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Top 50 Concert Tours of Decade

January 2, 2010 28 Comments

By The Associated Press (AP)

The Top 50 Concert Tours of Decade ranks artists by total box office gross and includes the total tickets sold for shows in North America. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

TOP 50 CONCERT TOURS OF DECADE

1. Dave Matthews Band; $529.1 million; 11.6 million.
2. Celine Dion; $522.2; 4.
3. Kenny Chesney; $455.6; 8.6.
4. Bruce Springsteen; $444.3; 5.7.
5. The Rolling Stones; $426.9; 3.2.
6. U2; $391; 4.4.
7. Madonna; $325.3; 2.1.
8. Eagles; $313.4; 2.8.
9. Elton John; $286.4; 2.5.
10. Jimmy Buffett; $285.8; 4.5.
….
32. Van Halen; $147.8; 1.6.

Filed Under: Van Halen
  • Andrew

    Not bad, considering Van Halen only toured twice.

  • Dooley

    Shouldn’t Wayne Newton be on this list?

  • walteR-5150

    All you guys will boost them higher when they tour next year to play old songs an milk the fans even more(lol)….

  • http://www.vhnd.com Pat G

    If they toured a bit more, has less drama, and were all sober and happy with one another, I think they would rank a hell of a lot higher.

  • Trouser Snake

    walteR-5150,

    My utters are willing and ready!!! Bring on the 2010 tour!!!!!

  • diamond doug

    Trouser Snake: LOL!! I’ll be there with ya!

  • Rick Pride

    Right on Trouser Snake. Bring on the Mighty Van Halen!!!

  • Kimberly

    At least most of these bands and artists have some talent..unlike most new groups lol.

  • Rick Pride

    Damn straight Kimberly!!!!

  • phil

    agreed kimberly! i have seen everyone in the top ten live except for celine dion(who does have a great voice) just not into her music and they were all very entertaining shows. i really enjoyed the eagles. kenny chesney surprised the hell out of me! he put on a great show and the beautiful women at the show didn’t hurt either;)

  • Mike316

    Well I am a die hard VH fan, so yes, I think they should be number one, or at least the top 3. No band will ever compare to the raw power Van Halen

  • Ron

    @walteR-5150

    Half the bands on that list play mostly if not all old songs to “milk the fans”. The fact is, that’s what the fans want to hear.

    If VH comes out with a new album, and it has some great songs on it, I’ll bet they still get louder fan response from the old stuff when they’re on tour.

  • http://www.montenegrolawfirm.net Old Bone

    If we compare costs of the tours, costs of the equipment and crew- (the Rolling Stones equipment and crew necessary to put it operational cost a fortune, for example)-I think than Eagles are champs! They had only two tours and the lowest possible costs (only PA system; there were almost no need even for security)and earned so much.

  • Atomic Pete

    Dave Mathews Band? Are you kidding me?
    Who goes to this? College kids and stoners?
    I can’t believe he is so far ahead of the pack.Must
    be just volume of shows he does.

  • Kimberly

    Noo I am a college kid and I can assure you I spend no dime on Dave Matthews haha. It is crazy he is number one!! Never would’ve guessed it..lol

  • SCAR

    Hey Atomic Pete, not all stoners are fans of the Dave Mathews Band!!! Take good old SCAR for example, This classic stoner has style and taste!!! I only drink the best tequila toke the finest smoke, pick up the finest stoner’s dream every night I party and I only listen to the best rock music has to offer and that starts with the MIGHTY VAN HALEN!!!

  • Phil

    I used to love Dave Matthews, but I’m not a college kid or a stoner anymore. The top 10 acts are pretty damn lame, no shame not being up there. And definitely…BRING ON THE 2010 TOUR!!!

  • http://vhnd.com 51yr old fan

    what 2010 tour?

  • Mr. 5150 I’m going!

    Van Fucking Halen can milk the living knats outta´my milk any time!

    I’m with Trouser Snake and everybody else who’s willing to fork out the cash for a 2010 concert!

    EVH: my money is yours to buy a new Audi 2010 A8S, a new 2 billion square-foot home, take the lady shopping to Amsterdam, get your toes done (if needed) so that I can see ya hopping ´round the stage in 2010, build a Wolfgang III and sell for $4g’s (Snake and I will buy ‘em), Revive the 5150 as a replica and sell it for a whopping $50,000, and buy some self improvement books so you can get enough courage to say sorry to Mike and bring him back (I’m not a hater, trust me) and finally, buy me a pair of striped sneakers.

    Fuck it!! I’ll be there!!

  • pat

    man, just think if VH had toured as many times as U2 did this past decade…they’d be somewhere in the top 5.

  • Robert

    As a life-long fan of VH who has seen multiple shows from every tour since 1979, I will pay to see them on their next tour; however, if it is like their last tour, that’s it for me.

    On the last tour, they played all of the songs I wanted to hear and they played them very well. But, for me, they have lost their vibe. They have lost their swagger and party atmosphere with the audience. That is a big part of what made VH unique in concert.

    I was at all three 1981 Oakland shows; I remember the frenzy, the attitude, the energy, the carnival-like atmosphere of the unexpected. When I saw them Oakland again in 12/2007, none of that was there. Blame it on the Internet for revealing what would otherwise be a mystery until the band rolled into town, blame it on age (we are all 30 years older and things change), blame it on the lack of drugs and booze (which is a good thing overall), or blame it on the fact that VH is more of a business operation now than it was when the band was younger and hungry. All I know if that tickets cost 10 times as much today and the show isn’t as magical.

    Although, I will say that Alex Van Halen continues to surprise me with his energy. That man is a powerhouse. In contrast, Roth seemed rather subdued. No more swinging from rope ladders hanging from lighting truss, or cheerleader splits off the drum riser. I suppose I can’t blame Roth too much; no one’s body can hold up forever. He’s in great shape still, just rather subdued on stage.

    I’ll give the band one last time at bat; but if the tour is a repeat of 2007, with a few new songs added, I’ll be trading soundboard bootlegs in the future instead of paying hundreds of bucks for ticket. I have my fingers crossed that the shows will be more magical, but I’m not holding my breath that anything will be different. After all, they have no reason to change if they are selling out shows coast-to-coast.

  • http://cheeseburgerpicnic.com Skutch

    I don’t mind coughing up another $700 to see them 4 more times. Great memories. Bring it on. Walter, you can stay home by yourself and listen to VHIII while Scar, Phil and myself are stuffing down chili dogs and listening to Girl Gone Bad.

  • Rick Pride

    Well I for one was drinking the Diamond Dave coolaid. I loved the Green Lazers, the giant blimps!! The giant microphone, the disco ball and the confeti!! Not to mention the amazing vocals and Eddie!!! I’d pay another $700 for two shows!!!!!

  • aaronindm

    I agree with Robert – I saw them 3 times on the last tour – I loved it, but it was SO scripted. In fact, I found a script at the show and still have it (I had front row in front of the curl). It not only had the song list, but comments for the lighting and camera guys as to exactly where Dave, Eddie and Wolf would be during each song. Where is the spontaneity??

    But I will be there for the 2010 tour like a dadgum fool. VH still puts on a great show, just ask my daughter “Halen”! (yes really)

  • Jim

    I wonder where Sammy’s bands (waboritos, chickenfoot, other half, sam & dave, etc.) are on this.

  • Panama Red

    Aaronindm- I can’t believe you named your daughter Halen. That’s sick dude! Seriously that’s one of the coolest things ever. What a huge compliment and a way to pay tribute to the world’s most kick ass rock band. I bet the guys in VH would think that was really cool and be honored. I would have never thought of naming a girl Halen. It’s a great name for a girl. I love it!

  • Deionte

    I think the stones had the bigger bang tour this decade and that was it how the hell do you make half a billion in one tour??

  • Johnny

    Dave, please get off the Fucking Rock and Fucking Rock!!!!!! Over……