Former tourmates Guns N’ Roses and Metallica did not share the stage during 2017 but they are together among the top five tours of 2017 according to the industry magazine Pollstar.
The 2017 edition of GNR’s Not In This Lifetime Tour ranked second overall, grossing $292.5 million with performances in North and South America, Europe, Israel and Asia, while Metallica’s WorldWired Tour was fifth with a global gross of $152.8 million. U2‘s tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree album was first overall with $316 million, while Coldplay, Depeche Mode and the Red Hot Chili Peppers also made Pollstar’s top tours list.
The full Top 20, in millions, includes: U2, $316; Guns N’ Roses, $292.5; Coldplay, $238; Bruno Mars, $200.1; Metallica, $152.8; Depeche Mode, $141.1; Paul McCartney, $132; Ed Sheeran, $124.1; The Rolling Stones, $120; Garth Brooks, $101.4; Celine Dion, $101.2; Justin Bieber, $93.7; Roger Waters, $92.1; Bruce Springsteen, $87.8; Lady Gaga, $85.7; Billy Joel, $82.3; The Weeknd, $80; Tim McGraw/Faith Hill $79.3; Red Hot Chili Peppers, $73.5; Ariana Grande, $66.5.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.