13 Legendary Concert Tours from the ’70s That Shaped a Generation
The 1970s weren’t just a great time for music but a golden age for live performances that shook stadiums, shattered records, and redefined what a concert could be.
This was the era when rock gods, pop icons, and soul legends turned the stage into a spectacle, dazzling fans with mind-blowing visuals, electrifying energy, and moments that still give us chills today. Some of these tours became the stuff of legend, inspiring generations of artists and changing live music forever.
So let’s turn up the volume and relive 13 of the most iconic concert tours of the ’70s, because these weren’t just shows, they were history in the making.
1. Led Zeppelin – North American Tour 1975
By 1975, Led Zeppelin was more than a band—they were a force of nature. With Robert Plant’s wailing vocals, Jimmy Page’s blistering guitar solos, and John Bonham’s earth-shaking drumming, this tour was destined to be a juggernaut.
Every show was an onslaught of sound and spectacle, leaving audiences spellbound and slightly deaf (but in the best way possible). Their stage presence was electrifying, and their record-breaking crowds proved their reign as rock gods was untouchable.
With epic setlists and larger-than-life performances, Led Zeppelin’s 1975 tour wasn’t just a concert series—it was an event that redefined rock itself.
2. The Rolling Stones – Tour of the Americas ’75
Some bands play concerts. The Rolling Stones threw wild, swaggering, and downright outrageous parties—and in 1975, they took that party across the Americas.
With Mick Jagger prancing across the stage, Keith Richards riffing like a man possessed, and a giant inflatable stage prop that defied explanation, this tour had everything a rock ‘n’ roll circus should. It also marked Ronnie Wood’s debut, adding a fresh twist to the Stones’ already unshakable chemistry.
Chaotic, rebellious, and completely unforgettable, this tour cemented The Rolling Stones as the kings of live rock—and let’s be honest, they’re still wearing the crown.
3. Queen – A Night at the Opera Tour 1975-76
Rock concerts had seen big personalities before, but Freddie Mercury wasn’t just a frontman—he was a spectacle. The A Night at the Opera Tour was an extravagant showcase of theatrical rock, blending symphonic grandeur with raw energy.
The world was just beginning to grasp Queen’s brilliance, and with “Bohemian Rhapsody” becoming a cultural phenomenon, this tour solidified their status as rock royalty. Every night was a jaw-dropping mix of operatic harmonies, thundering guitars, and Freddie’s legendary stage presence.
With lavish costumes, intricate lighting effects, and an air of unshakable confidence, Queen proved they weren’t just here to play music. They were here to put on a show.
4. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon Tour 1973
Pink Floyd didn’t just perform music—they built entire worlds on stage. Their 1973 tour supporting “The Dark Side of the Moon” was a mind-bending mix of psychedelic visuals, surreal soundscapes, and total immersion.
Fans weren’t just attending concerts; they were stepping into alternate dimensions crafted from trippy projections, cosmic lighting, and some of the most hypnotic music ever created.
This tour wasn’t just an event—it was an experience. And it forever changed the way live music was perceived.
5. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run Tour 1975
At a time when arena rock was all about excess, Bruce Springsteen went the other way—bringing heart, grit, and pure passion to the stage.
The Born to Run Tour turned every concert into an emotional journey, packed with storytelling, endless energy, and the kind of sweat-drenched performances that made fans feel like they were part of something real.
Clocking in at nearly four hours per show, Springsteen’s performances felt less like concerts and more like epic sagas of the American dream. He wasn’t just playing music—he was living it with his audience.
6. David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust Tour 1972-73
David Bowie didn’t just step on stage—he arrived from another planet.
The Ziggy Stardust Tour was a dazzling mix of glam rock, alien mythology, and pure theatrical genius. With otherworldly costumes, stunning set designs, and Bowie fully immersed in his Ziggy persona, this wasn’t just a concert—it was an extraterrestrial event.
Theatrics, storytelling, and some of the best music of the decade—this tour wasn’t just a success. It was a revolution.
7. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour 1973-74
By the mid-’70s, Elton John was a walking spectacle of sequins, feather boas, and musical brilliance. The Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour wasn’t just about performing—it was a full-blown Broadway-level production.
Every show was an explosion of flamboyant costumes, theatrical performances, and piano-playing wizardry that left audiences spellbound. With hits like Bennie and the Jets and Candle in the Wind, Elton turned the stage into a technicolor dreamscape.
This wasn’t just a tour—it was a dazzling, over-the-top celebration of music, style, and uncontainable energy. And let’s be honest, nobody does it like Elton.
8. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours Tour 1977-78
Few albums in history have had the raw emotion and undeniable magic of Rumours, and Fleetwood Mac’s legendary tour brought that same energy to the stage.
With Stevie Nicks twirling in her signature shawls, Lindsey Buckingham shredding with controlled chaos, and Christine McVie’s soothing vocals balancing it all, this tour was a rollercoaster of passion, heartbreak, and unparalleled musical chemistry.
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama (which only added to the mystique), Fleetwood Mac delivered unforgettable performances that cemented their legacy. To this day, the Rumours era remains the gold standard for rock band storytelling—on and off the stage.
9. The Who – Quadrophenia Tour 1973
No band embodied rebellion and raw energy quite like The Who, and their Quadrophenia Tour was the perfect storm of both.
With Pete Townshend’s windmill guitar swings, Roger Daltrey’s powerful vocals, and Keith Moon’s utterly chaotic drumming, this wasn’t just a concert—it was a riotous, eardrum-rattling rock opera.
While the tour was notorious for technical difficulties and band tensions, the sheer power and storytelling woven into every performance made it unforgettable. It set the stage (literally) for what a true rock concept album tour should be.
10. Bob Dylan – Rolling Thunder Revue 1975-76
Leave it to Bob Dylan to completely reinvent the idea of a concert tour. The Rolling Thunder Revue wasn’t a traditional tour—it was a traveling circus of music, poetry, and pure artistic experimentation.
Dylan surrounded himself with an ever-changing cast of musicians and performers, turning each stop into a spontaneous jam session rather than a predictable setlist. From Joan Baez to Joni Mitchell, legendary artists drifted in and out, making each night a unique and unrepeatable experience.
It was messy, unpredictable, and absolutely brilliant—exactly what you’d expect from Dylan at his most creatively fearless.
11. Jimi Hendrix – Cry of Love Tour 1970
By 1970, Jimi Hendrix was more than a musician—he was a guitar god walking among mortals. His Cry of Love Tour would be his last, but it was also one of his most transcendent series of performances.
With earth-shattering solos, psychedelic improvisations, and an energy that felt almost supernatural, Hendrix held audiences in the palm of his hand. Even when he barely spoke, his guitar told stories that words never could.
Though his life was cut tragically short, this tour proved that his genius was untouchable—and that no one has quite matched it since.
12. ABBA – European & Australian Tour 1977
If Fleetwood Mac brought the drama, ABBA brought the disco-fueled joy. Their 1977 tour was a glimmering, sparkly, feel-good pop spectacular that swept through Europe and Australia like a musical hurricane of happiness.
With flawless harmonies, perfectly synchronized choreography, and a setlist packed with infectious hits, this wasn’t just a concert—it was a full-blown pop extravaganza. Fans didn’t just listen to ABBA; they danced, sang, and celebrated along with them.
This tour proved that pop could be just as electrifying as rock—and ABBA has never stopped proving it since.
13. KISS – Alive! Tour 1975-76
KISS didn’t just perform concerts—they put on a rock and roll circus that left audiences breathless. Their Alive! Tour was nothing short of a fire-breathing, blood-spitting, guitar-smashing spectacle.
With face paint, pyrotechnics, and stage stunts that defied common sense, they took arena rock to insane new heights. Songs like Detroit Rock City and Rock and Roll All Nite turned every show into a full-blown party—with flames, fireworks, and more spandex than should legally be allowed.
Say what you want about KISS, but when it comes to turning a concert into an all-out event, they wrote the rulebook—and then set it on fire.