current rock band tours

• Manage Account

Top 10 Highest-Grossing Rock Tours of 2023

Check out our recap of Billboard Boxscore's top 10 rock tours of the year, featuring blink-182, Metallica, and more.

By Eric Frankenberg

Eric Frankenberg

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Pinit
• + additional share options added
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Email
• Print this article
• Share this article on Comment

Watch Latin American Music Awards

Last week, Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts , ranking the top tours, venues, and promoters of 2023. That coverage included analysis of the new wave of genre diverse artists crashing stadium stages, and in turn, our charts. This week, we are breaking down the year’s biggest tours, genre by genre . Today, we continue with rock.

Rock music has been at the center of the touring industry for decades, with legendary acts like The Rolling Stones , U2 , and the Eagles controlling stadium calendars and delivering record-breaking grosses. That is still the case, as rock is responsible for more entries in the all-genre top 10, 20, 40 and 100 than any other genre.

But at 32.4% of all top 100 tours’ grosses, rock takes a dramatic hit from last year’s 42.5% figure. Combined with pop, the two central genres have lost a third of their total market share since the pandemic, as pockets of Latin and K-pop acts take up prime Boxscore real estate. And as rock accounts for many of the oldest artists in the top 100, with Latin and K-pop bringing up the chart’s youngest names, the future of rock bands as touring titans is blurrier than it was 5-10 years ago.

But with a new round of legacy tours from ‘90s and ‘00s bands, plus steady arena grosses from 21st century acts like Arctic Monkeys, Greta Van Fleet and Imagine Dragons, there is still plenty of juice for the coming years.

Scroll to check out the top 10 highest-grossing tours by rock artists, with such acts qualifying due to recent performance on Billboard ’s Top Rock Albums and/or Hot Rock Songs charts. Rankings are determined according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All reported shows worldwide between Nov. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023 are eligible.

$76.8M / 597K tickets / 41 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 24

Phish is among the most consistent touring acts, regardless of genre. From its annual destination event in Mexico to its reliable runs of shows at Madison Square Garden, the jam-band legends continue to one-up themselves, after winding up at No. 31 on last year’s all-genre ranking.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

$77.2M / 657K tickets / 18 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 23

Red Hot Chili Peppers repeat in the year-end rock breakdown with shows in Asia, Europe and North America. Still, the band’s $77.2 million total doesn’t include the $48.2 million from its co-headline shows with Post Malone in Australia.

$92.7M / 1M tickets / 45 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 20

Muse makes its first appearance among the year-end top 10 rock tours since 2013, when the glam-rock band earned $43.2 million while on The 2nd Law World Tour. The European leg did the heaviest lifting, with nine of the top 10 grosses of the year.

$95.7M / 692K tickets / 45 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 19

Blink is back with the biggest tour of its career. The original trio of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker reunited for 45 sold-out shows in North America and Europe. Things came to a head with two nights at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium, where blink-182 grossed $8.8 million and sold 43,600 tickets.

Guns N' Roses

$96.2M / 888K tickets / 31 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 18

Guns N’ Roses logs a second year between $90-100 million after being No. 8 on 2022’s genre Boxscore breakout. More shows after the tracking period’s cutoff puts the rock icons on tap for the ’24 ranking with $19.7 million already in the bank.

Dead & Company

$114.7M / 845K tickets / 28 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 15

Dead & Company played its farewell tour between May 19 and July 16, yielding its first $100 million summer since launching as a touring unit in 2015. The peak was a three-night run at San Francisco’s Oracle Park to end the tour, earning $20.4 million from 118,000 tickets sold.

$125.8M / 1.2M tickets / 19 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 14

Metallica grossed more than $10 million in seven markets between Europe and North America, doubling up in Montreal, Paris and more. The M72 World Tour continues with scheduled dates through Sept. 29, 2024.

Depeche Mode

$175.2M / 1.8M tickets / 47 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: No. 9

The first of three rock acts in the all-genre top 10, Depeche Mode scores the biggest year of its touring career, blowing past 2017’s $123.5 million. Three shows at Mexico City’s Foro Sol on Sept. 21, 23 and 25 delivered the band’s biggest gross ever, at $15.4 million from 195,000 tickets sold.

$210M / 1.3M tickets / 65 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: No. 7

Elton John notches a fifth year on the year-end Boxscore recap with the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, having topped the abridged 2020 report. After all was said and done, set a new record as the highest-grossing tour in Boxscore history, regardless of genre. Over 329 shows, the trek earned $939.1 million and sold six million tickets.

$342.5M / 3.2M tickets / 55 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: No. 2

Switching places with John from last year, Coldplay takes top honors as the highest-grossing rock act of 2023. The band’s spread covers shows in North and South America, as well as Europe, with dates in Asia and Australia in the 2024 tracking window. After kicking off in 2022, the Music of the Spheres Tour has brought in $664.5 million and sold 6.7 million tickets.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

• Billboard Hot 100™
• Billboard 200™
• Hits Of The World™
• TikTok Billboard Top 50
• Song Breaker
• Year-End Charts
• Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

• R&B/Hip-Hop

Culture Expand culture menu

Media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

• Business News
• Record Labels
• View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

• Songwriters & Producers
• Artist Index
• Royalty Calculator
• Market Watch
• Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

• Cultura y Entretenimiento

Honda Music Expand honda-music menu

• Tour Announcements

Tour and Concert Announcements

Want to know Whos on Tour right now? ConcertFix will bring you up to the second news on tour announcements, tour guests, concert schedules, locations and venues. For all the latest information for whos on tour in your area, visit us frequently and follow @ConcertFix for more tour announcements.

Carin Leon announces 'Boca Chueca Tour'

Banda heavyweight Carín León has announced an expansive North American tour later in 2024 promoting his latest album 'Colmillo De Leche'. His Boca Chueca Tour kicks off August 29th in Englewood and continues into October... continue reading →

Vance Joy announces 'Dream Your Life Away' anniversary tour

Aussie singer-songwriter Vance Joy has announced a short 2024 tour across North America celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album 'Dream Your Life Away'. The 10-city excursion takes place in September making stops... continue reading →

Joshua Radin, Ron Pope announce co-headlining tour

Later in 2024, Joshua Radin will be teaming up with Ron Pope for a large co-headlining tour across America. The 16-date trek takes place in November hitting markets like Fort Collins, Boulder, Salt Lake City, Eugene,... continue reading →

K.Flay announces 'Way Up West Tour'

Platinum-selling musician K.Flay has announced an extensive North American tour in 2024 to support her new album 'Mono'. Her Way Up West Tour takes place in August making U.S. stops in Eugene, Spokane, Missoula, Bozeman,... continue reading →

'Experience Hendrix' tour announced

The 2024 version of the Experience Hendrix tour has been announced with another star-studded lineup celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix. The new 24-city campaign takes place in September/October making... continue reading →

Porter Robinson announces ‘Smile! :D' tour

EDM favorite Porter Robinson has announced a huge 2024 tour across North America behind his next album 'Smile! :D'. The 35-date outing kicks off Aug 29th in Boston and runs into November invading major U.S. markets like New... continue reading →

Idina Menzel announces 'Take Me or Leave Me Tour'

Actress and singer Idina Menzel has announced a summer 2024 tour across North America supporting her most recent album 'Drama Queen'. Her Take Me or Leave Me Tour takes place in July/August visiting big cities like Seattle,... continue reading →

PJ Morton announces 'Cape Town to Cairo' tour

Maroon 5 keyboardist PJ Morton will be returning to the road in 2024 to promote his upcoming album 'Cape Town to Cairo'. The 28-date tour kicks off July 30th in Cincinnati and extends into November hitting additional markets... continue reading →

Top Tour Announcements

• Hip Hop / R&B

Banda heavyweight Carín León has announced an expansive North American tour later in 2024...

Aussie singer-songwriter Vance Joy has announced a short 2024 tour across North America celebrating...

Later in 2024, Joshua Radin will be teaming up with Ron Pope for a large co-headlining tour across...

Actress and singer Idina Menzel has announced a summer 2024 tour across North America supporting...

NYC pair Cults will be embarking on a massive U.S. tour happening in 2024 to support their current...

Regional Mexican act Edén Muñoz has announced a sizable U.S. tour in 2024 to promote his brand...

K-pop bigwigs ATEEZ have announced a return to North America in 2024 to support their next EP...

Indie ensemble The Marías will be hitting the road later in 2024 supporting their forthcoming...

Grammy-nominated singers Charli XCX and Troye Sivan have announced an extensive co-headlining tour...

Colombian superstar Shakira has announced a mammoth world tour in 2024 behind her brand new album...

Coming up later in 2024, The Marley Brothers featuring Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian...

Brazilian entertainer Anitta has announced a 21-date world tour commencing in 2024 to support her...

Tony Award winner Ben Platt has announced a summer 2024 tour across North America supporting his...

Urbano giants Fuerza Regida have announced a lengthy 2024 tour across America promoting their brand...

Acclaimed collective Maroon 5 will be launching a brief North American tour in 2024 surrounding...

Platinum-selling musician K.Flay has announced an extensive North American tour in 2024 to support...

The 2024 version of the Experience Hendrix tour has been announced with another star-studded lineup...

Hamilton-based outfit Arkells will be heading on a major Canadian tour later in 2024 promoting...

Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard will be joining forces with Michael Kiwanuka later in...

Alternative vets Everclear have announced a monumental U.S. tour in 2024 celebrating the 20th...

Grammy-nominated crew SOJA will be embarking on a summer 2024 tour across America to promote their...

Diamond-selling rockers Evanescence have announced they'll be touring extensively across Canada...

Thrash pioneers Megadeth have announced a lengthy U.S. tour later in 2024 behind their recent album...

Swedish metal giants Opeth have announced a massive North American tour commencing later in 2024 to...

Award-winning collective Imagine Dragons will be launching an epic 2024 tour across North America...

Folk heavyweights Ray LaMontagne and Gregory Alan Isakov have announced a huge co-headlining tour...

Coming up in 2024, Clutch will be teaming up with Rival Sons during an enormous joint tour across...

Metal warriors GWAR have announced a new 2024 tour across America to promote their latest album...

Once again in 2024, Ice Nine Kills will be clashing with In This Moment for another joint tour...

Seasoned metal troops Underoath have announced an expansive North American tour later in 2024...

Maroon 5 keyboardist PJ Morton will be returning to the road in 2024 to promote his upcoming album...

Latin chart-topper Pitbull has announce a gigantic 2024 tour across America joined by special guest...

Later in 2024, Future and Metro Boomin will be embarking on a major co-headlining tour across North...

Grammy-winning performer Missy Elliott has announced a mammoth 2024 tour across North America along...

Hip hop duo $uicideboy$ will be launching another installment of their Grey Day Tour across North...

Notorious rapper Snoop Dogg has announced an extensive Canadian tour in 2024 along with special...

Yonkers trio The LOX featuring Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch will be launching a big North...

Christian performer TobyMac will be teaming up with MercyMe and Zach Williams again later in 2024...

Rising songwriter Felly has announced a sizable 2024 tour across America to support his current...

Multi-Platinum songstress Jhené Aiko has announced a massive North American tour taking place in...

Sacramento-based vocalist Hobo Johnson has announced a lengthy North American tour in 2024 backed...

Legendary R&B groups Xscape and SWV will be joining forces in 2024 for an enormous co-headlining...

Neo soul icon Maxwell has announced a huge U.S. tour later in 2024 joined by special guests Jazmine...

Aussie performer The Kid LAROi has announced an expansive world tour in 2024 to promote his debut...

Rap superstar Megan Thee Stallion has announced a giant summer tour behind her newest album...

EDM favorite Porter Robinson has announced a huge 2024 tour across North America behind his next...

Funk sensation Marc Rebillet has announced a return to the road in 2024 to support his latest album...

Norwegian house producer Kygo has announced a major world tour later in 2024 after wrapping up his...

Philly-based artist Santigold has announced a short North American tour later in 2024 supporting...

EDM icon Steve Aoki will be touring extensively across North America in 2024 promoting his recent...

Electrofunk pair Chromeo will be launching a sizable world tour commencing in 2024 behind their...

Singer-songwriter Adam Young has announced he'll be taking his Owl City musical project on a...

Electronic duo Thievery Corporation will be embarking on a lengthy North American tour in early...

Joshua Davis has announced an epic DJ Shadow world tour in 2024 to support his brand new album...

Dubstep producer Jesse Kardon has announced a major Subtronics tour across America in early 2024 to...

Dubstep mastermind Excision has announced a massive 2024 tour across North America to promote his...

Livetronica duo Big Gigantic will be embarking on a brief U.S. tour later in 2023 behind their...

LA-based DJ RL Grime has announced an extensive U.S. tour later in 2023 joined by special guests...

Grammy-winning producer James Blake has announced he'll be making his way overseas to North America...

EDM musician ZHU has announced a return to the road later in 2023 during a mammoth North American...

Road warrior Jamey Johnson has announced a lengthy U.S. tour in 2024 following his Opry Country...

Country superstar Miranda Lambert has announced a return to the road in 2024 supporting her recent...

Coming up in 2024, Little Big Town will be joining forces with Sugarland for a sizable...

Platinum-selling artist Walker Hayes has announced an expansive U.S. tour in 2024 promoting his...

Singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel has announced a mammoth U.S. tour commencing in 2024 to promote his...

Masked musician Orville Peck has announced a huge 2024 tour across North America behind his current...

Renowned hitmaker Sam Hunt has announced an epic North American tour later in 2024 along with...

Country songstress Maren Morris has announced a brief North American tour in 2024 promoting her...

Honky-tonk pioneer Dwight Yoakam will be partnering with The Mavericks again in 2024 for another...

Americana string band Old Crow Medicine Show will be heading back on tour throughout 2024 to...

Later in 2024, Justin Moore will be hitting the road with Randy Houser during a brief co-headlining...

Grammy-winning songbird Kacey Musgraves has announced an extensive world tour in 2024 promoting her...

Outlaw country pioneer Willie Nelson has announced the 2024 version of his annual Outlaw Music...

Country rockers Little Feat will be returning to the road in 2024 celebrating the 50th anniversary...

Award-winning singer Jelly Roll has announced a massive 2024 tour across America to support his...

Concert Tracker

• Follow your favorite performers and cities
• Receive alerts when new shows are announced
• Get updates for the latest concert schedules
• Never miss a show again!

• Victoria concerts Victoria concerts Victoria concerts See all Victoria concerts ( Change location ) Today · Next 7 days · Next 30 days

Most popular artists worldwide

• Trending artists worldwide

• Tourbox for artists

Search for events or artists

• Sign up Log in

• Get the app
• Victoria concerts
• Change location
• Popular Artists
• Live streams
• Deutsch Português
• Popular artists

Discover concerts for your favorite artists

Be the first to know about concerts, tour announcements & news based on the music you love

Artist Leaderboards

Discover tour dates, photos, videos, reviews and news from the most tracked artists on Songkick.

Pop • R&B

Hip-Hop • Pop

Hip-Hop • Funk & Soul

R&B • Hip-Hop

Taylor Swift

Country • Pop

Biggest tours of 2024

Check out the most anticipated world tours from the world’s biggest superstars.

Rock · Indie & Alt

Country · Pop

Funk & Soul · Pop

Calvin Harris

Electronic · Pop

Imagine Dragons

Indie & Alt · Rock

David Guetta

Latest news & announcements.

Get up to speed with the latest concert updates and music news from the best artists on Songkick.

Hip-Hop · Electronic

The Killers

Who’s trending right now, hottest artists worldwide.

These are the names blowing up across the globe. Get to know the fastest growing artists on Songkick.

Hermanos Espinoza

Top artists by genre.

Know what you like? Discover artists in your preferred genre, and check out their upcoming tour dates.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Kendrick lamar, nicki minaj, indie & alt, lana del rey, mumford & sons, arctic monkeys, justin timberlake, jason derulo, alicia keys, top rated artists.

Dive into some of the best reviewed artists on Songkick, and find out what makes their performances so awesome.

Julia Jacklin

Julia’s assertive charm comes across in both her music and her on stage presence, the only difference being she is funnier in between her songs in which she contemplates what it means to be a woman viewed through her own lens, that of the men she’s loved, and of a perspective that shift as time goes on. Her voice is powerful and note perfect and especially enjoyable when she closed the show with an April Lavigne cover.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

I saw these guys at the Subterranean in Chicago-- what an insane show. They electrified the crowd with non stop moshing, shoving, and stage diving, it was absolute madness. By the end of the gig I was utterly soaked with other peoples beer (theres always someone with a sloshing cup in a pit; why? just drink it!) and dripping with sweat. this show was epic, if you ever have the opportunity to see these guys you have to seize it-- they put on one hell of a show.

HAIM delivered everything I expected at this show, and more! This band has so many different things going for it, that it is hard not to see them having a long successful career. As a matter of fact, in the music business of old, when there were not 10 zillion bands out there, HAIM would be playing arenas and probably making Fleetwood Mac kind of money…The Wiltern isn't the best sounding venue for sure, but HAIM overcame this and totally kicked ass, playing the tunes off of "DAYS ARE GONE" with passion and skill. As good as they all are, (and special kudos also to drummer Dash and keyboardist Tommy) it is hard not to focus on Danielle Haim and her major rock star charisma. It doesn't hurt that she rips it up on guitar and is a pretty kick ass drummer too…All in all, HAIM was amazing, and I would go back tonight if I could get a ticket...

Mindblowing. Asskicking. No holds barred. Take no prisoners. These are the words that come to mind when I think about a Foals show. The first time I saw Foals was only after I had just listened to their song, "Spanish Sahara". Just that one song and my mind was made up. I needed to see them. Turns out that one song was merely a comma in the string of punctuations this band is capable of creating. That song is probably the tamest one they played, and I couldn't be more grateful. A strobe light show starts off their performance to the band members entering one by one. Then lead singer Yannis Phillippakis takes the stage, his signature black Travis Bean guitar in hand. He had a wireless setup for that guitar - a tipoff that I immediately recognized. This show was about to get insane. They ran through a few of their hits from their first album, "Mathletics", such as "Red Socks Pugie", and "Cassius". The crowd was in absolute hysterics. Ebbing and flowing with the music, people crowd surfing and ramming into each other. The song progressed into songs off their sophomore release, "Total Life Forever", where they played "Blue Blood", the aforementioned "Spanish Sahara", and the amped-up "Two Steps, Twice". Then mayhem. Yannis runs top speed and propels himself into the crowd (who were miraculously ready and caught him). All the while, Yannis continues playing his guitar. What happened next was a thing of beauty. Somehow, Yannis makes his way to the side of the venue and proceeds to climb up to the balcony level, and again, launches himself off into the crowd. In all my years, I've never seen someone with such a low fear of death or injury. Since this first performance I've seen Foals a number of times and they never disappoint. Even when they were added as a last minute addition to fill in for a band that canceled for Governor's Ball 2013, they managed to win over everyone at the festival, some saying they were the highlight of the entire event. Easily one of the best live acts I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. Without a doubt, I have never danced, jumped, and sweat so much than when I am at a Foals show. Do yourself a favor, drop any plans you might have and go see Foals. Well worth it.

Literally the best thing I have ever seen. The whole band sounded so tight, the light show was insane and they really played to the audience. Two full sets of material plus an encore was probably more than any of us expected. They played so many songs that I wanted to hear, even some really old material which was so unexpected. The whole audience was buzzing with energy and love for a band that are so good, but really don't tour enough. I'd waited 10 years for a chance to see them and now that I have, I'd have waited another 10 if I knew it was going to be that perfect. It was a privilege to be in that room and witness something so beautiful.

Maggie Rogers

I'm so glad I got to see her in a small venue; what a magical and powerful experience. This girl radiates happiness and joy and on top of all of that, she sounds great live! There was confetti, a disco ball, Neil Young, and lots of dancing. I don't think it would have had the same effect in a large or open space, definitely jump on any chance you have to see her before she really blows up! So much love!

Music artists

For new users looking to follow their favorite bands and performers, our Artists pages are often the best place to start.

Whether you're on our site, or using our free app for iPhone and Android, the Songkick artists search engine is the fastest and simplest way to keep track of who's doing what right now. Be the first to learn which acts are touring, when they might be playing a venue near you, and how to get tickets for any future shows you like the sound of.

Looking to discover someone new? Hey, you’re our kind of music fan. That's why we've also included upcoming Live Stream Concerts alongside our artist searches, meaning you can easily schedule a more casual drop-in from the comfort of your couch.

Since launching our first app back in 2007, you guys - the fans, the concert-goers, the musical explorers - have been at the very heart of everything we do here. Our dream and our drive was always to bring Songkick members closer than ever before to the sounds they love, and the people who create them. Simply put, we pride ourselves on being your direct link to the greatest music artists on the planet.

Who are they, exactly? Well, according to our members, that changes almost by the hour...so let's talk about how Songkick keeps you in the loop.

Best live artists

A quick glance at our Most Popular Artists chart might tell you a few key things about the sorts of music fans we vibe with. For starters, it shows just how varied our members' tastes are. Pop, rock, dance, hip-hop, indie/alt and R&B all feature heavily, alongside a whole bunch of underground genres and rising scenes.

No two of you are quite the same - and frankly, we love to see it! Any time you check in, our 'most popular artists worldwide' and 'trending artists this week' leaderboards always read like a line-up for the greatest, most diverse live festival on Earth.

Among the top searches and best-selling music artists on our global roster, you might find anyone from Rhianna, Coldplay, Eminem and Ed Sheeran, through to Drake, U2, Kanye West,

Maroon 5, Beyoncé, The Midnight, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, Imagine Dragons, Justin Bieber - and that's barely looking outside the top 20.

After all, if the weekly race for a spot on our most popular charts tells us anything, it's that the whole concept of 'best live bands' is a tricky one to pin down. Everybody's looking for a completely different type of experience, every night of the year.

That's another thing we love about our users: you're incredible at keeping us on our toes. In return, we’ve made it our mission to help keep you on yours.

Find and follow your favorite artists on Songkick

When people talk about the 'best live bands in the world', a few big names will reliably come up time and time again. Just as crucially, there'll always be a good handful of newcomers, hot tips and total curveballs in there too.

For us and our members alike, that's a huge part of what keeps the live concert scene so fresh and exciting. There's nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a new favorite artist you'd previously never even heard of - and when that discovery involves a performer blowing you away with an incredible live show or streamed concert, the feeling is enhanced tenfold.

Songkick started out with the goal of helping you capture that moment as often as possible. Now, more than a decade into this, it's 100% what we're still about today.

New members visiting our site or downloading the app can use our powerful search tools to stay ahead of the game. Simply log in with a user profile to keep tabs on more than 6 million bands, shows, festivals and live streams. By joining them, you'll be sharing a platform with 15 million fellow music fans worldwide, all using Songkick to:

Effortlessly track the best live artists

and hottest new tours, wherever and whenever they’re happening.

Follow anyone or anything

You like at the touch of a button, all via our up-to-the-minute global listings database.

Buy tickets with confidence

At prices the artists and promoters intended: no inflated costs or charges, no unwanted spam.

Upcoming Shows

• Site Search
• Privacy Policy

Tour Date Search

www.TourDateSearch.com

Fri, Apr 26, 2024

Welcome to TourDateSearch.com!

The TourDateSearch.com database contains complete (or close to it) tour histories of OVER 1000 rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk and new wave bands, along with upcoming show listings, artist bios from WikiPedia and more. It is updated daily and new artists are being added all the time. Just use the form above to search for tour dates:

• Choose up to 5 bands/artists. You can then choose to include shows where all or some of the artists played shows together or separately, look for shows where a specific song was played, and narrow the search to a particular tour
• Narrow your search to a specific country, state or city. You can also choose a city and narrow the search to venues within a specified distance from that city.
• Choose a date or date range to include, or indicate a specifc date in tour history .

On this day in tour history

-- Back to Top of Page --

Follow Tour Date Search : Facebook | Twitter

Search | Artists | Upcoming Shows | Contact | Donate | Links |--> Site Search | Privacy Policy

THE BRAND NEW STUDIO ALBUM OUT NOW FEATURING “ANGRY” & “SWEET SOUNDS OF HEAVEN”

Embark on the ultimate Rolling Stones Experience and delve deep in to the band’s multitude of albums and tours, packed with exclusive material from the Rolling Stones’ extensive audio visual archive.

No.9 Carnaby St

There was an error submitting the form. Please try again later.

Newsletter Signup

By submitting you are confirming you agree with the terms of our Privacy Policy

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Emails will be sent by or on behalf of Universal Music Operations Ltd, 4 Pancras Square, London. N1C 4AG, UK. +44 (0)20 3932 6000. You may withdraw your consent at any time. See Privacy Policy at https://www.umusic.co.uk/privacy.html .

All of the biggest UK rock tours coming up

Some incredible live rock and metal coming our way

After a huge year of tours and festivals in 2023, Planet Rock looks forward to countless rock and metal bands gearing up to hit the road in 2024 - and with a dose of festivals and huge one-off shows in the mix too, it's looking like another great year for live music. Join us as we take a look at all of the hottest upcoming tours and festivals this year and next, and how to get tickets.

With huge acts such as YES , Pearl Jam , The Rolling Stones and Foo Fighters all heading our way in 2024, take a look at all of the upcoming rock and metal tours coming the the UK that you don't want to miss in 2024 and beyond.

All of the biggest rock and metal tours in 2024 and beyond:

Robert plant's saving grace.

Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant is completing a 15-date UK tour in March 2024, with his band Saving Grace. Featuring Suzi Dian. The tour opened at Bristol Beacon on Wednesday 13th March, visiting Ipswich, London, Tunbridge Wells, Peterborough, Nottingham, Hastings, Liverpool, Sheffield and Blackburn throughout the month. Dates then continue, as Robert Plant presents Saving Grace then play Harrogate in late April, Stockton and Warwick in early May, and Southend and Woking in July. Buy tickets here

Melodic rockers FM announced a 15-date 2024 UK tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary. They will play 15 shows, starting in March 2024. Beginning the stretch in Nantwich Civic Hall on Saturday 30th March, they will visit Brighton, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Gateshead, Leeds, Bury St Edmunds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Newbury, Exeter, Southampton, London and Glasgow before concluding at Aberdeen Lemon Tree on Saturday 1st June. Buy tickets here

British rockers Kira Mac have a fresh headline UK tour lined up for April and May 2024. The string of dates will begin at Leeds Brudenell on Thursday 24th April 2024, continuing through to Saturday 11th May with a show at Stoke Underground. Playing 12 shows in total, Kira Mac will travel through Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Norwich, Bristol, Newbury and London. Joining them on all dates will be fresh-faced classic rock purists Jayler, Buy tickets here

The Rolling Stones

Another tour happening in 2024 is legendary rock band The Rolling Stones . In October 2023, guitarist Keith Richards confirmed that the band were planning to hit the road in 2024 in support of 'Hackney Diamonds' - their first album of original material in 18 years. Then, in November 2023, the band further teased 2024 tour dates as they shared a link calling fans to sign up to their mailing list, for upcoming news and announcements. After fans noticed their iconic red tongue and lips logo then appearing outside locations in North America, it was confirmed that The Rolling Stones are set to play 15 stadium shows , and one festival, on a colossal tour across the United States and Canada from April-July 2024.

The Cadillac Three

Nashville country fuzz heroes The Cadillac Three will embark on their headline UK & Ireland 'The Years Go Fast Tour' in May 2024. The tour will open at Dublin Academy on Saturday 4th May, with the band visiting Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Cardiff before concluding with The Cadillac Three's headline slot at Highways Festival at London Royal Albert Hall on Friday 17th May. Buy tickets here

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

As part of a 22-date European tour, The Boss and his incredible band will be heading to the UK & Ireland in May and July 2024 ! Tour dates begin as they play Cardiff Principality Stadium on Sunday 5th May 2024, before heading to Belfast, Kilkenny, Cork, Dublin and Sunderland. July will then see the legend perform at London Wembley Stadium on Thursday 25th - with an extra show added at the iconic venue du to phenomenal demand, on Saturday 27th. Buy tickets here

Toby Jepson

Wayward Sons frontman and Planet Rock presenter Toby Jepson will be embarking on an 18-date solo acoustic UK tour in May and June 2024. Entitled 'My Life In Words – Live Acoustic! From Little Angels to Wayward Sons', the sizable tour begins in Crumlin on 10th May 2024, continuing up until 25th June. Buy tickets here

Rammstein will be heading on an 18-date European stadium tour throughout Summer 2024. Dates begin in Prague Airport Letnany on Saturday 11th May, and after touring through 12 European countries over three months, the shows will conclude with two concerts at Gelsenkirchen Veltins Arena - in Rammstein's native Germany - on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th July 2024. At the moment, there are no UK dates on Rammstein's touring itinerary.

The Black Crowes

The Black Crowes announced in January that they have lined up a four-date headline English tour for May 2024. The short trek will see Chris and Rich Robinson and co. perform at Manchester O2 Apollo on Tuesday 14th May, then playing London Eventim Apollo and Newcastle O2 City Hall before culminating at Wolverhampton Civic Halls on Saturday 18th May. The support act for all four shows will be Jim Jones All Stars. Buy tickets here

May 2024 will see that start of The Classic Tales of YES UK Tour . Progressive rock legends YES will be embarking on a nine-dates trek this May and June, including new concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall and the Bristol Beacon, together with seven dates rescheduled from the YES' postponed 2023 Relayer UK tour.

Eric Clapton

Guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton has announced a headline UK & Ireland tour for May 2024. Slowhand will play arenas in Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and Dublin before culminating with four nights at London's world-famous Royal Albert Hall. Buy tickets here.

'Hotel California' legend Eagles will be carrying out a UK residency in May and June 2024 - joined by Steely Dan at all dates. The residency will take place in Manchester, as part of their multi-year swansong tour The Long Goodbye . The Eagles will play the UK's largest indoor arena - Manchester's new 23,500 capacity Co-op Live venue - on Friday 31st May, Saturday 1st June and Tuesday 4th June 2024. Due to phenomenal band, the band have extended the residency with two more dates , adding shows on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th June. Buy tickets here

Tenacious D

The self-professed Greatest Band That Ever Played on Planet Earth, Tenacious D, will embark on a six-date UK arena tour in May 2024. The 'Tenacious D and the Spicy Meatball Tour' opens at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on Tuesday 7th May 2024 and visits Manchester AO Arena, Glasgow OVO Hydro, Leeds First Direct Arena and Nottingham Motorpoint Arena before culminating at Brighton Centre on Monday 13th May 2024. Buy tickets here.

Bryan Adams

The legendary Bryan Adams will be embarking on a six-date UK tour in May 2024. The Groover From Vancouver will kick off the string of shows with a three-night residency at London's Royal Albert Hall from Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th May 2024, before heading through Coventry, Sheffield and Cardiff from 17th - 19th. Buy tickets here

Nickelback will head on a four-date UK arena tour in May 2024, starting the string of dates in Glasgow on Thursday 16th, before playing in Manchester and London, and ending the run in Birmingham on Thursday 23rd May 2024. Chart-topping UK indie-rock band Lottery Winners will join Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair at all four dates. Buy tickets here

Bruce Dickinson

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson will embark on a six date UK tour in May 2024. The opening dates of Bruce's summer European trek, Bruce will play shows in Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Manchester, Swansea, Nottingham and London, from 16th - 24th May 2024. At all six dates, the support act comes in the form of New Zealand hard rockers Black Smoke Trigger. Buy tickets here Buy tickets here

Jane's Addiction

Jane's Addiction will head on a short headline UK tour in May and June 2024. The short tun of shows will follow Jane Addiction's already announced headline slot at the Bearded Theory Festival, which will take place in Derbyshire from Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 26th May 2024. They will then perform two nights at London's The Roundhouse (27th and 29th May), then play Glasgow Barrowland (31st May) and Manchester O2 Apollo (3rd June). Buy tickets here

Five Finger Death Punch

Five Finger Death Punch will embark on their UK/European tour of headline dates, including a show at London's OVO Arena Wembley, starting on 23rd May 2024. Dates are set to continue through to 14th July.

Robin Trower

May 2024 will see Robin Trower perform his first live concerts in six years, at Planet Rock's Blues Power Live. For the first time, Blues Power Live will take place at three separate venues across England - Robin Trower kicks off the trio of concerts at London Islington Assembly on Tuesday 28th May, before playing two more dates at Gateshead Glasshouse (30th May) and Holmfirth Picturedrome (31st May). Buy tickets here

After teasing UK and European tour dates just a week before, Tool confirmed in November 2023 that they would be bringing a series of shows to the UK in May and June 2024. Maynard James Keenan, Adam Jones, Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor will play a total of 15 European shows in the early summer, including three arena dates in England - on Thursday 30th May 2024, Saturday 1st June and Monday 3rd June. Buy tickets here

Winger - 2024

New York City rockers Winger have announced details of their final UK concert . After touring the UK with Steel Panther last year, Winger will play their last-ever show on these shores at London Islington Assembly Hall on Friday 7th June 2024. Get tickets here.

Although it's not quite a UK tour, German rock legends Scorpions will be playing their first UK concert in five years in 2024. Taking place at London OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday 8th June 2024, Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine, Matthias Jabs, Pawel Maciwoda and Mikkey Dee will perform their only UK concert, as part of the 'Love at First Sting Tour', celebrating the 40th anniversary of Scorpions' ninth studio album of the same name. Their special guests at the momentous show will be their fellow rock icons Extreme. Buy tickets here

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets will celebrate the early music of Pink Floyd on a headline UK tour in June 2024 . Nick Mason, Gary Kemp, Guy Pratt, Lee Harris and Dom Beken will play 14 headline shows opening at Stoke Victoria Hall on Tuesday 11th June and wrapping up at London Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 29th June. Buy tickets here

Mr. Bungle will play two headline shows ahead of their appearance at Download Festival this summer, serving as their first headline UK shows in 24 years. The epic shows will take place at London O2 Forum Kentish Town on Wednesday 12th June and Manchester O2 Ritz on Thursday 13th June. Their performance at Download Festival will then take place on Friday 14th June. Buy tickets here

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters began promoting their 11th studio album 'But Here We Are' in May 2023, while also revealing that UK concerts were on the horizon . The news was confirmed in June, with the band announcing their highly anticipated UK tour will take place in 2024 . Dates for the shows take place from Thursday 13th June - Thursday 27th, with the tour being the band's first in the UK since the untimely death of drummer Taylor Hawkins , which led to them cancelling UK stadium tour in June and July 2022 . Foo Fighters made their live return in May 2023, with Josh Freese recruited as their new drummer . Foo Fighters will play in Manchester, Glasgow, London, Cardiff and Birmingham. Due to phenomenal demand, they added an extra date in Manchester . Buy tickets here

Troy Redfern

British slide guitar virtuoso Troy Redfern has lined up an 11-date headline UK tour for June 2024, titled the 'Troy Redfern "Invocation" Headline UK Tour'. The tour will open in Frome on Monday 17th June 2024, travelling through Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Chester, Birmingham, Guildford, Cambridge, Southampton and London before concluding in Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday 27th June. Buy tickets here

Keanu Reeves' rock band Dogstar will play their first UK shows in 25 years this summer, heading to the UK to play two shows in June 2024 . As part of a larger European tour, Dogstar will play headline shows at Manchester New Century Hall on Tuesday 18th June and London Electric Ballroom on Wednesday 19th June. Marking a quarter of a century since performing on these shores, the band's last UK performance was at Glastonbury Festival on 27th June 1999. Buy tickets here

In 2024 'American Idiot' legends Green Day will be bringing their tour to the UK & Europe . 'The Savior Tour' will follow the release of their 14th studio album of the same name, which will be released on Friday 19th January 2024. Tour dates start in Manchester on Friday 21st June 2024, and also include their appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival. Joining them at the four stadium dates will be chart-conquering Southend-on-Sea collective Nothing But Thieves, and Hasting punk rockers Maid of Ace. Buy tickets here

The same day they premiered the title track from their 12th studio album 'Dark Matter' , Pearl Jam announced shows in England and Ireland for as part of their tour in summer 2024. The Seattle rock heroes will perform at Dublin Marlay Park on Saturday 22nd June, Manchester's brand new venue Co-op Live on Tuesday 25th June, and London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 29th June.

Rock legends Heart will embark on their first UK tour in eight years this July 2024. The Royal Flush Tour 2024 will see Heart play six huge arena shows with special guests Squeeze, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary. The tour will open at London's The O2 on Monday 1st July 2024, then visit Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds before concluding at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Tuesday 9th July 2024. Buy tickets here

Following reports that AC/DC were 'looking at 2024 tour dates' to coincide with their 50th anniversary, and after the rock legends' live return at October 2023's Power Trip festival in California, it has been confirmed that AC/DC will perform two colossal concerts at London's Wembley Stadium for this summer. As part of The Power Up Tour, named after the band's chart-topping 2020 album 'PWR UP', the shows will take place on Wednesday 3rd and Sunday 7th July 2024. The two Wembley shows will mark the first time AC/DC have performed in the UK in more than eight years. At all European dates of their tour, New York rockers The Pretty Reckless will play support . Buy tickets here

Mammoth WVH

Mammoth WVH will return to the UK in July for their first headlining shows - after their stint opening for Slash with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, and playing shows with legendary names such as Metallica, Alter Bridge and Sevendust, Def Leppard and Motley Crüe, and Nita Strauss. Their two headlining shows take place at Birmingham O2 Institute 2 on Monday 8th July 2024, and London O2 Academy on Tuesday 9th July. Buy tickets here

Stevie Nicks

Fleetwood Mac icon Stevie Nicks will headline American Express presents BST Hyde Park this summer. Stevie will top the bill at the London festival on Friday 12th July 2024. Shortly after her headline spot was announced, it was then revealed that the legend will be performing two more arena shows in the UK this summer, taking place at Glasgow's OVO Hydro on Saturday 6th July and Manchester's Co-op Live on Tuesday 9th July. Buy tickets here

The Commoners - 2024

Taking place alongside their festival performances at Steelhouse and Maid of Stone, Canadian rockers The Commoners will play a string of headline shows throughout the UK. The trek of seven headline shows will open at London's The Grace on Friday 19th July 2024, and visit Milton Keynes, Wolverhampton, Newbury, Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds on 27th July. Buy tickets here

Garbage - 2024

Scottish-American rockers Garbage have announced their first headline UK tour in five years. Following their previously confirmed show at Glasgow's TRNSMT Festival in July 2024, Garbage will play their own headline concerts in Edinburgh, Bridlington, Wolverhampton and Manchester before concluding with a gargantuan gig at London Wembley OVO Arena on Saturday 20th July. Get tickets here.

Alt-metal pioneers KoRn will return to London in August 2024 to perform for the first time in seven years. In what will be their biggest UK headline show to date, the band will perform at London's Gunnersbury Park on Sunday 11th August.

Blackberry Smoke

In September 2024 Blackberry Smoke will be coming to the UK for a five-date headline tour. The band will kick off their tour at Glasgow O2 Academy on Monday 9th September 2024, before going on to play Edinburgh O2 Academy, Manchester O2 Apollo, Birmingham O2 Academy, and finally London Eventim Apollo on Saturday 14th. Buy tickets here

Tyketto and Little Caesar

Tyketto, along with long-time friends Little Ceasar, will embark on a nine-date UK tour in September 2024. Titled 'A Show of Strength Tour', shows bein at London O2 Academy on Thursday 12th September 2024, and it visit Cambridge, Nottingham, Barnsley, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester and Wolverhampton before concluding at Southampton's The 1865 on Sunday 22nd September 2024. Buy tickets here

Elles Bailey

Genre-splicing roots singer, and Planet Rock presenter, Elles Bailey will head on her biggest headline tour to date this Autumn - spanning 16 shows across the UK - in support of her latest album 'Beneath The Neon Glow'. Dates begin in Lincoln on Wednesday 25th September 2024, with the run travelling through Norwich, Cambridge, Oxford, Carlisle, Gloucester, Exeter, Bristol, London, Southampton, Sunderland, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Chester and Wolverhampton, before culminating in Leeds on Sunday 1st December. Buy tickets here

Apocalyptica

Following Finnish symphonic metallers Apocalyptica recruiting Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo for a track on their tenth studio album 'Plays Metallica Vol. 2', the band also announced 2024 UK tour dates. Apocalyptica will perform Metallica classics on tour throughout September and October 2024, with dates starting in Manchester on Sunday 29th September. The 'Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol.2 Tour' will then travel through London, Glasgow and Nottingham, before culminating in Cardiff on Saturday 5th October. Buy tickets here

Steve Hackett

Guitar great Steve Hackett will be performing shows in October 2024 - embarking on the 15-date Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo UK tour. The tour will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Genesis' sixth studio album 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway', with the setlist boasting a selection of highlights from the album. Steve will also be performing other Genesis favourites and songs from his solo repertoire. The tour opens at Aylesbury Friars Waterside on Wednesday 2nd October 2024, and visits Portsmouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Birmingham, Liverpool, Cardiff, Guildford, Stoke, York, Nottingham, Glasgow, Gateshead, Manchester and Reading before concluding at London Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 23rd October. Buy tickets here

Samantha Fish

Blues rocker Samantha Fish will head on her 10-date 'The Bulletproof Tour' throughout the UK in October 2024. Shows begin at Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 4th October, before visiting Brighton, London, Norwich, Cardiff, Bath, Leeds, Nottingham and Newcastle, then closing at Edinburgh Queen's Hall on Sunday 13th October. Buy tickets here

Scottish blues rockers King King have a 15-date tour lined up for autumn 2024. With special guest Arielle at all dates, the Planet Rock presents King King tour opens at Kendal Brewery Arts on Thursday 10th October and wraps up at Southport Atkinson on Tuesday 29th October - also visiting Chester, Southampton, Brighton, Gloucester, Bath, Stockton, Leeds, Carlisle, Gateshead, Lincoln, Norwich, Reading and Cardiff. Buy tickets here

Alice Cooper

Icon, pioneer, and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Alice Cooper will be performing in the UK for the first time since 2022, bringing his 'Too Close For Comfort Tour' across the pond in October 2024. Alice and his award-winning band will begin the string of shows in Glasgow on Monday 14th October, before heading to arenas in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, before finishing with two shows at London's Eventim Apollo on Sunday 20th and Monday 21st. Buy tickets here

Dream Theater

The reunited 'classic line-up' of Dream Theater announced European tour dates , to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band - including a UK show. The tour, billed as 'An Evening With Dream Theater' will be their first live outing since drummer Mike Portnoy's return to the lineup - with dates starting at the O2 in London, on 20th October 2024, serving as the only UK date. Buy tickets here

As part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, Y & T have lined up an eight-date autumn 2024 UK tour . The California rockers open the tour at Southampton The Brook on Tuesday 22nd October 2024, before visiting Cardiff, London, Wolverhampton, Holmfirth, Glasgow and Newcastle, culminating at Nottingham Rock City on Saturday 2nd November. Buy tickets here

Journey with special guests Cheap Trick

Rock legends Journey are bringing their 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour to the UK & Ireland in autumn 2024. The tour serves as their first on these shores in well over a decade, and opens at Cardiff Utilita Arena on Wednesday 30th October 2024, visiting Nottingham, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle before concluding at London The O2 on Sunday 17th November. Buy tickets here

Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro will celebrate her 60th anniversary in the music business with a five-date UK tour in the autumn of 2024. Playing in prestigious venue throughout the UK, her tour opens at the world-famous London Palladium on Wednesday 13th November 2024. She'll then play dates at York Barbican, Cardiff New Theatre and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall before closing at Leicester De Montfort Hall on Wednesday 20th November. Buy tickets here

Within Temptation

Dutch symphonic metallers Within Temptation will be heading on a headline UK arena tour in autumn 2024. Part of a much larger European trek, the UK leg opens at Cardiff Utilita Arena on Friday 15th November and visits London Wembley Arena, Nottingham Motorpoint Arena and Leeds First Direct Arena. Buy tickets here.

Robert Jon & The Wreck

November and December 2024 will see Orange County rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck head on a 10-date UK tour , following the June release of their new studio album 'Red Moon Rising'. Opening at The Appleyard in Sittingbourne on Wednesday 20th November 2024, the band will then visit Brighton, Bath, Southampton, Newcastle, Glasgow, Cambridge, London and Oxford before culminating at Nottingham Rock City on Sunday 1st December. Buy tickets here

Anthrax, Kreator and Testament

Anthrax and Kreator are joining forces for a co-headline UK and Ireland tour this coming autumn, joined by their fellow thrash veterans Testament. The joint tour will begin at Manchester O2 Apollo on Thursday 21st November 2024, with the force then playing Wolverhampton Civic Hall, London Eventim Apollo and Dublin 3Arena before concluding at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Wednesday 27th November. Buy tickets here

Philip Sayce

Blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter Philip Sayce will tour the UK in 2024, in support of his latest studio album 'The Wolves Are Coming'. Philip will be joined by special guest Troy Redfern at all dates, opening the tour at Leeds Brudenell on Thursday 21st November, and visiting Gateshead, Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Southampton and Colchester before concluding at London Islington Assembly Hall on Wednesday 4th December. Buy tickets here After playing a rapturously received UK tour last November, the Aberystwyth-born, Toronto-raised, Los Angeles-residing musician will play nine shows on his next headline trek.

Rick Wakeman

Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman is heading on a 2024 Christmas tour . The 'Rick Wakeman Yuletide Christmas Show' tour opens at Portsmouth New Theatre Royal on Saturday 23rd November 2024, and wraps up at London Cadogan Hall five days before Christmas on Friday 20th December. Buy tickets here

Punk rock pioneers The Damned will perform 11 shows with their 80s line-up, in a very special UK tour in December 2024. The tour will see their 80's line-up back together, with the permanent return of drummer Rat Scabies, in what will be the first time they have all shared the stage together in 35 years. Shows begin at Newcastle's NX on Wednesday 4th December 2024, with the string of shows ending at London's Roundhouse on Wednesday 18th December. Buy tickets here

Legendary Heart vocalist Ann Wilson announced an album with her band Tripsitter, 'Another Door', in September 2023, and in a statement issued to Planet Rock said: 'UK tour dates will be announced in 2024' in support of 'Another Door'. Dates are yet to be announced.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show - 2024

Acclaimed Pink Floyd tribute act The Australian Pink Floyd Show have added an extra show to their Autumn 2024 UK tour due to huge demand. They've already sold out five dates on their upcoming trek, including their closing tour date at London's world-famous Royal Albert Hall, and has now been expanded to 35 dates and it will open at London Palladium on Thursday 10th October 2024. Get tickets here.

Bywater Call - 2024

Canadian blues-infused roots rockers Bywater Call have announced a headline UK tour for October 2024. The Toronto septet open their tour in Manchester on 16th October before concluding at Newbury Arlington Arts on 26th October.

Deep Purple - 2024

Rock legends Deep Purple will head on their five date UK tour this autumn, embarking on their 'The =1 More Time Tour'. Shows begin at Birmingham Resorts World Arena on Monday 4th November 2024, visiting London, Leeds and Manchester before concluding at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Sunday 10th November. Buy tickets here

The Almighty - 2024/2025

Glasgow's prodigal sons The Almighty announced six headline UK shows over the next two years, bringing three shows in November 2024 and three more in November 2025. The tour sees the band's original line-up of Ricky Warwick, Stumpy Monroe, Floyd London and Andy 'Tantrum' McCafferty continue the three in a row concept under the title 'Three 'N' Easy.' Buy tickets here

GUN will be heading on their headline tour in December 2024, in support of their new studio album 'Hombres'. The Scottish rockers' tour is set to begin at London Scala on Wednesday 4th December, visiting Wolverhampton, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Leeds, Newcastle, Aberdeen and Galashiels before culminating at Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom on Saturday 14th December. Buy tickets here

Slipknot - 2024

Iowan masked metallers Slipknot have will head on their headline UK arena tour in December 2024. The tour will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their seminal debut album 'Slipknot', with dates beginning in Leeds on 14th December 2024, continuing in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London on 20th December. Buy tickets here

Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium - 2025

Welsh metal titans Bullet For My Valentine and Orlando metal heroes Trivium are joining forces for a co-headline UK arena tour in early 2025. The 'Poisoned Ascendancy UK Tour' opens in Cardiff on Sunday 26th January, visiting Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham before concluding at London the O2 on Saturday 1st February.

Fish - 2025

Fish is performing UK dates for his farewell 'Road to the Isles Tour' , which starts in Europe in 2024. The 15-date UK leg opens with a hometown show at Haddington Corn Exchange on Tuesday 18th February 2025 and wraps up at Glasgow O2 Academy on Monday 10th March 2025 – serving as Fish's last ever live performance. Two further dates were added to the tour in March 2024 due to phenomenal demand. Buy tickets here

All of the hottest UK rock festivals coming up

How to listen to Planet Rock:

Listen to Planet Rock on DAB nationwide, on our free app, online, via your smart speaker (“Play Planet Rock”) and on Freesat.

Megadeth announces North America tour, closing out with a Nashville stop

Megadeth has announced a 2024 fall  "Destroy All Enemies Tour" that will take them all across North America. On Sept. 28, the thrash metal band will end their tour in Nashville at the Municipal Auditorium.

The 33-show tour, produced by Live Nation, will feature support from Mudvayne and All That Remains.

The two-month tour will kick off on Aug. 2 in Rogers, AR before hitting cities in Texas, California, Nevada, Florida, North Carolina and more.

The band, comprised of vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and drummer Dirk Verbeuren, is known for songs "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Symphony of Destruction."

They most recently released their 2022 album "The Sick, The Dying...And The Dead!"

“Our ‘Crush The World’ tour has been a tremendous experience for the four of us,” said singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine in a statement.

“We are all playing tight, and that has made it possible for me to really focus on solos and singing, we are playing more songs than ever before, and we are closer to each other, onstage AND off. I’m excited to see Mudvayne, and All That Remains. Join us as we DESTROY ALL ENEMIES.”

How do I get tickets for the Megadeth 2024 tour?

Tickets for all the dates will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, April 26.

Fans can access a presale for the Cyber Army and Megadeth Digital members at megadeth.com .

• Album Release Calendar
• Festival Guide
• Heavy History

These Are the Rock + Metal Bands That Are Touring in 2021 – Guide

When the COVID-19 virus shut basically the entire world down in March of 2020, concerts and festivals were canceled left and right. As the weeks rolled by and the quarantine got extended more and more, the future of live music was completely up in the air.

In the meantime, a lot of artists started streaming performances — whether they were live or had been pre-recorded at another time — as a means to keep fans satiated and stay connected.

After months of livestreams, all music fans wanted was to be able to see their favorite bands play in person again. Drive-in concerts became a thing, but they weren't the same. Nothing was.

In late 2020 and even early 2021, the cancelations and postponements ensued, and it seemed as if there would never be an end to this black hole we were living in. However, as the vaccines began to roll out, suddenly places started lifting their social distancing restrictions, and boom — concerts are now a thing again.

It was pretty weird writing about tour announcements as opposed to cancelations or postponements, but it was a very good type of weird. Life as we know it is starting to come back, at least sort of, and there are a ton of rock and metal bands going on tour this year — such as Slipknot , Guns N' Roses , Korn , Foo Fighters , Gojira , Halestorm , Evanescence and plenty more.

So once again, we've compiled a list of such artists so that fans can have quick and easy access to seeing if their favorite bands are playing, all in one place. We're going to update it regularly as more tours are announced. Links to the full tour itineraries and ticket locations are provided underneath each image.

Scroll through the gallery to see the rock and metal bands that are touring in 2021.

These Are the Rock + Metal Bands Touring in 2021

15 things musicians did to help us survive 2020 without concerts, more from loudwire.

• Entertainment
• Celebrities
• Ticket Sales
• Promoted: What to Watch on Prime Video

Recommended

Live updates, these are the 22 biggest classic rock tours in 2023. we found tickets..

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

With each passing year, rock and roll’s heyday seems more and more like a distant memory.

Luckily, many stars from the ’60s and ’70s that defined the classic rock sound are on the road next year— that is, when they’re not spending time with their grandchildren.

And many of them may be coming to a city near you in 2023.

We’re talking Bruce Springsteen , Billy Joel , Stevie Nicks , Jimmy Buffett , John Mellencamp and many, many more.

So, if you want to see all these iconic acts on nationwide runs as well as farewell laps, we’ve rounded up the 22 biggest classic rock acts you won’t want to miss live in the next few months.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s “2023 Tour”

Runs Feb. 1 through April 14

Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks

Runs March 10 through Aug. 19

Jimmy Buffett’s “Life On The Flip Side Tour”

Runs March 4 through March 11

Eagles’ “Hotel California Tour”

Runs Feb. 17 through March 3

Runs Jan. 25 through May 28

Dead and Company’s “The Final Tour” featuring John Mayer

Runs May 19 through July 16

Bob Weir and Wolfbros featuring The Wolfpack

Runs Feb. 2 through March 12

Sting’s “My Songs Tour”

Runs April 1 through July 17

Journey’s “Freedom Tour”

Runs Jan. 27 through April 25

John Mellencamp’s “Live and In Person Tour”

Runs Feb. 5 through June 24

Elvis Costello’s “100 Songs and More Tour”

Runs Feb. 9 through March 10

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

Runs Jan. 14 through June 1

The Beach Boys w/ Mike Love and Bruce Johnston

Runs Feb. 21 through July 4

Foreigner’s “The Historic Farewell Tour”

Runs March 24 through Sept. 3

Runs Feb. 24 through June 27

Rod Stewart’s “The Hits”

Runs Feb. 10 through Nov. 22

Runs Jan. 6 through April 21

Runs Feb. 9 through April 19

America the Band

Runs Jan. 12 through Dec. 9

Runs Jan. 27 through May 19

George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Runs March 19 through May 21

Graham Nash

Runs April 12 through June 29

Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure, and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Slightly more modern rockers also on tour in 2023

Since we’re classic rock purists, we could bring ourselves to include these ’80s and ’90s rock icons on our list.

If you’re less strict than we are, here’s a taste of slightly more modern “almost classic rock: acts taking their hits on the road next year.

•  Metallica

•  Red Hot Chili Peppers

•  Blink 182

• Depeche Mode

•  REO Speedwagon

Share this article:

• Anniston/Gadsden

Legendary hard rock band will be on tour this summer: How to find tickets

• Updated: Apr. 23, 2024, 11:35 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 23, 2024, 11:35 a.m.

Hard-rock band Staind will bring its "Tailgate Tour" to Orange Beach and Pelham in May 2024. Courtesy of Red Mountain Entertainment

• Kelly Kazek | [email protected]

If “It’s Been a While” since you’ve seen Staind in concert, now’s your chance. Staind is out on its Tailgate Tour with Seether as opener.

The hard-rock band will be at the Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Ala., on May 14, and Oak Mountain Amphitheater near Birmingham on May 15.

How to find tickets

Find tickets to the Orange Beach show at Ticketmaster | StubHub | SeatGeek | Vivid Seats .

Find tickets to the Birmingham show at Ticketmaster | StubHub | SeatGeek | Vivid Seats .

The site AmericanSongwriter.com says: “Since their debut in 1996, Staind has become a legendary band in the worlds of hard rock, metal and post-grunge. Frontman Aaron Lewis wrote most of the band’s material that is oftentimes unsettling, and even disturbing, compelling the listener to think and take an honest look at their own life alongside Lewis, who takes you inside the depths of his mind.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Concert Tours

Top Tours · Just Announced · USA · Europe · 2025 Tours

Terms of Service · Privacy and Cookie Policy · Contact © Concertful

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Rock trailblazer Heart reunites for a world tour and a new song

FILE - Nancy Wilson, left, and Ann Wilson, right, of the band Heart perform as Heart is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Nokia Theatre on Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Los Angeles. Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.” (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Nancy Wilson, left, and Ann Wilson of Heart perform on opening night of the Heartbreaker Tour at the Cruzan Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Fla., June 17, 2013. Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.” (Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Nancy and Ann Wilson of the classic rock band Heart perform in concert at the American Music Theater on Monday, March 24, 2014, in Lancaster, Pa. Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.” (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)

• Copy Link copied

NEW YORK (AP) — Heart — the pioneering band that melds Nancy Wilson’s shredding guitar with her sister Ann’s powerhouse vocals — is hitting the road this spring and fall for a world tour that Nancy Wilson describes as “the full-on rocker size.”

“I’ve been strengthening. I’ve got my trainer,” she says. “You go one day at a time and you strengthen one workout session at a time. It’s a lot of work, but it’s the only job I know how to do.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers who gave us classic tracks like “Magic Man,” “Crazy on You” and “Alone” will be playing all the hits, some tracks from of their solo albums — like Ann Wilson’s “Miss One and Only” and Nancy Wilson’s “Love Mistake” — and a new song called “Roll the Dice.”

Nancy Wilson, left, and Ann Wilson perform on opening night of the Heartbreaker Tour in West Palm Beach, Fla., June 17, 2013. (Photo by Jeff Daly/Invision/AP, File)

“I like to say we have really good problems because the problem we have is to choose between a bunch of different, really cool songs that people love already,” says Nancy Wilson.

Like “Barracuda,” a sonic burst which first appeared on the band’s second album, “Little Queen” and is one of the band’s most memorable songs.

“You can’t mess with ‘Barracuda.’ It’s just the way it is. It is great. You get on the horse and you ride. It’s a galloping steed of a ride to go on. And for everybody, including the band.”

The tour kicks off Saturday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, and will hit cities including Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit, as well as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. International dates include stops in London, Oslo, Berlin, Stockholm, Montreal and Glasgow.

The band’s Royal Flush Tour will have Cheap Trick as the opening act for many stops, but Def Leppard and Journey will join for three stadium dates in Cleveland, Toronto and Boston this summer.

Ann and Nancy Wilson will be filled out by Ryan Wariner (lead and rhythm guitar), Ryan Waters (guitars), Paul Moak (guitars, keyboards and backing vocals), Tony Lucido (bass and backing vocals) and Sean T. Lane (drums).

The tour is the first in several years for Heart, which was rocked by a body blow in 2016 when Ann Wilson’s husband was arrested for assaulting Nancy’s 16-year-old twin sons. Nancy Wilson says that’s all in the past.

“We can take any kind of turbulence, me and Ann, and we’ve always been OK together,” she says. “We’re still steering the ship and happy to do it together. So we’re tight.”

The new tour will take them to Canada, which was warm to the band when they were starting out as what Nancy Wilson calls “a couple of chicks from Seattle.” She recalls Vancouver embracing Heart, and touring in one van across Canada in the dead of winter on two lane highways.

The Wilsons at the American Music Theater on Monday, March 24, 2014, in Lancaster, Pa. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)

The Wilson sisters broke rock’s glass ceiling in the ‘70s and Nancy Wilson says they only had male influences to look to, like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Moody Blues.

Now she says she looks out and loves seeing generations of female rockers. “You have boygenius and you have Billie Eilish and you have Olivia Rodrigo and so many amazing women — Maggie Rogers and Sheryl Crow, who calls us her big influence. And then Billie Eilish might have Sheryl Crow as her influence. So it’s a really nice legacy to pass along. I like to say we’re the OG — the original gangsters — of women and rock.”

Heart has made it into the Rock Hall, won Grammys, sold millions of albums and rocked hundreds of thousands of fans but Nancy Wilson has one place she’d still like to shine.

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of their debut album, “Dreamboat Annie,” which was the same year that “Saturday Night Live” started. “So we’re actually kind of putting it out there — Heart never played on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ But what about the 50th birthday party with Heart?”

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Rock Hall Live to bring All Time Low, Sleater-Kinney other national acts to Cleveland lakefront

• Updated: Apr. 26, 2024, 4:22 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 25, 2024, 11:45 a.m.

Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney perform at Vicar Street in 2020 in Dublin, Ireland. The duo will perform July 27 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Getty Images

• Malcolm X Abram, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame today announced details of “Rock Hall Live,” the museum’s summer concert series mixing several national touring artists, including Sleater-Kinney and All Time Low, with popular local and regional bands.

Tickets for the national artists’ concerts range from $25-$50. “Event-plus” tickets go for $45-$70 and allow patrons to tour the Rock Hall before the show. Tickets for all shows are available now at rockhall.com . All of the local acts’ shows are free with reservations at tickets.rockhall.com .

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

The Battle Over Classic Rock Band the Guess Who Just Went Nuclear

By Ethan Millman

Ethan Millman

For the past six months, Burton Cummings, founding singer and songwriter of classic rock group the Guess Who , has been in a bitter legal dispute to wrest control of his old band’s legacy. Now he’s adopting an aggressive and relatively unheard of approach to make that happen: giving up on certain royalties so the band can’t play his songs.

As Rolling Stone previously reported , Cummings and original Guess Who guitarist Randy Bachman sued the current iteration of the Guess Who (as well as the band’s original drummer and bass player Garry Peterson and Jim Kale) last October, alleging that the group that currently holds the Guess Who trademark is “a cover band” using the original group’s recording in ads “in an effort to boost the Cover Band’s ticket sales for live performances and to give the false impression that Plaintiffs are performing.”

“I’m willing to do anything to stop the fake band; they’re taking [Bachman and my] life story and pretending it’s theirs,” Cummings tells Rolling Stone. “They’re not the people who made these records, and they shouldn’t act like they did. This doesn’t stop this cover band from playing their shows, it just stops them from playing the songs I wrote. If the songs are performed by the fake Guess Who, they will be sued for every occurrence.”

Editor’s picks

The 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term.

“Not a lot of artists are both the writer and the publisher on their songs, and Burton Cummings fortunately is, so this is a very rare case where the artist can take this action,” Yu says. “And I think this situation shows the direct nexus between their false advertising and who they say they are.”

The move is focused on agreements set through groups called performing rights organizations (PROs). The termination targets all the venues the band would play. Almost every concert venue in the country has blanket agreements with various PROs such as BMI and ASCAP, who collect royalties on behalf of songwriters for the public performances of their works. If a venue has licensing agreements in place, the venues’ artists are free to cover any song from the PROs’ repertory. 

Tesla Settles Lawsuit Over Fatal Autopilot Crash of Apple Engineer

Linkin park settle lawsuit with former bassist over unpaid royalties, vin diesel denies 'every allegation' made in sexual assault lawsuit.

By Thursday morning, the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, the Saenger Theatre in Mobile, Alabama, and the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach, Florida — who would’ve hosted the Guess Who’s next three shows — announced cancellations as well. Tickets for shows beyond those dates remain on sale as of this article’s publication.

An attorney for the Guess Who didn’t respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment regarding the shows. In December, the band took to social media calling Cummings’ and Bachman’s suit “meritless.” In a memorandum, the band argued that “there is no dispute that Defendants lawfully own ‘The Guess Who’ trademark,” and that Consumers who see an ad for a concert by the Guess Who would not reasonably assume that Bachman and Cummings are performing merely because they were in the band many years ago.”

Assuming the group does play the classic-era songs at their upcoming shows, both the band and the venue they played at could be on the hook for legal recourse, Cummings and his team tell Rolling Stone . 

But like most nuclear options, Cummings’ strategy doesn’t come without the risk of some mutually assured destruction. While terminating the rights complicates the current Guess Who’s performances, it may also significantly hit Cummings’ own earnings. Aside from working with concert venues, PROs also collect royalties from when songs are played on the radio, on TV shows, or even when they’re played in the background at restaurants or shopping malls. With the license terminated, Cummings will likely lose out on seeing those royalty payments. And that’s not just on the versions he recorded, but on covers such as Lenny Kravitz’s Grammy-winning “American Woman” cover.

The termination is the latest development in a decadeslong dispute that bubbled over with last year’s lawsuit . The fight began when the band’s original bassist, Jim Kale, obtained the trademark to the Guess Who name in 1986, as the band hadn’t secured the trademark before then . From then on, Kale had organized several tours using the Guess Who name featuring a heavily rotating lineup. 

By the late 1980s, the Guess Who’s original drummer, Garry Peterson, joined the band as well. Kale retired in 2016, leaving Peterson as the only original member left. But he doesn’t play every show, Bachman and Cummings alleged, meaning some shows feature no original members of their band. 

Since Cummings filed the suit, he says that the band had removed his access to the Guess Who’s Spotify for Artists page. (When the suit filed last fall, the band’s Spotify page showed a picture of the current Guess Who lineup, but as of publication, it’s now a picture of the old band.)

Cummings also tells Rolling Stone that within the past month, the band’s lawyers said they’d “sue me if I ever even say I was ever in the Guess Who.” “You know how ridiculous this is? What next, can I not say I was born and raised in Winnipeg? That I’m Canadian?”

Billie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself

Kanye west announces 'yeezy porn' amid reports of adult film company, neil young stuns at 2024 tour launch, unveils lost 'cortez the killer' verse, ellen degeneres addresses ‘getting kicked out of show business’ on her new comedy tour: ‘it’s been a toll on my ego’.

“How much is my life’s work worth? You can’t put it in dollars and cents,” he says. “It’s wrong what they’ve done and for years, nobody did anything about it. But we’re doing something now, and this may set some precedents because there are other acts out there that aren’t real either.

Tems Keeps Things Tender on First 'Born in the Wild' Single 'Love Me Jeje'

• Gentle Grooves
• By Jon Blistein

Ricky Martin Will Headline LA Pride 2024

• 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈
• By Tomás Mier

Post Malone Teases Morgan Wallen Collaboration Just Before Stagecoach

• Just a Taste
• By Larisha Paul

Smashing Pumpkins Reveal Kiki Wong as Their New Guitarist After Nationwide Search

• You're Hired
• By Daniel Kreps

Who Is Kathleen Hanna? Bikini Kill Legend Pops Up in 'Jeopardy!' Clue

Most popular, anne hathaway says 'gross' chemistry test in the 2000s required her to make out with 10 guys: that's the 'worst way to do it' and 'now we know better', 'the lord of the rings' trilogy returning to theaters, remastered and extended, louvre considers moving mona lisa to underground chamber to end 'public disappointment', sources claim hugh jackman’s worrying behavior may have something to do with his breakup, you might also like, max acquires kevin spacey docuseries ‘spacey unmasked’ featuring never-before-seen interviews; trailer revealed (exclusive), fit responds to protest on campus as unrest at colleges continues, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, ‘yintah’ trailer: indigenous documentary showcases a fight to restore land rights more than 10 years in the making, nfl rookie signing bonuses up 4% for biggest gain since 2020.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Foreigner named to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including original drummer in SW Florida

After five decades of rock 'n' roll, Foreigner will finally get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame . And that includes the band's original drummer, Dennis Elliot of Lee County.

The Hall of Fame announced its 2024 inductees Monday on "American Idol" and the Hall's website.

"Foreigner has dominated rock & roll radio, making them one of the best-selling rock bands of all time," the Hall wrote on its website. "With worldwide sales topping eighty million records, Foreigner’s extensive catalog of hits is still recognizable to this day, with their music embedded in pop culture from Miami Vice and The Simpsons to Arrested Development and Stranger Things."

Foreigner drummer lives in Lee County, Florida

Elliot has lived in Lee County for years. He recently joined Foreigner onstage for "Hot Blooded" during the band's March 13 tour stop at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in south Fort Myers.

Elliot had been encouraging fans and friends to vote for three months on Facebook.

"Foreigner finally nominated to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame," Elliot wrote several times in March. "Fans around the world can vote."

Born in London, Elliot played in Foreigner from 1976 through 1993. He now works as a sculptor in wood.

Elliot declined to comment to The News-Press and Naples Daily News, citing his desire for privacy.

Foreigner’s many '70s and '80s hits include “Juke Box Hero,” “Urgent,” “I Want To Know What Love Is” and “Feels Like the First Time.” Guitarist Mick Jones is the only original member left in the current version of Foreigner.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2024 inductees

In all, eight musical acts were announced Monday as 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. They are:

• Mary J. Blige
• Dave Matthews Band
• Peter Frampton
• Kool & The Gang
• Ozzy Osbourne
• And A Tribe Called Quest

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will honor its new inductees with an Oct. 19 ceremony at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. The ceremony will stream live on Disney+ and the next day on Hulu.

The Rock Hall cited Foreigner's original lineup in its website announcement, including songwriters Lou Gramm and Mick Jones.

"Foreigner was built around the creative forces of Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, whose original vision for Foreigner was a fusion of rock, progressive rock, R&B, and pop sounds," the Hall website says. "And the lineup of Jones, Dennis Elliot, Al Greenwood, Ed Gagliardi, and Ian McDonald, paired with Lou Gramm’s distinctive and emotive vocals, brought it all together.

"Jones and Gramm became legendary songwriting partners, crafting an arsenal of multiplatinum albums and Top Thirty hits, including “Cold As Ice,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Juke Box Hero.” Their Number One U.S. hit “I Want to Know What Love Is” remains one of the Top 25 performed songs from the ASCAP catalog."

To be eligible for induction, a musical act must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to their nomination.

To learn more about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, visit rockhall.com .

— Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at [email protected] . Follow or message him on social media: Facebook ( facebook.com/charles.runnells.7 ), X (formerly Twitter) ( @charlesrunnells ), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram ( @crunnells1 ).

RECENT POSTS

Chris stapleton rocks ‘i should have known it’ on ‘petty country’ all-star tribute album, listen to rocking “junior’s farm” from paul mccartney & wings’ 1974 ‘one hand clapping’ live album, johnny cash newly discovered 1993 album, ‘songwriter,’ coming, an anthology from the byrds’ gene clark: review.

• ‘The Band’s With Me’: A Former Groupie Lays It All Down
• Radio Hits of April 1970: As Easy as ‘ABC’

Mike Pinder, Moody Blues’ Founding Member and Innovative Mellotron Player, Dies

• David Gilmour Shares First Song From New Studio Album, ‘Luck and Strange’
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 100 Crucial Omissions
• John Mayall is Subject of 35-CD Early Years Box Set
• How Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders Led to 10cc: A Groovy Kind of Story
• New Album Captures the Doors Live in Sweden: Review
• Top-Selling Albums of 1981: Rock Still Reigned
• Experience Hendrix Tour Returning in 2024 With All-Star Lineup
• Asia, Focus Announce ‘Heat of the Moment’ 2024 Tour
• A New Riders of the Purple Sage Concert Set from 1976: Review
• Huey Lewis Musical, ‘Heart of Rock & Roll,’ on Broadway: Reviews
• Doobie Brothers Add Dates to 2024 Tour With Steve Winwood
• J. Geils Band’s ‘Live—Blow Your Face Out’ Revisited
• 13 Times When Glen Campbell Rocked

LATEST REVIEWS

• Supertramp’s ‘Breakfast in America’
• Bob Seger – Final Tour
• Janis Joplin Biography Review
• CSNY’s ‘Deja Vu’
• Rolling Stones – 2019 Concert Review
• Eric Clapton Celebrates at MSG
• Roger Waters ‘Us + Them’ Tour
• Warren Zevon’s ‘Excitable Boy’
• Tom Petty 40th Anniversary Concert
• 1971: Year That Rock Exploded – Book
• Steppenwolf’s Debut: Heavy Metal Thunder
• ‘Who’s Next’ – Album Rewind
• Privacy Policy

The Moody Blues in 1970, l. to r.: Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas, John Lodge

Mike Pinder, a founding member and keyboard player for the progressive rock band, the Moody Blues, died today (April 24, 2024). The news of his death at age 82 was announced by a Facebook group devoted to his career. The post indicated that he died at his northern California home, surrounded by his family. “His final days were filled with music,” it said. Along with the Moody Blues’ so-called “classic lineup,” Pinder performed on the landmark 1968 album,  Days of Future Passed , and its singles “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon,” as well as such songs as “Ride My See-Saw,” “The Story in Your Eyes” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” He wrote and sung the band’s 1968 single, “A Simple Game,” and many others, including several from Days of Future Passed .

The first lineup calling itself the Moody Blues got together in spring 1964, and included Ray Thomas (vocals, tambourine, harmonica), Pinder (keyboard and vocals), drummer Graeme Edge, guitarist/singer Denny Laine and Clint Warwick on bass and vocals. With four singers, the group was able to build a varied repertoire that featured strong vocal harmonies.

The early Moody Blues scored a number of hits in England, and one worldwide hit in “Go Now.” But the band splintered by 1966. “Clint Warwick was the only married guy in the group,” Pinder told Bill Kopp in a 2017 interview with Best Classic Bands that he did, along with Thomas, “and his wife wanted him to have a steady gig. Denny Laine thought he would do better making his way on his own.

“Our management had made off with any earnings from ‘Go Now,’” he said, “so we didn’t have managers or money.” Looking for a follow-up to their big hit, they even considered a song offered to the group by Paul McCartney, but in the end decided the tune wasn’t right for the Moodys. Instead, Mary Hopkin recorded the song, “Those Were the Days,” and scored a worldwide smash hit.

Watch the original lineup perform “Go Now”

Soon, Warwick departed. He and Laine were replaced by bass guitarist John Lodge and guitarist Justin Hayward, both of whom also became the group’s main songwriters. “John and Justin were the perfect additions to the band,” Pinder told Best Classic Bands. [This 2017 interview was Thomas’ last and may have been Pinder’s as well.]

The Moody Blues’ musical style changed with the new lineup. Pinder had worked for the company that built the unique Mellotron, a tape-based forerunner of modern sampling playback keyboards. A notoriously fickle instrument, it had only rarely been used in a rock context, the most prominent early example being the “flute” sound heard on the Beatles’ 1967 single “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

The versatile instrument’s temperamental nature was no challenge to Pinder. “I knew how they were built. I knew how to put the Mellotron together and how to take it apart,” he said. He replaced some of the less-useful sounds with more practical tapes containing orchestral strings and the like.

Around that time, executives from the group’s British label, Decca, approached the Moody Blues with an idea for a kind of hybrid album.

But the Moody Blues had ideas of their own. “We initially wanted to do a stage show with the Mellotron,” recalled Thomas. “And [conductor] Peter Knight went along with it, God bless him. So did Tony Clarke.” Clarke was a staff producer at Decca, and Pinder says his support was critical. “We considered Tony to be the sixth Moody,” he says.

The band and Clarke developed an even more ambitious plan for the album. “I had always wanted to create something that was conceptual,” Pinder said. “I loved the works of Mantovani. I wanted to have our albums on people’s shelves … albums that people would want to collect, and play in their entirety.”

Work began on what would become Days of Future Passed , with Knight composing for the London Festival Orchestra while the band worked separately with Clarke. The Moody Blues wrote and recorded eight songs that, taken together, formed a concept: a day in the life of an everyman. At least two of the songs, “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Nights in White Satin,” were destined to become classics. “We were all writing songs,” Pinder said. He considered Days of Future Passed the successful result of a winning combination: “the use of the Mellotron, the input of Tony Clarke, the support of Decca, the ambience of the studio and the combined creativity of the band members.”

This ad for Days of Future Passed appeared in the March 30, 1968 issue of Record World

Knight’s orchestrations provided the link between the pop songs; taken together the work was one of the earliest exemplars of what’s now known as progressive rock. “We were not there when the orchestra parts were done,” Pinder told Best Classic Bands. “But we had a wonderful group listening session after they added their contributions. We loved what they had done.”

On its November 1967 release, Days of Future Passed did reasonably well on the British album chart, reaching #27. The single of “Nights in White Satin” only made it to #19 there, with no success in the U.S.

The band wasn’t too worried, though. “We were just thrilled that we’d got it released,” Thomas said. “We knew what was happening live, and we were getting great reviews.”

The 1968 followup single, “Tuesday Afternoon,” fared better in the U.S., reaching #24, and there were hit singles like “Question” (1970) and “The Story In Your Eyes” (1971), but the band finally hit paydirt in 1972. When re-released in America that year, Days of Future Passed soared to the #3 spot on the Billboard chart, and the “Nights in White Satin” single, on its second go-round, made it to #2 on Billboard ’s Hot 100 single chart.

Watch the original “Nights in White Satin” video

Related: Hayward sheds more light on the recording of the classic album

The Moody Blues’ run with the lineup of Thomas, Pinder, Edge, Lodge and Hayward, spanned the so-called “classic seven” albums that also included On the Threshold of a Dream , A Question of Balance and Seventh Sojourn . Weary of touring, Pinder left after 1978’s Octave . Thomas continued with the band through its MTV-era resurgence and beyond, retiring from the group in 2002. He died on January 4, 2018, at age 76. Graeme Edge died in 2021. Both Lodge and Hayward are still performing, though separately.

Listen to “A Simple Game,” written and sung by Pinder

Pinder’s friendship with John Lennon led to his performing on the Imagine album, playing the tambourine, for instance, on “Jealous Guy.”

Pinder was born December 27, 1941, in the Birmingham, U.K., suburb of Erdington.

Both Pinder and Thomas were among six members of the progressive rock band who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018. Pinder was the only one who did not speak at the event. He later wrote on his website , “Many MB fans have asked why I did not speak at the induction but by the time the Moodies took the stage we were 5 hours into the ceremony. The oldest of the inductees were up the latest. The speeches were a bit anti-climatic at that point and it was only fitting that the current touring members (Edge, Hayward and Lodge) spoke first. I am happy that we finally got inducted for our fans sake.

“As I have said for the last 30 years ‘the fans are my hall of fame.’”

Hayward wrote a tribute to his bandmate. “Mike was a natural born musician who could play any style of music with warmth and love,” it read. “His re-imagining and rebuilding (literally) of the Mellotron gave us our identifiable early sound. He was a huge part of my own musical journey. My sincere condolences to his loving and devoted family.”

And Lodge wrote, “All the love possible goes out from the Lodge family to Mike’s family today… RIP.”

The Moody Blues’ recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here .

• Latest Posts

• Mike Pinder, Moody Blues’ Founding Member and Innovative Mellotron Player, Dies - 04/24/2024
• Giles Martin on ‘The Beatles Love’ as It Prepares For Its Final Bow - 04/13/2024
• Quincy Jones: A ‘Lost’ Interview With ‘Q’ - 03/14/2024

Stories We Want You to Read

6 Comments so far

Thanks, BCB, for another great post. Pinder’s mastery of the Mellotron through the first six of the “classic” seven LPs was nothing short of groundbreaking and is still highly underappreciated. The remastered LPs really bring his work to the fore as the unifying element of a lot of their music. Seeing the band in 1968 perform pieces from Days of Future Passed was a game changer in terms of the venue-filling orchestral sounds he coaxed out of that contraption. As a 14-year-old, I was awestruck then and still marvel at how revolutionary it all was in the history of what we loosely define as progressive rock music. RIP, Mike, Ray and Graeme, and thanks for the amazing music and memories.

Great 10-minute overview, including about the Mellotron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbNo6Wnejic

A beautiful soul, soulful musician, courageous expresser of deeply felt spiritual concerns, a genuinely compassionate man. I will miss you, my musical friend I never met in person.

The tale of how Pinder ended up playing tambourine on the “Imagine” album is worth repeating here – this is from the Wikipedia entry and I don’t know the original source:

Pinder guested on John Lennon’s Imagine album on the songs “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier (I Don’t Wanna Die)” and “Jealous Guy”, playing tambourine rather than the mellotron he intended to play, because by Pinder’s account the tapes in Lennon’s mellotron looked like “a bowl of spaghetti”.

I was fortunate enough to see the great Moody Blues with Mike Pinder, Hayward, Lodge, Edge, and Thomas at the San Diego Sports Arena in November of 1973. It was one of the greatest concerts of my lifetime (I’m now 70 years old). Pinder was one of my musical heroes and his kind will never be seen again. Pinder influenced me to become a musician and to cherish beauty and musical expression. He literally changed my life. MGM

Click here to cancel reply.

Your data will be safe! Your e-mail address will not be published. Also other data will not be shared with third person.

Comment * -->

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Loading, Please Wait!

Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band guitarist, dies at 80: 'Dickey was larger than life'

S ARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. – Dickey Betts , a driving force behind the Allman Brothers Band  that launched Southern rock and influenced the jam band scene, died Thursday at his Florida home, according to his longtime manager David Spero.

"It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard 'Dickey' Betts (December 12, 1943 - April 18, 2024) at the age of 80 years old," reads the statement from the Betts family.

"The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch was at his home in Osprey surrounded by his family. Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt world-wide. At this difficult time, the family asks for prayers and respect for their privacy in the coming days. More information will be forthcoming at the appropriate time."

The Allman Brothers performed a singular amalgam of rock, blues, jazz and country marked by the pioneering, twin lead guitar playing of Dickey Betts and Duane Allman, best heard on the band's landmark 1971 live album ”At Fillmore East." After the tragic deaths of Duane Allman and then bassist Berry Oakley, Betts became the de facto leader of the band, writing and singing the chart-topping single "Ramblin' Man" from their platinum-selling 1973 album "Brothers and Sisters," which also features key Betts compositions such as "Southbound" and the hit instrumental "Jessica." 

Betts released several acclaimed solo albums in the 1970s and 1980s before playing an integral role in reforming the Allman Brothers Band in '89 following a seven-year hiatus. Joined by founding singer/keyboardist Gregg Allman and drummers Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson (known as Jaimoe), Betts brought his Dickey Betts Band guitarist Warren Haynes into the fold and wrote the vast majority of the material for their 1990 comeback album "Seven Turns," which features Betts singing the hit title track. 

The Allman Brothers spent the first half of the '90s regularly issuing well-received new studio and live albums while filling amphitheaters nationwide, often headlining lineups with popular jam bands who were influenced by albums like "At Fillmore East," its follow-up "Eat A Peach" and "Brothers and Sisters." The Allman Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 by Willie Nelson. During the ceremony, Betts' explosive guitar work was the highlight of the band's performance of the blues standard "One Way Out," which they first popularized when Duane Allman was in the band.

“We had some real tragedies losing Duane (Allman) and losing Berry Oakley and we had to keep the band together, had to keep it effective, and viable through all that period,” Betts  told the Herald-Tribune  in 2019. “We took off the (1980s) and Gregg and I put our little bands together and played clubs. After we got back together a lot of writers from Rolling Stone and stuff were calling us dinosaurs and making fun of bands like us and wondering if we could still play and we were determined. It gave us more drive and we showed we weren’t done yet. We made some of our best records and I think that helped put us in the Hall of Fame.”

While many celebrities have lived in Sarasota and Manatee counties including Betts' longtime bandmate Gregg Allman, none have roots as deep as Betts’, whose songwriting and guitar playing would go on to influence acts including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Gov't Mule and Tedeschi Trucks Band. The Betts family started living here, in the southeastern Manatee County community of Myakka City, about the time of the Civil War. Drive around the area east of Bradenton today and you are bound to find Betts Road.

Interview: Dickey Betts on ‘Ramblin Man’ and more of his greatest Allman Brothers Band songs

Forrest Richard 'Dickey' Betts born in Florida

Forrest Richard Betts was born on Dec. 12, 1943. The boy everyone called Dickey traded his ukulele for a mandolin and then a banjo and then an electric guitar because he noticed the electric guitar impressed the girls.

At 16, he left home to join the circus and got a gig playing the Teen Beat stage of World of Mirth, which traveled the country from 1933 to 1963.

“Our band would do like splits and we had basketball knee pads and we’d go sliding on our knees playing and then I’d pick the other guitar player up on my shoulders and we had all this s--- going on,” Betts told me during a 2014 interview at his home. “So we did like 10, 12 shows a day. It was like Vaudeville or something except it was rock ’n’ roll. That was my first road trip.”

Betts’ next road trip was playing with the band The Jokers, immortalized in the Rick Derringer song “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.”

The Jokers were a regionally popular act that could fill 1,500-capacity dance halls. After playing with them in Indiana, Betts returned home and teamed up with fellow guitar player Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt, a Bradenton native who would go on to play with Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond, bass guitarist Berry Oakley and keyboardist Reese Wynans. They emerged in the late 1960s in Jacksonville as the band Second Coming.

Duane Allman, already a famed session guitarist, and his good friend Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson, who had played drums in Otis Redding’s band and then with Sam & Dave, moved to Jacksonville in March of 1969, and soon that’s where the Allman Brothers Band formed with Duane Allman and Betts sharing lead guitar duties, Oakley on bass, and Jaimoe playing drums alongside Butch Trucks, with whom Duane and his younger sibling Gregg Allman had worked with before. Gregg Allman, who was living in Los Angeles in early ’69, joined a few weeks later – at the urging of Duane, Betts and the rest of the musicians – to handle lead vocals and play the Hammond B-3 organ.

Dickey Betts co-founds Allman Brothers Band in 1969

The Allman Brothers Band relocated to Macon, Georgia, and their self-titled debut album came out in November of 1969. The band toured the country virtually nonstop for an entire year and then released “Idlewild South,” which includes the Allman Brothers’ first charting single, “Revival,” written by Betts, as well as the debut of his instrumental “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.”

The definitive, 13-minute rendition of “Elizabeth Reed” appears on the Allman Brothers’ masterpiece, the 1971 double live album “At Fillmore East.” “Elizabeth Reed” is one of only three originals on the album that also includes the instrumental “Hot ’Lanta” (credited to the entire band) and the Gregg Allman original “Whipping Post,” which clocks in at 23 minutes and features some of Duane Allman and Betts’ most inspired guitar playing.

A few months after the “Fillmore” release unofficial bandleader Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident. Almost exactly a year later, Oakley died in a motorcycle accident. Both men were 24 years old and riding near their respective homes in Macon.

Betts’ composition “Blue Sky,” the first Allman Brothers song with him on lead vocals and one of the last to feature the gorgeous guitar harmonizing of Betts and Duane Allman, appears on the hit 1972 double album “Eat a Peach.”

“That’s a cool song," Betts said during the same 2014 interview. "I was married to an Indian girl whose last name was Wabegijig, which means 'clear blue sky,' so I was writing it for her and I was writing it as ‘She’s my blue sky, she’s my sunny day’ (Betts sings). And I thought, nah, this would be a better song if I just sang it to the sky instead of to a woman. That was a very good move that could make or break that song. It made it more universal. If you’re a songwriter, that’s not a big jump. In fact, in ‘Ramblin’ Man,’ the original line to that was ‘Playing my music and doing the best I can.’ Everybody doesn’t play music, but everybody works for a living. I asked Gregg to sing ‘Blue Sky’ and actually the producer, Tom Dowd, he said, ‘No, why don’t you sing it.’”

Allman Brothers release 'Brothers and Sisters' in 1973 featuring Betts' hit song 'Ramblin' Man,' which he would later sing with Bob Dylan

The Allman Brothers' next album, 1973's “Brothers and Sisters,” includes “Ramblin’ Man.” Betts wrote and sang lead on the song as well as playing lead guitar. “Ramblin’ Man” is the Allman Brothers Band’s first and only Top 10 pop hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the U.S. Cashbox Top 100.

“I was going to send ‘Ramblin’ Man’ to Johnny Cash," Betts told me. "I thought it was a great song for him. But everybody in our band liked that song. Even my dad liked the song before we recorded it or anything.”

During Bob Dylan's Sept. 30, 1995, concert at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa. Florida, Betts joined Dylan on stage for several numbers including "Ramblin' Man." Betts told the story of how it came to be while seated at his Sarasota County home in 2014.

Dylan says, “Let’s do ‘Ramblin’ Man.'”

“All right, let me write the words down,” Betts tells him.

“I know the words,” Dylan says. “I should have wrote that song.”

Betts unleashed one of his warm, charming laughs.

"I said, 'Bob, just sing whatever you want to.' I didn’t think he knew the words. I figured he’d just make up some stuff," Betts recalled. "He knew the song word for word. Man, it was such an honor. He sang it and I told him later that those words have never had so much feeling. The way he sings, he makes every word punchy. It really was beautiful. It really was."

The success of “Brothers and Sisters,” in large part, because of "Ramblin' Man" made the Allman Brothers rock stars.

An estimated crowd of 600,000 fans attended when the Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead and The Band co-headlined the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, New York, on July 28, 1973. Considered the largest crowd to date for a rock festival, the event drew more people than Woodstock did a few years earlier.

While filling stadiums nationwide during the mid-1970s, the Allman Brothers Band was joined by teenage journalist Cameron Crowe. His experience with the group as a writer for Rolling Stone magazine would influence his critically acclaimed 2000 film “Almost Famous” starring Billy Crudup looking just like Betts.

“I talked to Billy Crudup about it and he said he was playing me,” Betts told me. “I knew Cameron Crowe and I did invite him on the road because he worked for Creem and he did a real good article about me when I did my (1974) solo album ‘Highway Call.’”

Starting in 1975, The Allman Brothers Band played benefit shows for Jimmy Carter, helping the former governor of Georgia get elected president. At the time of his death, Betts had a letter of gratitude from the former president framed in his house.

In 2023, New York Times bestselling author Alan Paul published the book,  "Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album that Defined the 70s."  It focuses on the Allman Brothers from 1972 to '76 and largely celebrates Betts and his new leadership role in the band.

"In this new lineup, any combination of players could lock into grooves with one another at various times," Paul writes, before further elaborating: "Betts, an absolutely monster guitarist playing with confidence and creativity, stood atop this musical juggernaut."

Dickey Betts inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Allman Brothers Band

Through several incarnations and countless controversies, Betts led the Allman Brothers after the death of Duane Allman. During the 1990s he wrote or co-wrote such hits as “Seven Turns,” “Nobody Knows” and “No One to Run With.” The Allman Brothers Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The following year a live version of “Jessica” won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

In 2000, Betts and the three surviving original Allman Brothers Band members split acrimoniously.

The Allman Brothers Band continued, though, for 14 more years. The group performed Betts’ songs, from his 1970s hits to the popular ones he wrote for the band during its 1990s comeback years. Betts and his Great Southern group toured successfully, too, playing only Betts’ songs and blues chestnuts, during the same time period. Betts performed in Sarasota at Robarts Arena in 2014. It took place about a week after the Allman Brothers Band’s final show. Betts would not return to performing until nearly four years later.

Betts and Derek Trucks shared guitar duties in the Allman Brothers Band in 1999 and 2000 with Derek Trucks remaining with the Allman Brothers through the group’s final show. Betts joined the Tedeschi Trucks Band in September of 2013 at the Beacon Theatre in New York for several numbers including “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Blue Sky.”

“I’ve seen some amazing crowd responses at the Beacon, like Clapton guesting, but never have I felt it as much as with Dickey,” Trucks told me in January 2014. “There is a lot of love for him and a lot of people really excited to see him back on stage. It was a moment for sure and Dickey was great and such a sweetheart. I grew up listening to him and his music and I have such respect for what he has done, him and his son Duane in Great Southern.”

Butch Trucks died in January of 2017 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and then Gregg Allman died in May of the same year after a long battle with liver cancer the singer kept private.

“I’m so glad I was able to have a couple good talks with (Gregg) before he passed,” Betts said in a statement issued the day of Gregg’s death. “In fact, I was about to call him to check and see how he was when I got the call. It’s a very sad thing. I, along with the entire Great Southern family, pass along my deepest sympathies to Gregg’s family, friends, and fans.”

Betts, along with his son, Duane Betts, attended Allman's funeral at Snow's Memorial Chapel on June 3, 2017, in Macon. Allman was laid to rest Saturday near his older brother Duane and bandmate Berry Oakley, both killed in separate motorcycle crashes in Macon in the early 1970s, in the same Rose Hill Cemetery where they used to write songs among the tombstones, not far from the U.S. Highway 41 that Betts sings about in "Ramblin' Man."

Betts is survived by many local family members including his wife of more than three decades, Donna Betts, and his daughter, country music singer Kimberly Betts, who performed around Sarasota-Manatee with her band Gamble Creek, which featured her son (Dickey’s grandson), Grant Tyler, on guitar.

Betts’ daughter Christy married Frank Hannon, guitarist and co-founder of the multi-platinum-selling hard rock band Tesla. Hannon’s 2012 solo album “Six String Soldiers” features one of Dickey Betts’ last studio recordings. Dickey’s daughter Jessica Betts, as a toddler, inspired the hit instrumental that bears her name.

Duane Betts, whom Dickey named in honor of Duane Allman, is a nationally renowned guitarist, singer and songwriter born in Sarasota. As a teenager, Duane joined his father and the rest of the Allman Brothers Band in concert for select songs in the 1990s and then became a full-time member of his dad’s Great Southern group in the 2000s.

Following Dickey Betts' successful 2018 brain surgery, Duane Betts posted a photo to social media of him and his dad on stage raising their cowboy hats to the crowd following a performance.

"So grateful today," Duane Betts said. "My father has always been my hero, my mentor and my favorite guitar player in the world. I want to say thank you to all of you who have sent messages, prayed and sent good energy to my family and my dad."

Dickey Betts' 80th birthday happened to coincide with an Allman Betts Family Revival performance featuring Duane Betts and Devon Allman (son of Gregg Allman) at Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Dickey came on stage during the show to be serenaded with "Happy Birthday" by the crowd. After the show, he was presented with a birthday cake shaped like a Gibson Les Paul model guitar. Dickey Betts' official Instagram account posted that "It was a night that no one in the building will soon forget" and "a fitting way to celebrate the life of a true living legend."

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band guitarist, dies at 80: 'Dickey was larger than life'

Billie Eilish headlines Fortnite Festival with unlockable neon green skin, instruments

Eilish is just the latest among a slate of stars, including lady gaga, ariana grande and the weeknd, who have appeared on fortnite's virtual main stage in the rock band-like experience..

Billie Eilish is dropping into Fortnite.

The Grammy and Oscar-winning recording artist has become a playable character for Fortnite Festival, a rhythm-based music game not unlike Rock Band. Eilish, 22, announced her imminent arrival to the virtual game's main stage in a post Monday on X that included a picture of her character in the game.

After teasing the partnership, Epic Games, the developer behind the massively popular online video game best known for its Battle Royale mode, released more details Tuesday.

Here's what to know about Eilish's role in the Fortnite Festival.

4,000 Cybertrucks sold: Recall offers glimpse at Tesla's rank in rocky electric truck market

What is the Fortnite Festival?

Epic Games worked with Rock Band developer  Harmonix to add a musical mode called Fortnite Festival to the in-game experience in 2023.

Eilish is just the latest among a slate of stars, including Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd , who have since graced the game's virtual main stage. Similar to Rock Band, the game mode allows players to join with up to three others to play a licensed soundtrack of hits songs and Fortnite originals on instruments of their choice.

If past events are any indication, players can likely expect to play as Eilish on the main stage performing her top hits that may include “ Happier Than Ever ,” “Therefore I Am” and “Oxytocin.”

As players progress through Season 3 of the Fortnite Festival, they can unlock rewards that include instruments, outfits and new songs to perform, according to Epic Games . Among those unlockable rewards is Eilish's neon green character skin and two Eilish-themed Instruments – a keytar and a microphone.

Season 3 ends June 13.

Billie Eilish's big year, from Oscar win to new album

Eilish has earned no shortage of accolades and awards ever since she burst into the music scene in 2019 with her debut album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?"

The singer/songwriter has racked up nine Grammy wins and two Oscars, the latest of which came in March when she and her brother Finneas' melancholy ballad from the "Barbie" movie, "What Was I Made For?" won best original song.

Eilish has also revealed that her third album – and first since 2021's Grammy-nominated "Happier Than Ever" – is on the way. "Hit Me Hard and Soft" will arrive May 17 .

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]