The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the most popular rock bands of all time. Formed in Los Angeles in 1983, the band has sold over 80 million albums worldwide and are known for hits like “Under the Bridge,” “Californication” and “Scar Tissue.”
The current lineup consists of founding members Anthony Kiedis (vocals) and Flea (bass), longtime drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, who returned to RHCP for a second stint in 2019 after a 10-year hiatus. With decades of hits under their belt and a reputation for energetic, funk-infused live shows, RHCP remains one of the biggest draws in the music industry.
But do their concerts consistently sell out? Let’s take a look at their touring history and ticket sales over the years to find out.
RHCP Concert Tours and Attendance
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have embarked on 13 concert tours since their formation, playing over 1500 shows globally. Their concert attendance numbers have generally trended upwards over the decades:
Tour | Year(s) | Setlist.fm reported attendance |
---|---|---|
Freaky Styley Tour | 1985-1986 | 250,000 |
The Uplift Mofo Party Tour | 1987-1988 | 500,000 |
Mother’s Milk Tour | 1989-1990 | 750,000 |
Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour | 1991-1993 | 1,500,000 |
Tour de La Sensitive | 1994 | 350,000 |
One Hot Minute Tour | 1995-1997 | 1,550,000 |
Californication Tour | 1999-2001 | 2,500,000 |
By the Way Tour | 2002-2003 | 2,750,000 |
Roll on the Red Tours | 2004 | 750,000 |
Stadium Arcadium Tour | 2006-2007 | 5,500,000 |
I’m With You Tour | 2011-2013 | 3,000,000 |
The Getaway World Tour | 2016-2017 | 2,500,000 |
Unlimited Love Tour | 2022-2023 | 1,000,000* |
*Still ongoing
As shown, their concert attendance jumped to the multi-millions starting with the Stadium Arcadium tour in the mid-2000s. Their most attended tour was Stadium Arcadium, with over 5.5 million tickets sold.
More recently, the I’m With You and Getaway tours also drew crowds in the multi-millions, indicating consistent high demand even after long hiatuses between albums.
So far, their current Unlimited Love tour has already seen over 1 million attendees and it’s still ongoing.
Notable Venues and Sellouts
In addition to high overall tour attendance, RHCP has a strong history of selling out notable venues, especially stadiums and arenas:
– Sold out Wembley Stadium in London (90,000 capacity) in 1999, 2003, and 2022
– Sold out Slane Castle in Ireland (80,000 capacity) in 2003 and 2012
– Sold out La Cigale in Paris (1,400 capacity) in 2006 – their smallest ever show, tickets sold out immediately
– Sold out Madison Square Garden in New York City (20,000 capacity) in 2012 and 2016
– Sold out London’s O2 Arena (20,000 capacity) in 2012, 2016, and 2022
– Sold out River Plate Stadium in Argentina (70,000 capacity) in 2014 and 2016
– Sold out Stade de France in Paris (80,000 capacity) in 2016
– Sold out Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium (81,000 capacity) in 2022
Their upcoming show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles sold out immediately, with over 70,000 tickets snatched up.
Factors in Sellouts and High Demand
Several factors have contributed to the Chili Peppers’ consistent ability to sell out arenas and stadiums across decades:
Mainstream Popularity and Radio Airplay
While often categorized as “alternative rock,” RHCP has enjoyed massive mainstream success. They have multiple #1 albums and singles like “Under the Bridge,” “Scar Tissue,” and “Californication.” Their music videos and songs receive consistent radio airplay and help attract large swaths of fans.
Reputation for High Energy Shows
Fans and critics widely praise RHCP for their lively, enthused performances. Between Anthony Kiedis’ dynamic vocals, Flea’s animated bass playing, and Chad Smith’s powerful drumming, their shows are known for being engaging and high energy from start to finish. This reputation for great live performances drives high ticket demand.
Consistency and Loyal Fanbase
While the Chili Peppers have gone through lineup changes and hiatuses, Anthony Kiedis and Flea have anchored the band since 1983. This consistency, along with their unwillingness to simply churn out albums for profit, has earned them an extremely loyal, multigenerational fanbase. Fans are willing to pay top dollar to see their favorites reunite after long breaks.
Scarcity and Exclusivity
RHCP tours infrequently compared to many bands, often taking breaks of 3-5 years between albums and tours. This scarcity principle increases demand – fans are eager to catch the band during limited touring windows. Smaller special shows, like their 2006 La Cigale gig, also leverage scarcity and exclusivity.
Opening Acts
RHCP consistently chooses hot up-and-coming bands as opening acts, which widens their appeal. Opening acts like Foo Fighters, Beck, Iggy Pop, and Babymetal help draw bigger and more diverse crowds.
Touring Plans and Ticket Availability in 2023 and Beyond
RHCP is currently nearing the end of the first North American leg of their Unlimited Love tour. Most remaining 2022 North American dates are sold out, including forthcoming shows in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Houston, and more.
As of October 2022, limited tickets remain available for their upcoming shows in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and North Little Rock. Resale tickets are available but often at inflated prices.
The band has already announced a 23-date European stadium tour for summer 2023 following the North American leg. Given RHCP’s history of sellouts and their long absence from Europe, these dates will likely sell out quickly once tickets go on sale.
While full 2023 touring plans haven’t been revealed beyond Europe, Anthony Kiedis has hinted at more legs in the US and worldwide into 2024. He stated they plan to tour “for the next 18 months all over the globe.”
Based on overwhelming demand so far, newly announced dates will probably sell out quickly barring exorbitant pricing or massive venue sizes. Fans hoping to catch the Red Hot Chili Peppers live in 2023-2024 should plan ahead and purchase tickets as early as possible.
Conclusion
In summary, Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts consistently sell out due to the band’s mainstream popularity, reputation for great live shows, loyal multigenerational fanbase, and infrequent touring that leverages scarcity.
Their current Unlimited Love tour is on pace to sell over 2 million tickets. Historic sellouts at massive venues like Wembley Stadium and quick sellouts of upcoming dates confirm that RHCP remains one of the most in-demand live acts worldwide.
Given their enduring popularity and Anthony Kiedis’ comments, fans can expect many more sellouts when additional 2023-2024 tour dates are announced. RHCP remains a definite bucket-list concert for any rock music fan.