The 10 Best Concerts In History [Updated]

When we go to a concert of our favorite band we hope to bring together some of the unforgettable moments of our lives. We all remember that night when we decided to go see our beloved artists, the goosebumps, the feeling of unreality that accompanies those moments. Before the Internet, it was the only way we had to follow the minute by minute of each concert. Now it becomes easier, although the experience is not exactly the same.

The history of music is full of iconic moments. Prestigious bands offered stamps that would be recorded forever in the memory of their followers. 

Music connects us and recitals are a good way to interact with people who live this passion in a similar way. Witnessing the moments that become iconic in the career of the artist we admire and saying “I was there” are surely precious incentives to want to participate in these meetings.

Popular music has truly unforgettable concerts. We review the most crowded: Metallica in Moscow (1991), Jean-Michel Jarre in Paris (1990), The Rolling Stones in Rio de Janeiro (2006). Although a good concert is not necessarily the one that brings together the largest number of people, but rather the one that changes the future of music.

We could think of the singer Barbra Streisand’s concert in Central Park (1967) or the amazing Woodstock recital of 1969 that brought together some of the most important voices of the time: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez and The Who, among others. lots of others.

Here we present the best concerts in history. Although, the best concert in history for each one will be the one that could enjoy being public and nothing they tell us will make us change our minds. What do you think?

Top 10 Best Concerts In History

1. Michael Jackson, Wembley

Michael Jackson was one of the great music reformers. He not only incorporated the music video format to promote live music and dance to offer a complete show, but also gave some of the most incredible concerts in history. The most important was performed on July 16, 1988 at Wembley.

Around 72,000 people gathered at Wembley for Jackson’s music. To which one of the most popular people of the moment attended: the Princess of Wales, Lady Di. In fact, there is an anecdote: knowing that she was in the stadium, Michael Jackson deleted one of her songs: “Dirty Diana” to avoid offending her or her royal family. Nevertheless, it was the princess’s favorite song.

This concert was extremely important in the career of Michael Jackson. A crazy audience was cheering for a long time and it is surely one of the favorites of his followers.

This concert is available on DVD, “Live at Wembley”. Released on September 8, 2012.

2. AC/DC, The Monumental

The recital that AC/DC offered at the River Plate stadium (Buenos Aires) is the favorite of singer Brian Johnson and many of his followers. The musician has recently told about it through his social networks, once again thanking the warmth of the Argentine public.

On December 2, 4 and 6, 2009, the Australian band offered a massive recital at the Monumental Stadium that would be one of the most important for the band and is among the most famous in rock history.

There is a DVD of this recital with 19 songs, through which you can appreciate the fervor of the Argentine public in one of the most important national stadiums in the history of rock. 

Fundamental bands of the country such as La Renga, Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota and Soda Stereo have played there, as well as bands of international prestige such as Aerosmith and The Rolling Stones. It has also hosted recitals by unforgettable soloists such as Roger Waters and Paul McCartney.

3. The Beatles, Apple Studios

One of the most remembered concerts in history is the one given by The Beatles on the roof of Apple Corps on January 30, 1969.

The group was not going through its best moment of brotherhood, although fame grew second by second. They weren’t doing well with popularity and were discussing the possibility of breaking up and leaving music. But Paul McCartney, who was not at all in agreement with this idea, convinced the group to make one last presentation: it would be the most unforgettable in the history of the band.

It will be remembered in part because the recital had to be interrupted when the police appeared. The group did not have permission to play there and, in addition, they were causing problems in the city’s traffic, since many people had gathered at the foot of the building to listen to them and sing their favorite songs. Any fan of the group would give anything to have been there.

4. The Rolling Stones, Berliner Waldbühne

When the Rolling Stones organized their recital in Germany for their fourth tour of Europe, they surely did not imagine that they would have the success they did. It was undoubtedly one of the concerts that would go around the world and collaborate with the popularity of the band.

The debut of the Rolling Stones in Germany took place on September 15, 1965 in the Waldbühne amphitheater and would have a non-negotiable political significance.

The band performed in the divided country at the height of the Cold War and encouraged their fans to rebel against censorship. Not only were there protests and destruction in the amphitheater and the surrounding streets, but after the recital the student protests lasted for quite some time, marking a milestone in German politics.

How wonderful to have been able to be part of such a historic moment! Don’t you think? At least we can enjoy the music that has been immortalized on the DVD: a little trip back in time.

5. Aerosmith, Osaka

The arrival of the new millennium would leave us with one of the most popular recitals in music. Aerosmith in Osaka. December 12th. Year 1999. The songs that sustained the success of the night and that would make it one of the most important in the history of the group were Dude, Living on the Edge, Love in an Elevator and, of course, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”.

Anyone would give anything to be at a Steven Tyler and Joe Perry concert, two smiling characters who are always ready to have a good time. Her recitals are brutal. Always on the verge of laughter. Always on the verge of tears. That night in Japan they gave it their all and confirmed to the whole world that the oldest American hard rock band has no comparison.

On this wonderful night you get the CD Aerosmith Live at Osake Dome Japan, a work of art that no lover of the group should miss.

6. Alanis Morrisette, MTv Unplugged

On September 18, 1999, Alanis Morissette gave what would be the most praised concert of her career, the MTv Unplugged, in which she performed some of the most popular songs of her career in an unprecedented way. On November 9, 1999, this CD went on sale, which would sweep sales.

Alanis Morrisette had just landed in the United States. A young Canadian singer-songwriter who had a unique voice and a great need to be heard. This was her first live album, released by Maverick Records. It sold almost seven hundred thousand copies in the United States and more than three million in the rest of the world.

Among the unforgettable versions of that concert we have “Thank You”, “Ironic”, “No Pressure Over Cappuccino”, “That I Would Be Good”, “You Learn” and “King of Pain”. Who could wish they hadn’t been among the lucky ones who could hear her live at that recital?

7. Metallica, Moscow

“A sea of ​​people.” This describes the concert that Metallica gave in Moscow on September 28, 1991, which managed to gather one million six hundred thousand people, the largest rock concert of all time. Impossible to repeat with the safety standards of our time.

The capacity was unheard of. So much so that the Russian government was forced to hire the military to secure the perimeter and check that everything ran smoothly.

Metallica is a heavy metal band that was born in Los Angeles (California) in 1981. Although at first they were related to cursed music that was of little interest, little by little they made their way becoming one of the first heavy metal bands capable of to gather a monumental audience.

For rock lovers, Metallica’s performance in Moscow represents the most important and unforgettable concert of all time.

8. Mariah Carey, Tokyo Dome

One of the unforgettable concerts in the history of music is the one that Mariah Carey gave at the Tokyo Dome in Japan in 1996. Collected in a DVD that has been offered free of charge to everyone last year; after years of requests from fans.

In 1996 Mariah Carey was at the peak of her career and this performance was a hallmark that would travel the world. Some of the best versions of her most famous songs from her came out of this concert. 

For example, there she immortalized the incredible highs in the song “Hero”, a natural F and a natural G so intense and well-conceived that they elevated the song to the maximum power of her.

Throughout the night, Mariah struggled several times to communicate with her fans in Japanese, sheepishly sketching out some phrases she had been taught. For her fans, it is a great concert of the American singer-songwriter.

9. Barbra Streisand, Central Park

In 1967 Barbra Streisand gave an unforgettable recital in Central Park. Going on stage, the artist was absolutely surprised by the number of people she had gathered: 135,000 people. The following year, in 1968, the album “A Happening In Central Park” was published, which would sell five hundred thousand copies. There is also a DVD version.

Some of the most important songs of Streisand’s career found their full brilliance that afternoon, receiving a performance that would be remembered forever. “I Can See It”, “People”, “Natural Sounds” and “Happy Days Are Here Again”.

Barbra Streisand is a singer born in New York who has established herself for having a unique voice and great artistic versatility. In addition to being a great singer, she has earned worldwide recognition as an actress, screenwriter and film director. She has received numerous awards for her works.

10. Bruce Springsteen, Capitol Theater

In Bruce Springsteen‘s career, there are many memorable moments and concerts that have stuck to our memory. But if we had to choose only one, it would undoubtedly be the one that took place on September 19, 1978 in Passaic (New Jersey). One of the most significant of his entire career.

The highlight of that presentation was the vocal performance, which is above many of the later presentations. The staging is another thing to highlight. The way in which Bruce has always known how to relate to his public. Some of the most riveting tracks had legendary covers: “Darkness on the Edge of Town”, “Independence Day” and “The Promised Land”.

Read Also: 10 Highest Paid Musicians In The World

The Springsteen of the Capitol Theater we will never forget. Three hours of intense concert, with a rhythm that is sustained without being monotonous and a staging that would go down in history.