The highest grossing tour - and rock's other biggest numbers

26 July 2024, 10:00

From ticket sales to decibels, get number crunching with these awesome stats with Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Coldplay and more...

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Highest Grossing Tour

   Taylor Swift's ongoing Eras jaunt is now officially the highest grossing tour in history having made over $1.03 billion, knocking Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road excursion into second place with a measly $939 million. Coldplay are the biggest earning band, with their Music Of The Spheres world tour bringing in over $810 million... and it's still running until November 2024, when the band visit New Zealand.

2. Loudest Ever Gig

   When touring their debut album Leftism, Leftfield became known for having some of the loudest shows around. In 1996, when playing Brixton Academy, the band played so loud that dust and plater fell from the roof. The sound volume was recorded at 137 decibels - beating the likes of AC/DC, The Who and Motorhead.

   

   Leftfield - Open Up

3. Highest Demand for Tickets for One Concert

   You might think it's impossible to get a Glastonbury ticket nowadays, but in 2007, Led Zeppelin set a new record. When the band released tickets for a one-time reunion show to pay tribute to their old label boss Ahmet Ertegun, a recorded 20 million requests for the date at London's O2 Arena were recorded online.

   

   Led Zeppelin - Kashmir (Live from Celebration Day) (Official Video)

4. Only band to tour all seven continents

   Veteran US rockers Metallica became the first and only band to tour all seven continents when they played Antartica in 2013. In a gig fittingly named "Freeze Them All" saw them play for 120 scientists and competition winners at Carlini Station in Antarctica. If that wasn't enough, the Enter Sandman stars managed to do it in just one calendar year. That's a lot of air miles.

   

   Metallica Nothing Else Matters Antarctica 2013 HD

5. Most shows in 24 hours

   The Flaming Lips broke the Guinness World Record on 27 June 2012 for the most live gigs in 24 hours, outstripping Jay Z of the title. The Lips set off on a tour bus to play eight shows, starting in Memphis and ending in New Orleans. The attempt - which was part of the O Music Awards - ended with 20 minutes to spare. Hunter Hayes has since broken their record, with a charity concert to end child hunger, managing 10 shows in 10 cities. Damn!

   

   The Flaming Lips Record-Breaking 24-Hour Tour 2012!!

6. Largest Game of Dodgeball, Most People in a Custard Pie Fight, Largest Air Guitar Ensemble, playing on the World’s Smallest Drum Kit and more

   Trust Weezer to kill several birds with one stone. Their Troublemaker video featured the band and their fans breaking several records such as Largest Air Guitar Ensemble, Most People on a Skateboard, Longest Session of Guitar Hero World Tour, Largest Game of Dodgeball and Most People in a Custard Pie Fight.

   

   Weezer - Troublemaker