U2, Leaders of the Touring Chart with Vertigo

U2 leads the top of the bands that have earned millions with their tours.
According to a chart compiled by US magazine Billboard, the Irish rockers' sell-out 90-date Vertigo tour grossed $260m (£146.6m), having been watched by more than three million people.

Only the Dublin show, which took place in June, grossed more than $21.1m (£11.8m) and attracted nearly 247,000 fans.

U2 beat out veteran rockers THE EAGLES that came in second with $117 million (£65 million) from 77 live shows in 2005, and NEIL DIAMOND, who made the third place with $71 million (£39.4 million).

The fourth place went to country singer KENNY CHESNEY who has earned $63 million (£35 million) after performing live to 1.1 million fans in 2005, while former BEATLE, SIR PAUL McCARTNEY came in fifth, with $60m (£33.8m), followed by Rod Stewart with $49m (£27m), Elton John with $45.5m (£25.6m), Dave Matthews Band with $45m (£25.3m), Jimmy Buffett with $41m (£23m) and Green Day with $36.5m (£20.5m).

This chart does not include sales for the ROLLING STONES' A BIGGER BANG tour, which has just completed its US leg. All figures will soon be released.

The top ten touring earners according to Billboard are as follows:

1. U2
2. THE EAGLES
3. NEIL DIAMOND
4. KENNY CHESNEY
5. SIR PAUL McCARTNEY
6. ROD STEWART
7. SIR ELTON JOHN
8. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
9. JIMMY BUFFETT
10. GREEN DAY.