Bowie Leads Mid-Year Touring Grosses
Thu Jul 15, 2004 02:38 PM ET
By Ray Waddell
NASHVILLE (Billboard) – David Bowie’s A Reality tour of North America was the top-grossing trek for the first half of 2004, according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore.
The veteran rock artist grossed $45.4 million from 82 shows that drew 722,158 fans.
Bowie was recently forced to cancel the final 10 dates on the European leg of the tour. At the time it was said he was suffering from a pinched nerve. Shortly after, he underwent emergency heart surgery for a blocked artery.
Other top tours for the period included Bette Midler ($40 million), Simon & Garfunkel ($36 million), Shania Twain ($34 million), Prince ($26 million), Rod Stewart ($25 million), Metallica ($22 million), Beyonce/Alicia Keys/Missy Elliott ($19 million), Britney Spears ($19 million) and George Strait ($16 million).
The numbers reflect box-office figures between Nov. 19, 2003, and May 18, 2004.
