biggest concert tours 1980s

Neutral Milk Hotel, the scraggly indie rock band that influenced a sea of younger acts went from an obscure band whose legend grew through mixtapes and word of mouth during their hiatus, got back together again after 15 years to the delight of young fans everywhere. The 1980s brought some of the best music of the 20th century to the world. Shows played: 102 Keep an eye on your inbox for deals and offers. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $422,597,665 Cher: Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, #20. Year(s): 201013. Like Madonna, Bon Jovi, and Metallica, U2 is one of the biggest bands in the world. U2 certainly fit that category, and the choice is made all the more difficult because theyre the type of band thats evolved so much over the years. At 73 years old, he was the inspiration for youthful elders everywhere. 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. 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! Both occurred during Queens Magic Tour. The complex arrangements on the new album saw her performing more nuanced, in-depth material both instrumentally and vocally. Each concert was the backdrop for an impromptu (yet wholly expected) speech about motivation and perseverance. Not only did the tour break the record for the highest-grossing tour, but the bands Oct. 25, 2009date at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, also holds therecord for the highest attendance at a single concert with over 97,000 people. 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. Please sign up now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. However, now that Sabbath has officially closed shop as of 2017 and Ozzy Osbourne insists his latest farewell (No More Tours II) will be his last extended goodbye, we find ourselves staring down the barrel of a potentially Ozzyless concert slate for the first time in decades. Part jest, part celebration, and part familial love, it was an unforgettable tour that was as Sufjan as it gets. It didn'tcome without controversy, though. And while every NIN fan will have their personal favorite, many would agree that Reznor and band were never tighter or more invested than on their Fragility Tour, which just so happened to feature a then virtually unknown band called A Perfect Circle opening on the 2.0 leg of the trek. by Alyssa, April 04, 2016 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. Year(s): 200708. All Rights reserved. So, in hindsight, its not incredibly shocking that they turned to disco in the mid-70s. With each band performing 45-minute sets with no encores, it was a fair and evenly distributed event, showing no bias except for maybe who could play the loudest each night. Maybe that pain fueled the music. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $307,106,208 by Alyssa, March 03, 2023 high school The "A Bigger Bang" concert tour turned out to be the top grossing tour of 2006. I'd rather go out and be a colour television set, he later said of the era and his take on performance at large. 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. By the mid-1980s, the rock and roll scene had begun to feel a little stale. 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. 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. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Swift's sets primarily came from the "Reputation, album with only one or two classics mixed in. 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. From the stone pyramids to the bedazzled face masks to the abundance of religious imagery, the Yeezus tour was a visual feast for one of Kanyes strongest albums. 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. 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. Total tour attendance: 3.65 million 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. New Jersey bandBon Jovi appeared on the scene in 1980 with big hair and electric smiles. Can you name the Highest Grossing Concert Tours of the 1980's? Nothing new, or exciting, or experimental had popped up in a number of years. -- Matt Melis, 80. Phish- Phish Destroys America (1997), Its hard to pick a single best Phish tour, especially if youre a die-hard fan. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $546,023,369 Well, maybe a smoother operation for starters. The tour also spawned the groupsonly live album"Live in Buenos Aires, recorded at the final show. For a few years, the Rolling Stones held the title for the top-grossing tour of all timethanks to their "A Bigger Bang tour. Nina Corcoran, Selling out sure does sound good. by Alyssa, July 07, 2016 Was Bruce Springsteen better in 1975 or 1978? His songs skipped from bizarre folk to outlier rap to heavy rock and glitchy pop. Of all the punk tours of the 2000s, its hard not to look at this 2007 trek and wish you were there. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Wed be excused if thats the case with Jimi Hendrix. June 10, 1982. Wonder had you fooled, though, as the shows lasted over three hours without a single dip in energy or mood. Matt Melis, 62. The Break Every Rule World Tour took place slap-dab in the middle of Tina Fever and saw The Queen of Rock n Roll strutting her big hair, trademark legs, and powerhouse pipes all over the world to more fans than she couldve ever imagined. To that end, most Stacker stories are freely available to Total tour attendance: 2.67 million 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. By magicalkidd. 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. If youre going to get people grooving to your work, you better up the funk, and Phish turned that knob way the hell up. Total tour attendance: 6.39 million Against Me! Sure, there were other labels putting out hit singles and records, but no other could boast a stable of hip-hop talent like Russell Simmons and Rick Rubins Def Jam. They didnt stay a duo for long, swiftly being joined, and left, by a variety of other musicians. Do they have fees? --Matt Melis, 94. "Then came Omicron, and we stopped dancing," he adds. 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. The Def Jam 87 tour packaged seminal hip-hop acts like Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Erik B. 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. Each stop on his 1993-94 world tour featured the likable cowboy rising up amid pyrotechnics, leaping from platforms around the stage, and even soaring across the venue high above his audience. Conversely, if the same band neglects their back catalog, we can feel cheated on that account. 2. 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. Cher is known for her extravagant concerts, with multiple costume changes, elaborate sets, dancers, and video montages. The footage that exists of the tour shows a rock band still in its prime with Mercury playfully teasing the crowd in between showing off some of the greatest pipes in rock history. Picking out the best 80s rock bands is no easy task. It was a dream combo, as the bands were touring behind the newly released Brand New Eyes and Sainthood, respectively. 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. 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. 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. The sheer size of the audiences overwhelmed Smith. 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. and Mastodon - 2007 Spring Tour (2007), The biggest difference between looking back on remarkable tours versus remarkable concerts is what the full package includes. And who can forget those skin-tight pants and spangled jackets? The finished product captures memorable tours that hopefully all music fans can appreciate. Nina Corcoran, 59. Here are 10 of the biggest benefit concerts of all time. -- Matt Melis, 84. He wound up growing a beard, hiding in Paris, and running the city's marathon incognito, causing the band to cancel their UK dates but pull him back aboard in time for the US tour stretch with their ideal catalog ready to go. Whitney Houston - The Moment of Truth World Tour (1987-88), Only a few voices like Whitney Houstons come along each generation. By 1995, she was touring what would become one of the biggest records of the decade, Jagged Little Pill, with the likes of fellow alt-rock stalwarts Our Lady Peace and future luminaries Radiohead opening. Matt Melis, 98. Year(s): 201417, Unlike Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks is a huge believer inplaying the old stuff. 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. 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. Year(s): 201315. To publish, simply grab the HTML code or text to the left and paste into Vivid Seats and Consequence of Sound explore the tours that were remarkable in quality, impact, influence orattendance. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour, #15. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $301,677,551 concert hall 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. But all the in-band tension couldnt keep Stills and Young from burying the hatchet long enough to join David Crosby and Graham Nash on a 31-gig trek in 1974. 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. 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. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $272,863,087 Is it legit? Shows played: 136 Audiences had been waiting for an outdoor performance by Sugarland when 70 mile-per-hour wind blew through the fairground and caused the stage to collapse. 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." Right on. Few tours captured that glimmer of dancing under a disco ball quite like LCD Soundsystem's 2010 tour behind This Is Happening. Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour, #16. It was The Police in their prime era at their highest point, before drama got in the way. 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. 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. 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. Shows played: 219 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. The Eagles: Long Road Out of Eden Tour, #24. Some would argue that lunch box and pail mentality is best summed up by the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. 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. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $563,300,000 He had a hit movie, a hit soundtrack, and, with The Revolution behind him, the band hed always wanted. AC/DC didnt so much replace Bon as they went out and found another brother with the same electric current pumping through his veins. 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. See details Otis Redding - 1967 European Tour (1967), Like many on this list, especially artists of color during the American civil rights movement, Otis Redding toured as an ambassador as much as a soul singer. and more. They brought the squawkish guys in Beastie Boys on tour in support of Raising Hell, only to bring them out again for Together Forever, a tour that showed not only that rap deserved to blow up, but that young rappers did, too. Is it legit? But Cave turned a period of mourning into a universal acknowledgement of life moving on no matter what you choose to do. Hence, the tour got its unforgettable nickname: Phish Destroys America. With his vibrantly orange hair and glitter-covered outfits, Bowie moved with the air of someone who had spent his whole life performing to massive crowds, and yet this was nearly the beginning. Unsurprisingly, it was a tour so moving that it was released as a concert film, ideally to capture what it felt like so others can experience it secondhand. And live, he could flaunt that wide range of material while flaunting why he is, more than anything else, a born performer. "Next to You. That was the first song on their 1978 debut LP. 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. This is his story. There were so many great bands and amazing songs that it's hard to narrow it down to just a few. 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. The veteran band had finally made it that long way to the top and were reveling in every last second of it. And their proximity to the artist doesnt seem to matter, as ticket sales are up in every venue from intimate clubs to massive stadiums. Discover with Concertful the best upcoming concerts, gigs and music festivals taking place in your area. 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. We want to hear it. Terms of Use. Throw in Faith No More, Body Count, Motrhead, and, um, Andrew Dice Clay as select openers, and what more could a metalhead want? Jean Michel Jarre at State University of Moscow (1997) - 3.5 million attendees. Total tour attendance: 2.66 million The groups 2011 tour was their first proper tour instead of a smattering of dates. In a sense, they still havent found what theyre looking for, but are well ahead of schedule in their quest. On their 1970 tour, The Who hit the road to support the recently released Tommy. 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. Matt Melis, 17. Stacker has rounded up 30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time. Bill Wyman walked away from the band, saying that he was tired of touring and would no longer continue playing with the group. Following Autobahns chart success overseas in 1974, the group visited the States, Canada, and the UK for the first time the following year. Watching the band onstage, it was impossible not to feel her energy transmit to onlookers, encouraging them, too, to seize as much as possible out of life in any given chance. 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. 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. Matt Melis, 24. Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown Tour (1979), The Bee Gees are one of those groups that has more lives than a cat. 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. Theyre a combo that thrives on the workmanlike sweat that comes from putting on an unforgettable rock and roll concert night in and night out. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. have never stopped since the release of 1980's Boy. Napalm Death's 1988 album knocked Sonic Youth out of the No. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $320,710,513 by Madison Marx, February 01, 2023 Five words that nearly every music fan has uttered. Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues Tour (1983), The year was 1983. Nina Corcoran, 20. 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. Matt Melis, 44. Some even claim he invented the stage dive during these years. Matt Melis, 48. tour dates What was the best concert you attended during the 1980s? -- Matt Melis, Becks slow ascent upwards came after a string of unexpected hits. 5 business days handling time after receipt of cleared payment. Rod Stewart at Copacabana Beach (1994) - 4.2 million attendees. Another wildly popular Bruce Springsteen tour, "The Rising Tour began a week after the release of Springsteens 12th studio album, "The Rising." 4. It was the year of the big suit, a year that lives on in cartoonish costume design fame. 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. Shows played: 89 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. Elton John- 1974 North American Tour (1974), Elton John is taking his time and sparing no expense on his current farewell tour. Nina Corcoran, 82. Instead of indulging her indie rock or manic solos of the past, Annie Clark leaned hard into her St. Vincent persona for Masseduction, her fifth studio album. AC/DC- Highway to Hell Tour (1979-80), When Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning in early 1980, Brian Johnson stepped in a couple months later, and the band didnt miss a beat. Well, it knocked Springsteens Born in the U.S.A. out of the No. Midway through the tour, the Stones took a month-long break. In some ways, it felt like Prince was the orchestra leader and finally had all the pieces to conduct his grand vision. After the band called it quits in 1996 following a fight, the possibility of a reunion not only seemed impossible, but was off the table according to band members -- a fact so certain that a twee rock band from New York named themselves Jawbreaker Reunion in jest. Onstage, she proved how she was born to be an artist. 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. The slate saw Springsteen finally headlining full-size arenas and adding several soon-to-be staples to the setlist. arts center Hislongest concert ever took place during this tour, clocking in at just over four hours. -- Matt Melis, 31. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Luckily, hes getting to follow that Yellow Brick Road one last time. Nina Corcoran, KISS didnt invent the outrageous stage show or become the first rock band with an insanely devoted following, but they sure as hell ran with those elements. 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. ), Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $319,972,060 Jean Michel Jarre at La Dfense (1990) - 2.5 million attendees. Shows played: 108 However, his reign of onstage terror didnt sink to its bloodiest depths until The Billion Dollar Babies Tour a couple years later. Songs that began quietly grew into a dark, rumbling experience, with Cave descending into the crowd as if he and the crowd became one. Year(s): 2012. Nina Corcoran, Yes, we can look back to a time before Lindsey Buckingham was fired from Fleetwood Mac. It influenced the decades that followed for its sound, its attitude, and its unorthodox touring strategy, suggesting maybe we didnt know what punk rock had to offer, or what it could take away either. 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. By Erik Hedegaard. Matt Levy covers the live entertainment industry, writing about upcoming concerts, festivals, shows and events. Jackson had hits, set touring records, and even played before royalty with his siblings. . 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). Crazy, but thats how it goes. Comments. republish under a Creative Commons License, and we encourage you to 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. The 1980s brought the world some of the best music the 20th century had to offer. And, whats more, they should be seen and heard among a massive throng of other Deadheads. 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. 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. While this is not a comprehensive list of all concert tours, its the most accurate representation as of January 2019. 30 day returns. Nina Corcoran, 72. Year(s): 200203. Follow. As rain started to fall on the 450,000 in attendance at the concert which was being broadcast worldwide and raising funds for a childrens park Ross, in a tight, orange bodysuit, hair and robe gracefully blowing in the wind as rain ran down her face, addressed the crowd. 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. 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. A Tribe Called Quest finally did a tour of sorts: the 2017 summer festival route, including Pitchfork Music Festival, FYF Fest, Panorama, and more. Ever since his days as a Beatle, Paul McCartney has been wildly popular. 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. With equally beloved acts like Cursive, Planes Mistaken for Stars, and These Arms Are Snakes locked in as openers, it was a tour-de-force trip that still stands out today as the perfect storm of punk, no matter how old you would have been then. 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. On the Do You Believe? Nina Corcoran, 40. 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.

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biggest concert tours 1980s