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew, and Public Enemy. Some even claim he invented the stage dive during these years. 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. Shows played: 131 Yes - Close to the Edge Tour (1972-73), It's impossible to get the original members of Yes in the same room together now, and it has been for quite a while. Year(s): 2014present. Barbra Streisand- Barbra Streisand in Concert (1993-94), By the 90s, there wasnt much this EGOT-winning star of stage, studio, and screens of all sizes hadnt achieved. 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. 3. The Def Jam 87 tour packaged seminal hip-hop acts like Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Erik B. 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. Bookmark Quiz Bookmark Quiz Bookmark. At these events, fans could see established acts like Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and James Brown supported by future stars like a teenage Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and The Temptations. Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright were students when they met and began playing together, but their famous "A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour didnt come until much later, toward the end of their time as a group. 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. The Big Time shows captured those two worlds colliding. No Doubt, Deftones, L7, Quicksand, and Sublime all performed, touring the states with no idea of what a massive footmark they were leaving, one that would eventually widen to resemble a bigger beast altogether. Total tour attendance: 3.55 million 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. 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. With drug charges in the past, the Stones finally hopped across the pond to play sold-out arenas, showing their growth as adults and as professional musicians. The tourcoincided with the release of their new album of the same name and featured other artists like The Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban. It didn'tcome without controversy, though. A series of instruments were created and brought on tour to specifically illustrate the technological aspect of music. Various Artists -Lollapalooza(1992), While Lollapalooza might draw thousands of people to Chicago each year, the original idea was that the traveling alternative festival would be rolling through a town near you. A diva with all of the talent and hustle but none of the ego, Ross hit the road in 1983, as she did most years, to promote her latest record, Up Front. All recounts of the tour point to how amused and bitter Johnny Rotten seemed to be, not to mention Sid Vicious' struggling attempts at bass. The stage setup was ambitious! ZZ Top Concerts 1980s 1980 January 4, 1980 Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, TX (supported by Eric Johnson) January 5, 1980 Convention Center Arena, Dallas, TX January 6, 1980 Tarrant County Convention Center Arena, Ft. Worth, TX January 10, 1980 Civic Center Coliseum, Amarillo, TX 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. Few things functioned as intended, be it the backdrops or the microphone pickups, which turned the tour into a legendary catastrophe-turned-spectacle. Between the big hits, the delightful absurd prog solos, and the remarkable improvisations that came from these live renditions, it was a tour thats revered for the vibe, the music, and the outstanding record it birthed as a result. 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. 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. Legendary shows at venues like Shea Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl not only helped set attendance and revenue records but also captured footage of just how emotional fans could get at a concert. 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. Its the circle of life, folks. 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. The tour's live album, Alive 2007, won Daft Punk a Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album afterwards. Shows played: 120 Shows played: 102 Send a Message. The list below was born out of some pretty serious arguments. The magic of a free-to-download album, dazzling hanging light strips, one of the most iconic Bonnaroo performances of all time, and new material that they worked out live onstage all felt surreal. Nina Corcoran, 51. In some ways, it felt like Prince was the orchestra leader and finally had all the pieces to conduct his grand vision. The first leg promoting the album began some 14 months before The Dark Side was released and found the band previewing arguably the greatest album of all time in its near-completed form for their fans. On top of this, the 1970 tour saw their iconic headlining set at the Isle of Wight Festival. It took me a lifetime to get here, she told them. The run included the bands legendary May 8th stop at Cornell, considered by many to be the holy grail of Dead shows. Cher is known for her extravagant concerts, with multiple costume changes, elaborate sets, dancers, and video montages. by Stephen Spiewak, July 20, 2016 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. In 2010, it finally glowed bright enough for everyone to notice. To this day, critics and fans alike have proclaimed that theyve yet to see anything quite touch these shows. It was the first time The Wall would be performed in its entirety by any member of Pink Floyd since Waters performed the album live in Berlin 21 July 1990! 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. Luckily, theres plenty of footage of Marleys final performances and message, including a sold-out stadium show thats still considered to be the largest concert in Italian history. Shows played: 110 Credit Gene Simmons and co. for understanding that its just rock and roll, stupid! This final tour was run in conjunction with the release of the groups final album, "The Division Bell., Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $423,574,349 The 1980s brought the world some of the best music the 20th century had to offer. And Then There Was David Lindley, See the Beths Deliver Refreshing 'Expert in a Dying Field' Mini-Set on 'CBS Mornings', The YSL Case Is Stretching Fulton County's Justice System to Its Breaking Point, Trump Promises to Continue Presidential Campaign if Indicted, Then Delivers a Snoozy CPAC Speech, NBA 'Investigating,' Team Suspends Ja Morant After Allegedly Flashing Gun on Social Media. So, not only did Pennimans comeback remind his fans that he had once shaped rock and roll, but he directly influenced the two most popular bands of the 60s. Comments. 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. Do they have fees? Year(s): 200205. The Tour of Life was her first-ever concert tour and lasted just over one month. For a handful of the dates, labelmates Hot Chip served as openers. 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. Matt Melis, 18. And two minutes later, it starts all over again. AC/DC didnt so much replace Bon as they went out and found another brother with the same electric current pumping through his veins. Mick Jagger has also cited Little Richards electric shows as an inspiration. Matt Melis, 44. The most famous instance came between songs at a concert in Manchester. The Top 100 Music Festival Lineups of All Time, The Top 10 Music Venues in 10 American Cities. If your organization is interested in becoming a Stacker Eventually, the tour hit its stride, bringing in $300 million over its 14-month run. by Alyssa, April 04, 2016 Nina Corcoran, 85. Year(s): 199798. 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. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $546,023,369 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. When he and his band took the record on tour, it seemed like it may be too grim to work. The "A Bigger Bang" concert tour turned out to be the top grossing tour of 2006. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Matt Melis, 48. Though they were on the road for hundreds of days, the members of Arcade Fire performed like they were bursting with passion, and the crowds felt similarly, as was evident with every audience members soaring jumps to Ready to Start and all those maxed-out sing-alongs to Wake Up. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $421,181,298 Nirvana would go on to play more dates the rest of the year, but it was that initial breakthrough, the turning point of fame encroaching before the mass hysteria ensued, that provided the band with a peak scenario to see them in. 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. But in 1985, that all changed when Guns N Roses hit the stage. 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. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Originally started as an alternative rock tour -- but, in its second year, quickly entering the pop punk world, where it would stay until its end -- Warped Tour was the festival that did because it could and allowed thousands of preteens to learn they could do the same. 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. I'm the last person to pretend that I'm a radio. It began in the United States only a few months removed from the Kennedy assassination when the mop-topped lads from Liverpool played their first American concerts sandwiched between Earth-shifting appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $422,597,665 LL Cool J, Whodini, Eric B. On the Do You Believe? "Next to You. That was the first song on their 1978 debut LP. His songs skipped from bizarre folk to outlier rap to heavy rock and glitchy pop. Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues Tour (1983), The year was 1983. -- Matt Melis, 04. Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation Tour (1989), Stardom runs deep in the Jackson family.