Queen's iconic Live Aid performance has been crowned the gig Brits most wish they'd seen live, according to a new poll by tech company Tools for Humanity. Taylor Swift's blockbuster Eras Tour was the highest-ranked modern concert in the survey, with fans also dreaming of seeing Oasis at Knebworth, Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, and Nirvana's MTV Unplugged set.
Top Missed Gigs Revealed
Michael Jackson's Dangerous World Tour came second to Freddie Mercury's 1985 Wembley performance, while The Beatles' famous rooftop concert in London completed the top three. Oasis' record-breaking Knebworth shows in 1996 ranked fourth, ahead of Nirvana's famous MTV Unplugged performance in New York. Pink Floyd's The Wall tour, Madonna's Blonde Ambition Tour, and The Rolling Stones' Hyde Park gig also featured among the dream concerts.
The poll found that more than one in five gig goers said the stress of securing tickets takes enjoyment out of live music. Nearly three quarters said concert tickets are now too expensive, while more than three in four have missed out on gigs because of soaring prices or lengthy online queues.
Ticket Buying Challenges
Dynamic pricing, bots, and ticket touts are all blamed for making things worse. The average fan now spends three hours a year waiting in online queues in the hope of securing seats for their favourite artists. But almost a third believe automated bots snap up tickets before genuine music lovers get the chance.
Tiago Sada, of Tools for Humanity, said: "These aren't just concerts. They're shared human experiences that become part of our collective culture."
Top 20 Most Missed Gigs
- Queen at Live Aid (1985) - 42%
- Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour (1992-1993) - 26%
- The Beatles rooftop concert at Apple Corps headquarters (1969) - 22%
- Oasis at Knebworth (1996) - 17%
- Nirvana performing at MTV Unplugged in New York (1993) - 15%
- Pink Floyd’s The Wall Live tour (1980-1981) - 14%
- Jimi Hendrix performing at Woodstock (1969) - 14%
- Madonna’s Blonde Ambition Tour (1990) - 14%
- The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park (1969) - 14%
- Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour (2023-2024) - 14%
- Beyonce performing at Coachella ‘Beychella’ (2018) - 13%
- Lady Gaga’s The Monster Ball Tour (2009-2011) - 12%
- Johnny Cash at Folsom State Prison (1968) - 12%
- Rod Stewart at Copacabana Beach (1994) - 11%
- Bruce Springsteen at the Hammersmith Odeon (1975) - 11%
- Led Zeppelin performing at Madison Square Garden (1973) - 11%
- Arctic Monkeys at Glastonbury (2013) - 10%
- The Prodigy at the Phoenix Festival (1996) - 10%
- Prince performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2007 - 10%
- U2 at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre (1983) - 10%
