| Concert Tour Name: | A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour |
| Artist: | Coldplay |
| Album: | A Rush of Blood to the Head |
| Number Of Shows: | 151 |
| Attendance: | 854,424 |
| Gross: | $27.1 million |
| Last Tour: | Parachutes Tour (2000–2001) |
| This Tour: | A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour (2002–2003) |
| Next Tour: | Twisted Logic Tour (2005–2007) |
The A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour was the second concert tour undertaken by British rock band Coldplay. It was launched in support of their second studio album A Rush of Blood to the Head. They performed a total of 151 shows across Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Between 21 and 23 July 2003, the band filmed Live 2003 at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney.
Overall, Coldplay's concerts during this period showcased its progression as a bona fide live act. The band began playing more shows in arenas and amphitheatres, moving away from the club venues that dominated earlier tours. Shows also had more elaborate stage and lighting effects. For example, strobe lighting for the song "Daylight" featured the image of a rotating sun superimposed over the stage. Taking a cue from U2's Elevation Tour and Nine Inch Nails' Fragility Tour, Coldplay also adopted a series of back screens that displayed video footage of each band member simultaneously.[1]
Other highlights included:
Most of the tour included at least one supporting act on each concert, with English singer Richard Hawley opening all performances held between 19 and 28 June 2002.[3] Except for the show at Rome's Valle Giulia (which had the Music), all dates from 30 June to 12 July included 1 Giant Leap. For the second North American leg, Coldplay invited Northern Irish band Ash,[4] while the third European run featured Idlewild.[5] In 2003, Ron Sexsmith opened for the band from 21 January to 9 February.[6] He was succeeded by the Music starting from 24 February.[7] As Coldplay returned to Europe for a fourth leg, Feeder was chosen as their support and Ian McCulloch additionally guested in the United Kingdom.[8] The last North American run counted with Eisley, who were joined by Damien Rice on 25 May,[9] and Sexsmith between 27 May and 13 June.[10] During the tour's final months, Coldplay went to Asia, Oceania and Latin America: the first two continents had Betchadupa,[11] while Mexico featured Jumbo.[12]
The 2002 shows contained a rough 50/50 split in material from Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head. The official tour in 2003 focused on songs from the second album, as well as many unreleased tracks. For example, the future Live 2003 song "Moses" and "Fix You" B-side "Pour Me" were introduced during the tour. Other new songs included future X&Y b-sides, "Gravity" & "Proof", "Your World Turns Upside Down", which would later become a completely different song called "The World Turned Upside Down" as another b-side to "Fix You", and an unreleased piano ballad called "A Ladder to the Sun".
Coldplay also made a habit of covering other artists on the tour, often as outros to their own songs. Covers ranged from a tongue-in-cheek excerpt of Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi" to the Louis Armstrong classic "What a Wonderful World". Coldplay also regularly covered Echo & the Bunnymen's "Lips Like Sugar" in its entirety, in homage to Ian McCulloch's role as a mentor during the recording of A Rush of Blood to the Head.
The musical introduction to the concert featured selections from Brian Eno's .[13]
In total, the tour grossed $27,152,888 from 854,424 tickets sold.[14] Pollstar also reported that Coldplay sold 341,201 admissions in 2003, which placed them at number 42 on the list of most attended tours of the year.[15] Rolling Stone Australia ranked the shows at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion among the best in the venue's history in 2024.[16]
This set list was taken from the 22 July 2003 concert in Sydney, Australia. It does not represent all shows throughout the tour.[17]
| Date (2002) | City | Country | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 June | Edinburgh | Scotland | Queen's Hall | |
| 20 June | Liverpool | England | Mountfield Hall | |
| 22 June | London | Royal Festival Hall | ||
| 24 June | Bath | Bath Pavilion | ||
| 26 June | Truro | Hall for Cornwall | ||
| 28 June | Pilton | Worthy Farm | ||
| 30 June | Werchter | Belgium | Festivalpark Werchter | |
| 2 July | Stockholm | Sweden | Göta Källare | |
| 3 July | Ringe | Denmark | Ringe Dyrskuepladsen | |
| 5 July | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Heineken Music Hall | |
| 7 July | Rome | Italy | Valle Giulia | |
| 9 July | Hamburg | Germany | Große Freiheit 36 | |
| 10 July | Cologne | Kultkomplex Cafe | ||
| 12 July | Oslo | Norway | Rockefeller Music Hall | |
| 2 August | Chicago | United States | The Vic Theatre | |
| 6 August | Boston | Paradise Rock Club | ||
| 7 August | Philadelphia | Theatre of Living Arts | ||
| 10 August | Washington, D.C. | |||
| 12 August | New York City | Bowery Ballroom | ||
| 14 August | Minneapolis | First Avenue | ||
| 16 August | Boulder | Fox Theatre | ||
| 18 August | San Francisco | Bimbo's 365 Club | ||
| 20 August | Los Angeles | El Rey Theatre | ||
| 27 August | Paris | France | L'Olympia | |
| 29 August | London | England | London Forum | |
| 4 September | Seattle | United States | Paramount Theatre | |
| 6 September | Berkeley | Hearst Greek Theatre | ||
| 7 September | Paradise | The Joint | ||
| 9 September | San Diego | SDSU Open Air Theatre | ||
| 10 September | Los Angeles | Greek Theatre | ||
| 16 September | Baltimore | Pier Six Pavilion | ||
| 17 September | Boston | FleetBoston Pavilion | ||
| 19 September | Wantagh | Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater | ||
| 21 September | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre | |
| 24 September | Chicago | United States | UIC Pavilion | |
| 4 October | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | |
| 5 October | Newcastle | England | Telewest Arena | |
| 7 October | Birmingham | National Indoor Arena | ||
| 8 October | Nottingham | Nottingham Arena | ||
| 11 October | Manchester | Manchester Evening News Arena | ||
| 14 October | Brighton | Brighton Centre | ||
| 15 October | Bournemouth | Bournemouth International Centre | ||
| 17 October | Plymouth | Plymouth Pavilions | ||
| 18 October | Port Talbot | Wales | Afan Lido Leisure Centre | |
| 20 October | London | England | Wembley Arena | |
| 21 October | ||||
| 23 October | Belfast | Northern Ireland | Odyssey Centre | |
| 25 October | Dublin | Ireland | Point Theatre | |
| 27 October | ||||
| 3 November | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National | |
| 5 November | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy Rotterdam | |
| 6 November | Paris | France | Zénith de Paris | |
| 8 November | Cologne | Germany | Palladium | |
| 10 November | Munich | Kulturhalle Zenith | ||
| 12 November | Montpellier | France | Zénith de Montpellier | |
| 15 November | Madrid | Spain | La Riviera | |
| 16 November | Barcelona | Razzmatazz | ||
| 18 November | Assago | Italy | FilaForum | |
| 20 November | Berlin | Germany | Arena Berlin | |
| 21 November | Copenhagen | Denmark | Valby-Hallen | |
| 23 November | Stockholm | Sweden | Hovet Ice Hall | |
| 24 November | Oslo | Norway | Oslo Spektrum | |
| 6 December | Tokyo | Japan | Liquid Room | |
| 8 December | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre | |
| 9 December | San Francisco | Bimbo's 365 Club | ||
| 11 December | Boston | Orpheum Theatre | ||
| 12 December | Uniondale | Nassau Coliseum | ||
| 13 December | Washington, D.C. | MCI Center | ||
| 15 December | Philadelphia | First Union Center | ||
| 19 December | Reykjavík | Iceland | Laugardalshöll |
| Date (2002) | City | Country | Venue | Reason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 June | Portsmouth | England | Portsmouth Pyramids Centre | Unknown | ||
| 14 September | Atlanta | United States | The Masquerade | Hurricane | [19] |
| Date (2003) | City | Country | Venue | Reason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 March | France | Hall Rhénus | Illness | [20] | ||
| 5 June | Albuquerque | United States | Tingley Coliseum | Unknown | [21] |
| City | Venue | Attendance | Revenue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Paradise Rock Club | 650 / 650 | $5,500 | |
| Philadelphia | Theatre of Living Arts | 810 / 810 | $7,372 | |
| Washington, D.C. | 9:30 Club | 1,102 / 1,102 | $11,571 | |
| Minneapolis | First Avenue | 1,272 / 1,272 | $14,554 | |
| Boulder | Fox Theatre | 625 / 625 | $21,875 | |
| Seattle | Paramount Theatre | 2,857 / 2,857 | $78,568 | |
| Berkeley | Hearst Greek Theatre | 8,700 / 8,700 | $254,700 | |
| San Diego | SDSU Open Air Theatre | 4,425 / 4,798 | $118,369 | |
| Los Angeles | Greek Theatre | 6,138 / 6,138 | $167,790 | |
| Baltimore | Pier Six Pavilion | 3,860 / 4,400 | $110,010 | |
| Boston | FleetBoston Pavilion | 5,137 / 5,137 | $146,130 | |
| Wantagh | Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater | 9,181 / 14,029 | $265,324 | |
| Toronto | Air Canada Centre | 6,061 / 6,061 | $161,673 | |
| Chicago | UIC Pavilion | 5,456 / 8,000 | $163,680 | |
| Manchester | Manchester Evening News Arena | 15,096 /15,160 | $428,838 | |
| Rotterdam | Ahoy Rotterdam | 9,765 / 9,765 | $287,683 | |
| Orlando | Hard Rock Live | 2,800 / 2,800 | $90,960 | |
| Coral Gables | UM Convocation Center | 5,947 / 5,947 | $194,764 | |
| Birmingham | BJCC Concert Hall | 2,915 / 2,915 | $88,864 | |
| Charlotte | Grady Cole Center | 2,900 / 2,900 | $83,340 | |
| New Orleans | Saenger Theatre | 2,534 / 2,534 | $88,690 | |
| Houston | Verizon Wireless Theater | 3,127 / 3,127 | $96,145 | |
| Austin | Frank Erwin Center | 4,731 / 6,290 | $141,930 | |
| Grand Prairie | NextStage Performance Theater | 5,952 / 6,333 | $208,320 | |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City Music Hall | 2,263 / 2,263 | $73,548 | |
| St. Louis | Savvis Center | 4,329 / 5,024 | $126,752 | |
| Kansas City | Memorial Hall | 3,128 / 3,153 | $95,040 | |
| Denver | Fillmore Auditorium | 3,600 / 3,600 | $108,000 | |
| Phoenix | Dodge Theatre | 4,781 / 4,781 | $139,960 | |
| Ottawa | Corel Centre | 7,790 / 8,578 | $171,736 | |
| Montreal | Bell Centre | 11,784 / 12,414 | $333,765 | |
| Wallingford | careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre | 4,833 / 4,833 | $157,760 | |
| Camden | Tweeter Center | 6,874 / 6,874 | $198,353 | |
| Pittsburgh | A.J. Palumbo Center | 3,536 / 3,810 | $107,234 | |
| Detroit | Fox Theatre | 4,787 / 4,787 | $141,585 | |
| Indianapolis | Murat Theatre | 2,516 / 2,516 | $77,708 | |
| Duluth | Gwinnett Civic Center Arena | 7,084 / 7,084 | $238,560 | |
| Nashville | Ryman Auditorium | 2,179 / 2,179 | $74,086 | |
| Columbus | PromoWest Pavilion | 2,300 / 2,300 | $64,400 | |
| Louisville | Palace Theatre | 2,695 / 2,695 | $84,110 | |
| Minneapolis | Target Center | 8,146 / 9,481 | $231,786 | |
| Manchester | Manchester Evening News Arena | 15,504 / 15,636 | $495,989 | |
| Edmonton | Shaw Conference Centre | 4,497 / 4,500 | $113,132 | |
| Calgary | Pengrowth Saddledome | 9,012 / 9,844 | $247,768 | |
| Vancouver | General Motors Place | 11,955 / 13,628 | $313,200 | |
| Bend | Les Schwab Amphitheater | 5,200 / 5,200 | $182,000 | |
| Boise | Bank of America Centre | 2,408 / 3,100 | $72,864 | |
| Wheatland | AutoWest Amphitheatre | 8,500 / 8,500 | $197,733 | |
| Mountain View | Shoreline Amphitheatre | 20,217 / 21,895 | $583,740 | |
| San Diego | Cox Arena | 9,333 / 9,333 | $324,322 | |
| Morrison | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | 18,188 / 18,890 | $617,778 | |
| Chicago | UIC Pavilion | 8,728 / 8,728 | $310,943 | |
| Cleveland | Tower City Amphitheater | 8,334 / 8,334 | $229,600 | |
| Toronto | Molson Canadian Amphitheatre | 16,328 / 16,328 | $324,707 | |
| New York City | Madison Square Garden | 15,774 / 15,774 | $582,760 | |
| Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena | 10,482 / 10,500 | $441,297 | |
| Sydney | Hordern Pavilion | 10,410 / 10,500 | $438,266 | |
| São Paulo | Via Funchal | 5,642 / 5,642 | $146,065 | |
| Rio de Janeiro | ATL Hall | 7,750 / 7,750 | $165,110 | |
| Mexico City | Palacio de los Deportes | 39,408 / 39,408 | $1,088,216 | |
| Total | 422,336 / 442,212 (95.5%) | $12,536,523 | ||
Credits taken from the band's official tour book, which was sold exclusively on merchandise booths and their online store.