There are ways in which history has its very own concerts. Music fused with emotion and shared experience creates something unforgettable in the history of live concerts. From record-breaking crowds to awesome performances, here is a glimpse of ten of the most iconic concerts ever and what made them come to be so legendary. Here’s a mixed list of the best concerts to ever happen.

Woodstock (1969)

Expected attendance: Around 400,000 people.
Ticket price: Originally $18 but most attended for free.
Why It’s Iconic: Woodstock was not merely a concert: it was a cultural happening. During those glorious three days, Bethel, New York, embodied the zenith of hippiedom, with such memorable performances as those by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. And yes, even with the logistic mayhem current at the time, this festival became immortal for the lofty ideal of peace and music.

Beatles at Shea Stadium (1965)

Attendance: 55,600.
Ticket Sales: $304,000 (equivalent to more than $2.5 million today).
What Made It Iconic: This was the first major stadium concert in history, marking a turning point for live performance, and shrill vomit mixed electricity as The Beatles tried to rock the screaming crowd with their voices as audible as a whisper.

Live Aid (1985)

Attendance at Wembley Stadium, London: 72,000; JFK Stadium, Philadelphia: 100,000.
TV Viewers: 1.9 billion in 150 countries.
What Made It Iconic: Live Aid, obviously, was more than a concert-an event for and globally mobilized to raise funds for famine relief in Africa. Queen’s amazing 21-minute performance including “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You” is mostly regarded as the best live set in rock history.

Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour (1992-1993)

Over 3.5 million people came out to see Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour, which ran from 1992 to 1993, making it the largest tour on the globe at the time. Revenues totaled $140 million. What Made It Iconic: It’s a tour made legendary by Michael Jackson’s choreography, big-stage setups, and unmatched charisma-how can anything else it are to be compared? A single show in Bucharest was watched on television by over 500 million people, achieving a record in popular viewing at that time.

Queen Wembly (1986)

Attendance: 150,000 for two nights.
Ticket Price: £14.50 (roughly £40 today).
What Made It Iconic: This concert became known as Queen’s finest hour. Freddie Mercury’s performance here was a show to define to demonstrate his ability to take an audience. “Radio Ga Ga”, with its accompanying chorus of clappers, is immortalized as an iconic moment in the history of music.

Pavarotti in Central Park (1993)

Attendance: More than 500,000
What Made It Iconic: Luciano Pavarotti offered opera free of charge to thousands in Central Park, New York. With one of the most powerful voices, his charismatic presence converted into a one-time event. This would go down in history as one of the most celebrated classical concerts ever.

Garth Brooks in Central Park (1997)

U2’s 360° Tour (2009-2011)

Attendance: 110 Shows; Over 7.2 Million Audience.
Revenue: $736 million.
What Made It Iconic: 360 degrees for a tour with the innovative stage named “The Claw”. It fully surrounded the audiences with the band thereby changing the entire concept of staging a music tour. It set the record for all-time grossing. 

Elton John was at Dodger Stadium in 1975. He accepted 100,000 people at the stadium for ‘Elton John Live. ‘ Iconically, though, his spotlights brightened the city in the sequined uniform of a Dodgers baseball player. One performance proved there was now an international superstar. This event was newly immortalized through the biopic Rocketman. 

BTS at the SoFi Stadium (2021)

crowds: 200000 at four nights.
Revenue: $33.3 million.
What Made It Iconic: It was one BTS concert, namely Permission to Dance on Stage, that marked the revival of live music after the deadly pandemic. The K-pop wonders floored ARMY all over the world with their outstanding shows combining music, dance, and state-of-the-art visuals. 

Which One Stands Out? 

Each concert is iconic in its own way, but the one that stands out the most was Live Aid (1985) because of its global impact. Almost 2 billion viewers watched it, and nothing else has ever matched that combination of using the power of music and humanitarian efforts as did this live event. But there’s always the personal angle-whether one’s preference appreciates the cultural shift Woodstock embodies or the electrifying rush of BTS.