Letβs do this, mun. Hereβs your cash, carnage, and cowbell-filled countdown with all money talk now in British pounds β because download that currency converter, mate, weβre staying local. π΄ββ οΈπ¬π§
π€ 10. The Rolling Stones β A Bigger Bang Tour (2005β2007)
Gross: Β£430 million
Chaos Level: 6/10 β Keith fell out of a tree and STILL finished the tour
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈποΈ
π€ 9. Madonna β Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008β2009)
Gross: Β£317 million
Chaos Level: 5/10 β Wardrobe malfunctions and angry ex-husbands
Cowbell: ποΈποΈ
π₯ 8. U2 β 360Β° Tour (2009β2011)
Gross: Β£570 million
Chaos Level: 4/10 β Bono got back surgery mid-tour and still came back
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈ
π₯ 7. Taylor Swift β The Eras Tour (2023β2024)
Gross: Β£850+ million (and climbing like a Swiftie on Red Bull)
Chaos Level: 9/10 β Fans wore nappies to avoid toilet queues
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈποΈ
πΈ 6. Pink Floyd β Division Bell Tour (1994)
Gross: Β£200 million (adjusted today: Β£370+ million)
Chaos Level: 7/10 β Giant inflatable pigs flying over cities
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
π¦ 5. The Eagles β Hell Freezes Over Tour (1994β1996)
Gross: Β£195 million
Chaos Level: 8/10 β They hated each other the whole time
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈ
π 4. Metallica β WorldWired Tour (2016β2019)
Gross: Β£322 million
Chaos Level: 10/10 β Mosh pits, beer showers, and Lars forgetting cities
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
π€― 3. Bruce Springsteen β 2023β2024 Tour
Gross: Β£550+ million
Chaos Level: 6/10 β Boss never stops, even with food poisoning
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈ
ποΈ 2. AC/DC β Black Ice World Tour (2008β2010)
Gross: Β£345 million
Chaos Level: 10/10 β Cannons. Trains. Fire. Malfunctioning devil horns.
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
π 1. Guns Nβ Roses β Use Your Illusion Tour (1991β1993)
Gross: Β£92 million (but chaos? STILL priceless)
Chaos Level: 11/10 β Riots, arrests, Axl being Axl
Cowbell: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
Honourable Mentions π₯
- Queen β Magic Tour (1986) β Freddie. Wembley. Legend. π°
- BeyoncΓ© β Renaissance Tour (2023) β Pure disco dominion. π
- KISS β End of the Road (2019β2023) β Pyro nation. πΊπΈπ₯
- Elton John β Farewell Yellow Brick Road (2018β2023) β
Gross: Β£580+ million and more sequins than sense πβ¨
Rock Maths:
All values are rounded and approximated using a 2025 exchange rate of ~$1.28 = Β£1. Rates may vary, but the chaos? Thatβs universal.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialβfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heβs battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heβs always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heβs not writing or interviewing artists, youβll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicβtheyβre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatβs exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. π€
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