“Bread and circuses!” — two timeless things that people have sought throughout the ages. Although this expression belonged to the ancient Roman satirical poet Juvenal, who lived in the 1st century AD, it has not lost its relevance even in the 21st century. Among the main attractions for modern-day entertainment lovers, musical idols requires months of preparation and millions of dollars in expenditure.
However, if a concert is a success, audiences will remember it fondly for decades to come. And if everything goes exceptionally well, it may even enter the record books and become part of music history. Here is our ranking of some of the biggest concerts and music events in history.
1 Rod Stewart Concert, 1994
At the height of the New Year’s celebrations on December 31, 1994, one of the largest concerts in music history took place on the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More than 3.5 million people were reportedly present for Rod Stewart’s performance. The free New Year’s Eve event was organized as part of Rio’s celebrations and was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest attendance at a free concert. However, Guinness notes that the figure likely included many people who had come primarily to watch the midnight fireworks.
2 Jean-Michel Jarre Concert in Moscow, 1997
On September 6, 1997, French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre performed a spectacular concert near Moscow State University to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow. Around 500,000 people gathered directly around the stage, while millions more watched the concert from the surrounding hills. Contemporary estimates put the total audience at approximately 3.5 million people. Guinness World Records recognizes the event as the largest paying rock concert attendance by a solo artist, with approximately 500,000 people gathered around the stage. Jarre’s spectacular sound-and-light show also featured a live link with the Russian space station Mir.
3 Monsters of Rock Festival in Moscow, 1991
Third place goes to the international rock festival Monsters of Rock, or more precisely, its final concert in Moscow. The famous festival tour swept across several European countries during August and September 1991. The Moscow event was organized by BIZ Enterprises and featured some of the biggest rock stars of the era, including AC/DC, Metallica, Pantera and The Black Crowes. The final concert took place at Tushino Airfield on September 28, shortly after the failed August coup attempt in the Soviet Union. Estimates of the crowd vary considerably, from around 600,000 to well over one million people, with some sources giving an upper estimate of 1.6 million. The event became one of the largest rock concerts ever held and a landmark moment in the history of rock music in the Soviet Union.
4 The Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang Tour, 2005–2007
The two-year tour by the legendary band became one of the most successful concert tours in history. During the A Bigger Bang Tour, which ran from 2005 to 2007, The Rolling Stones grossed approximately $558 million, making it the highest-grossing concert tour in the world at that time. One of its most spectacular events was a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on February 18, 2006. The performance attracted an estimated 1.2 million people and featured a huge stage erected on the famous beach. The concert was sponsored by the City of Rio de Janeiro.
5 Peace Without Borders Concert, 2009
A massive free concert called Peace Without Borders was held in Havana, Cuba, on September 20, 2009, to promote peace and international understanding. The event was organized by Colombian singer Juanes together with Spanish singer Miguel Bosé and Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón. More than one million people gathered at Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución to hear Juanes, Miguel Bosé, Silvio Rodríguez, Juan Formell and other Latin American, Spanish and Cuban performers. Estimates of the attendance ranged from approximately 1.15 to 1.2 million people, making it one of the largest open-air concerts ever held in Cuba.
6 Garth Brooks Concert, 1997
Nearly 980,000 fans gathered to see country music legend Garth Brooks perform in New York’s Central Park on August 7, 1997. The free concert became one of the biggest events in the park’s history. The accompanying HBO television broadcast was watched by approximately 14.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched cable television special of 1997. Brooks has gone on to sell more than 170 million albums in the United States, making him one of the best-selling recording artists in history.
7 The US Festival, 1983
The spectacular US Festival was funded by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. The 1983 edition took place near San Bernardino, California, over several days and featured some of the biggest stars in rock and heavy metal, including Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen and David Bowie. According to Guinness World Records, the 1983 festival attracted a total of approximately 670,000 people, making it the largest rock festival attendance recognized by Guinness at the time.
8 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, 1973
In that memorable year, the famous Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway in New York, normally used for motor racing, hosted one of the largest music events of its era. The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen took place on July 28, 1973, and featured three legendary acts: The Allman Brothers Band, The Band and The Grateful Dead. An estimated 600,000 people attended the event, which for many years held the Guinness World Records title for the largest audience at a pop festival.
9 Isle of Wight Festival, 1970
The famous Isle of Wight Festival has become one of Britain’s best-known music events. The 1970 edition was by far the largest of the festival’s early years and featured an extraordinary lineup including The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull and many other stars. Estimates of the attendance vary considerably. Contemporary reports suggested around 250,000 people, while later estimates, including figures associated with Guinness World Records, put the attendance at around 600,000 or more. Despite the uncertainty, the 1970 festival remains one of the most famous and largest music gatherings of its era.
10 Tokio Hotel Concert in Paris, 2007
The ranking is rounded out by a spectacular performance by the German band Tokio Hotel in Paris. On July 14, 2007, the group performed beneath the Eiffel Tower as part of France’s Bastille Day celebrations. According to contemporary reports, approximately 500,000 people gathered for the event, making it one of the largest crowds of Tokio Hotel’s career. The performance was a major milestone for the young German band, which had become enormously popular among teenagers across Europe.
