What was the biggest ever concert in the world, that is to say, the one with the biggest crowd?

rxbigdawg

"Heavy metal day" May 29, 1983 had a record crowd of 375,000 people in San Bernadino California. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Festival "Widespread Panic" gave posibly the largest free concert. They preformed in the streets of downtown Athens, Georgia on April 18th, 1998. It was estimated that over 100,000 people attended with no crime and no arrests. Very cool show, I was there. http://www.widespreadpanic.com/interview_detail.php?id=211&type=2 Apr 11 08, 4:00 PM

BRY2K

The largest PAYING audience ever attracted by a solo performer was an estimated 180,000–184,000, in the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at a Paul McCartney concert held on April 21, 1990. http://www.mccartney.dk/472944 Apr 11 08, 4:13 PM

Arpeggionist

Didn't Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic once do a concert in NYC for an audience of over one million? And didn't Paul Simon also give a concert with similar numbers in attendance? Apr 11 08, 4:19 PM

triviapaul

My hometown of Den Haag (local pride here) hosts Parkpop every year. It is touted as the world's largest free concert and draws crowds of about 350,000 every year (depending on the weather). 2002 had 400,000 people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkpop Chronology: 1969 Woodstock, 400,000 spectators 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen: 600,000 1981 Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park: 500,000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_Festival http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Jam_at_Watkins_Glen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_%26_Garfunkel#Subsequent_careers Apr 11 08, 4:43 PM

HeavensArrow

Several sites I saw mentioned Live Aid 8 as the largest..here is one of those links.. Millions rally to Live 8 concert call Jul 3, 2005 4:55 PM More than a million people jammed Live 8 venues around the globe on Saturday as a galaxy of rock stars staged the world's biggest concert to pressure rich nations into doing more for the poor. The biggest concert was in Philadelphia where up to a million people crammed the streets as people power rose up at 10 separate gigs across four continents. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/595642/ Apr 11 08, 4:44 PM

triviapaul

Another website without references has this list: 1. Rod Stewart at Copacabana Beach [3,500,000] 2. New York Philharmonic in Central Park [800,000] 3. Garth Brooks in Central Park [750,000] 4. Steve Wozniak's 1983 US Festival [670,000] 5. Summer Jam at Watkins Glen [600,000+] 6. Isle of Wight Festival [600,000] 7. Simon & Garfunkel in Central Park [500,000] 8. Toronto SARS Benefit [450,000] 9. Woodstock 1969 [400,000] 10. Blockbuster RockFest 1997 [385,000] The first item on the list seems to be genuine, making Rod Stewart's Copacabana gig the biggest ever concert, with 3.5 million spectators. "Stewart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. On 31st December on the same year he played in front on 3.5 million people on Copacabana Beach in Rio. This became and still is the largest audience for a gig ever. It has been noted, however, that it was also New Year's Eve." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Stewart#1982.E2.80.932001 This one counted 4.2 million people http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/rod-stewart Apr 11 08, 4:49 PM

headshooter

Paris La Defense - Une Ville En Concert was a concert held by musician Jean Michel Jarre on the district of La Defense Paris on Bastille Day, July 14, 1990. About 2.5 million people standing in front of the pyramidical stage all the way down to the Arc de Triomphe witnessed this event, setting a new Guinness Book of Records entry for Jarre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_la_Defense Jarre was invited for a concert celebrating the 850th birthday of Moscow. His largest concert up-to-date, with 3.5 million people attending, was held on September 6, 1997. A VHS tape was released in the USA in 1998 and NTSC DVDs were released in Brazil and USA in 2000. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jean_Michel_Jarre_concerts Apr 11 08, 5:12 PM