Wembley has a storied history of legendary gigs, and this summer alone Beyoncé, Rihanna and Billy Joel will perform some of the year’s biggest shows at the stadium. But only a few acts have played multiple shows in one run (like Coldplay earlier this year) since the venue reopened in 2007. Here are the acts that have performed historic, consecutive shows at the venue and etched themselves into Wembley folklore.
George Michael – June 2007
George Michael – June 2007
The ex-Wham! singer reopened the stadium with a pair of shows in June 2007. Bon Jovi were planned to be the first act to play at the new Wembley Stadium, but the shows were moved when construction of the stadium was delayed. Michael gladly took the honours though and opened the stadium to 172,000 enthused punters.
Muse – June 2007
Muse – June 2007
A few days later, Muse became the first rock band to play the renovated stadium and, with 180,000 tickets sold across two shows, were the first to completely sell-out the venue. Supported by My Chemical Romance and Biffy Clyro, the band’s legendary shows were immortalised in the CD/DVD ‘HAARP’, which showcased Matt Bellamy’s natty red suit in all its glory.
Foo Fighters – June 2008
Foo Fighters – June 2008
Off the back of their Number One album ‘Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace’, Dave Grohl’s band of merry men arrived at the stadium for two huge shows in June 2008. On night number two, Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones joined the stage for a jam of Zep’s ‘Rock and Roll’ and ‘Ramble On’ which was captured on their ‘Live At Wembley’ DVD.
Take That – July 2009 & June, July 2011
Take That – July 2009 & June, July 2011
The reformed boy band first played the stadium in July 2009 on their ‘The Circus’ tour, which culminated in four consecutive sold-out shows. Two years later in June and July 2011 and bolstered by the return of former member Robbie Williams, the band upped their game with an astonishing eight sell-outs. The 2011 run would form a part of the biggest selling UK tour ever, with 623,737 tickets sold across the eight dates.
Oasis – July 2009
Oasis – July 2009
On their final tour, the Manchester heroes descended on the London venue for three shows in July 2009. Backed by a supporting bill of Kasabian, The Enemy and Reverend and The Makers, the gigs were the final stadium shows they would play in the UK as talisman Noel Gallagher would permanently leave the group a month later.
U2 – August 2009
U2 – August 2009
As a part of their ‘360°’ tour, the Irish quartet played two sold-out shows at the venue in August 2009. The positioning of the stage in the centre of the stadium enabled the 82,000-strong crowd to see from all angles and the entire ‘360°’ tour went on to become the highest-attended set of shows in music history.
Coldplay – September 2009
Coldplay – September 2009
The Exeter lads first played the venue back in September 2009 with a pair of shows on their ‘Viva La Vida’ tour. At the time, the gigs were the biggest the group had ever played and the support acts reflected that, with Jay Z and Girls Aloud warming up the crowd.
Robbie Williams – June, July 2013
Robbie Williams – June, July 2013
The Take That singer returned on his own in 2013 with a whopping four shows at Wembley Stadium in support of studio album ‘Take The Crown’, released a year prior. The four shows, in addition to the eight he performed with Take That in 2011, means Williams has played the new stadium more than any other artist.
One Direction – June 2014
One Direction – June 2014
Before their hiatus the following year, the teenage heart-throbs played a trio of shows in June 2014 in support of their album ‘Midnight Memories’. 236,000 tickets were sold for the shows and the Wembley gigs became the final full concerts that Zayn Malik would play in the UK before leaving the group in 2015.
Eminem – July 2014
Eminem – July 2014
In July 2014, the hip-hop titan conquered Wembley with two sold-out shows, playing to 180,000 keen punters. To celebrate, he brought his old pal and mentor Dr. Dre out at both shows for storming renditions of Dre’s biggest hits, as well performing plenty of his own material in the 36-song set.
Ed Sheeran – July 2015
Ed Sheeran – July 2015
Following his immensely successful album ‘X’, Sheeran wowed fans with three sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium in July 2015. Earlier in the year, Noel Gallagher said of the shows, “I don’t think I can live in a world where that’s even possible”, but was later won round by free tickets to the show for himself and his daughter.
