heart’s ann and nancy wilson<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 12 (Tie). .38 Special: 73 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to releasing Milestone<\/em><\/a>, their first new album in over 20 years, .38 Special<\/a> kept busy on the road in 2025, performing 73 shows. “When you’re reintroducing yourself to the world, ‘good enough’ doesn’t work anymore,” co-founder Don Barnes said of the new record. “If you’re gonna do it, you might as well go big.” The same thinking seems to have applied to their tour schedule.<\/p>\n Jason Kempin, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> Read More: Which Classic Rock Acts Played the Most Concerts in 2024? <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 11. Rod Stewart: 74 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the fact that his current tour is named ‘One Last Time,” Rod Stewart<\/a> doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He played 74 shows in 2025, up from 50 the previous year. That included a Glastonbury set with his former bandmate Ronnie Wood<\/a>, at which he was honored with his own leopard-skin toilet<\/a>. And the fun’s not over, as Stewart has already extended the ‘One Last Time’ tour into 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jason Kempin, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 10. Foreigner: 77 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n It was a year of transitions for Foreigner<\/a>, as longtime singer Kelly Hansen retired from the band at the end of their summer tour.<\/a>\u00a0However, three years into what was originally planned as the group’s farewell tour, the band changed course, promoting multi-instrumentalist Luis Maldonado to a new role as their lead singer and canceling their retirement.<\/p>\n To make things even more exciting, original singer Lou Gramm<\/a> has been accompanying Foreigner on tour in a guest starring role. The band has already announced some big plans for 2026, including a string of orchestral shows and a tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lou Gramm and Foreigner<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 9. Kansas: 78 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n 2025 was a rather hectic year for Kansas<\/a>. Singer \/ keyboardist Ronnie Platt endured a (successful!) battle with cancer<\/a>, guitarist Rich Williams was forced to reduce his tour schedule<\/a> due to a serious eye issue, and drummer Phil Ehart was still recovering from a major 2024 heart attack. But the band carried on, retooling their lineup and performing 78 shows – including one very special reunion concert <\/a>– before confirming more dates for 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ronnie Platt of Kansas<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 8. The Darkness: 79 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n After releasing another typically exciting new album, Dreams on Toast<\/em><\/a>, the Darkness<\/a> hit the road hard, performing 79 shows in 2025. That included a November show in Austin, Texas<\/a> which led our reviewer to declare them “one of the best purveyors of killer riffs and arena-sized hooks in the business.”<\/p>\n the darkness live in austin, texas<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 7. Styx: 80 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n Styx<\/a>, as usual, maintained one of the busiest tour schedules in classic rock this year, racking up 80 shows. What’s different now is that they’re almost as busy in the studio as well. After going 12 years without releasing a new album, this year’s Circling From Above<\/em><\/a> was their third release since 2017.<\/p>\n Tommy Shaw of Styx<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 6. Bob Dylan: 82 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n Bob Dylan<\/a> turned 84 in 2025, and almost matched that number with an 82-date tour schedule. He’s now entering the sixth year of the Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour, which features a set list dominated by songs from his 2020 album of the same name<\/a>.\u00a0 He’ll be back on the road again in March, with 27 2026 dates<\/a> already on the books.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 5. Cheap Trick: 83 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n Cheap Trick<\/a> rang up another typically busy year in 2025, performing 83 shows including what was billed as a Japanese farewell tour<\/a>. They also released a new album with the self-deprecating title All Washed Up<\/a><\/em> – although the music proved they are anything but. They’ll be back on the road in 2026, both headlining<\/a> and alongside Styx<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cheap Trick<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 4. Alice Cooper: 93 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n Age ain’t nothing but a number to 77-year-old Alice Cooper<\/a>, who reunited with the surviving members of the original Alice Cooper group for a terrific new album ( The Revenge of Alice Cooper<\/em><\/a>, his fourth in eight years) and took his red-hot touring band out for 93 dates in 2025.<\/p>\n In addition to plotting new solo and Alice Cooper group albums<\/a>, the king of theatrical hard rock is already filling in his 2026 dance card with U.S. and European dates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Paul Bergen, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 3. Chicago: 94 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n With three founding musicians – keyboardist Robert Lamm, trumpeter Lee Loughnane and trombonist James Pankow – still serving as active members of the group, Chicago<\/a> powered their way through 94 shows in 2025, demonstrating no signs of slowing down anytime soon. They’ll spend the summer of 2026 playing outdoor venues with Styx<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jeff Schear, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 2. ZZ Top: 107 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n After winning last year’s edition of this list with 99 shows in 2024, ZZ Top<\/a> played eight more shows in 2025, good enough for a silver medal. Frontman Billy Gibbons<\/a> tops the list outright if you add the 33 solo shows he played over the past twelve months, bringing his 2025 total to 140. Both Gibbons and ZZ Top already have dozens of tour dates<\/a> lined up for 2026.<\/p>\n Corine Solberg, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\n 1. Melvins: 117 Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n It was a relatively slow year in terms of releasing new Melvins<\/a>\u00a0music, at least by their workaholic standards. In February they collaborated with Napalm Death on the Savage Imperial Death March<\/em> EP, and in April they released their 28th full-length album, the innovative and uncompromising Thunderball<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n They kept extra-busy on the road though, blasting through 117 dates with a four-man, two-drummer lineup. The Melvins have got just one date on the books for 2026 so far – April at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas – but don’t be surprised if much bigger plans are announced.<\/p>\n buzz osborne of melvins<\/span><\/p> Mammoth 66 Rock reunions are creating some of the biggest headlines for 2026 \u2013 but there are lots of other huge shows on the way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHere’s How Many Shows Other Classic Rock Stars Played in 2025:<\/h3>\n
Toto 66
Marshall Tucker Band 65
David Byrne 56
Judas Priest 54
Billy Idol 52
Blue Oyster Cult 52
Santana 51
Robert Plant and Saving Grace 50
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts 49
Paul McCartney 46
Guns N’ Roses 45
John Fogerty 43
Oasis 41
The Who 39
Kevin Cronin Band 38
AC\/DC 37
The Cult 36
Scorpions 33
Neil Young and Chrome Hearts 33
Def Leppard 33
The Doobie Brothers 32
Metallica 32
Iron Maiden 32 (and Bruce Dickinson 25)
Peter Frampton 31
Grand Funk 29
Eagles 28
Bruce Springsteen 25
The Black Crowes 24
David Lee Roth 23
Sammy Hagar 22
Stevie Nicks 18
Journey 6<\/p>\n2026’s Biggest Rock Tours<\/h2>\n