List of the most crowded music concerts in history
Synopsis
Everyone remembers their first concert growing up: driving a hundred miles to wind up sitting so far you could barely make out your idols.
By Askmen
Last Updated:
As William Congreve once wrote: "Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak." Music is food for the soul; it nourishes the mind as much as books can. Although it can be listened to continuously thanks to the myriad of devices available today, music needs to be experienced firsthand. It can be a life-changing event.
To compile this list, I looked at concerts that were either stand-alone acts or music festival, and since I'm such a nice guy, I included concerts that featured multiple acts.
ROD STEWART AT COPACABANA BEACH, 1994
3.5 million
Stewart staged the concert at the beach as a gift to poor people of Rio. 3.5 million Brazilians counting down seconds to the New Year is simply phenomenal.
JEAN MICHEL JARRE, 1997
3.5 million
Jarre was commissioned by the mayor of Moscow to give a concert at the Moscow State University in celebration of the city’s 850th anniversary.
AC/DC, PANTERA, THE BLACK CROWES, METALLICA, 1991
1.6 million
The event, Monsters of Rock, is one of the highest-attendance music concerts in history which was held in Moscow, where 1.6 million people attended.
800,000
The people of New York celebrated the Statue of Liberty Weekend and the New York Philharmonic played under the direction of Zubin Mehta.
GARTH BROOKS IN CENTRAL PARK, 1997
750,000
It was broadcasted live on HBO, and was free for anyone who wanted to attend. As a treat to New Yorkers, Billy Joel and Don McLean also made surprise appearances.
STEVE WOZNIAK’S US FESTIVAL, 1983
670,000
The event saw the greatest performers of the era such as Scorpions, INXS, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, U2, Stevie Nicks, Van Halen, performing in one concert.
THE ISLE OF WIGHT, 1970
600,000
The event was the final performance of Jimi Hendrix. The high attendance level led to the Parliament passing the “Isle of Wight Act” in 1971 which prevents gatherings of more than 5,000 without a special license.
SUMMER JAM AT WATKINS GLEN, 1973
600,000
The concert was held at the Grand Prix auto circuit in Watkins Glen, New York. It featured the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and the Band.
THE WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL, 1969
500,000
The three-day Festival was organised in upstate New York. Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Who, and Santana performed in the event. It was captured in the 1970 documentary movie Woodstock.
(SOURCE: THERICHEST, TOP10MOST, ASKMEN)
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Everyone remembers their first concert growing up: driving a hundred miles to wind up sitting so far you could barely make out your idols. Still, these are the memories we cherish the most. So what are some of the concerts that have been attended by the most people? Read on to find out. To compile this list, I looked at concerts that were either stand-alone acts or music festival, and since I'm such a nice guy, I included concerts that featured multiple acts.
ROD STEWART AT COPACABANA BEACH, 1994
3.5 million
Stewart staged the concert at the beach as a gift to poor people of Rio. 3.5 million Brazilians counting down seconds to the New Year is simply phenomenal.
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JEAN MICHEL JARRE, 1997
3.5 million
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Jarre was commissioned by the mayor of Moscow to give a concert at the Moscow State University in celebration of the city’s 850th anniversary.
AC/DC, PANTERA, THE BLACK CROWES, METALLICA, 1991
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1.6 million
The event, Monsters of Rock, is one of the highest-attendance music concerts in history which was held in Moscow, where 1.6 million people attended.
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC, 1986800,000
The people of New York celebrated the Statue of Liberty Weekend and the New York Philharmonic played under the direction of Zubin Mehta.
GARTH BROOKS IN CENTRAL PARK, 1997
750,000
It was broadcasted live on HBO, and was free for anyone who wanted to attend. As a treat to New Yorkers, Billy Joel and Don McLean also made surprise appearances.
STEVE WOZNIAK’S US FESTIVAL, 1983
670,000
The event saw the greatest performers of the era such as Scorpions, INXS, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, U2, Stevie Nicks, Van Halen, performing in one concert.
THE ISLE OF WIGHT, 1970
600,000
The event was the final performance of Jimi Hendrix. The high attendance level led to the Parliament passing the “Isle of Wight Act” in 1971 which prevents gatherings of more than 5,000 without a special license.
SUMMER JAM AT WATKINS GLEN, 1973
600,000
The concert was held at the Grand Prix auto circuit in Watkins Glen, New York. It featured the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and the Band.
THE WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL, 1969
500,000
The three-day Festival was organised in upstate New York. Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Who, and Santana performed in the event. It was captured in the 1970 documentary movie Woodstock.
(SOURCE: THERICHEST, TOP10MOST, ASKMEN)