Pick a Day

Music History Events: Tours

March 27, 1993 Kyuss begins a run of Australian tour dates opening for Metallica, during the latter group's tour in support of The Black Album, at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney.

April 1, 1992 MC Hammer's 2 Legit 2 Quit tour begins in Hampton, Virginia. By the end of the tour, two of his support acts have become more popular than he is: Boyz II Men and TLC.

December 5, 1991 In Worcester, Massachusetts, Soundgarden begin opening a string of arena shows in North America for Guns N' Roses, who are supporting their Use Your Illusion albums. The tour also includes a three-night stand at Madison Square Garden, the only time Soundgarden play the venue.

October 29, 1991 In Peoria, Illinois, Metallica launch their mammoth Wherever We May Roam tour, which runs for 224 shows, wrapping up on December 18, 1992.

June 15, 1991 MC Hammer kicks off his Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em world tour in Louisville, Kentucky. About 70 people, who perform various duties on stage, are in the entourage. Rolling Stone reports that Hammer is a taskmaster, fining dancers for missing steps and insisting that everyone go directly to their hotel rooms after shows.

June 29, 1989 Three years after landing their first hit, the Pet Shop Boys, notoriously averse to live performance, launch their first tour with a show at Hong Kong Coliseum.

October 31, 1988 Bon Jovi launch their New Jersey Syndicate tour with a show in Dublin. The tour lasts 16 months and over 200 concerts. On the North American legs, they're joined by a New-er Jersey band: Skid Row.

May 27, 1988 The Monsters of Rock tour, with a lineup of Metallica, Van Halen, Scorpions and Dokken, kicks off with a show at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin. Metallica emerge super-sized, and soon after the tour release their album ...And Justice for All. Dokken, strained from infighting and exhaustion, break up after the tour.

September 30, 1987 Fleetwood Mac open their Shake The Cage Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, but without Lindsey Buckingham, a key contributor to the album they're touring behind, Tango In The Night. Buckingham, who had a falling out with the group the previous month, is replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. He doesn't return to the group until 1997.

August 17, 1987 Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. wrap up their Together Forever tour with a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Run-D.M.C. tell fans to stay in school and avoid drugs; Beastie Boys have cage dancers and beer.More

February 13, 1987 Metallica conclude their breakthrough - yet tragic - Damage Inc. tour at Frolundaborg in Gothenburg, Sweden. They drew huge crowds throughout the tour but lost bass player Cliff Burton, who was killed when their tour bus slid off the road during an earlier stop in Sweden.

February 1, 1987 Journey wrap up their Raised on Radio tour with a show in Anchorage, Alaska. It's their last tour with Steve Perry, who makes one more album with the band, Trial by Fire, in 1996.

May 2, 1986 Judas Priest kick off their Fuel For Life tour with a show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's the first time lead singer Rob Halford, who went to rehab in January, has ever performed sober with the band.

March 27, 1986 In Valley Center, Kansas, Metallica join Ozzy Osbourne's Ultimate Sin tour as the opening act.

January 27, 1985 Bruce Springsteen wraps up the first leg of his Born in the U.S.A. tour with a show at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The next day, he flies to Los Angeles, rents a car, and drives to A&M Recording Studios, where he takes part in the "We Are The World" sessions.

November 4, 1984 Prince kicks off his Purple Rain tour with a show in Detroit. His opening act is Sheila E., whose Prince-penned song "The Glamorous Life" reached #7 in America the previous month.

May 15, 1984 In Tulsa, Lionel Richie launches his Can't Slow Down tour. His opening act is Tina Turner, whose comeback album, Private Dancer, is released two weeks later. During his set, Richie brings Turner on stage to duet on "Three Times A Lady" and a cover of Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs."

July 27, 1983 Metallica launch their Kill 'Em All For One tour (with co-headliners Raven) at the Royal Manor in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

May 14, 1979 Kate Bush wraps up her first tour with a show at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. It ends up being her only tour, as she shifts her focus to producing her own songs and designing the visuals.

May 1, 1975 Bachman-Turner Overdrive begin their first UK tour at Glasgow Apollo; they are supported by Thin Lizzy.

July 9, 1974 In Seattle, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young play a four-hour show to kick off their reunion tour (they haven't toured together since 1970). It's the first rock stadium tour - not a great fit for the band, who aren't loud or flamboyant. After the tour, they start recording an album but part ways before it's finished.

January 4, 1973 Neil Young kicks off his Time Fades Away tour in Madison, Wisconsin with Linda Ronstadt his opening act. Ronstadt is used to playing clubs, but wins over crowds at arenas throughout the tour with her mighty pipes. The following year, she releases her breakthrough album Heart Like A Wheel.

July 9, 1970 In Bloomington, Indiana, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young wrap up their tour. The group members drift apart and don't hit the road again until 1974.

June 30, 1939 Frank Sinatra begins touring with Harry James' orchestra. He sings "Wishing" and "My Love For You" at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland. James wants him to go by "Frankie Satin," but Sinatra refuses.