Elton John may be saying goodbye to the road, but he's doing it in style. His ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour was the top-grossing tour of 2023 among artists over 50, according to Billboard Boxscore. The tour, which kicked off in 2018 and will end in 2024, grossed $210-million over 65 shows in front of 1.3-million fans, placing him seventh on the overall chart.
Elton was not the only veteran rocker to make the list, as several other iconic acts over 50 showed their enduring appeal and drawing power. Metallica ranked 14th with $125.8-million, Dead & Company 15th with $114.7-million, Guns N' Roses 18th with $96.2-million, Red Hot Chili Peppers 23rd with $77.2-million, the Eagles 24th with $76.4-million, Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks 39th with $56-million, and Sting 40th with $55.7-million.
Sting, who turned 71 this year, will take over for Stevie Nicks and join Billy Joel for stadium dates in 2024, as part of Joel's ongoing monthly residency at Madison Square Garden. The duo will also perform at select venues across the US and Europe.
The top spot on the chart went to Beyonce, who raked in $570-million with her Formation World Tour, which spanned six continents and 123 shows. She was followed by Coldplay ($480-million), Harry Styles ($420-million), Morgan Wallen ($360-million), Ed Sheeran ($300-million), and Pink ($240-million).
The Billboard Boxscore chart ranks the top-grossing tours of the year based on data reported from November 1st, 2022 to October 31st, 2023. The chart includes ticket sales, merchandise sales, sponsorships, and other revenue sources.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]