biggest concert tours 1980s biggest concert tours 1980s

Performing every song from an iconic album like this one isn't easy, especially when there are 22 songs to play, not to mention other hits and singles from your catalog. On the eve of their UK tour, Joe Strummer went missing as a publicity stunt-turned-actual scare. The tour thrilled millions, sent Prince even higher into the stratosphere, and pissed off Tipper Gore. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Wrecking Ball World Tour, #14. Their solution also mimicked Motowns strategy throughout the 60s. Avid Stones fans claim that this is the groups best tour, but its also one that almost didnt happen. It wasnt an act of innovation in their eyes; it was an act of betrayal. 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As a blend of pop, soul, rock, and hip-hop, the album showed how versatile Mone was in creating music. It would also be his last tour, as he would pass away from Melanoma only a few months after finishing the slate. It was two already popular acts in the middle of a career rise, both giving it their all to audiences who were already dying to see them. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $506,821,305 However, in 1993, the band began to splinter. Total tour attendance: 2.67 million 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. Shows played: 108 Nina Corcoran, Whats bigger than god? 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. Take that, Tito! 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. David Bowie's Glass Spider Tour: $86 Million Gross adjusted for inflation: $193.9 million Although David Bowie's Glass Spider Tour was poorly received at the time it spanned from May to. Total tour attendance: 6.0 million Total tour attendance: N/A Again, a lot of time to spend onstage with someone you cant stand. Whether its slapping away at his piano, leaping about the stage, or swinging his mic stand around his head like a propeller, well always love that piano man who was more rock and roll than he ever got credit for. 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. Was Bruce Springsteen better in 1975 or 1978? 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. Can you name the Highest Grossing Concert Tours of the 1980's? The other half of the tour, she brought her full band back to bring the new material to life with a bit of edge, proving she can do it all no matter how famous she is now 15 years deep into her career. In a genius move, he signed with Elton Johns management team the same year, and the rest, as they say, is history. January 23, 2019 Matt Melis, 34. Few tours captured that glimmer of dancing under a disco ball quite like LCD Soundsystem's 2010 tour behind This Is Happening. He had a hit movie, a hit soundtrack, and, with The Revolution behind him, the band hed always wanted. What began in August of 1991 stretched into a worldwide tour until the end of February in 1992. He can be reached at [emailprotected]. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. and Mastodon - 2007 Spring Tour (2007), The biggest difference between looking back on remarkable tours versus remarkable concerts is what the full package includes. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $333,024,687 Like many iconic bands before and after them, critics didnt initially get Zeppelin, panning their records as derivative and unimaginative. All rights reserved (About Us). The chance to see Hendrix in smaller clubs already playing with his teeth and, yes, lighting his guitar on fire (often to the consternation of security) months before Americans got to see it overseas feels like the ultimate sneak preview. But if were talking the moment that Bruce and band really became Kings of the Road (or maybe Bosses), that would have to be the Darkness Tour. While Bjrk never shies away from absurdist outfits, powerful live accompaniment, or creative stage designs on tour, it was the Biophilia tour that saw her questioning how to turn the invisible physicality of music into a visible one. For close to a decade, and through several of their other tours, the "Voodoo Lounge tour was the Rolling Stones top-grossing tour. It marked the zenith of the Eagles as a country-rock outfit, and many argue the band has never soared higher. A Tribe Called Quest finally did a tour of sorts: the 2017 summer festival route, including Pitchfork Music Festival, FYF Fest, Panorama, and more. Rarely has a festival so large known their audience so well and delivered better. Nina Corcoran, 88. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - First UK Tour (1967), Sometimes a candle burns so brightly that we almost forget how briefly it was lit. Girl into Beercan into Qu Onda Gero into Devils Haircut? Check out our hot list of bands and singers touring in 2023. 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. Nina Corcoran, Yes, we can look back to a time before Lindsey Buckingham was fired from Fleetwood Mac. The moment of truth at a Whitney Houston concert came every time a note passed her lips. Year(s): 201617. Nina Corcoran, Lilith Fair, the brainchild of singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, struck an early victory for womens inclusion in the modern touring industry. Married in 2005, the country music powerhouses teamed up for this three-year-long party, singing hits from both of their solo repertoires, as well as some of their fan-favorite duets like "In Anothers Eyes., Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $415,280,347 The band has backed Bruce Springsteen from his debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. in 1973, but, contrary to popular belief, they werent always Springsteens band. Heres everything you need to know. Nina Corcoran, 91. Year(s): 2018. by Alyssa, July 08, 2016 LL Cool J, Whodini, Eric B. It didn'tcome without controversy, though. However, the Bad World Tour was the moment Jackson took over the world and truly became the King of Pop. Nina Corcoran, 25. 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. buy tickets Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour, #15. Simon and Garfunkel-- Summer Evening Tour (1981-83), Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were destined to sing together. They took to the stage at 2 AM with John Entwistle donning a skeleton onesie and Keith Moon acting giddy as ever, a seamless culmination of everything The Who represented as a band and the classic rock genre at large. Bookmark Quiz Bookmark Quiz Bookmark. However, his reign of onstage terror didnt sink to its bloodiest depths until The Billion Dollar Babies Tour a couple years later. 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. Maybe not, but soon enough everyone else did. -- Matt Melis, 78. One of themost successful musical acts of the 1970s, The Eagles (originally composed of Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner) set out on their "Long Road Out of Eden tour in 2008. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $307,106,208 Matt Melis, 54. 1983, so it was a pretty big deal. It was a dream combo, as the bands were touring behind the newly released Brand New Eyes and Sainthood, respectively. Send a Message. Still, few tours capture the spirit of 90s alternative rock like those early Lollapaloozas, especially the tours 1992 installment. Talking about a rollercoaster of emotions. Not all iconic tours are flawless, as sometimes its their flaws that make them stand out. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $820,194,986. Little Richard 1962 European Tour (1962), By the early 60s, Little Richard (born Richard Penniman) had traded in rock and roll for gospel. 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. Asking ourselves, "Would we want to go back in time to check out this show if we had tickets?". 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. Ironically, Brooks did more than almost any country star to open the genre up to rock fans, especially as a live performer. Total tour attendance: 3.50 million So big, in fact, that as of 2013, the tour holds the record for the highest-grossing tour by a solo musician, surpassing Madonna. 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. Their "Because We Can tour was wildly successful, with the grouphitting multiple continents, but it was also full of drama, asSambora quit the band in the middle night, hours before their fourth show. As the album and its handful of singles climbed the charts and took the world by storm, the real storm was brewing backstage as romantic partnerships in the group fell apart. Sitting atop their glowing pyramid, Daft Punk seemed to be the total opposite of the crowd: rigid, unreadable, and robotic compared to the audience's freeform, blissful, sweaty dancing. His 2021 cover headline was "The Great Return. worth applauding. To that end, most Stacker stories are freely available to In fact, no tour by a female artist has ever drawn more fans. The British pop-rock band, fronted by Chris Martin, has had a series of wildly successful albums over the past two decades. You show off what you can do with and without a band. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. have never stopped since the release of 1980's Boy. 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. With larger venues and gigs on the doc, the band amped up their live antics, playing into the role of frenetic antics and volume-heavy material. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $291,414,474 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. The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Tour, #3. The English rock bandPink Floyd formed in 1965. 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. Total tour attendance: 2.21 million What we do know is rarely has a pop rock band sounded so good and held so many audiences in the palm of their hand. 1982 Summer Concert Guide. Iggy and the Stooges - 1970 Summer Tour (1970), Iggy Pop is another one of those rock stars who has had nine lives. Her eighth toursupporting her 11th album"Hard Candy, the "Sticky & Sweet tour was Madonnasleast controversial tour. Although the decade of excess came to a close over 32 years ago, many of the biggest acts that came of age during the MTV era, like Sting, Duran Duran and Blondie, are still touring in 2022. Year(s): 201315. Her performance, her costumes, and the stage and multimedia setup had all been taken to new levels for this tour. Ozzy Osbourne- Diary of a Madman Tour (1981-82), In their early days, Black Sabbath received a polarizing (but consistent) reaction in the States: adoration from fans and mehs from critics. But in 1985, that all changed when Guns N Roses hit the stage. 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. 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. 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. Theaccompanying tour, which lasted for a large portion of 2018, also proved that she has a massive fan base whose members go to great lengths to support her. It was hard to deny. Matt Melis, Since she first asked, Where did our love go? as a Supreme, Diana Ross has been a national treasure. Nina Corcoran, 46. 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. Matt Melis, 39. 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. Eventually, the tour hit its stride, bringing in $300 million over its 14-month run. 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. But still, to see them for the first time had to be wild: a gang of four delinquents in black leather jackets, Joey looming like a giant, Dee Dee barking out the count, and that wall of noise hitting an audience right on the chin. These days, shes very much a pop artist, and her sixth studio album, "Reputation, proves it. Their first UK Tour saw the band sharing a bill with, among others, a young Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck. A Tribe Called Quest- 2017 Summer Tour (2017), Though they've reunited intermittently over the years for one-off performances, it was A Tribe Called Quest's unexpected album We Got It from Here Thank You 4 Your Service -- their first LP in 18 years, during the recording of which Phife Dawg passed away -- that revitalized their music and their legend at large. But Cave turned a period of mourning into a universal acknowledgement of life moving on no matter what you choose to do. With the songs from new hit record Goodbye Yellow Brick Road at his disposal, John, already balding, sporting huge sunglasses, and dressed in one outrageous glam costume (plenty of sequins and feathers) or another, turned what couldve been polite piano recitals into full-blown rock revivals. From the opening scene where her shadow danced across a curtain during Moving to her ballet leaps through dry ice fog in the Wuthering Heights encore, Bush's tour was the iconic shift for weirdos everywhere who knew their vision was worth pursuing, no matter what obstacles get in the way. high school Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The first artist to do that, Joel also broke the record for solo performances at The Garden, previously held by Sir Elton John, when he played his65th concert on July 1, 2015. All Rights reserved. Luckily, hes getting to follow that Yellow Brick Road one last time. 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 . Jackson had hits, set touring records, and even played before royalty with his siblings. 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. Do they have fees? A list of 80s concerts people have attended and their reviews of the concerts. 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. Some would argue that lunch box and pail mentality is best summed up by the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. Along with this resurgence of fame came Aerosmiths most ambitious arena tour yet, spanning a mindblowing 240 shows across 13 legs. Watching them turn into the geniuses they would become was surreal, a vision of genuine artistic joy and collaboration. -- Matt Melis, 31. Just look at the setlists. Shows played: 51 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. 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. Matt Melis, Rock doesn't get better than The Who, and what better way to challenge the notion of ruff and tough classic rock than an opera? We also dont always know that a goodbye is taking place. The demand for more shows extended the reunion longer than anyone expected, a fever dream nobody wanted to end, but one we were lucky to have in reality at all. All told, the tour, to this day, remains the most successful debut tour by any recording artist. 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. Year(s): 201617. live concert Neil Youngwith Crazy Horse - Rust Never Sleeps Tour (1978), Theres no denying that Neil Young is a dynamic live performer. To catch the brothers Gibbs in concert on the Spirits Having Flown Tour was to see the biggest act in the world at that time. Total tour attendance: 4.13 million While the shows would become even more of a spectacle by the bands next tour a rocket-shooting guitar, you say most agree that the Alive II Tour (and the couple tours before it) marked the perfect mix of KISS mayhem and metal mastery. 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. 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. -- Matt Melis, The frenzy has its own name: Beatlemania. Shows played: 89 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 tour has been far and away Sheerans best. And luckily enough, we were able to score 16 seats (with 8 on the floor) for the biggest concert that year! It was a hint of what was to come before infighting became the norm, the band broke up, and Strummer eventually passed away. The legendary Beatle has everything going in his favor from the start and yet continues to outdo himself and the expectations set for him every time he hits the stage. Please sign up now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. 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. 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. Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd, embarked on a solo career in the mid-1980s. Pregnancy had cut a planned tour in the mid-60s down to a mere handful of shows, and stage fright had kept her away from performing ever since. Nina Corcoran, 21. U2 has. -- Matt Melis, Becks slow ascent upwards came after a string of unexpected hits. Total tour attendance: 1.96 million Jackson set both attendance and revenue records while performing 123 times in 15 countries, and his singular combination of distinctive singing, otherworldly dancing, and must-copy fashion made him a pop-culture icon of the highest order from then on. The tour also spawned the groupsonly live album"Live in Buenos Aires, recorded at the final show. It tells us that reporters and fans cant take a hint, but it also reminds us that Zeppelin, for a time, were as big as any band in the world. Midway through the tour, the Stones took a month-long break. There were so many great bands and amazing songs that it's hard to narrow it down to just a few. 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. June 10, 1982. And from that came Horses/Horses, the recorded live set from the festival, including a cover of The Who's "My Generation", to blast from your stereo, a reminder that Patti Smith's longevity and relevance will never fade, nor will her goosebump-raising voice lose its strength. Year(s): 200810. Looking unassuming and average, the members of Talking Heads took the stage on their Speaking in Tongues tour like any normal passersby. 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. 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. While it may have been unusual for its time, everyone from Depeche Mode to Bjrk have cited the band as a major influence. Shows played: 102 The honor for top-grossing music tour of all timeis held by U2. So cut to the worldwide shock when Jawbreaker revealed they were reuniting for Riot Fest and that other dates would later follow. 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. tour, Cher committed to being over the top, which meant dancing through a variety of costumes or playing into the vaudevillian tinge of her voice. -- Matt Melis, 33. 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. 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.