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'''25 Live''' is a [[concert tour]] by [[England|English]] singer / songwriter [[George Michael]]. The tour grossed a total of over $170 million in September 2008. Especially in [[Europe]], where all shows has been sold out quickly.
'''25 Live''' is a [[concert tour]] by [[England|English]] singer / songwriter [[George Michael]]. The tour grossed a total of over $170 million in September 2008. In [[Europe]], all shows has been sold out quickly.


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 13:22, 19 September 2008

25 Live
Tour by George Michael
Associated albumTwentyFive
Start dateSeptember 23 2006
End dateAugust 30 2008
Legs3
No. of shows90
George Michael concert chronology

25 Live is a concert tour by English singer / songwriter George Michael. The tour grossed a total of over $170 million in September 2008. In Europe, all shows has been sold out quickly.

History

It is George Michael's first in over 15 years. The tour, running for 50 dates, began in Barcelona, Spain on September 23 and was originally to be ended at Wembley Arena in London, England in December, but—due to great feedback from fans—continued into 2007 providing more gigs throughout Europe, concluding in Belfast. The tour is described as "a celebration of his 25-year career in music", and was accompanied by a Greatest Hits album, released in late 2006. The news of the tour came amid increased media speculation about Michael's personal life, in particular his drug use and sex life. After the success of the autumn leg, new shows were added for summer 2007, in large arenas and stadiums. Popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor was announced as the supporting act for 6 of the 8 UK shows. She will not open the show at Wembley Stadium as George is to be the first artist ever to play in the new stadium.

On March 25 2008 a Third Leg of the 25 LIVE Tour was announced for North America. This leg included 21 dates in the United States and Canada. This was Michael's first tour of North America in 17 years. The tour coincided with the April 1 2008 release of his new Greatest Hits album.

The tour ended with two concerts at Earls Court in London named The Final Two. Wham! fans would recognise the reference to Wham!’s last gig at Wembley Arena in London in 1986, The Final. Another final concert was later announced. The concert was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on August 30 and called The Final One.

Ticket Sales

Ticket sales in the UK and Europe have been brisk. Within two hours of initial sales, 240,000 tickets were snatched up by eager fans. First to sell out were UK shows in London’s Wembley Arena and Earls Court as well as Birmingham’s NEC Arena and Manchester’s MEN Arena. The large capacity Manchester Evening News Arena show sold out within minutes, and the two 25 Live dates added to the venue were sold out by lunchtime. To meet demand, 14 gigs were added to the tour, including three additional shows in London alone. George Michael's dates around Europe were met with equally extraordinary enthusiasm. In Norway, the Oslo show at the Spektrum sold out in an hour and a half. In Copenhagen, 49,000 tickets sold out at the Parken venue in just 3 hrs. The first Rotterdam concert at Ahoy Arena sold out in a mere 6 minutes, and the second saw tickets vanish in 16 minutes. In fact, a third Rotterdam show was added by popular demand that also sold out in 16 minutes. This unprecedented response has stood out as the fastest sell of tickets ever experienced by Barrie Marshall, whose London-based promotion firm, Marshall Arts Limited, has been promoting shows for 30 years. George Michael’s 47-date European tour kicks off on September 23rd in Barcelona, culminating with four dates at London’s Wembley Arena.

The 25 LIVE tour broke several ticket sales records, most notably in Copenhagen. Michael's concert at The Parken Stadium sold over 50,000 tickets in the matter of minutes, shattering the previous ticket sales record at the venue, formerly held by U2.

Although ticket sales had been slow in North America, every venue was sold out in time for the concert. For a period of 25 hours during the week leading up to the Los Angeles Show on June 25, 2008, tickets were sold for a promotional price of $25.00 (down from $95) in celebration of George Michael's birthday, June 25, 1963.

All the tickets for the final two and the finale one sold out in one single day!

The Finals

On June 11 2008 2 dates were added, titled "The two final", taking place in Earls Court, London on August 24 and August 25, 2008. These concerts will be filmed for an upcoming 25 Live DVD release.

On June 30 2008 George Michael announces one last show in Copenhagen at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium on August 30th. This special performance, titled The Final One, will allow Michael to say thank you to his loyal fans, not only in Scandinavia, but also across Europe.

These concerts will be the last time George Michael will embark on extensive touring.

Setlist

First Leg Setlist

  1. "Waiting (Reprise)"
  2. "Flawless (Go to the City)"
  3. "Fastlove"
  4. "Father Figure"
  5. "Star People '97"
  6. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
  7. "Praying for Time"
  8. "Too Funky"
  9. "You Have Been Loved"
  10. "Everything She Wants"
  11. "My Mother Had a Brother"
  12. "Shoot the Dog"
    Break
  13. "Faith"
  14. "Spinning the Wheel"
  15. "Jesus to a Child"
  16. "An Easier Affair"
  17. "A Different Corner"
  18. "Amazing"
  19. "I'm Your Man"
  20. "Outside
    Encore
  21. "Careless Whisper"
  22. "Freedom 90"

Second Leg Setlist

  1. "Waiting"
  2. "Flawless (Go to the City)"
  3. "Fastlove"
  4. "Precious Box"
  5. "Father Figure"
  6. "Everything She Wants"
  7. "Ticking"
  8. "Praying For Time"
  9. "Too Funky"
  10. "Star People"
  11. "Shoot The Dog"
    Break
  12. "Faith"
  13. "Spinning the Wheel"
  14. "An Easier Affair"
  15. "Jesus To A Child"
  16. "Amazing"
  17. "I'm Your Man"
  18. "Outside"
    Encore
  19. "Careless Whisper"
  20. "Freedom '90"

Third Leg Setlist

  1. "Waiting (Reprise)"
  2. "Fastlove"
  3. "I'm Your Man"
  4. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
  5. "Father Figure"
  6. "Hard Day"
  7. "Everything She Wants"
  8. "One More Try"
  9. "A Different Corner"
  10. "An Easier Affair"
  11. "Too Funky"
  12. "Star People '97"
    Break
  13. "Faith"
  14. "Feeling Good"
  15. "Roxanne"
  16. "Spinning the Wheel"
  17. "Kissing a Fool"
  18. "Amazing"
  19. "Flawless (Go to the City)"
  20. "Outside
  21. "Praying For Time"
    Encore
  22. "Careless Whisper"
  23. "Freedom 90"

The Finals Setlist

  1. "Waiting (Reprise)"
  2. "Fastlove"
  3. "I'm Your Man"
  4. "Father Figure"
  5. "You Have Been Loved"
  6. "Everything She Wants"
  7. "Precious Box"
  8. "One More Try"
  9. "Jesus To A Child"
  10. "An Easier Affair"
  11. "Too Funky"
  12. "Shoot The Dog"
    Break
  13. "Faith"
  14. "Spinning the Wheel"
  15. "Feeling Good"
  16. "Roxanne"
  17. "My Mother Had a Brother"
  18. "Kissing a Fool"
  19. "Amazing"
  20. "Flawless"
  21. "Fantacy"
  22. "Outside"
    Encore
  23. "Careless Whisper"
  24. "Freedom 90"

Personnel

The band

  • George Michael - vocals
  • Chris Cameron - musical director/arranger
  • Lea Mullen - percussion
  • Phil Palmer - guitars
  • Andy Hamilton - sax, keyboards, Ewi
  • Steve Walters - bass
  • Mike Brown - guitars
  • Carlos Hercules - drums
  • Graham Kearns - guitars
  • Luke Smith - keyboards
  • Shirley Lewis - backing vocals
  • Jay Henry - backing vocals
  • Lincoln Jean-Marie - backing vocals
  • Lori Perry - backing vocals
  • Sharon Perry - backing vocals
  • Lucy Jules - backing vocals

Management and production

  • Michael Lippman - artist manager
  • Andy Stephens - artist manager
  • Ken Watts - tour director
  • Looloo Murphy - GM tour manager
  • Sharon Ashley - band tour manager
  • Ronnie Franklin - security consultant
  • Mark Spring - production manager
  • Lisa Johnson - assistant tour director
  • Scott Chase - stage manager
  • James Kelly - show manager
  • Willie Williams - video staging designer and director
  • Vince Foster - set and lighting design and operator
  • Andy Bramley - video director
  • Barrie Marshall and Doris Dixon - agents

Promoters

Tour dates

First leg

Date City Country Venue
23 September 2006 Barcelona Spain Palau Sant Jordi
26 September 2006 Madrid Spain Palacio de Deportes
29 September 2006 Toulouse France Zenith de Toulouse
30 September 2006 Toulon France Zenith Omega
2 October 2006 Lyon France Halle Tony Garnier
5 October 2006 Milan Italy Forum Milano
6 October 2006 Milan Italy Forum Milano
9 October 2006 Paris France Bercy
10 October 2006 Paris France Bercy
13 October 2006 Amneville-Metz France Galaxie
14 October 2006 Stuttgart Germany Schleyerhalle
16 October 2006 Leipzig Germany Leipzig Arena
17 October 2006 Oberhausen Germany Oberhausen Arena
20 October 2006 Gothenburg Sweden Scandanavium
21 October 2006 Oslo Norway Spektrum
22 October 2006 Stockholm Sweden Globen
25 October 2006 Frankfurt Germany Festhalle
26 October 2006 Zurich Switzerland Hallenstadion
29 October 2006 Munich Germany Olympiahalle
1 November 2006 Rotterdam Netherlands Ahoy
2 November 2006 Rotterdam Netherlands Ahoy
4 November 2006 Rotterdam Netherlands Ahoy
6 November 2006 Berlin Germany Veldrom
7 November 2006 Hamburg Germany Color Line Arena
9 November 2006 Mannheim Germany SAP Arena
11 November 2006 Copenhagen Denmark Parken
13 November 2006 Koln Germany Kolnarena
14 November 2006 Antwerp Belgium Sports Paleis
17 November 2006 Manchester England MEN Arena
18 November 2006 Manchester England MEN Arena
21 November 2006 Manchester England MEN Arena
22 November 2006 Glasgow Scotland SECC Arena
25 November 2006 London England Earls Court
26 November 2006 London England Earls Court
28 November 2006 London England Earls Court
02 December 2006 Birmingham England NEC Arena
03 December 2006 Birmingham England NEC Arena
04 December 2006 Birmingham England NEC Arena
07 December 2006 Dublin Ireland The Point
08 December 2006 Dublin Ireland The Point
11 December 2006 London England Wembley Arena
12 December 2006 London England Wembley Arena
14 December 2006 London England Wembley Arena
15 December 2006 London England Wembley Arena

Second leg

Date City Country Venue
12 May 2007 Coimbra Portugal Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
18 May 2007 Aarhus Denmark NRGi Park
19 May 2007 Aarhus Denmark NRGi Park
23 May 2007 Budapest Hungary Stadium Puskás Ferenc
25 May 2007 Bratislava Slovakia Inter Football Stadium
28 May 2007 Sofia Bulgaria Lokomotiv Stadium
31 May 2007 Bucharest Romania Lia Manoliu
02 June 2007 Prague Czech Republic Strahov Stadium
06 June 2007 Dublin Ireland RDS Arena
07 June 2007 Dublin Ireland RDS Arena
09 June 2007 London England Wembley Stadium
10 June 2007 London England Wembley Stadium
12 June 2007 Norwich England Carrow Road
15 June 2007 Manchester England City of Manchester Stadium
17 June 2007 Glasgow Scotland Hampden Park
19 June 2007 Plymouth England Home Park
22 June 2007 Paris France Stade de France
23 June 2007 Werchter Belgium Werchter Open Air Park
26 June 2007 Amsterdam Netherlands Amsterdam ArenA
29 June 2007 Stockholm Sweden Globe Arena
01 July 2007 Helsinki Finland Hartwall Arena
05 July 2007 Moscow Russia Olympisky Stadium
09 July 2007 Kyiv Ukraine Olympic Stadium
11 July 2007 Warsaw Poland Służewiec
13 July 2007 Vienna Austria Stadthalle
15 July 2007 Nurnberg Germany EasyCredit-Stadion
17 July 2007 Padua Italy Stadio Plebiscito
19 July 2007 Lucca Italy Stadium
21 July 2007 Rome Italy Stadio Olimpico
26 July 2007 Athens Greece OAKA Olympic Stadium
4 August 2007 Belfast Northern Ireland Odyssey Arena

Third leg

Date City Country Venue
17 June 2008 San Diego United States San Diego Sports Arena
19 June 2008 San Jose United States HP Pavilion
21 June 2008 Las Vegas United States MGM Grand Garden Arena
22 June 2008 Phoenix United States U.S. Airways Center
25 June 2008 Los Angeles United States The Forum
27 June 2008 Anaheim United States Honda Center
02 July 2008 Seattle United States KeyArena
04 July 2008 Vancouver Canada General Motors Place
07 July 2008 Saint Paul United States XCEL Energy Center
09 July 2008 Chicago United States United Center
13 July 2008 Dallas United States American Airlines Center
14 July 2008 Houston United States Toyota Center
17 July 2008 Toronto Canada Air Canada Centre
18 July 2008 Montreal Canada Bell Centre
21 July 2008 New York City United States Madison Square Garden
23 July 2008 New York City United States Madison Square Garden
26 July 2008 Philadelphia United States Wachovia Center
27 July 2008 Boston United States TD Banknorth Garden
29 July 2008 Washington United States Verizon Center
31 July 2008 Atlanta United States Philips Arena
02 August 2008 Tampa United States Times Forum
03 August 2008 Fort Lauderdale United States BankAtlantic Center

The Finals

Date City Country Venue
24 August, 2008 London England Earls Court
25 August, 2008 London England Earls Court
30 August, 2008 Copenhagen Denmark Parken Stadium

Critical Reception

The tour received positive reviews, with praise for the set list and all over production of the show.

Features

  • 25 Live Tour features the first time a 3000 piece LED screen has been used.
  • 25 Live Tour features a three dimensional video wall. The video screen isn't just a backdrop to the stage, it also lies on the stage surface. Paul McCartney used a similar concept in his 2005 US Tour.
  • 25 Live tour features the first time that motion tracking comes from the artist to video.
  • 25 Live Tour features the first time 490 frequency channels are transmitted to the audio mixing board, producing dynamic, richer sound for the performance
  • 25 Live Tour features the first time that on-screen visuals respond to the musicians performing.

Trivia

  • On December 31, 2006 George Michael was paid $3 million for a 75 minute private concert in Moscow, Russia, which made him the highest paid entertainer in Russian history.[1]
  • George Michael became the first music artist to perform at the new Wembley Stadium when he played two shows at the venue on June 9, 2007 and June 10, 2007 during his 25 Live tour.[2]
  • During his concert in Sofia, Bulgaria George Michael devoted to the Bulgarian nurses prosecuted in the HIV trial in Libya.[3]
  • On June 17, 2008 George Michael launched the NA leg of his final world tour by congratulating lawmakers for legalising gay marriage in California.[4]
  • On June 25, 2008, during the L.A. concert, George celebrated his 45th birthday. The band played "Happy Birthday," while Bo Derek walked on stage with a huge birthday cake.
  • On July 27, 2008, George Michael's concert at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA was delayed 1 1/2 hours due to weather conditions and flight delays. He later apologized for the delay and despite the holdup, played a full 3 hour set.

References

Notes

  1. ^ George Michael - Michael 'Highest Paid Performer In Russian History'
  2. ^ Wembley Stadium - Press Releases
  3. ^ Bulgaria: George Michael: Free Bulgaria's Nurses in Libya!
  4. ^ George Michael - Michael Thrilled About Same-Sex Marriages
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=25_Live&oldid=239556791"