Most Popular Rock and Metal Touring Artists of the Last 25 Years

These road warriors have sold over 2 billion tickets combined in the new millennium

Since the new millennium, several of the biggest rock and metal acts around have been some of the most popular touring artists on the planet. While the list of the Top 25 most popular road warriors since 2000 includes the likes of Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Kenny Chesney, and Madonna, a bulk of the list are rock and metal artists. From amphitheaters to stadiums, these acts have sold old a staggering amount of tickets over the last quarter century. Check out the full list below, ranked by the most number of tickets sold.

16. Depeche Mode

Shows: 476
Tickets Sold: 8,747,699
Average Tickets Sold: 18,378
Average Ticket Price: $81.82
Average Gross: $1,503,610
Total Gross: $715,718,222

15. Billy Joel

Shows: 427
Tickets Sold: 8,954,114
Average Tickets Sold: 20,970
Average Ticket Price: $120.90
Average Gross: $2,535,341
Total Gross: $1,082,590,705

14. Paul McCartney

Shows: 402
Tickets Sold: 9,395,158
Average Tickets Sold: 23,371
Average Ticket Price: $140.30
Average Gross: $3,278,800
Total Gross: $1,318,109,785

13. Roger Waters

Shows: 578
Tickets Sold: 9,775,290
Average Tickets Sold: 16,912
Average Ticket Price: $101.72
Average Gross: $1,720,241
Total Gross: $994,299,274

12. Iron Maiden

Shows: 620
Tickets Sold: 10,070,915
Average Tickets Sold: 16,243
Average Ticket Price: $71.16
Average Gross: $1,155,870
Total Gross: $716,693,584

11. Phish

Shows: 657
Tickets Sold: 10,221,068
Average Tickets Sold: 15,557
Average Ticket Price: $70.69
Average Gross: $1,099,689
Total Gross: $722,495,838

10. Eagles

Shows: 775
Tickets Sold: 10,223,831
Average Tickets Sold: 13,192
Average Ticket Price: $158.92
Average Gross: $2,096,515
Total Gross: $1,624,798,945

9. Guns N’ Roses

Shows: 486
Tickets Sold: 10,733,957
Average Tickets Sold: 22,086
Average Ticket Price: $102.06
Average Gross: $2,254,031
Total Gross: $1,095,459,196

8. The Rolling Stones

Shows: 341
Tickets Sold: 12,569,802
Average Tickets Sold: 36,862
Average Ticket Price: $162.96
Average Gross: $6,007,041
Total Gross: $2,048,400,862

7. Elton John

Shows: 1,242
Tickets Sold: 13,840,415
Average Tickets Sold: 11,144
Average Ticket Price: $127.51
Average Gross: $1,420,960
Total Gross: $1,746,832,667

6. Bon Jovi

Shows: 587
Tickets Sold: 13,904,391
Average Tickets Sold: 23,687
Average Ticket Price: $92.51
Average Gross: $2,191,230
Total Gross: $1,286,252,048

5. Metallica

Shows: 562
Tickets Sold: 15,567,194
Average Tickets Sold: 27,700
Average Ticket Price: $93.56
Average Gross: $2,591,459
Total Gross: $1,456,399,805

4. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Shows: 721
Tickets Sold: 18,622,566
Average Tickets Sold: 25,829
Average Ticket Price: $108.29
Average Gross: $2,796,964
Total Gross: $2,016,611,312

3. Dave Matthews Band

Shows: 1,171
Tickets Sold: 19,552,586
Average Tickets Sold: 16,697
Average Ticket Price: $57.62
Average Gross: $962,179
Total Gross: $1,126,711,752

2. U2

Shows: 594
Tickets Sold: 20,216,314
Average Tickets Sold: 34,034
Average Ticket Price: $108.19
Average Gross: $3,682,114
Total Gross: $2,187,175,842

1. Coldplay

Shows: 731
Tickets Sold: 24,805,126
Average Tickets Sold: 33,933
Average Ticket Price: $100.23
Average Gross: $3,401,273
Total Gross: $2,486,330,250

Best by the Numbers

Most Shows Played: Elton John – 1,242
Most Tickets Sold: Coldplay – 24,805,126
Highest Average Tickets Sold: The Rolling Stones – 36,862
Highest Average Ticket Price: The Rolling Stones – $162.96
Lowest Average Ticket Price: Dave Matthews Band – $57.62
Highest Average Gross: U2 – $3,682,114
Highest Total Gross: Coldplay – $2,486,330,250