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In 2016, six of classic rock\u2019s most vaunted stars descended upon Southern California to perform at the Desert Trip festival in Indio.<\/p>\n
The event \u2013 nicknamed \u201coldchella\u201d \u2013 boasted an unprecedented lineup: Paul McCartney<\/a>, the Rolling Stones<\/a>, Bob Dylan<\/a>, Neil Young<\/a>, Roger Waters<\/a> and the Who<\/a>. For two weekends, running October 7\u20139 and October 14\u201316, these icons dazzled approximately 300,000 fans by performing incredible material from throughout their respective careers.<\/p>\n The festival was hailed as a massive success. Three-day general admission tickets cost $435 (mild by today\u2019s standards) and quickly sold out. It earned over $160 million, becoming the highest-grossing music festival of all-time. Desert Trip was a triumph that got the music world buzzing with excitement \u2013 so why hasn\u2019t it ever been held again?<\/p>\n Roughly seven months after Desert Trip took place, Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett confirmed the festival wouldn\u2019t be back in 2017<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a unique, one-off thing,\u201d he remarked. \u201cIt\u2019s not really a festival \u2014 it\u2019s a concert, two bands a day. I just thought those six bands should play together. It\u2019s never been done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe loved 2016 Desert Trip,\u201d he asserted. \u201cThat was a special moment in time. Maybe someday in the future we’ll do something similar.”<\/p>\n READ MORE: Desert Trip’s Best Photos<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Over the years, the most common assumption has been that organizing a second Desert Trip would be a logistical nightmare, given the high fess for performers and scheduling conflicts. Then there\u2019s also the challenge of trying to match the original festival\u2019s star power. If Desert Trip 1 assembled some of the biggest names in rock history, what could Desert Trip 2 possibly do for an encore?<\/p>\n For classic rock fans, it\u2019s fun to imagine what a second Desert Trip would look like. Any conversation about the hypothetical lineup would begin with Led Zeppelin<\/a>. After the original Desert Trip, there was a rumor<\/a> that Robert Plant<\/a> turned down $14 million to reunite his classic band (much to the alleged outrage of Jimmy Page<\/a>). Maybe Plant has softened on the idea, or perhaps that dollar amount has climbed even higher. It\u2019s been nearly 20 years since\u00a0Led Zeppelin’s final performance<\/a> \u2013 and, frankly, they deserve to go out with a bigger bang. For the purposes of this exercise, we\u2019re saying they accept the offer.<\/p>\n To continue filling out our lineup, we have to focus on the upper echelon of rock icons. We\u2019re talking the types of artists whose impact is still felt today, with legacies that will continue on forever. As such, another natural choice would be Queen<\/a>.<\/p>\n READ MORE: The Best Song From Every Queen Album<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Brian May<\/a> and Roger Taylor<\/a> have proudly kept the band going in the decades since Freddie Mercury<\/a>\u2019s death, and the powerful group has continued resonating with new generations of fans. Singer Adam Lambert<\/a> has proven to be a dynamic addition to the lineup, and there would certainly be the opportunity for a special guest or two.<\/p>\n Next on our lineup, Fleetwood Mac<\/a>. The beloved rockers haven\u2019t performed together since 2019, and while rumors of a future Sphere residency still remain unconfirmed, fans continue holding out hope regarding a reunion. Their Desert Trip set would be a wonderful return. The sight of Stevie Nicks<\/a> and Lindsey Buckingham<\/a> back on stage together would certainly be worth the price of admission.<\/p>\n The original Desert Trip stuck to bands from the \u201860s and \u201870s, but we could push those boundaries by enlisting two hugely-successful \u201880s acts, U2<\/a> and the Cure<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Irish rockers continue to be one of the most engaging acts on the planet, while also releasing new material to add to their impressive discography. Likewise, the Cure have ramped up activity in recent years, with new music, new tours and a reinvigorated fanbase. They\u2019ve even garnered the seal of approval from one of pop\u2019s most famous young stars, Olivia Rodrigo (not that they needed it).<\/p>\n READ MORE: The Best Song From Every Cure Album<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n With our imaginary Desert Trip lineup coming together, we\u2019re starting to see some natural pairings. As mentioned, U2 and the Cure on the same night would make a lot of sense. Finding a similarly bombastic partner for Queen might be tricky. AC\/DC<\/a> certainly comes to mind, but since they already played a different-yet-similar Goldenvoice event \u2014 2023\u2019s Power Trip<\/a> – we\u2019re going to pick a different high-octane act, Aerosmith<\/a>.<\/p>\n Steven Tyler<\/a>\u2019s band was forced off the road in 2023 as the frontman battled vocal issues. With a pair of upcoming comeback shows<\/a> at the Hollywood Bowl, the band seems ready to return to their rightful place among rock\u2019s elite. They\u2019re a natural fit for our Desert Trip lineup.<\/p>\n Bruce Springsteen<\/a>\u2019s name was reportedly discussed for the original Desert Trip, and he\u2019s another easy inclusion into our hypothetical sequel. The Boss has been busy touring lately, proving he\u2019s still among rock\u2019s biggest draws. Even at 77 years old, the rocker hasn\u2019t lost a step \u2013 in fact, the only limitation would be trying to keep his Desert Trip set under three hours.<\/p>\n Who could we match up with Springsteen? How about the owners of the best-selling album in U.S. history, the Eagles<\/a>. Don Henley<\/a> and Springsteen have always enjoyed a mutual admiration, and we\u2019re willing to bet the Eagles would be willing to adjust their ongoing residency schedule at the Sphere to fit in a Desert Trip appearance.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how our\u00a0Desert Trip 2 lineup would break down:<\/p>\n Day 1 – Queen and Aerosmith Looking at our imagined four-day lineup, the star power is impressive. It may not quite hit the heights of the original Desert Trip, but it\u2019d certainly be a worthy sequel. For now, contemplating Desert Trip round two is purely speculative, but classic rock fans are allowed to dream.<\/p>\n Here’s a preview of more than 100 of the biggest rock tours scheduled for fall 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDesert Trip Was a ‘Special Moment in Time’<\/h3>\n
Who Would Play a Second Desert Trip?<\/h3>\n
Fleetwood Mac Would Help Desert Trip 2 Soar<\/h3>\n
Our Hypothetical Desert Trip 2 Lineup<\/h3>\n
Day 2 – U2 and the Cure
Day 3 – Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles
Day 4 – Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin<\/p>\nFall 2026 Preview: Rock’s Biggest Tours – Updated!<\/h2>\n