Determining the biggest rock concert of all time is not a straightforward task. There are many factors to consider when evaluating the size and impact of rock concerts over the decades. Some key questions arise: How do you measure the “biggest” concert – by attendance, revenue, cultural influence, or other metrics? Should you look at single day concerts or multi-day festivals? What time periods and genres qualify as “rock”? With these complexities in mind, this article will examine the evidence and offer perspectives on which rock concerts could be considered the “biggest” based on various criteria.
Attendance Records
One obvious metric for the “biggest” concert is total attendance. By this measure, a few concerts stand out for their record-setting single day crowd sizes. According to various reports, these may be the top 5 biggest attendance totals for single day rock concerts:
1. | Rod Stewart – Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro | 1994 | 3.5 million |
2. | The Rolling Stones – Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro | 2006 | 2 million |
3. | Jean-Michel Jarre – Moscow, Russia | 1997 | 1.5-3.5 million |
4. | Tina Turner – Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro | 1988 | 1.5-2 million |
5. | Rod Stewart – Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro | 1995 | 1.5-2 million |
A few key insights arise from these numbers. First, massive concerts at outdoor venues in Brazil seem to account for many of the top attendance records. The crowd sizes should be taken as estimates, with significant ranges reported. Also, not all of these acts may neatly fit into a traditional “rock” genre definition. Still, Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones clearly show rock’s immense drawing power in concert. Their free beach shows in Rio drew epic crowds that may never be matched again.
Revenue Records
Another measure of impact is total gross revenue. By this monetary gauge, festivals and stadium tours in the U.S. tend to dominate due to their ability to charge much higher ticket prices. Here are 5 of the top grossing rock concert tours of all time based on available data:
1. | The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang Tour | 2005-07 | $558 million |
2. | U2 – U2 360° Tour | 2009-11 | $736 million |
3. | Guns N’ Roses – Not In This Lifetime… Tour | 2016-19 | $584 million |
4. | The Rolling Stones – Voodoo Lounge Tour | 1994-95 | $320 million |
5. | Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams Tour | 2016-17 | $523 million |
Here veterans like The Rolling Stones and U2 boast the top earning tours of all time, with Coldplay representing a more modern act near the top. Stadium shows allow bands to sell over 1 million tickets at premium prices. Adjusted for inflation, some past tours like The Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels (1989-90) or Pink Floyd’s The Wall (1980-81) would also rate highly on revenue.
Cultural Impact
Beyond attendance and revenue metrics, certain rock concerts are remembered for their cultural influence. They defined an era or represented a social phenomenon. While impossible to quantify, historical significance can make a concert “big” regardless of its size. Here are 5 culturally iconic rock concerts:
1. | Woodstock | 1969 |
2. | The Beatles at Shea Stadium | 1965 |
3. | Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special | 1968 |
4. | Band Aid/Live Aid | 1985 |
5. | Woodstock ’94 | 1994 |
Woodstock 1969 was a defining moment for the counterculture. The Beatles at Shea Stadium established the concept of massive stadium concerts. Elvis’s ’68 Comeback Special revived his career and made him relevant to a new generation. Band Aid and Live Aid sparked large scale humanitarian concerts. And Woodstock ’94 introduced new fans to the iconic festival. Each of these shows was a cultural touchstone for generations of rock fans.
Largest Rock Festivals
When evaluating “biggest” rock concerts, multi-day open air festivals stand out for their epic attendance totals. Looking just at European festivals, which tend to draw bigger crowds, here are 5 of the largest based on peak daily attendance:
1. | Donauinselfest – Vienna, Austria | 3 million |
2. | Przystanek Woodstock – Kostrzyn, Poland | 750,000 |
3. | Rock in Rio – Lisbon, Portugal | 350,000 |
4. | Rock am Ring – Nürburgring, Germany | 150,000 |
5. | Exit Festival – Novi Sad, Serbia | 200,000 |
Donauinselfest stands far above for its massive free attendance over several days. Rock in Rio and Rock am Ring have also drawn huge crowds, along with many other European festivals. The sheer number of attendees makes them competitive for consideration as the “biggest” rock concerts.
Largest U.S. Rock Festivals
Looking specifically at the United States, a few major festivals have stood out over the years by attracting huge single day crowds:
1. | Summer Jam at Watkins Glen | 1973 | 600,000 |
2. | California Jam | 1974 | 250,000 |
3. | US Festival | 1982 | 375,000 |
4. | Lollapalooza | 1991 | 100,000 |
5. | Woodstock ’99 | 1999 | 200,000 |
Summer Jam at Watkins Glen set a one day record that still stands. California Jam and the US Festival also drew enormous crowds. More modern festivals like Lollapalooza have topped 100,000 as rock festivals remain popular.
Highest Grossing Benefit Concerts
Benefit concerts have set records by raising huge sums for charity. Here are 5 of the top grossing benefit rock concerts of all time:
1. | Live Aid | 1985 | $127 million |
2. | Live 8 | 2005 | $182 million |
3. | The Concert for Bangladesh | 1971 | $17 million |
4. | Farm Aid | 1985 | $9 million |
5. | Bridge School Benefit | 1986-2016 | $30 million |
Live Aid generated an astounding global fund raising total that may never be topped. Other events like Live 8 and The Concert for Bangladesh set records for their eras. Farm Aid and Bridge School Benefit have donated millions to charity over decades of concerts.
Largest Rock Stadium Tours
In terms of sheer touring scale over an extended time, rock bands have undertaken some massive global stadium tours. Here are 5 of the longest and largest rock stadium tours based on number of shows:
1. | The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang Tour | 2005-07 | 144 shows |
2. | U2 – Vertigo Tour | 2005-06 | 131 shows |
3. | Bruce Springsteen – The River Tour | 2016-17 | 89 shows |
4. | Eagles – Long Road Out of Eden | 2008-11 | 97 shows |
5. | Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams Tour | 2016-17 | 122 shows |
These tours demonstrate rock bands’ ability to undertake global tours spanning years, while playing over 100 shows and selling millions of tickets. Veteran acts like The Rolling Stones and U2 have mounted multiple mega-tours to establish touring records.
Conclusion
Defining the “biggest” rock concert of all time largely depends on the specific criteria used. Brazil hosts several contenders based on sheer attendance, with crowds over 1 million. However stadium tours in the U.S. stand out for earning over $500 million. Culturally iconic concerts like Woodstock, Live Aid and The Beatles at Shea Stadium left an indelible impact. Multi-day festivals in Europe can also rival single concerts for scale. With so many metrics, there is no definitive “winner” for the biggest rock concert. Nonetheless, it is clear rock has driven live entertainment to staggering new heights over decades of legendary concerts and tours.