3 of the Loudest Concerts in Rock History

More often than not, rock ‘n’ roll is meant to be played one way and one way only: loud. After all, new equipment was created for this very purpose. However, every so often, a band comes around and finds a way to blow out the eardrums of listeners and even the equipment tailor-made to withstand ultra-high volumes.

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For a bit of context, the loudest stadium in the world is the Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium, as they achieved a record 142.2 decibels during a game in 2014. That was with roughly 75,000 fans in attendance. Now, in terms of rock ‘n’ roll concerts, we are going to list three acts that have either surpassed this record or at least come close to it. That being so, here are three of the loudest concerts in rock history.

 Sleazy Joe in Hässleholm, Sweden

You might not be familiar with Sleazy Joe, as they are a fairly obscure punk rock band from Sweden. However, one thing that has put them on the map is their insanely loud concerts. As a matter of fact, in 2008, Sleazy Joe hosted the loudest concert of all time in their home country.

During their 2008 show in Hässleholm, Sweden, Sleazy Joe reached a decibel level of 143.2. It is unclear how many fans were in attendance. Regardless, a decibel level that high is similar to the volume of a gunshot or a plane engine.

Kiss in Ottawa, Canada

Folks have always known Kiss for their loud personality and even louder sound. In 2009, that loud sound got them in a bit of trouble, as they reached 136 decibels during a concert in Ottawa, Canada. Given the intensity of the sound, Kiss was reportedly asked to turn down the volume during the concert.

While Kiss achieved this feat primarily with their instruments, what also surely helped was the reported 42,000 fans in attendance. Nonetheless, 136 decibels is similar to putting your head right next to a jackhammer while it is operating.

The Who in London, England

On May 31, 1976, The Who surpassed Deep Purple for the loudest concert of all time at the Athletic Football Ground in London. Prior to The Who’s performance, the loudest concert of all time belonged to Deep Purple with a decibel level of 117. The Who broke that record by reaching a decibel level of 126.

Thanks to this impressive decibel level, The Who was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the loudest concert of all time. The Who held onto this record for eight years, until Manowar broke it in 1984 with a decibel level of 129.5.

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