The most you’ve ever paid for a gig?

[Hugh Jass II]

Some interesting chat on the headliners thread about pricing for the Madonna gigs and didn’t want to derail the thread, but what is the most people have ever paid for a single gig?

These days to see anyone big you’ll be looking at 100 sheets but I remember in 2001 when I was 19 paying a tout about £150 to see Oasis at Manchester Apollo. Makes me wince just thinking about it.

[Chef]

5 minutes ago, Hugh Jass II said:

Some interesting chat on the headliners thread about pricing for the Madonna gigs and didn’t want to derail the thread, but what is the most people have ever paid for a single gig?

These days to see anyone big you’ll be looking at 100 sheets but I remember in 2001 when I was 19 paying a tout about £150 to see Oasis at Manchester Apollo. Makes me wince just thinking about it.

£259 in todays money with inflation! Tbh, if there was a reunion I'd pay that.

Most I've gone is £120 for the Rolling Stones last year at Hyde Park. 

[Beerqueen]

I think I paid £130 to see the Stones about 5 years ago.  It was very much a "now or never" type thing and although it was good, it wasn't the best I'd been to.  Nowadays I swerve big arena gigs and would rather go and see small bands in a pub!

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

Think I paid just over £100 for System of a Down at Wembley Arena in 2015. It would take something monumental to beat that for a standalone gig for me nowadays 

[Crazyfool01]

£100 ish for my first and possibly only stadium gig in Cardiff in the summer … Coldplay 

[Suprefan]

Other than $200 for the Radiohead Haiti benefit show in 2010 I havent crossed $200 usd  for one ticket even in the current overpriced climate. Hovered around $150 - $175 a few times though. 

[Hugh Jass II]

6 minutes ago, Chef said:

£259 in todays money with inflation! Tbh, if there was a reunion I'd pay that.

Wouldn’t even get you a decent view for Madonna.

[moogster]

I'm guessing about 100 quids X 2 to see two Prince shows in one evening . In a relatively small venue. Very worth it. 

[1986]

Record was Fleetwood Mac in Berlin at around £150 in June 2019, not counting the holiday it turned into to go there. 

Record smashed by this summers Springsteen BST Golden Circle tickets at a completely reasonable £200 each. 

The occasional person I read on here who says Glasto isn't good value is very silly.

[Padjeq]

£95 for Springsteen next summer, general standing.

Actually just checked and Def Leppard/Motley Crue for next summer general standing was £95 and 20 pence!

Never bought from a tout.

[nikkic]

I don’t think think I’ve ever paid 3 figures for a ticket. 

Took my Dad (who is a big fan), Mum and wife to see Rod Stewart for his birthday a few years back and the tickets were £90 a pop. 

[Gnomicide]

About £60+ for a Paolo Nutini arena gig this year. I don't go to many arena shows anymore I can't remember the last Stadium gig I went to. I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices, it means I've missed out on gigs I'd love to go to (Stones recently, Springsteen and Blur this year) but add on travel costs, probable need for accommodation and it's just nuts.

I understand that with streaming paying a pittance and physical sales not being huge, touring is the only way acts can make serious money these days but prices like those Madonna ones are greed, pure and simple greed.

[henry bear]

Will never admit to anyone how much I paid (especially Mrs b 😬), but I did pay a lot to see Led Zeppelin's O2 show, having missed out via the ballot. No regrets though, that was an almighty bucket list event for me, and probably the only opportunity for me to see them. 

[sisco]

The Rolling Stones @ Hyde park.  Think it was about £110.  Most of the stadiums, BST etc… are all getting to the £80 - £125 minimum so expecting to pay that more over the coming years. 

[nikkic]

1 minute ago, henry bear said:

Will never admit to anyone how much I paid (especially Mrs b 😬), but I did pay a lot to see Led Zeppelin's O2 show, having missed out via the ballot. No regrets though, that was an almighty bucket list event for me, and probably the only opportunity for me to see them. 

Worth every penny if you enjoyed it! 

Edited January 19, 2023 by nikkic

[dreams_burn_down]

£100-ish for Springsteen and Blur this summer. Not something I want to get in the habit of!

It wasn't even so long ago that breaking the £30 barrier felt significant. Now you have bands like Flaming Lips and Suede charging £50+ with no hesitation. Hell, I paid £40 for a Turnstile ticket a few weeks ago! That must be the most expensive hardcore gig of all time....

[Matt42]

Think just under £100 mark.

I’m not a fan of seated gigs and I tend to avoid them. No standing no Matty.

[BenG92]

100 for Tool last year but I also paid 40 to be in their fan club for first access to tickets. So 140 but two of us went which halves the cost of the 40? I dunno. 

Worth every penny at the time to get 5th row. Wouldn't bother again having done it once as you miss so much of the visual show being that close. Will still pay whatever when they tour again but that's only because they're personal favourites. 

[circus92]

None available when I got through - probably did me a favour as they are crazy prices!

[Skip997]

Not sure TBH, but I think it was probably the £25 I paid to see Ozric Tentacles and Gong last year, which is the same as I paid for Glastonbury 1985.

Other than that, £14 Stone Roses at Spike Island, £9 Queen in 1982, £10 David Bowie 1983, £11 Bob Dylan Newcastle 1984

[Claire96]

I've had a couple gigs in the £110-area bought for me as Christmas/Birthday gifts, but personally the most I've spent is £90-odd on Muse last year in London. 

[circus92]

Most was Coldplay at Wembley last year - £115 x 4 + flights to London and accommodation for 4!

[anditmakesmesmile]

i really wanted to go see Anderson .Paak, but when the tour was announced the only London date was Ally Pally. I live in South West London and that journey to Muswell Hill is the worst... so I bought tickets to see him in Dublin instead. It wasnt so much the concert tickets but the cost of a weekend break on top!

[Ayrshire Chris]

23 minutes ago, henry bear said:

Will never admit to anyone how much I paid (especially Mrs b 😬), but I did pay a lot to see Led Zeppelin's O2 show, having missed out via the ballot. No regrets though, that was an almighty bucket list event for me, and probably the only opportunity for me to see them. 

Yes, I paid a whole quid to see Led Zeppelin 

[Chef]

25 minutes ago, henry bear said:

Will never admit to anyone how much I paid (especially Mrs b 😬), but I did pay a lot to see Led Zeppelin's O2 show, having missed out via the ballot. No regrets though, that was an almighty bucket list event for me, and probably the only opportunity for me to see them. 

My mate missed out in the ballot but was offered a ticket for £1000. He turned it down thinking they would go on to do some sort of tour and now its one of his biggest regrets...