I remember back when Led Zepplin leased a 707 and reported the cost of that thing almost bankrupted the band! And Elton John's 720 based out of PHX for the "rock of the westies" tour..... It was all stars and stripes with confetti painted on as well. James Brown had leased a Learjet 23 then a 24 from Doug Bell, and Ray Charles had a 404 with his name on it, and Otis Redding died in his Beech 18. Frank Sanatra had a Learjet as well. Mama's and Papa's had a Learjet, so did Carpenters and John Denver.... Who am I leaving out..?

I have personal experience with this.

Artists/Bands typically lease aircraft for specific periods (tours). I have personally been involved with tours that have hired BAC-111s (USA), G-IIs (USA), Saab 340 (Europe), Challengers (Europe), BAE-146 (Europe/Flightline), and a Dornier 328Jet (Europe).

As Artists become older, wiser, and wealthier, they prefer the private jet lifestyle for touring. Compare this to the hired bus lifestyle. While buses can be made very comfortable, most journeys are taken overnight. That means that your artist has to get used to sleeping on a moving vehicle.

Many artists simply grow weary of the grind of the road. Having traveled both ways, I will certainly choose a jet anytime. Lifestyle is easy - do the show, go to the local Four Seasons-type hotel. Wake up, check out, limo van->FBO->jet->next venue/hotel. Total travel time is typically 1-2 hours as opposed to 6-10 hours. Time saved also allows the artist more time for promotional activities.

Now, they cost a bit of money to operate (5-10x cost of hired bus), but if it keeps the artist "earning" (doing shows) then they are worth it. Nothing worse that an artist who burns out halfway through a tour cycle. Jets keep them happy. In todays world, we can operate a chartered jet for about the gross income of 2-3 shows on a 20-25 show arena tour leg. Well worth it. Artist Happy = Artist Earning.

That means that the jet alone, without any other travel expense for the band or the road crew or equipment or salaries, is TEN to FIFTEEN PERCENT of the total GROSS of the tour? That doesn't seem right. But you say you're the expert.

--Bill

Keep in mind, Bill, these are Artists. They aren't interested in operating with the economies of an LCC. It's ego. They often have several sources of income (mechanical royalties, publishing royalties, tv/film licensing, product endorsement, etc). They don't want their lifestyle to suffer - especially while away from home.

Gross Income = Gross Income to Artist. Typically represents 50-70% of the total ticket revenue of a show.

Most bands these days often do more "hubbing" than flying from city to city. Then again, it also all depends.

Just a few examples, for the fun of it.

On John Mellencamp's tour in 1999, for the midwest amphitheater cities in the summer and during the fall midwest/college cities tour, he and his band would fly in every early night from Bloomington, Indiana and then back again that night. I am not sure of the exact plane it was used, but it had to at least hold up to 15 people.

For the Fleetwood Mac tour of 2003 and 2004 they used a 727 for the entire band and some support crew, assistants. They would 'hub' out of cities (ex. Chicago, L.A., New York, Atlanta), etc. because Mick Fleetwood & Lindsay Buckingham & other musicians with them and crew members had young babies. So they'd move their families into these cities and get a hotel suite, fly out 1-1.5 hours to their performance city, do a show, and go back to their "hub" then move to a different base every month. They'd usually do one night off between shows, too. However in 2004 in the summer they basically did go from one show to the next and didn't do the hub thing since that tour leg was much shorter. In Australia they used a 737.

Jimmy Buffett does the same thing. He does 2 week tour legs then takes a month off then does another leg and usually bases himself out of either NYC, Chicago, L.A., for example and Learjets in with his band members.

Stevie Nicks solo has used a private 727 or a Learjet for all of her tours except for 1998.

Cher used a private jet during the winter 2000 leg of her "Believe" tour, otherwise she goes by bus.

Rather than go exclusively, Tina Turner rode with her entire band and backing dancers on a larger jet in 2000. Bette Midler did the same on her 1999, 2003, and 2004 tours.

On Madonna's tour in 2001 and 2004, she and her family traveled privately on their own Learjet, while the band and dancers traveled by larger leased jet.

Some artists still do use buses from time to time. But when they stay behind or need to go ahead of the tour for whatever the reason, it is not uncommon for them to charter a private Learjet. Some have gone the commercial flying route, but sometimes cancellations of course have led to disasterous consequences. Of course flying solo doesn't always do the best justice, either... at a Madonna show, one of her Washington D.C. performances was delayed by 90 minutes because her private plane was delayed by air traffic.

Doobie Brothers
Earth Wind & Fire
The Jacksons (Victory Tour 1984)

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R.I.P. Keith Knudsen

The Stones have had their 732 for ages.

AA787

When I worked out of MSP for SY, Ive seen The Stones and their 737-200, the Backstreet Boys and Nsync both had varitions of 767's, and U2 had a 727-200....Ozzy with Gulfstreams and Challengers.

See - everyone is smiling. Including me. Private luxury.
G-BPNT / Summer 2003

U2 used one of Privatair's BBJs extensively throughout the North American and European legs of the Elevation tour in 2001. Not sure what their plans are this time around, but it's definitely cool to have a livery modified with your tour logo.


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Photo © Charles Falk



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Photo © Stuart Prince

With all the planes in the desert, U2 should pick up a 757 for their tour starting in March that wends its way from San Diego to Boston. There are no 'small' cities on this tour, so a 757 should easily work at every airport. Last time U2 toured North America it was a 727-200 that did the duty, although this time 'round they need a Stage 3 aircraft that can get out in the wee hours of the morning. A 727-200 is not the kind of jet that will endear itself to neighbors upon middle-of-the-night departures.

Chris in NH

Again, A. Net comes through with incredible data on a very obscure part of aviation! You people are simply the worlds strongest database. I remember Hammer was on Oprah years ago and said he used a 727 out of Oakland on tours. (no wonder he went flat ass broke!) And Hall and Oates (the one with black hair) said he had to sale his personal learjet and condo to stay out of IRS hell and cover a sudden tax lien. Fame.... Sounds like it's somewhat complicated.

U2 has also chartered a 721 from Clay Lacy Aviation, which was adorned with the suitcase logo during their "Elevation" tour. The plane stopped off @ HNL, but the band did not perform here.

Journey used a Vickers Viscount as shown in the "Faithfully" video.

Michael Jackson used a 703 for his last show in Hawaii.

The Rolling Stones used a Laker DC-10-30 for their Hawaii show in 1997.

NSFGuy -

Yes; some Artists are mismanaged/misinformed. One Artist I work with has not seen the inside of a bus since 1986. They still tour on an every 3 year cycle. One band member is AA, so jets work well for him because he is able to isolate himself from the temptations of the "road". ALL jets are rented temporarily. Band is VERY solvent.

Hammer = where's the talent? Pop and fizzle. Sad story.
Oates = never buy, lease short term. These days, by a MarquisJet card or at most take a fractional ownership.

Also Re Hubbing - while it is comfortable, it doubles the block time and therefore nearly doubles the cost.

I guess I am biased - I've jumpseated at least 30 hours in the US and Europe.

Back in 79 The Bee Gees leased a B-720 painted in full "Spirits Having Flown" paint.

Couldn't find a pic in the database.

It was actually a very nice paint scheme.

One of my favorite '60s British Bands....The Dave Clark 5 had their own Convair (N90861)...they actually called the plane the "DC5"...plane had a big DC5 on the tail and on the lower front of the fuselage.

OzarkD9S --

I'm looking at a picture of the "Spirits Having Flown" B720 that I took in Atlanta in Oct. 1979....all black, with a red nose and red along the bottom...orange pinstripe just above the windows with Spirits Having Flown in orange letters the full length of the windows. There is a symbol on the tail with the words "The Tour...'79" along the bottom of the tail. One of the most beautiful 720s I have ever seen.

Ricky Nelson flew in his own DC-3 until it unfortunetaly crashed in 1985...apparently he was terrified of flying.

ElectraBob:

I have a picture of it in a book "Lost Airline Liveries". Wish it wasn't copywrited!

Whoever designed it could teach today's designers a thing or three.

The Rolling Stones used an Air Atlanta Icelandic 747SP for a Toronto concert in 1997.

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Photo © John Kelley

Aerosmith chartered this for their "Just Push Play" tour...(obviously)


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Photo © Jason Whitebird