The Rolling Stones lead a new list of the top 25-selling live acts of the past 25 years, according to music industry magazine Billboard.
The UK rockers top the list after grossing more than $1.5 billion on the road since 1990, playing more than 500 shows to almost 20 million fans.
“Mick Jagger is always going to be the role model," Jon Bon Jovi told Billboard in a recent interview. "Until [Jagger] hangs up the retirement number, I don't know where the end zone is. I just keep running the ball until Jagger says, 'Here's the goal line.'"
U2 lands in second place, with roughly the same numbers as The Stones; Bruce Springsteen is in third with a $1.2 billion gross over 700-plus shows to 15 million fans; rounding out the top ten are Madonna, Bon Jovi, Elton John, Dave Matthews Band, Celine Dion, Kenny Chesney and The Eagles.
This week, The Rolling Stones launched a series of European dates as part of their 14 On Fire world tour.
Monday’s concert in Oslo, Norway was the group’s first live show since the passing of Jagger’s longtime girlfriend, L’Wren Scott; the band postponed seven shows in Australia and New Zealand following the news - the dates were recently rescheduled for October and November of this year.
Top Live Artists From 1990-2014
Source: Billboard
01. The Rolling Stones
Gross: $1,565,792,382
Attendance: 19,677,569
Shows: 538
02. U2
Gross: $1,514,979,793
Attendance: 20,536,168
Shows: 526
03. Bruce Springsteen
Gross: $1,196,116,507
Attendance: 15,010,773
Shows: 727
04. Madonna
Gross: $1,140,230,941
Attendance: 9,694,079
Shows: 382
05. Bon Jovi
Gross: $1,030,082,884
Attendance: 12,333,668
Shows: 578
06. Elton John
Gross: $786,791,043
Attendance: 12,164,513
Shows: 956
07. Dave Matthews Band
Gross: $776,969,736
Attendance: 17,823,077
Shows: 992
08. Celine Dion
Gross: $737,573,927
Attendance: 6,546,109
Shows: 1,143
09. Kenny Chesney
Gross: $752,706,599
Attendance: 12,681,629
Shows: 755
10. The Eagles
Gross: $702,110,908
Attendance: 7,720,760
Shows: 484
See the full Top 25 list at Billboard here.
See also:
Rolling Stones kick off European tour in Oslo
Mick Jagger becomes a great-grandfather
Mick Jagger sings at memorial service for L’Wren Scott
Pink Floyd members urge Rolling Stones to boycott Israel
Search Rolling Stones at hennemusic
