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1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
brianwalker
()
Date: February 7, 2011 02:23
I saw a debate online about who was the biggest touring band of the 1970s. Was it the Stones, Led Zeppelin, or the Who? In the debate I saw, nobody really knew what they were talking about, too young.
So I thought i would ask people who do know music. I was around and think the Stones were the biggest touring band. But its close.
So I thought i would ask people who do know music. I was around and think the Stones were the biggest touring band. But its close.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Gazza
()
Date: February 7, 2011 02:32
Zeppelin. No question.
Elton John would be up there as well. Elvis too, although he generally avoided playing stadiums and of course checked out in '77.
The Stones didnt actually PLAY that many shows in the 70s.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011-02-07 02:33 by Gazza.
Elton John would be up there as well. Elvis too, although he generally avoided playing stadiums and of course checked out in '77.
The Stones didnt actually PLAY that many shows in the 70s.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011-02-07 02:33 by Gazza.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
NICOS
()
Date: February 7, 2011 02:36
Bowie!!! Queen!!!
__________________________
__________________________
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Gazza
()
Date: February 7, 2011 02:58
Quote
NICOS
Bowie!!! Queen!!!
Both of them did their biggest tours in the 80s
If an act wasnt massive in the US, they wouldnt have made that much money touring in the 70s as there were so few arenas in Europe back then.
Abba would have been a bigger touring act in the 70s.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-02-07 03:00 by Gazza.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
dancingmisterd
()
Date: February 7, 2011 03:14
Money-wise, Elton John. Easily.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Stoneage
()
Date: February 7, 2011 03:48
Abba was offered one billion dollar (1 000 000 000 $) for a comeback tour in the US ten years ago - but turned it down. Abba should have done more touring in the US (in order to sell more albums), but Agneta didn't like touring. Abba never really made it the US, their main markets were GB, Europe and Australia.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Tumblin_Dice_07
()
Date: February 7, 2011 05:41
Well it depends on what criteria you're using. Do you mean the most popular? Or the band that made the most money from touring? Or the band that played the most shows to the most people?
I think the Stones might have been the most coveted ticket during the '70's. They only toured once every three years and it was always a huge event. Other bands, for instance the Grateful Dead, probably played more concerts to more people than the Stones or Zeppelin or Elton. Zeppelin though probably played more often and to more people and made more money from touring than the Stones did. So I dunno. Depends on what you mean by "biggest touring band".
I think the Stones might have been the most coveted ticket during the '70's. They only toured once every three years and it was always a huge event. Other bands, for instance the Grateful Dead, probably played more concerts to more people than the Stones or Zeppelin or Elton. Zeppelin though probably played more often and to more people and made more money from touring than the Stones did. So I dunno. Depends on what you mean by "biggest touring band".
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
cc
()
Date: February 7, 2011 05:48
where would Dylan and CSNY fit in? They both had pretty massive tours for the era.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
StonesTod
()
Date: February 7, 2011 06:04
Quote
cc
where would Dylan and CSNY fit in? They both had pretty massive tours for the era.
the only "massive" tour bob did was his "recoup my losses from R&C" world tour in '78. mostly arenas...doubt that it would put him any top 10 for the decade....
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Happy Jack
()
Date: February 7, 2011 06:22
Don't forget Pink Floyd. In 1975 and again in 1977 they played some huge shows.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
nobs
()
Date: February 7, 2011 07:51
Zeppelin doesn't count, turns out they ripped off most of their stuff
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
brianwalker
()
Date: February 7, 2011 07:55
Quote
Tumblin_Dice_07
Well it depends on what criteria you're using. Do you mean the most popular? Or the band that made the most money from touring? Or the band that played the most shows to the most people?
I think the Stones might have been the most coveted ticket during the '70's. They only toured once every three years and it was always a huge event. Other bands, for instance the Grateful Dead, probably played more concerts to more people than the Stones or Zeppelin or Elton. Zeppelin though probably played more often and to more people and made more money from touring than the Stones did. So I dunno. Depends on what you mean by "biggest touring band".
I guess I am looking for the most coveted ticket.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Bimmelzerbott
()
Date: February 7, 2011 08:47
KISS were constantly touring during the 70's and their show became bigger and bigger:
Pic: Fin Costello/1977
Pic: Fin Costello/1977
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Come On
()
Date: February 7, 2011 11:57
1970....then it's Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin...
2 1 2 0
2 1 2 0
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Gazza
()
Date: February 7, 2011 18:35
Quote
Tumblin_Dice_07
Well it depends on what criteria you're using. Do you mean the most popular? Or the band that made the most money from touring? Or the band that played the most shows to the most people?
I think the Stones might have been the most coveted ticket during the '70's. They only toured once every three years and it was always a huge event. Other bands, for instance the Grateful Dead, probably played more concerts to more people than the Stones or Zeppelin or Elton. Zeppelin though probably played more often and to more people and made more money from touring than the Stones did. So I dunno. Depends on what you mean by "biggest touring band".
The Dead have played more shows than any band in history, so I'm sure someone somewhere can point out how many gigs they played in this time frame.
The Stones played 262 shows between July 1969 and 1977. Zeppelin played 399 in the same period, and Pink Floyd around 370. Elton John would have been up there as the biggest touring attraction in the 70s but as he was contractually obligated to produce two studio albums a year and temporarily retired from touring in 1977, maybe the amount of gigs wasnt as great. Kiss didnt really get started touring until '74.
Elvis, however, played 1,156 shows between July 1969 and his final show in June 1977. 395 of those were tour shows which would have taken place in arena sized venues (although there were half a dozen shows at the Astrodome in 1970 and one at Pontiac Silverdome in '75).
If anyone's arguing about 'most coveted ticket', its a no contest when you consider that not one of those 1,156 shows took place outside the USA. An international tour would have blown away anything by anyone else demand-wise.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Elmo Lewis
()
Date: February 8, 2011 15:57
Quote
Stoneage
Abba was offered one billion dollar (1 000 000 000 $) for a comeback tour in the US ten years ago - but turned it down. Abba should have done more touring in the US (in order to sell more albums), but Agneta didn't like touring. Abba never really made it the US, their main markets were GB, Europe and Australia.
Actually Abba was big in America - lots of hit singles, including some damn fine songs (SOS, Waterloo, etc.).
"No Anchovies, Please"
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Tumblin_Dice_07
()
Date: February 8, 2011 18:36
Quote
Gazza
If anyone's arguing about 'most coveted ticket', its a no contest when you consider that not one of those 1,156 shows took place outside the USA. An international tour would have blown away anything by anyone else demand-wise.
Thanks Gazza. I knew somebody could come through with some stats on the matter. I'm curious though about your last statement. Do you think the fact that Elvis played that many shows makes him easily the biggest draw of the '70's? I understand what you're saying about the demand an international tour would have drawn, but wouldn't that mean that, at least in the States, demand for Stones and/or Led Zep tickets would have been higher? They didn't play as much or as often in the States as Elvis, so a ticket to see either of those acts would have been much more in demand. At least that's my way of thinking. I certainly wasn't around in those days to see for myself.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Gazza
()
Date: February 8, 2011 18:44
Well, the original question simply asked about 'biggest touring band'. We're a bit off track speculating about demand for tours that didnt happen. Its not really a question anyone can definitively answer.
I'd still argue that, as the biggest and most recognisable star in the entertainment industry - in fact, along with Muhammad Ali, probably the most famous person on the planet at the time - Elvis would by definition be the most 'in demand' or 'biggest' touring act of that era.
I'd still argue that, as the biggest and most recognisable star in the entertainment industry - in fact, along with Muhammad Ali, probably the most famous person on the planet at the time - Elvis would by definition be the most 'in demand' or 'biggest' touring act of that era.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
reg thorpe
()
Date: February 8, 2011 18:46
Quote
Gazza
Well, the original question simply asked about 'biggest touring band'.
Is "biggest touring band" most appearances made or top grossing act?
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Gazza
()
Date: February 8, 2011 18:49
I'd say top grossing or the band who had played to most people.
'Most appearances' means pretty much nothing if you're playing 250 shows a year in clubs.
'Most appearances' means pretty much nothing if you're playing 250 shows a year in clubs.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Tumblin_Dice_07
()
Date: February 8, 2011 21:38
Quote
Gazza
Well, the original question simply asked about 'biggest touring band'. We're a bit off track speculating about demand for tours that didnt happen. Its not really a question anyone can definitively answer.
Yeah I thought about that when I was typing my reply. Had a bunch more stuff typed up about how many people actually saw Elvis and how big the venues were and so forth but decided to keep it simple because the "demand" for an artist is hard to gauge.
My two cents though for the original question........I'd say Zep were probably the "biggest touring band" of the '70's, although I think the Stones tours were probably bigger events. I don't think any other band's tours have the mythological character that the Stones tours do. We remember them all by name..they've been mythologised and taken on lives of their own....the '72 S.T.P. tour, the '75 Tour of the Americas, and so on.....and they were all huge events, probably in part because it was the Stones and in part because they only happened once every few years. Lots of other bands toured alot more than the Stones.....I do however think Zep was the more popular band back in those days. Probably still is.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
DandelionPowderman
()
Date: February 8, 2011 22:03
Quote
Come On
1970....then it's Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin...
When did CCR play stadiums in the 70s?
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
ineedadrink
()
Date: February 8, 2011 22:22
what about Fleetwood Mac?
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
HerMajestyBrenda
()
Date: February 8, 2011 22:40
And Wings?
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
lem motlow
()
Date: February 9, 2011 02:31
as someone who had to scrape up tickets for nearly every band mentioned ,trust me,it wasnt even close-
the stones and zeppelin.there was no way to accurately judge who could sell the most tickets because they simply sold out every show as soon as it went on sale and you got the feeling that no matter how many shows each band played every one would sell-out.
you could always buy tickets of course but it was gonna cost you.for one thing most people who had them wanted to go to the show and any extras went to their friends or family.the scalpers knew they had gold in their hands and they went instantly for top dollar.
those two,without a doubt.anyone else- and i dont care who it was,was an afterthought.
the stones and zeppelin.there was no way to accurately judge who could sell the most tickets because they simply sold out every show as soon as it went on sale and you got the feeling that no matter how many shows each band played every one would sell-out.
you could always buy tickets of course but it was gonna cost you.for one thing most people who had them wanted to go to the show and any extras went to their friends or family.the scalpers knew they had gold in their hands and they went instantly for top dollar.
those two,without a doubt.anyone else- and i dont care who it was,was an afterthought.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
whitem8
()
Date: February 9, 2011 02:58
Definitely The Stones, Zep, and the Who...
The Wings only had one tour in the US during the 70s. And one major European tour, and a minor European tour. And a small tour of colleges in the UK.
Elton was a big draw as well.
Aerosmith in the mid 70's.
Santana also was a yearly summer ritual at Michigan's Pine Knob theater.
And J Giles! They ripped the roof off several places during the 70s, Pine Knob being another yearly ritual.
The Wings only had one tour in the US during the 70s. And one major European tour, and a minor European tour. And a small tour of colleges in the UK.
Elton was a big draw as well.
Aerosmith in the mid 70's.
Santana also was a yearly summer ritual at Michigan's Pine Knob theater.
And J Giles! They ripped the roof off several places during the 70s, Pine Knob being another yearly ritual.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
tatters
()
Date: February 10, 2011 01:42
Quote
Gazza
If anyone's arguing about 'most coveted ticket', its a no contest when you consider that not one of those 1,156 shows took place outside the USA. An international tour would have blown away anything by anyone else demand-wise.
Except a Beatles tour.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Gazza
()
Date: February 10, 2011 02:32
Dunno. At least people in other countries got to see the Beatles. That never happened with Elvis.
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
ineedadrink
()
Date: February 10, 2011 02:36
are you saying Canada isn't another country? whyioughta!
Re: 1970s Biggest Touring Band.
Posted by:
Gazza
()
Date: February 10, 2011 02:39
Quote
ineedadrink
are you saying Canada isn't another country? whyioughta!
Elvis played only 3 shows ever in Canada - all in 1957.
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