People at all times sought to obtain two invariable factors - bread and circuses. Despite the fact that this saying belongs to the ancient Roman satirist poet Juvenal, who lived already in the 1st century AD, it is still relevant in our time.
Concerts should be called the most important centers of attraction for spectacle lovers. Some performances take months of preparation, rehearsal and millions of dollars to organize. But if the concert went off with a bang, then the audience will not forget it for a long time. And if you are really lucky, then the performance will be included in the most iconic throughout the years. So let's take a look at the biggest concerts on our list.
When New Year's celebrations were in full swing in 1994, the biggest concert in history was held on the popular beach of the pearl of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. About 4 million people from all over the world gathered on the beach to listen to the legendary hits of the rock star Rod. As for the organizer, it was MTV. Due to its huge scale, the concert was included in the Guinness Book of Records.
The second place on our list is occupied by a concert of no less legendary people. The cult rock band is not forgotten after its collapse and is appreciated all over the world. A significant event took place in Sydney, the capital of Australia on April 26. About two million people came to enjoy musical masterpieces that day.
The third and honorable place in the list remains with the international rock festival. More precisely, his final concert in the capital of Russia. The concert tour of the popular festival was a musical tornado through a number of European countries throughout 1991. BIZ Enterprises organized the greatest event in the world of music. If you were there, you would see and hear on the stages greatest hits rock legends - Metallica, Black Crowes and others.
The final part of the event took place in Moscow at the Tushino airfield on 28 September. It was after the fateful coup in August. When tragic events broke out in the capital of Russia, it was very difficult for the inhabitants of the country, stunned by the barricades and tanks, to believe that an event of this magnitude would still take place in them. About 1.6 million people came to the performance. Today on the Internet you can watch the video and appreciate the full scale of this spectacle.
4. The Rolling Stones tour from 2006 to 2007
The illustrious team also does not lag behind and takes 4th place in the ranking. During their tour, the musicians were able to earn 558 million dollars. Because of this, the tour became the most successful in history. During this time, the group held free performances in Brazilian Rio de Janeiro. On the expanses of a four-kilometer beach, 20 immortal hits sounded. The world stage was just huge - 22 meters. But more than 1.5 million people wanted to take part in this event. The show was sponsored by the local mayor's office.
The musical celebration was organized in honor of the International Day of Peace. The show was called - World without borders. On that day, you could listen to your favorite stars, in the style of Silvio Rodriguez, Miguel Bose and others. More than 1.5 million people and fans of the Latin stage could be seen around the stage. This largest shock in Havana was created by the Cuban Institute of Music, as well as the Colombian musician Juanes. Venue: Revolution Square. Even the intense heat did not prevent people from enjoying the hits and rejoicing.
About 900 thousand people gathered to hear and see the country legend. The free show was held in New York's Central Park. Around 14 million fans enjoyed the live broadcast. The singer for all the years of his work has sold an incredible number of albums. Fans have sold over 120 million copies. Sales surpassed in 2001 the records of the king of rock Presley.
Steve Wozniak acted as sponsors of the great show. He is one of the founders of Apple. Such famous groups and singers as Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Triumph and others delighted their ears at the concert of the public. The music show passed to the admiring applause and exclamations of the 600,000th audience.
At the famous Watkins Racecourse in 1973, the greatest concert of its time took place. The rock festival was such a success with people that 600,000 spectators came to watch it. After the festival got into the Guinness Book of Records. Their performances at the concert pleased the bands of those times - The Band, The Allman brothers band and others.
Every year, the popular festival pleases the inhabitants of foggy Albion and allows you to plunge into the world of music. The show takes place in the first days of summer. But the festival in 1970 still had the biggest success. Since 600 thousand people came there, the concert was an unheard of success. Still, the popular stars of that time had a tremendous success.
If we take into account our time, then here the rating was replenished with one of them. The German band was once a big success. The cult rock band was born at the beginning of the second millennium. Her biggest sensation occurred in 2010 in the world capital of romantics. If we talk about the number of spectators, then about 500 thousand people came to listen to their favorites. The festival was held on the grounds of the Eiffel Tower.
Video: Top 10 Largest Concerts in History
On April 13, 1923, London's Wembley Stadium was inaugurated. For all its 89 years of existence, it hosted many concerts that later went down in history. Between 2003 and 2007, the stadium was under renovation, and today Wembley is a new, modern building, ready to meet a considerable number of rock bands. We present to your attention the 10 most ambitious and impressive musical events that took place here.
ABBA Live at Wembley Arena
The concert is recognized as one of the strongest performances of the band. The total duration of the performance was about one and a half hours. The 25-song set included such fresh songs as "The Way Old Friends Do" and "Summer Night City", as well as off-album Swedish song "Gammal Fabodpsalm" and the ballad "I'm Still Alive". ". The band members themselves were very pleased with how they were met by the audience of the stadium. "It was like coming home after a few nights." Among the audience were Joe Strummer of The Clash and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.
Live Aid Festival
Bob Geldof organized the largest festival to raise funds for the hungry in Africa. The grand event took place simultaneously in London and Philadelphia. Specifically, such groups as U2, David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Madonna performed at Wembley. The concert was opened by Status Quo with the song "Rockin' All Over the World". Brian May, guitarist for Queen, expressed his excitement about U2: "U2 wasn't very famous back then, and I remember sitting there looking at them and thinking, 'Wow, this is the one to keep an eye on.' However, U2 did a great job, and viewers especially remember the moment when Bono jumped off the stage to dance with a fan.
"Queen at Wembley"
Queen's performance has become one of the most unusual concerts in the history of rock and roll. The show was notable for its extraordinary energy, which charged the fans throughout the performance. At Freddie Mercury's request, the crowd stomped and clapped to "We Will Rock You". It was at this concert that the musician first found a convenient way to interact with the audience, which was later used by other groups in their performances. Both events gathered 160,000 spectators. Queen played 28 songs, which included the best compositions.
Pink Floyd "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason Tour" Live at Wembley
Thanks to the fabulous and soulful atmosphere, the performance was included in the list of the best Pink Floyd concerts. From the performance, many fans especially remember the light show, which seemed to be ahead of its time. Some literally did not feel attached to a certain place and hour, the music and the rays of light piercing the foggy cloud above the heads of the audience carried people far beyond the walls of the stadium. The concert lasted almost two and a half hours and included 20 songs.
Megadeth "Clash of the Titans Tour" Live at Wembley
It was at this concert that Megadeth played a cover of the song "Anarchy in the U.K" by the Sex Pistols for the audience. It was surprising and unusual to listen to a punk song performed by a metal band. Such a highlight made the concert special. In total, Megadeth played 15 songs.
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
On Easter Monday, Wembley Stadium hosted a tribute concert to Freddie Mercury. Played by such bands as Metallica, Guns'N'Roses, Def Leppard, Extreme. U2 performed "Until the End of the World" via satellite from Washington State. The total number of spectators is 72,000 people. All proceeds from the concert went to the study of HIV infection.
Pearl Jam "Live at Wembley" European Tour
During the concert, the grounds of the stadium were reserved exclusively for members of the Pearl Jam fan club. Meanwhile, it was the first major performance since the reconstruction of the Wembley building. The concert gathered 12,470 people.
Muse «HAARP» Live at Wembley Stadium
According to a poll by the Football Association of England, the British consider the Muse concert the most impressive event in the history of Wembley. Muse gathered a huge number of fans: the whole stadium was filled with people. When it got dark, the audience saw a magical light show that added to the emotion. British musicians played 20 songs, transferring charges of energy through sounds to the crowd. Since then, Muse fans have referred to "HAARP" as one of the band's most phenomenal concerts.
Foo Fighters "Live at Wembley Stadium"
At Wembley Stadium, the American Foo Fighters played two of their biggest gigs in the band's history. 18 songs were performed to the cheers and applause of the fans. The concert was attended by bass player John Paul Jones and guitarist Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin.
Oasis "Live at Wembley"
It was the first gig since the injury of Noel Gallagher, the band's guitarist. At the V Festival in Canada on September 7, the musician was knocked down by a man who jumped out of the crowd during the performance of the song "Morning Glory", as a result of which the guitarist fell on the speaker, badly hurt himself and was taken to the hospital. After the incident, it took Noel enough time to recover. However, already in October, Oasis took the stage and performed 18 songs with extraordinary glibness.
Text: Christina Poulanjakli
Twenty-six years ago (May 27) The Stone Roses played their legendary concert at Spike Island. On this occasion, we offer to recall a few more historically important live performances.
The Beatles: "Rooftop Concert", January 30, 1969
An impromptu performance on the rooftop of Apple Studios. Classics such as "Get Back" and "Don't Let Me Down" sent London into a screeching halt before the police famously interrupted the performance. "I hope we passed the audition," Lennon pointed out snidely. This was the last time the Liverpool Four played together.
Blur: Hyde Park, London, 2 July 2009
After the departure of Graham Coxon in 2002, it looked like Blur's story had come to an end - until 2008, when Coxon and Albarn settled their differences and revealed plans for a future short tour. Tickets for the Hyde Park concert sold out within two minutes, heralding a second show and attention from a whole new generation of fans.
Jimi Hendrix: Woodstock, August 18, 1969
Hendrix ended the two-hour festival - the longest of his career - though it was the only highlight of the festival in retrospect. Hardly anyone actually saw him take the stage on Monday morning, after most of the people had left.
Muse: Wembley Stadium, London, 16 June 2007
The band were the first musicians to sell out a performance at the newly refurbished Wembley Stadium. Muse put on an elaborate show with many details, including giant satellites and air dancers attached to balloons.
Arctic Monkeys: First show at the London Astoria, 2005
Tickets sold out in advance - all because of one limited single - Arctic Monkeys arrived. "If someone throws another damn can, then we can get the hell out!" Alex Turner commanded at one point with Gallagher confidence. No other items were thrown.
Radiohead: Glastonbury 1997
It's what festival founder Michael Eavis called "the most inspiring concert at the festival in 30 years." Overcoming bad weather and a host of technical challenges, the band mesmerized the audience with haunting performances of new material from "OK Computer" and older classics such as "Creep".
Nirvana: Reading Festival 1992
Nirvana's last gig on British soil. Parodying speculation about his mental health, Kurt Cobain was brought onto the stage in a wheelchair before joining the rest of the band for a powerful set of old and new songs.
Eminem: Manchester Evening News Arena, 2001
Striking fear in the hearts of Daily Mail readers everywhere, Slim Shady took pills, staged his own execution, and marched across the stage with his now-famous chainsaw and hockey mask. The scandalous concert was organized by gays and women's rights protesters.
The Strokes: London Astoria, February 3, 2001
London debut of The Strokes playing as rookies at the NME Awards. Hailed as the most important band of the new millennium, they unveiled future hits "Last Night" and "New-York City Cops" from their debut album Is This It, later voted by NME readers and journalists to be the 2001 album.
Last show at the London Astoria, 14 January 2009
After a long campaign failed to save the iconic venue from a bulldozer, Get Cape's Sam Duckworth hosted the final show. The line-up featured Frank Turner, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and The Automatic, culminating in a performance "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley.
The Clash: London Rainbow Theatre, 21 May 1977
By the time The Clash was released, the crowd had been foaming at the mouth with The Jam and Buzzcocks. During the opening song "London's Burning", enthusiastic fans refused to sit down and went on a rampage, pulling out over 200 seats in the process.
The Who: Leeds University, February 14, 1970
One of the two shows was organized specifically for the recording of the live album. Due to technical glitches, the sound from the first concert was unusable, forcing the band to hope for this performance. The New York Times called it "the best live rock album of all time".
Jay-Z: Glastonbury 2008
One of the most controversial performances in the history of the festival. Publicly criticized by Noel Gallagher before the performance, Jay-Z responded by walking on stage with Oasis' 1995 hit "Wonderwall", interrupting his "99 Problems". "The Times" called it "the most exciting performance in the last 10 years".
The White Stripes: London 100 Club, August 6, 2001
After a lot of hype, The White Stripes have finally unleashed their dirty Detroit blues in London. "Lustful and promiscuous, exuding sex and danger," one critic said of them, later calling them "the most important band that exists on the planet today."
The Last Shadow Puppets: Leeds Festival 2008
Alex Turner, inspired by the 1960s to collaborate with Miles Kane of The Rascals. Seemingly blended together, the duo performed alongside a 16-piece orchestra and enlisted James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco on drums. A really mature performance, suggesting that Alex Turner has more to offer than Arctic Monkeys.
Morrissey: London Finsbury Park, August 1992
Morrissey wrapped himself in a Union Jack and performed in front of an image of two female skinheads. During the song "National Front Disco", the restless crowd started throwing "projectiles". The artist ended his performance after nine songs and spent the next few years denying allegations of racism.
Pulp: Glastonbury 1995
Performing in place of The Stone Roses, who were forced to pull out, Pulp was met with a measure of skepticism from disgruntled Roses fans. Jarvis Cocker quickly rose above the "beer rush" to take the audience into his own hands. A seminal moment for Britpop that saw the rise of Pulp and the decline of The Stone Roses.
Bob Dylan: Electric Newport Festival 1965
The famous moment when Bob Dylan hit an electrician. The performance lasted 15 minutes before Dylan was stormed off the stage by the hissing crowd, who were angry that he turned his back on the people. He was later persuaded to perform two acoustic numbers. After the incident, Bob Dylan did not return to the festival for 37 years.
The Libertines: London Albion Rooms, April 2003
The Libertines have been hailed as the best new band in the UK. Band members Pete and Carl regularly hosted impromptu concerts in their Bethnal Green apartments. Pushing back the kitchen cabinet and seated on the sofas, fans and friends swooped down to see this latest "concert" at the so-called "Albion Rooms" and wait for the inevitable police vans.
Kings Of Leon: London Bush Hall, 2003
Long before touring sales, Kings Of Leon were god-fearing, bearded curiosities. Turning a London event into a sleazy New Orleans bar, they paved their way with debut album Youth And Young Manhood, giving the assembled crowd an early taste of future classics like Molly's Chambers and Red Morning Light.
The Velvet Underground & Nico: The Exploding Plastic Inevitable, 1966
A multimedia exhibition of Andy Warhol's work side by side with a live performance by The Velvet Underground and the dancing of the infamous muse Edie Sedgwick. Warhol's involvement helped bring the group—then almost unknown—to public attention.
Gallows: Old Blue Last, London, 3 December 2008
"I want to see the damn carnage," Frank Carter roared after smashing the chandelier. A chaotic performance that made the venue look like the culmination of Inglourious Basterds. At one point, Carter attacked one of the male audience members, allegedly for groping.
The Prodigy: Glastonbury 1995
The Prodigy stood out by a mile, dominating "guitar" indie bands. "Glastonbury, are you ready to rock?" shouted Maxim Reality, unleashing his dance/punk hybrid, turning the crowd into one big mess the festival has only seen.
Pixies: Glastonbury 1989
After the release of "Doolittle", this show confirmed that a generation had affirmed the excellence of the Pixies. Starting their set with "Bone Machine", they played their entire repertoire in alphabetical order, ending with "Where Is My Mind".
Joy Division: Birmingham University, May 2, 1980
The last concert of the group. Ian Curtis ended up backstage due to uncontrolled epilepsy. The band played without him and he reappeared on the final song "Digital". The concert also featured the song "Ceremony", which later became the debut single from New Order.
Ozzy Osbourne: Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Iowa, 1982
In a moment that has since become fixed as knowledge of metal, Ozzy bit off his head alive bat believing it to be a rubber toy. He was subsequently taken to the hospital in order to be vaccinated against rabies.
The Flaming Lips: Glastonbury 2003
Accompanied by fans dancing in furry animal costumes, The Flaming Lips have put a stigma on eccentric performances. The Guardian called it a pop concert that "could double as a performance art".
Sex Pistols: Live on the River Thames, London 1977
The Sex Pistols performed songs as they sailed down the River Thames to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. The performance of "Anarchy In The UK" (as they slowly drifted past the Houses of Parliament) was a defining moment in a punk rock uprising that ended with the end of the concert due to the boat being overtaken by the police.
Oasis: Neighbort House, August 10-11, 1996
The concerts that crowned Oasis as leaders of the Britpop movement, confirming their status as the most popular British band after The Beatles. Over 250,000 spectators attended the concert during two August nights, which can be said to have become lucky, as there were more than two million people who wanted to. At the end of the second day, Noel Gallagher took the stage and announced: "This is our story!".
If you think that in Moscow clubs it is crowded, stuffy, there is nothing to breathe and a lot of people - you haven't been to concerts and one-day festivals with millions of people yet. We will now tell you about the ten most-most.
Love Parade (parade/festival). Berlin, Germany. 1999 1,500,000 people
Love Parade - the largest technoparade in the world, held in Germany until 2010. More than thirty different performers took part in the combined concert in 1999, including Fatboy Slim, Moby, Powerhouse, Basement Jaxx and many others. The procession, held under the theme "Music is the Key", gathered more than one and a half million ravers! Here it is, unity!
Paz Sin Fronteras (group concert). Havana, Cuba. year 2009. 1,500,000 people
The famous Colombian musician Juanes in 2009 organized an event that many media called the concert of the century. Silvio Rodriguez, Miguel Bose, Danny Rivera, Giovanotti and 1.5 million people took part in "World Without Borders". Great eve of the International Day of Peace.
Rolling Stones concert. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2006 1,500,000 people
The notorious Brazilian beach of Copacabana then accepted the Rolling Stones with open arms: a stage as high as a seven-story building, a specially built underground passage connecting it to the hotel (in which the musicians settled), 750 thousand dollars of the fee and as many as one and a half million loyal fans.
Monsters of Rock (festival). Moscow, Russia. 1991 1,600,000 people
Metallica, Pantera, The Black Crowes, E.S.T., AC/DC - and all this in Russia in one day! The final volleys from cannons, legendary groups and the complete absence of toilets for visitors - the Tushinskoye massacre, as the past festival was called by the people. Approximately 1.6 million rockers - of course, the entrance was free.
Love Parade (parade/festival). Dortmund, Germany. 2008 1,600,000 people
And again the Love Parade, which moved from Berlin to Dortmund. Motorway blocked for two kilometers, 37 mobile platforms, 250 DJs. Moby, David Guetta, Westbam, Paul Van Dyk, Carl Cox, Armin Van Buuren is the perfect line-up for trance, house and techno fans.
queen. Sydney, Australia. 1985 2,000,000 people
Freddie Mercury was not very shy in 1985, and that is why Sydney hosted as many as 4 concerts in a row. The second one attracted the largest crowd of fans - more than two million lucky people were able to enjoy "Bohemian Rapsody" and "Radio Ga Ga". Are you jealous?
Jean Michel Jarre. Paris, France. 1990 2,500,000 people + Moscow, Russia. 1997 3,500,000 people
Paris, La Defense, early 90s, two and a half million fans of electronic music. Moscow, Sparrow Hills, late 90s, three and a half million fans of the French multi-instrumentalist. Jean Michel Jarre entered the Guinness Book of Records four times - in 1979, 1986, 1990 and 1997 - and in the nomination "The most massive concerts in history". Do not be lazy and get acquainted with the lives of the pioneer of synth electronics - believe me, it's worth it.
Rod Stewart. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 1994 3,500,000 people
And again Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana, the Guinness Book of Records and several million fans. An unprecedented number of people, the magnificent Rod Stewart, imperishable hits approaching New Year. Just the perfect picture. I wonder how long it took them all to get home?
Babbu Maan. Dirba, India. 2008 4,000,000 people
Very little is known about this concert, only the city, year, number of fans, and the name of the performer. About Babbu Maan, a popular Indian performer, it is impossible to find filled pages in the Russian-speaking segment of the Internet. But in order to at least roughly understand what is at stake, watch his latest clip.
1. Rock legend Rod Stewart and his 1994 concert
This event has become one of the largest in the history of mankind. It is worth noting that the event took place on December 31 of the distant 1994, and the place was an unusual place, the treasury of Brazil - Copacabana Beach. About 4 million people came here to see and hear the singer. Such a scale was made possible thanks to the extensive advertising by MTV. The event was noted in the Guinness Book of Records, and is now the most recognizable in the world of show business.
2. Unique Queen at a concert in Sydney (1985)
The second line can rightly be given to the famous group, which was supervised by Freddie Mercury, Queen. The incredible success was the basis for gathering an audience of 2 million people during a concert in Sydney. Note that this event took place in 1985 as part of The Works Tour project. This day was remembered for many, and became significant for many years of youth.
3. Monsters of rock of the USSR and the third line in the hit parade of scale
The festival, which took place in Moscow back in 1991, was able to place on the third line. Many guests from Europe and America arrived here and demonstrated their skills in music. The event took place in Tushino. It is worth noting that this is the first event that arose after the August coup and the collapse of the union. About 1.6 million people came here to completely break away, and the event itself was filmed by Wayne Isham. Such well-known bands performed: Metallica, Pantera and other rock artists.
4. The Rolling Stones concert in Brazil between 2005-2007
The popular The Rolling Stones often toured and presented excellent programs. However, the tour of the same name was a turning point in the overwhelming success, getting into the Billboard and the highest earnings. The biggest event of the tour took place in Brazil, again at Copacabana Beach. About 1.5 million people came here to hear the guys.
5. "Peace without Border" world peace or a successful concert
This event took place in 2009 and brought together popular soloists and performers from Latin America. The event was aimed at creating peaceful relations with all countries. The venue was Havana. The Cuban government allowed a concert to be held in Revolution Square, where about 1.5 million people gathered.
6. Garth Brooks and his 1997 free country concert
In sixth place is Garth Brooks, little known to us. The man is an American country music artist who is famous for his voice and musical abilities. The concert was held in Central Park, where 980 thousand fans of creativity were gathered. Note that this event took place in 1997.
7. "The US Festival" sponsored by Apple
A grand event called "The US Festival" was held in 1983. In the wake of Apple's success, a concert was held to which Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Scorpions and many others were invited. Steve Wozniak can rightfully be considered the main organizer. In total, about 600 thousand people came to the concert.
8. 1973 Summer Jam Rock Festival
