Did U2 Just Surpass the Rolling Stones as the Greatest Band Ever?

A tale of the tape between two rock titans

Reuters

Last weekend, U2 played the final date of their two-year, globe-spanning “360° Tour.” Performing under the Claw 110 times in three dozen cities on four continents, for more than 7.1 million fans, the Dublin quartet clawed in a tad more than $736 million. The fat take makes 360° the highest-grossing concert tour of all-time, crushing the previous record of $558 million set by the Rolling Stones on the Bigger Bang tour from 2005 to 2007.

Are we witnessing a historic moment in rock? For decades, the Stones have almost-unquestionably ruled as the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World. Is it finally time to add “Emeritus” to that title? Has U2 surpassed the Stones to become rock’s heavyweight champion? Let the battle begin: