Publishing date: Jul, 23, 2021
Tour dates have been set and videos of live music performances are going viral; nature is healing. Okay, I’m not sure about the last part but it does feel like life as we know it is starting to return to some sense of normalcy. It’s been too long since I went to a concert but I know the first post-COVID one is going to hit differently. Thinking about tours brings me back to the first concert I ever attended—the Hilary Duff Dignity tour circa 2007 (during the Lizzie McGuire era). Don’t judge. While there’s nothing quite like your first, there are some tours that have been cemented as iconic cultural moments in music history. Kanye West’s Yeezus, Spice Girls’ Spiceworld, Blink 182’s Pop Disaster, and Rihanna’s Anti to name a few. If you were lucky enough to attend any of these, you were part of music history.
The Beatles’ 1965 US Tour
One of the most influential groups to date, The Beatles’ music contributed to the evolution of British and American rock’n’roll. And their 1965 US tour went down in history. The Beatlemania in the US was at a fever pitch with concert footage showing fans crying, screaming, and fainting at the sight of the foursome. Their New York tour date at Shea Stadium set records for attendance and revenue generation. They played on a small stage in the middle of the stadium while over 55,000 fans surrounded them. If you’ve seen footage from this tour, chances are it’s the Shea Stadium show.
Grateful Dead Spring 1977 Tour
Another prominent rock’n’roll group was the Grateful Dead, who had such a hardcore following their fans were called “deadheads.” One show was never enough for deadheads, so they’d follow them to as many many shows and festivals as possible. The groupies would sell tie-dye T-shirts and veggie burritos at the concerts to sustain their road trip lifestyle as long as possible. A stand-out concert from their Spring 1977 tour is the Cornell University show. It was recorded and turned into a live album called Cornell 5/8/77 released in 2017.
Prince Purple Rain Tour 1984
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After the success of Prince’s album and film Purple Rain, the tour was highly anticipated with sold-out shows and packed venues. An entertainer as much as an artist, his shows were full of costume changes, smooth dance moves, mood lighting, and live music from his band The Revolution. Some lucky cities got a surprise when he brought out famous friends like Madonna and Bruce Springsteen. His tour was as epic as the album and some would say this is the tour that started his purple reign.
Spice Girls Spiceworld Tour 1998
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Let’s go back to the ‘90s when girl bands were IT and the Spice Girls reigned supreme. The tickets for the first set of shows from this tour sold out in less than two hours. And if you remember those days, it was all via IRL line ups at record stores, by speed dial, or by winning tickets or wristbands on the radio. What’s more nostalgic than the Spice Girls tunes is the ‘90s trends they were sporting all tour long. Baby Tees! Platform shoes! Blue mascara! Stop right now because I’m about to break out my butterfly clips.
Blink-182 and Green Day Pop Disaster Tour 2002
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Once upon a time, two pop-punk bands went on tour. This Green Day and Blink-182 link-up pulls on my black pop-punk heartstrings. It was Blink-182’s punk take on famous Monsters of Rock tours. The tour was put together as a sign of unity to end the constant accusations that the two bands had a rivalry going on at the time. Anyone growing up in the 2000s can agree that Blink-182 and Green Day were part of the soundtrack to their teenage angst. One of the best tours for pop-punk and boy bands.
Kanye West Yeezus Tour 2013
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You can always count on Kanye West to put on an unforgettable show, but Yeezus was truly one of his best tours. The inspiration for the stage and visuals came from West’s interpretation of the end of the world. Think fires, explosions, masked creatures, and the appearance of Jesus during the show. The 50-foot-high Mount Yeezus drew inspiration from the 1973 film The Holy Mountain. Being a fashion connoisseur, West collaborated with Maison Margiela for the tour outfits, mixing haute couture with ready-to-wear and Yeezy shoes. The cinematic experience of this tour took concert-goers into West’s journey of self-realization and discovery. Take a bow, Mr. West.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z On The Run Tour 2014
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One of the most iconic duos to ever do it, Beyoncé and Jay-Z set the bar high for couple tours. They conceived the entire tour within a month and released a faux movie trailer called Run starring Bey and Jay as Bonnie and Clyde. The abstract concept, which as Jay-Z explained, was that they’re on the run from everything—clichés, repeating the same thing, becoming obsolete. Everything from the outfits to the performance was show-stopping. Special shoutout to the not one, or two, but three Atelier Versace bodysuits Beyoncé wore. They proved why they are two of the world’s top artists and doing it together can be better. Your move A$AP Rocky and Rihanna.
Rihanna’s Anti Tour 2016
The last and arguably best Rihanna tour was Anti. All the RiRi fans rejoiced on this tour because she played her classics like “Umbrella,” “Rude Boy,” and “Work.” She would go from singing solo on stage for heartfelt songs to her signature dirty dancing moves on a bridge above the crowd. The choreography, multiple outfit changes, and overall vibes were immaculate. A new album and tour from Rihanna can’t come soon enough.
Travis Scott Astroworld Tour 2018
Self-proclaimed rager, Travis Scott, did not hold back for his theme-park Astroworld tour. Inspired by the amusement park he frequented as a kid, he had a functioning ferris wheel and roller coaster as part of the set. Some people grow up and revisit amusement parks, others grow up and build world tours around them. Scott being the latter, also included a giant replica of his head, an inflatable astronaut, and laser graphics. I can still feel the fomo I had watching Instagram stories of the tour while thousands of people screamed: “out like a light” in an arena near me.
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