biggest concert tours 1980s biggest concert tours 1980s

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 Matt Melis, 58. Debbie Harry and Blondie are one of the many iconic '80s acts going on tour in 2022.Evan Agostini/Invision/AP. Shows played: 102 While both bands put on legendary shows when healthy and present, that didnt happen nearly enough across the 26 dates. Paramorew/Tegan and Sara - Honda Civic Tour (2010), Though it's very much a sponsored event (and in no way tries to hide it), the annual Honda Civic Tour is a blessing for pop, rock, and punk fans, especially kids who rarely get to see big acts in suburban areas because of age restrictions. That year saw Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice Cube, Pearl Jam, and others headline a whos who of talent across multiple stages. Total tour attendance: 4.74 million Daft Punk Alive 2006/2007 (2006-07), Daft Punk have existed for 26 years now, yet the French electronic duo have only toured two times. 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. 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. 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 Just over a year after her older brother Michael had rewritten every rule for what a pop tour or a music tour in general could be, kid sister Janet Jackson set out on her own record-setting tour. 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. In fact, no tour by a female artist has ever drawn more fans. Shows played: 120 by Madison Marx, 2023 Vivid Seats LLC. However, the Bad World Tour was the moment Jackson took over the world and truly became the King of Pop. 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. 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. But lets not forget that MJ became a star as the focal point of these family-based groups long before he was dubbed the King of Pop. 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. Do your parents know youre Ramones? the band famously get asked in Rock n Roll High School. Artists on tour in 2023 This list contains the names of all singers, musicans and bands touring in 2023. award winning Crazy, but thats how it goes. No matter your personal taste in music, its highly probable that you know Coldplays breakthrough single, "Yellow, which climbed the charts in 2000. Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour, #16. 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. 1980s ZZ Top Eliminator Red Satin Roadie Tour Concert Jacket USA small Condition: -- "Pre-owned" Price: US $99.00 No Interest if paid in full in 6 mo on $99+* Buy It Now Add to cart Best Offer: Make offer Add to Watchlist Ships from United States Shipping: US $10.55Expedited Shipping. 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. And luckily enough, we were able to score 16 seats (with 8 on the floor) for the biggest concert that year! Year(s): 201315. Nina Corcoran, 82. British-born pop singer Ed Sheeranreleased his debut album "+ in 2011, and it instantly won him millions of fans. 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. by Amy, August 26, 2020 Other touring locations included London, New Zealand, South America, and Japan. It marked the zenith of the Eagles as a country-rock outfit, and many argue the band has never soared higher. 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. Check out SoundMojo to discover tomorrow's. & Rakim, and elder statesman Whodini in a revue-style format that left no doubt that there was a new type of music on the block. Is it legit? 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. 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. 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. 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. And who can blame him? Nina Corcoran, 05. Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation Tour (1989), Stardom runs deep in the Jackson family. From 1986 to 1992, New York's Def Jam Records was the premier hip-hop label. December 3, 1980 Previous Dynasty Tour Next 10th Anniversary Tour The Unmasked Tour was a 1980 concert tour by the hard rock group KISS. Despite winning Album of the Year at the Grammys, Arcade Fire still performed with an exuberant, impassioned, almost amateaur energy that recalled their early years, the type of intense live delivery that suggested the band was leaving it all on the floor just for you, that very night, right before your eyes. 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. Jawbreaker- 2018 Reunion Tour (2018), For 10 solid years, punk fans and emo kids got to soak up the earnest talent that was Jawbreaker. And who can forget those skin-tight pants and spangled jackets? Comments. In 2010, it finally glowed bright enough for everyone to notice. Heres everything you need to know. 1983, so it was a pretty big deal. Few things functioned as intended, be it the backdrops or the microphone pickups, which turned the tour into a legendary catastrophe-turned-spectacle. Total tour attendance: 4.62 million 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. Its The Boss at his best. 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. The alternative dream was still alive . Nina Corcoran, Def Jam in the mid-80s can be compared to Motown in its heyday. Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain Tour (1984-85), How huge was Purple Rain? Tomark their 40th anniversary, the Rolling Stones released their first compilation album, "Forty Licks, which featured 40 of their most popular and beloved songs. Seeing a live performer on tour forever links both artist and fan to a particular venue, on a particular date, in a certain moment in time. At 73 years old, he was the inspiration for youthful elders everywhere. Matt Melis, Don't overlook the power of a comeback, though, to be fair, Patti Smith never truly faded out to merit a proper comeback. 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. -- Matt Melis, 33. Stacker has rounded up 30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time. My, my. What was the best concert you attended during the 1980s? The last song the band played live together? Nina Corcoran, 21. Paul Simon The Graceland Tour (1987), Its difficult to believe, but Paul Simons career was running on fumes by the mid-80s. The 1980s brought some of the best music of the 20th century to the world. 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. Wed be excused if thats the case with Jimi Hendrix. Still, if we can only revisit one U2 tour, it would be 1983s War Tour, before many of their best-known hits came to dominate radio and prior to Bono becoming a slicked-back, leather-clad god who wears sunglasses indoors. She rose to a new level of fame that was pulled off gracefully as expected --even prompting aSimpsons sketchfrom Matt Groening himself. After all, the 80s was a time when rock music was at its peak. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $556,500,000 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." worth applauding. In fact, Waters had left the band by the time this Pink Floyd tour took place and wasreplaced by David Gilmour. Gene Simmons was Uncle Sam, and he wanted YOU in his army. Public Enemy and Anthrax - Bring the Noise Tour - (1991), Aerosmith and Run-DMC had already proven that hard rock and hip-hop could play nice together, but Anthrax and Public Enemy discovered what acts like Rage Against the Machine would soon learn: the politics of hip-hop and muscle of metal could amplify their already booming calls of injustice tenfold. 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. Nina Corcoran, 65. Shows played: 115 Nina Corcoran, 50. 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. To have seen Hendrix during this period might have been too blinding to fully appreciate. The data have been pulled from a compiled list of sources, and concerts have been ranked by the tours gross (adjusted for inflation). Total tour attendance: 3.44 million Some would argue that lunch box and pail mentality is best summed up by the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. No big deal. "Then came Omicron, and we stopped dancing," he adds. Matt Melis, 52. Is it legit? 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. 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. Still, few tours capture the spirit of 90s alternative rock like those early Lollapaloozas, especially the tours 1992 installment. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour, #15. Follow. 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. -- Matt Melis, Becks slow ascent upwards came after a string of unexpected hits. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. In other words, Dead freaks unite! Matt Melis(Several former members of Grateful Dead now tour as part ofDead and Company. All Rights reserved. Heres everything you need to know. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. have never stopped since the release of 1980's Boy. 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 kings of the genre shared the stage back in 2002, though, proving it had rightly emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Guns N RosesandMetallica- Stadium Tour (1992), Its difficult to imagine a better pairing. Total tour attendance: 2.66 million 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). By this time, the band was not only playing dream venues like Madison Square Garden and Budokan, but selling them out multiple nights. Garth Brooks The Garth Brooks World Tour (1993-94), To non-country fans, barrel-chested Garth Brooks might be little more than that guy who sang jingles for Dr. Pepper in the early 2000s. 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. He had toured extensively with both The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons, playing before royalty, debuting many of his most famous calling cards in concert (including his single glove, sequined jacket, and the moonwalk), and touring the songs off hit solo albums Off the Wall and Thriller with his siblings. Brooks was the first 10-gallon megastar to prove that you could be a little bit country by day and a lot of rock and roll each night onstage. They also went on a year-long tour, primarily playing thesongs on the compilation, but sprinkling in a handful of other band favorites. The White Stripes - Elephant Tour (2003), There's a boldness that comes with the territory of being a two-person band. Total tour attendance: 1.96 million 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. Not only had Simon found his spark again in his mid-40s, but he had also turned the masses on to the worldbeat sound. And while his fans have had many opportunities to see him play his old hits since then and even perform face-to-face with Elton John dozens of times, footage from the Innocent Man Tour makes us long for, or at least look back fondly on, the days when rock and roll was, well, still rock and roll to Billy Joel. Year(s): 200809, Celine Dions "Taking Chances World Tour marked her return to the touring circuit after taking an extended break for her first Las Vegas residency, "A New Day The tour wasdirected by Jamie King, who also directed Madonnas "Confessions World Tour, and included lots of new material from Dions album"Taking Chances, as well as several of her classics like "My Heart Will Go On and "The Prayer., Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $329,889,628 Avid Stones fans claim that this is the groups best tour, but its also one that almost didnt happen. 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. 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. 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 . Neutral Milk Hotel - Reunion Tour (2013-15), If you wait long enough, eventually the impossible happens. The Big Time shows captured those two worlds colliding. All three members of Run-DMC were 22 years old and all three members of Beastie Boys were between 21 and 23. 8 Pink Floyd - 75,250 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. Lets face it: as Yentl, Babs, or Greg Fockers mother, Barbra is like butter. The veteran band had finally made it that long way to the top and were reveling in every last second of it. Credit Gene Simmons and co. for understanding that its just rock and roll, stupid! Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues Tour (1983), The year was 1983. 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. Pink Floyd: A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour, #29. Another wildly popular Bruce Springsteen tour, "The Rising Tour began a week after the release of Springsteens 12th studio album, "The Rising." 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. Youre almost levitating on the energy from the audience, says Keith Richards. The experience turned into a masterclass for the future Fab Four, with Penniman teaching them his songs and showing a young Paul McCartney how to sing like him. After hitting it big time with their second studio album, Nirvana took their grunge to the mainstream level, shifting from modest clubs to arenas and festivals. Tell me you wouldn't kill to see that live. No matter how big the crowds would get or how elaborate the stage setups would one day become, theres still something utterly mesmerizing about the band, as captured forever in their Red Rocks performance on that tour. Janelle Mone- The Electric Lady Tour (2013), By the time her second album dropped, it was nearly impossible to argue Janelle Mone wouldnt become a sensation. 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. For ZZ Top (which sported a much different look from the bearded act known today), the controversy added to their mystique. Swift's sets primarily came from the "Reputation, album with only one or two classics mixed in. Site Map 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. 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 Shows played: 197 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. by Alyssa, July 07, 2016 by Madison Marx, January 12, 2023 Matt Melis, Its not that the German band Kraftwerk were ignored in their heyday; in fact, they were one of the first groups to popularize electronic music. In a genius move, he signed with Elton Johns management team the same year, and the rest, as they say, is history. Whitney Houston - The Moment of Truth World Tour (1987-88), Only a few voices like Whitney Houstons come along each generation. Lady Gaga- Born This Way Ball (2012-13), Billed as an electro-metal pop-opera with openers like Zedd and The Darkness tacked on, Lady Gagas Born This Way Ball was set to be a spectacle even before she hit the road. But now things are looking up again way up. Depeche Mode- World Violation Tour (1990), One of the most popular tours among Depeche Mode fans and electronic fans in general, the World Violation tour saw them kick off 1990 in style. 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. U2 has. Ironically, Brooks did more than almost any country star to open the genre up to rock fans, especially as a live performer. by Alyssa, April 04, 2016 This is his story. Three years prior to that she was . Matt Melis, 18. Year(s): 2017 present. Nina Corcoran, 37. 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. Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $364,300,000 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. While seeing the band break big is incredible on its own, the fact that a handful of remarkable bands shared the stage with them on the tour makes it even more iconic in retrospect: Sonic Youth, Melvins, Hole, Mudhoney, Bikini Kill, Shonen Knife, The Breeders, and more. Thanks to streaming services and the preference of audiences for singles,album sales are down overall, but it's clear fans are still willing to pay to see their favorite artists in person. Shows played: 84 Nina Corcoran, 99. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Their manager booked dates that dodged major markets, sending the band through cities like Atlanta, Memphis, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Dallas, and Tulsa before concluding in San Francisco. On the sprawling Out There tour, the average setlist included 39 songs, a smattering of superstar cameos, and some comedic asides from Paul. 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. Kanye West, of course, but especially Kanye during the Yeezus era. Like many iconic bands before and after them, critics didnt initially get Zeppelin, panning their records as derivative and unimaginative. Sadly, few festivals, can claim that kind of identity today. 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. One of two tours on the list that is still announcing new dates, Billy Joels "Billy Joel in Concert tour so far has booked 16 dates for 2019. AC/DC didnt so much replace Bon as they went out and found another brother with the same electric current pumping through his veins. Radiohead In Rainbows Tour (2008-09), The best Radiohead album, the best Radiohead tour, and the best Radiohead mood? Not even when the footage got edited into the Big Time concert film did anything really make sense. 2. Rio Grande Mud ( 43 ) The Tonnage Tour ( 89 ) Tres Hombres ( 123 ) Viva Las Vegas Residency 2018 ( 5 ) Viva Las Vegas Residency 2019 ( 8 ) Whack Attack ( 71 ) Worldwide Texas ( 107 ) XXX ( 109 ) ZZ Top's First Album ( 35 ) Songs Albums Avg Setlist Covers With Concert Map Concert Map 1 1 26 26 Zoom : Countries Browse artists A B C D E F G H I J K L ), Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $319,972,060 He can be reached at [emailprotected]. 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. by Alyssa, July 08, 2016 Shows played: 88 Nina Corcoran, 51. Ils enchanent avec une tourne travers toute la France durant l'anne 1984. Frustrated that bills with multiple female acts were virtually impossible sells to promoters and radio stations, McLachlan decided to book her own tour. 1 $817,900,000: $870,000,000: Elton John: Farewell . She reworked older material to fit the aesthetics of the show as well, using a Tesla coil in "Declare Independence" or a pipe organ to play "Joga.". Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $291,414,474 by Stephen Spiewak, July 20, 2016 The 1980s brought the world some of the best music the 20th century had to offer. ), Future Past Tour by Duran Duran featuring Nile Rodgers and Chic, Against the Odds Tour by Blondie featuring The Damned, Tears for Fears Tipping Point Tour with Garbage, The B-52 Farewell Tour with KC and the Sunshine Band and The Tubes on select dates, Made of Rain Tour by Psychedelic Furs, Joy Division: A Celebration Tour by Peter Hook and The Light, Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour by Elton John, The Whos The Who fought back! 1984 and 85 was peak Prince. The album won critical acclaim for how well it captured the feelings and aftermath of 9/11.