A Bigger Bang Tour

A Bigger Bang Tour
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Concert tour name	A Bigger Bang Tour
Artist	The Rolling Stones
Album	A Bigger Bang
Start date	2005
End date	2007
Gross	US$558 million

A Bigger Bang Tour

The A Bigger Bang Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones supporting their album A Bigger Bang that ran from 2005 to 2007. The tour encompassed arenas and stadiums across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, featuring extensive production designed by teams with prior work for acts such as U2, Madonna, and Paul McCartney. It became one of the highest-grossing tours in history, drawing comparisons to historic tours by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, and earlier Rolling Stones tours.

Background and conception

The tour was conceived after the release of A Bigger Bang and followed promotional appearances linked to Lenny Kravitz collaborations and studio work with Don Was, Jagger and Richards songwriting sessions influenced by contemporaneous events such as the Live 8 initiatives and anniversaries of earlier albums like Exile on Main St.. Planning involved management from old industry executives and production firms that had executed projects for Live Aid, Rock in Rio, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Early routing discussions included venues associated with historic performances by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood and consultations with promoters linked to AEG Presents and Live Nation Entertainment.

Tour itinerary and legs

The itinerary comprised multiple legs: North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The North American leg played cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Toronto and followed box office patterns similar to tours by U2 and The Police. The European leg hit capitals including London, Paris, Madrid, and Rome, with festival appearances in the tradition of Glastonbury Festival and Rock Werchter. South American dates included stadiums in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Santiago, echoing historic tours by The Who and AC/DC. Asian and African stops incorporated venues in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Johannesburg, while the Australian leg visited Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Scheduling coordinated with international events such as the FIFA World Cup cycle and national holidays.

Stage production and setlist

Production values drew on large-scale staging practices seen in tours by U2 and Pink Floyd, featuring expansive stages, flown lighting rigs from companies associated with Phelan International and video elements produced with firms akin to those that worked with Peter Gabriel. The setlist combined hits like classics from Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers with new tracks from A Bigger Bang, often closing with perennial anthems from Some Girls and Tattoo You. Songs performed reflected the band’s catalogue spanning 1960s hits through 2000s recordings, with medleys recalling performances from The Rolling Stones American Tour 1972 and arrangements influenced by guest appearances from artists associated with Bono and Sheryl Crow.

Personnel and band lineup

Core performers included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood, with supporting musicians drawn from long-term collaborators such as Darryl Jones, Chuck Leavell, and horn players with credits alongside acts like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. Production and technical staff involved tour managers and sound engineers from firms linked to Nassau Coliseum and stadium sound projects used by Pearl Jam and Metallica. Guest musicians and opening acts included artists associated with labels like Virgin Records and Universal Music Group, reflecting cross-promotional strategies similar to those used on tours by Madonna.

Reception and commercial performance

Critics compared the tour’s scope and impact to landmark tours by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Led Zeppelin, noting reviews in outlets paralleling Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and The New York Times. Commercially it grossed approximately US$558 million, placing it among top-grossing concert tours alongside the Voodoo Tour by D'Angelo and legacies like Voodoo Lounge Tour. Box office receipts and attendance records were reported in trade publications such as Billboard and Pollstar, with ticketing partnerships involving companies similar to Ticketmaster.

Incidents and notable events

The tour included high-profile incidents and notable events, including postponed dates due to health-related issues connected to members who later had associations with benefits and tributes in the style of events honoring Billie Holiday or Buddy Guy. Special performances included benefit concerts reminiscent of Live Aid and surprise guest appearances invoking memories of collaborations with Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, and artists from the Rolling Stones’ circle. Milestones included breaking attendance records at venues comparable to Wembley Stadium and participating in cultural moments akin to anniversary celebrations for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

Category:The Rolling Stones concert tours