From bluesy licks to extreme shredding
The planned summer US tour suffered repercussions and the dates ended up being cancelled. The band called it quits in 1981.
Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, and Bernard Sumner never made it as a band across the pond. Sadly, singer Ian Curtis took his life just a few days before Joy Division were due to go to America.
The former Beatle had a tour booked in Japan in 1980, but he was caught carrying marijuana in his luggage, ending up in jail for a few days instead of going on stage.
Front man Andy Partridge was unable to perform due to anxiety and the rest of the tour was canceled. The planned subsequent UK and European tours were canceled as well. The band continued to record music, but haven't played live ever since.
The Manchester fourpiece had found great success in the UK and were set to embark on their first US tour in 1980.
The English rock band stated their US tour with a show in San Diego, California, in 1982, but this was to be the band's last show, ever.
Buffalo Springfield did play a few shows in 2011, but the planned 30-date tour of the US in 2012 never happened. The reason? Neil Young decided to focus on writing his autobiography, 'Waging Heavy Peace,' instead.
Sources: (Rolling Stone)
See also: Artists who canceled their shows due to health problems
Rumors of a tour together started during the winter of 2014–15. Rihanna had opened a few shows for West in 2008, and the two music artists later collaborated with Paul McCartney on the song 'FourFiveSeconds.'
Unfortunately, the Kanye West and Rihanna tour never happened. Rumor has it that RiRi pulled out of it due to tensions with Kim Kardashian, but no formal statements were made.
Neil Young reuniting for a show in 2010 with the other surviving members, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, sounded promising for fans.
Unfortunately, American fans never got to see the band perform live. The Velvet Underground played a few dates in Europe and called it quits again before heading stateside.
Though things went sideways when Wilson and Birdsong found out they were making a lot less money than Ross. The tour went ahead with Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence instead, but it was a flop and got canceled after less than half way through.
Who wouldn't love to see Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong together again, right? This was exactly the plan. Plus, the show would also include other members of the Supremes.
This was one of the most anticipated tours of all time. In 2009, MJ was set to play a number of shows at The O2 Arena in London.
Sadly, the King of Pop passed away on June 25, 2009. The documentary 'Michael Jackson's This Is It,' released posthumously, give fans a glimpse of how the show might have been.
The return of Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen Tucker as The Velvet Underground was exciting news for fans.
Madonna was excited by the idea: "We can call it the Royalty Tour … the Queen and the Prince," she said. Prince was aware how big this would be saying that "the world isn’t ready for this ... It’s too big." Of course, Prince would die that same year, on April 21, 2016.
An American tour of Dylan's then-new album, 'Blonde on Blonde,' was supposed to start on August 6, 1966.
But unfortunately, on July 29, Bob Dylan suffered a motorcycle accident and had to end up canceling the tour.
The band's tour of North America in 1977 was pretty wild, and culminated with the tragic news that Robert Plant's son had died.
Led Zeppelin was supposed to return to the US for a tour in the fall of 1980, which became known as The 1980s, Part One. Sadly, another tragedy hit the band just weeks before they were due to go stateside. Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham died, and the band ended shortly after.
In June 2000, RATM guitarist Tom Morello made the following announcement about an upcoming tour with the Beastie Boys: "It’s time to make the funkiest, most rocking, greatest tour of all time. You got your conscious music and your shockingly fat jams colliding right and left, and we can’t wait."
This never happened, because, according to DJ Yella, N.W.A's manager "got too greedy" and asked for twice the amount of money being offered to perform. Unfortunately, fans never got to see the bad boys of rock 'n' roll and the bad boys of hip hop on the same stage.
The tour was supposed be based on their 1974 album 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,' but it never happened. Though Peter Gabriel kept Genesis fans' hopes alive, when in 2013 he said that the tour has "never been ruled out."
Genesis fans got excited by the possibility of seeing the band with its original lineup. In 2005, Phil Collins said the band members had reunited to discuss a possible tour.
A tour with two of the biggest stars of the time sounded unlikely, until West announced that they were doing the Fame Kills tour together "with no opening act."
Though just 12 days before tickets were due to go on sale, Kanye West infamously interrupted Taylor Swift during her speech at the VMAs, which put him under scrutiny from both the press and the public. The two music artists "mutually agreed" to cancel the tour, according to Gaga.
But just before the tour started, the Beastie Boys' Mike D injured his shoulder in a mountain bike accident and the tour had to be postponed. Not long after, RATM front man Zack de la Rocha announced his departure from the band.
The rumors started in 2016, after Madonna's manager, Guy Oseary, entertained the possibility via an Instagram post.
West Coast rock and rap royalty playing together on the same tour? Yes, that's exactly what was supposed to happen back in 1991.
Michael Jackson fans were super excited to hear that the King of Pop was back on stage in 2009. Unfortunately, MJ lost his life before the 'This Is It' tour began. But this was not the only tour that fans missed. In fact, many dream tours were canceled, for one reason or another. And, sadly, many of these will never happen in the future.
In this gallery, we revisit some of the most legendary tours that never were. Click on to find out more.
Dream concert tours that never were
These performances just weren't meant to be
MUSIC Musicians
Michael Jackson fans were super excited to hear that the King of Pop was back on stage in 2009. Unfortunately, MJ lost his life before the 'This Is It' tour began. But this was not the only tour that fans missed. In fact, many dream tours were canceled, for one reason or another. And, sadly, many of these will never happen in the future.
In this gallery, we revisit some of the most legendary tours that never were. Click on to find out more.