Ongoing History of New Music

Ongoing History Daily: The largest rock concert EVER!

What was the biggest ever crowd at a rock concert? 

Let’s get the 1969 Woodstock festival out of the way.  Attendance was a paltry 400,000, despite what the hippies might say. 

A 1970 gig on the Isle of Wight in the UK attracted over 600,000 people. 

There was the second US Festival in California in 1983, each with 670,000 people. 

But that’s nothing. Props have to go to the Brazilians.

In February 2006, more than 1.5 million people turned out to see the Rolling Stones in Rio.  But even that small change compared to a New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart on the same stretch of Copacabana Beach in 1994.  He attracted 3.5 million people to a free gig–and that seems to be the all-time rock concert attendance record.

Friday’s post was on naming Weezer.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 37921 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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