The 10 Most Creative Concert Tours
Who doesn’t love a good tour? From the interactive experience of being surrounded by a full stadium of like-minded music lovers, to simply just seeing your favorite artist live, concert tours create lasting impressions and lifelong memories. That’s why it’s even more special when the artist understands that power and really puts on a show, from all possible aspects. We’re talking creative visuals, stage setups that test your perception of dimensions, and light shows that are visible even with your eyes closed.
As we salivate over tickets to Kanye West’s current Yeezus Tour—which is sure to go down as one of his greatest live examples of that expansive creativity he possesses as an artist—we look back on some of the most creative concert tours of all time. From the few that left fans in awe at the visual aesthetics to the cleverly executed ones that defined innovation, these are the concerts that put in extra work on the creative output. If possible, don’t be afraid to cop these on DVD for your own personal viewing pleasure.
David Bowie – Glass Spider Tour
There’s no real mystery behind the name of English rocker David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour. He literally had a 64-foot-wide spider figure hovering 60 feet above the stage. Paired with a vivid light show and glam rock theatrics to follow suit, Bowie pretty much set the trend of grandiose stage shows that we see in newer acts like Lady Gaga and other major pop artists with the proper label support. Those neon light angel wings he rocked were a sight to see as well.
Michael Jackson – Bad Tour
As performers go, there’s no one that can match the intensity that Michael Jackson brought to the stage. On his premier solo tour, MJ made magic happen night after night. Iconic costumes, gravity defying dance moves, and an overall unmatchable stage presence made the Bad Tour one of the best memories we have on record of the departed pop icon. In short, this is the blueprint as far as live entertainment goes.
Talking Heads – Speaking In Tongues Tour
When you’re dealing with an artsy dude like Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, you know the live show will be well thought out in vision. This particular show had no colored lights—one song even being lit solely by a floor lamp—and all black matte stage props with Byrne rocking his now-infamous big suit. The whole performance was captured on film in the visually innovative concert documentary, “Stop Making Sense.” Over a span of three live shows, director Jonathan Demme filmed the concert in a way that has become iconic in its own right. Simply put, the Speaking In Tongues Tour was like one big art exhibit that just so happens to feature a live set of really cool ‘80s new wave tunes.
Various Artists – Live Aid
Live Aid was amazing from all aspects. Not only did it combine live music from legendary artists and global awareness for the cause of famine in Ethiopia, it also reached a record-breaking audience at the time with nearly two billion viewers tuned in. From Wembley Stadium in London to John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philly, artists like Sade, U2, Queen, The Who, Run DMC, Madonna, and a slew of others performed in front of a live audience that totaled over 150,000 between the two arenas. When it was all said and done, the goal was exceeded beyond expectations with a whopping $283.6 million raised through donations. It really makes you realize the power we hold when we band together worldwide.
U2 – 360-Degrees Tour
We’re not sure how U2 came up with “The Claw,” but there’s never been anything quite like it when it comes to a live concert experience. Packed with an expanding video screen, a sound system in each “leg,” and a height that reached 167 feet tall, it’s no wonder why it took 120 trucks just to transport this thing from city to city. Don’t even get us started on how much it cost them to construct. We’ll put it like this: Over the span of the seven-leg tour—which lasted two years in total—they weren’t set to break even until the end of the second leg.
Kanye West – Glow In The Dark Tour
If you had any form of a childhood, the idea of an entire glow-in-the-dark tour seems perfect, right? Throw in Kanye West as your headliner—and supporting acts like Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., and a surprise MSG appearance by Jay Z—and you pretty much have one of the illest concerts of all time. With every song change, audience members were taken on a visual journey through outer space, fire red skies, and a neon strobe light metropolis—all backed by the sounds of Kanye’s greatest hits from Graduation, College Dropout, and Late Registration. Visually, the only person in hip-hop that’s even come close to topping this tour is, well, Yeezy himself.
The Rolling Stones – Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour
If you like top notch designed sets and an onstage firework show, The Rolling Stones’ yearlong Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour would have been right up your alley. The stage setup literally put you in a steel-plated playground with Jagger and the fellas taking over as the ultimate cool kids running the park. The pyrotechnics alone made this show a definitive visual treat, regardless of your Stones fan level.
Janet Jackson – Velvet Rope Tour
Much like her big bro MJ, Janet Jackson packed intricate dance moves into her live set. It wasn’t until her Velvet Rope Tour, however, that we really got to see creativity thrown into the act. Whether she’s serenading a lucky fan during a dream sequence or turning herself into Alice in Wonderland, Janet definitely upheld the family name while on the road with this tour.
Jay Z and Eminem – Home and Home Tour
Take two of the best rappers alive and put them in their respective local baseball fields, and it’s hard not to make something epic go down. For their Home and Home Tour, Jay Z and Eminem set up in Detroit’s Comerica Park and NYC’s Yankees Stadium for a dual show that featured both dudes representing for their cities. In four nights—spanning a little less than two weeks—Hov and Em brought out a host of friends and collaborators that included Beyoncé, 50 Cent, D12, Drake, and Dr. Dre. Fans pretty much got two rap shows for the price of one—minus the beef.
J. Cole – Dollar & A Dream Tour
Creative? Not so much in the visual department. However, where our boy J. Cole lacks in actual stage theatrics, he makes up for with innovative fan interaction. Making your ticket sales available for only $1 is completely unheard of, yet it put Cole in a class of his own that gained mad respect from hip-hop fans. He made a concert that was affordable for the people who already went out and copped his Born Sinner album—a move that ultimately reflected his entire come-up story as an artist. We respect where his heart was with this one.
Who doesn’t love a good tour? From the interactive experience of being surrounded by a full stadium of like-minded music lovers, to simply just seeing your favorite artist live, concert tours create lasting impressions and lifelong memories. That’s why it’s even more special when the artist understands that power and really puts on a show, from all possible aspects. We’re talking creative visuals, stage setups that test your perception of dimensions, and light shows that are visible even with your eyes closed.
As we salivate over tickets to Kanye West’s current Yeezus Tour—which is sure to go down as one of his greatest live examples of that expansive creativity he possesses as an artist—we look back on some of the most creative concert tours of all time. From the few that left fans in awe at the visual aesthetics to the cleverly executed ones that defined innovation, these are the concerts that put in extra work on the creative output. If possible, don’t be afraid to cop these on DVD for your own personal viewing pleasure.