Rock in Rio (1985) The first edition of the festival was held from 11–20 January 1985.
Queen,
George Benson,
Rod Stewart,
AC/DC, and
Yes were the headliners, each occupying top spot for two nights (Benson, however, ceded it to
James Taylor for their second night in the same bill, due to the huge delay Taylor's extended performance had caused to his concert two days before). About 1.38 million people attended the 10-day-long festival. The full list of artists who performed at Rock in Rio: • 11/01 Friday •
Queen •
Iron Maiden •
Whitesnake •
Baby Consuelo e
Pepeu Gomes •
Erasmo Carlos •
Ney Matogrosso • 12/01 Saturday •
George Benson •
James Taylor •
Al Jarreau •
Gilberto Gil •
Elba Ramalho •
Ivan Lins • 13/01 Sunday •
Rod Stewart •
The Go-Go's •
Nina Hagen •
Blitz •
Lulu Santos •
Os Paralamas do Sucesso • 14/01 Monday •
James Taylor •
George Benson •
Alceu Valença •
Moraes Moreira • 15/01 Tuesday •
AC/DC •
Scorpions •
Barão Vermelho •
Eduardo Dusek •
Kid Abelha e os Abóboras Selvagens • 16/01 Wednesday •
Rod Stewart •
Ozzy Osbourne •
Rita Lee •
Moraes Moreira •
Os Paralamas do Sucesso • 17/01 Thursday •
Yes •
Al Jarreau •
Elba Ramalho •
Alceu Valença • 18/01 Friday •
Queen •
The Go-Go's •
The B-52's (with
Chris Frantz and
Tina Weymouth) •
Lulu Santos •
Eduardo Dusek •
Kid Abelha e os Abóboras Selvagens • 19/01 Saturday •
AC/DC •
Scorpions •
Ozzy Osbourne •
Whitesnake •
Baby Consuelo e
Pepeu Gomes • 20/01 Sunday •
Yes •
The B-52's (with
Chris Frantz and
Tina Weymouth) •
Nina Hagen •
Blitz •
Gilberto Gil •
Barão Vermelho •
Erasmo Carlos • Both
Queen shows were filmed (early on 12 and 19 January) and broadcast throughout Brazil by
Globo. Each show was watched by nearly 200 million people in over 60 countries and in front of 250,000-500,000 people for each night setting a world record for the biggest paying audience ever at the time. It was later broadcast in the United States on
MTV as "
Queen: Live in Rio". •
Iron Maiden was the only non-Brazilian act to play just one concert at the festival (on its opening night, headlined by
Queen), due to other bookings, while every other international act performed twice. During the song "Revelations", lead singer
Bruce Dickinson hit himself accidentally with a guitar and cut his eyebrow. Dickinson continued to sing in spite of heavy bleeding. They performed in front of a crowd of 500,000 people. •
The Go-Go's broke up after their two Rock in Rio performances, (headlined by
Queen and
Rod Stewart) though they would later reunite in the 1990s. The two Rock in Rio shows were the debut and swansong for short-tenured Go-Go's member Paula Jean Brown, who had replaced
Jane Wiedlin. (Wiedlin would return to the reunited 1990s lineup.) •
Chris Frantz and
Tina Weymouth, at the time
Talking Heads drummer and bass player, respectively, took part at
the B-52's concerts. They joined the band from the third song on and played along with them for the remainder of the performance. • The 20 January appearance of the B-52's would turn out to be their last with guitarist
Ricky Wilson, who died from
AIDS in October of that year as the band was finishing
their next album. • Initially,
Def Leppard was scheduled to play at the festival. However, they dropped out about two months before the event, due to delays on the recording process of the album
Hysteria. Eleven days before the date Def Leppard would have played at the festival, drummer
Rick Allen suffered an accident that cost him his left arm. They were replaced by
Whitesnake, which happened to be the last touring date for the supporting
Slide It In album tour.
Rock in Rio 2 (1991) The second edition was held from 18–27 January 1991 at the
Maracanã stadium. Headliners were
Guns N' Roses,
Prince and
George Michael, each being top billed for two of the event's nine nights.
INXS,
New Kids on the Block and
A-ha also had top billing, for one night each. The third night, headlined by Guns N' Roses, attracted more than 100.000 people to the stadium, the biggest audience of the nine-day event. That same day had
Billy Idol, who performed the previous night, doing another set to replace
Robert Plant, who could not attend due to health problems. A-ha broke the record for largest paying attendance at a concert with 198,000 fans in attendance. Full list of artists who performed at Rock in Rio 2: • 18/01 Friday •
Prince •
Joe Cocker •
Colin Hay •
Jimmy Cliff • 19/01 Saturday •
INXS •
Billy Idol •
Carlos Santana •
Engenheiros do Hawaii •
Supla •
Vid & Sangue Azul • 20/01 Sunday • '''
Guns N' Roses''' •
Billy Idol •
Faith No More •
Titãs •
Hanoi Hanoi • 22/01 Tuesday •
New Kids on the Block •
Run-DMC •
Roupa Nova •
Inimigos do Rei • 23/01 Wednesday • '''
Guns N' Roses''' •
Judas Priest •
Queensrÿche •
Megadeth •
Lobão •
Sepultura • 24/01 Thursday •
Prince •
Carlos Santana •
Alceu Valença • Laura Finocchiaro •
Serguei • 25/01 Friday •
George Michael •
Deee-Lite •
Elba Ramalho •
Ed Motta • 26/01 Saturday •
A-ha •
Happy Mondays •
Paulo Ricardo •
Debbie Gibson •
Information Society •
Capital Inicial •
Nenhum de Nós • 27/01 Sunday •
George Michael •
Lisa Stansfield •
Deee-Lite •
Moraes Moreira e
Pepeu Gomes •
Léo Jaime Guns N' Roses's 20 January concert was their first ever with then new drummer
Matt Sorum and keyboard player
Dizzy Reed.
George Michael's second concert, on 27 January, the festival's closing day, featured his ex-
Wham! partner
Andrew Ridgeley, who joined Michael for a few songs at the encore.
Rock in Rio 3 (2001) The third
Rock in Rio festival took place in 2001. Its seven nights were headlined, respectively, by
Sting,
R.E.M.,
Guns N' Roses,
'N Sync,
Iron Maiden,
Neil Young and the
Red Hot Chili Peppers. Once
O Rappa complained about their assigned time, as the contract predicted a night concert that wound up scheduled for 6:30 PM while the lesser known in the country
Deftones remained in the evening, they were expelled, and five other Brazilian bands,
Jota Quest,
Raimundos,
Charlie Brown Jr.,
Skank and
Cidade Negra, withdrew from the festival in protest.
Iron Maiden released their set as
Rock in Rio. Profits from the sale of the album were donated to the
Clive Burr fund, helping their former drummer pay mounting medical bills for his
multiple sclerosis. A notable appearance at
Rock in Rio 3 was that of
American hard rock band
Guns N' Roses, their first large show since 1993, with a new line-up featuring vocalist
Axl Rose, guitarists
Buckethead,
Robin Finck &
Paul Tobias, bassist
Tommy Stinson, drummer
Brain and keyboardists
Dizzy Reed &
Chris Pitman.
Carlinhos Brown, the opening act on the day Guns N' Roses performed, was attacked by water bottles throughout his performance. Bassist
Nick Oliveri of
Queens of the Stone Age performed nude for part of their set and was arrested for indecent exposure after the concert, being released soon after. Full list of artists who performed at Rock in Rio 3: • 12/01 Friday •
Sting •
Daniela Mercury •
James Taylor •
Milton Nascimento •
Gilberto Gil •
Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira • 13/01 Saturday •
R.E.M. •
Foo Fighters •
Beck •
Barão Vermelho •
Fernanda Abreu •
Cássia Eller • 14/01 Sunday • '''
Guns N' Roses''' •
Oasis •
Papa Roach •
Ira! &
Ultraje a Rigor •
Carlinhos Brown •
Pato Fu • 18/01 Thursday • '''
'N Sync''' •
Britney Spears •
5ive •
Sandy & Junior •
Aaron Carter •
Moraes Moreira • 19/01 Friday •
Iron Maiden •
Rob Halford •
Sepultura •
Queens of the Stone Age •
Pavilhão 9 •
Sheik Tosado • 20/01 Saturday •
Neil Young •
Sheryl Crow •
Dave Matthews Band •
Kid Abelha •
Elba Ramalho &
Zé Ramalho •
Engenheiros do Hawaii • 21/01 Sunday •
Red Hot Chili Peppers •
Silverchair •
Capital Inicial •
Deftones •
O Surto •
Diesel Rock in Rio 4 (2011) The fourth edition of Rock in Rio, back to its origins, was held on 23, 24, 25, 29 and 30 September, and 1 and 2 October 2011, at an area (
pt) to be built next to the old
City of Rock – which was the site of the
Olympic Village for the
2016 Summer Olympics. Three different stages were employed, with the headlining concerts at the Palco Mundo (World Stage), the secondary ones in Palco Sunset (Sunset Stage), and DJs playing at a specialized stage for electronic music. The closing acts,
Guns N' Roses and
System of a Down, entered following a poll on the festival's website.
Maroon 5 was a last hour addition, following
Jay-Z leaving for personal reasons. Full list of artists who performed at Rock in Rio 4: • 09/23 Friday • Palco Mundo:
Rihanna,
Elton John,
Katy Perry,
Claudia Leitte, opening concert with
Os Paralamas do Sucesso,
Titãs,
Milton Nascimento,
Maria Gadú and the
Brazilian Symphony Orchestra • Palco Sunset:
Móveis Coloniais de Acaju,
Orkestra Rumpilezz,
Mariana Aydar,
Bebel Gilberto,
Sandra de Sá,
Ed Motta,
Rui Veloso,
Andreas Kisser,
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour,
The Gift • 09/24 Saturday • Palco Mundo:
Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Snow Patrol,
Capital Inicial,
Stone Sour,
NX Zero • Palco Sunset:
Marcelo Yuka (
pt),
Cibelle,
Karina Buhr, Amora Pêra (
Sandra Pêra),
Tulipa Ruiz,
Nação Zumbi,
Milton Nascimento,
Esperanza Spalding,
Mike Patton/
Mondo Cane, Orquestra Sinfônica de Heliópolis • 09/25 Sunday • Palco Mundo:
Metallica,
Slipknot,
Motörhead,
Coheed and Cambria,
Gloria • Palco Sunset:
Matanza, BNegão (
pt),
Korzus, The Punk Metal Allstars (
East Bay Ray from
Dead Kennedys,
Mike Clark Suicidal Tendencies,
João Gordo from
Ratos de Porão and
Marcel Schmier from
Destruction),
Angra,
Sepultura,
Tarja Turunen,
Les Tambours du Bronx • 09/29 Thursday • Palco Mundo:
Stevie Wonder,
Jamiroquai,
Kesha,
Janelle Monáe,
Legião Urbana with Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra • Palco Sunset:
Marcelo Jeneci,
Curumin, Baile do Simonal,
Diogo Nogueira,
Afrika Bambaataa,
Paula Lima,
Joss Stone • 09/30 Friday • Palco Mundo:
Shakira,
Lenny Kravitz,
Ivete Sangalo,
Jota Quest,
Marcelo D2 • Palco Sunset:
Buraka Som Sistema,
Mixhell,
Céu,
João Donato,
Cidade Negra,
Martinho da Vila,
Emicida,
Monobloco,
Macaco,
Pepeu Gomes • 10/1 Saturday • Palco Mundo:
Coldplay,
Maroon 5,
Maná,
Skank,
Frejat • Palco Sunset: Cidadão Instigado (
pt),
Júpiter Maçã,
Tiê,
Jorge Drexler,
Zeca Baleiro,
Erasmo Carlos,
Arnaldo Antunes • 10/2 Sunday • Palco Mundo: '''
Guns N' Roses, System of a Down''',
Evanescence,
Detonautas Roque Clube,
Pitty • Palco Sunset: The Monomes,
David Fonseca,
Os Mutantes,
Tom Zé,
Titãs,
Xutos & Pontapés,
Marcelo Camelo,
The Growlers • Eletrônica Palco:
Nalaya Brown Rock in Rio 5 (2013) Rock in Rio 5 was held in September 2013. The headline acts, chronologically, were:
Beyoncé,
Muse,
Justin Timberlake,
Metallica,
Bon Jovi,
Bruce Springsteen and
Iron Maiden. • Friday 13 September • Palco Mundo:
Beyoncé,
David Guetta,
Ivete Sangalo,
Cazuza - O Poeta Está Vivo • Palco Sunset:
Living Colour +
Angélique Kidjo,
Maria Rita +
Selah Sue,
Vintage Trouble +
Jesuton,
Flávio Renegado +
Orelha Negra • Eletrônica:
Otto Knows,
Life Is A Loop,
Ask 2 Quit,
Sweet Beats • Saturday 14 September • Palco Mundo:
Muse,
Florence and the Machine,
Thirty Seconds to Mars,
Capital Inicial • Palco Sunset:
The Offspring, Viva A
Raul Seixas – C/
Detonautas Roque Clube,
Zeca Baleiro &
Zélia Duncan,
Marky Ramone +
Michael Graves,
BNegão +
Autoramas • Eletrônica: TBA, TBA, Anderson Noise,
Mau Mau,
Paula Chulap • Sunday 15 September • Palco Mundo:
Justin Timberlake,
Alicia Keys,
Jessie J,
Jota Quest • Palco Sunset:
Ivan Lins +
George Benson,
Kimbra +
Olodum,
Nando Reis +
Samuel Rosa,
Aurea +
The Black Samba • Eletrônica:
DJ Harvey,
dOP,
Renato Ratier,
Triple Crown • Thursday 19 September • Palco Mundo:
Metallica,
Alice in Chains,
Ghost,
Sepultura +
Les Tambours du Bronx • Palco Sunset:
Rob Zombie, República +
Dr. Sin +
Roy Z,
Sebastian Bach,
Almah +
Hibria • Eletrônica:
Gesaffelstein,
Brodinski,
The Gaslamp Killer,
DJ Ride • Friday 20 September • Palco Mundo:
Bon Jovi,
Nickelback,
Matchbox Twenty,
Frejat • Palco Sunset:
Ben Harper +
Charlie Musselwhite,
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals +
Donavon Frankenreiter,
Mallu Magalhães +
Banda Ouro Negro,
The Gift +
Afroreggae • Eletrônica:
Paul Oakenfold,
Dexterz,
Rodrigo Vieira,
Ferris • Saturday 21 September • Palco Mundo:
Bruce Springsteen,
John Mayer,
Phillip Phillips,
Skank • Palco Sunset:
Gogol Bordello +
Lenine,
Ivo Meirelles +
Fernanda Abreu +
Elba Ramalho,
Moraes Moreira +
Pepeu Gomes +
Roberta Sá,
Orquestra Imperial +
Lorenzo Jovanotti • Eletrônica:
Loco Dice,
DJ Vibe,
Guti,
Flow & Zeo • Sunday 22 September • Palco Mundo:
Iron Maiden,
Avenged Sevenfold,
Slayer,
Kiara Rocks • Palco Sunset:
Sepultura +
Zé Ramalho,
Helloween +
Kai Hansen,
Destruction +
Krisiun,
Andre Matos +
Viper • Eletrônica:
Felguk,
DJ Marky,
Maximum Hedrum,
Boteco Electro Rock in Rio 6 (2015) The sixth Brazilian edition was held from 18 to 27 September 2015 at the City of Rock. The headliners were
Queen + Adam Lambert,
Metallica,
Rod Stewart,
Elton John,
System of a Down,
Slipknot,
Rihanna and
Katy Perry. • Friday 18 September • Palco Mundo:
Queen + Adam Lambert,
OneRepublic,
The Script,
Rock in Rio 30 Anos • Palco Sunset: Tribute to
Cássia Eller,
Lenine +
Nação Zumbi +
Martin Fondse,
Ira! +
Rappin' Hood and Tony Tornado, Dônica +
Arthur Verocai • Eletrônica: DJ Meme,
Kerri Chandler,
Barbara Tucker, Tribute to Lincoln Olivetti, Tribute to
Raul Seixas • Saturday 19 September • Palco Mundo:
Metallica,
Mötley Crüe,
Royal Blood,
Gojira • Palco Sunset:
Korn,
Ministry +
Burton C. Bell,
Angra +
Dee Snider +
Doro Pesch, Noturnall +
Michael Kiske • Eletrônica:
Crookers,
Headhunterz, Tropkillaz,
A Liga,
Chemical Surf • Sunday 20 September • Palco Mundo:
Rod Stewart,
Elton John,
Seal,
Os Paralamas do Sucesso • Palco Sunset:
John Legend,
Magic!,
Baby do Brasil,
Alice Caymmi +
Eumir Deodato • Eletrônica: Matador, Pig and Dan,
Gui Boratto, Flow & Zeo ft. Karina Zeviani, Elekfantz • Thursday 24 September • Palco Mundo:
System of a Down,
Queens of the Stone Age,
Hollywood Vampires,
CPM 22 • Palco Sunset:
Deftones,
Lamb of God,
Halestorm,
Project46 + John Wayne • Eletrônica:
Vintage Culture, Anderson Noise +
Mau Mau +
Renato Cohen, 2 Attack (Paula Chalup + Mau Mau) • Friday 25 September • Palco Mundo:
Slipknot,
Faith No More,
Mastodon,
De La Tierra • Palco Sunset:
Steve Vai +
Camerata Florianópolis,
Nightwish +
Tony Kakko,
Moonspell +
Derrick Green,
Clássicos do Terror • Eletrônica:
Alok,
Felguk,
Marcelo Cic,
Volkoder,
Hnqo • Saturday 26 September • Palco Mundo:
Rihanna,
Sam Smith,
Sheppard,
Lulu Santos • Palco Sunset:
Sérgio Mendes +
Carlinhos Brown,
Angélique Kidjo,
Erasmo Carlos +
Ultraje a Rigor,
Brothers of Brazil • Eletrônica: Matthias Tanzmann +
Davide Squillace,
DJ Vibe + Rui Vargas, Leo Janeiro + Leozinho, Conti + Mandi • Sunday 27 September • Palco Mundo:
Katy Perry,
A-ha,
AlunaGeorge,
Cidade Negra • Palco Sunset:
Rio 450 Anos,
Al Jarreau,
Aurea +
Boss AC,
Suricato +
Raul Midón • Eletrônica:
Life is a Loop, Diego Miranda + Rodrigo Shà, Ely Yabu, Amanda Chang
Rock in Rio 7 (2017) The seventh Brazilian edition was held in the
Barra Olympic Park, which has since became the regular City of Rock, from 15 to 24 September 2017. The headliners were
Maroon 5,
Justin Timberlake,
Aerosmith,
Bon Jovi,
Guns N' Roses,
The Who, and
Red Hot Chili Peppers. Singer
Lady Gaga was scheduled to perform on 15 September, but had to cancel 24 hours before, leading Maroon 5 to perform a second concert due to her absence.
The Pretty Reckless also cancelled their concert in the secondary stage, replaced by
Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown.
Rock in Rio 8 (2019) The eight Brazilian edition was held from 27 September to 6 October 2019. It marked the first performance of singer Pink in Latin America
Rock in Rio 9 (2022) The ninth edition of Rock in Rio in Brazil took place between 2–11 September 2022.
Rock in Rio 10 (2024) The tenth edition of Rock in Rio in Brazil took place between 13–22 September 2024. It was the first Rock in Rio to dedicate an entire day of its line up to Brazilian artists only, with musical spectacles called "Forever...", featuring multiple artists from different genres.
Rock in Rio 11 (2026) ==Lisbon, Portugal, and Madrid, Spain==