néo: INTERNATIONAL MILAN

5. THE CITY OF EVENTS

Milan is increasingly becoming a city of events: Fuori Salone, Fashion week, Mito, LED, the Milan Film Festival, and the Milan Carnival. Throughout the year there are numerous temporary events that involve the entire city and attract tourists from all over Italy as well as from foreign countries. In this final part of our special issue on Milan we take a look back at the events that have become part of the city’s history. In particular the music concerts that have gone down in world history.

LEGENDARY CONCERTS

1. BEATLES 1965

End of June 1965, the Beatles played in Italy for the first and last time. Milan, Genoa and Rome were the chosen cities for the tour that needless to say was completely sold out.

Video. BEATLES AT THE VIGORELLI (duration 3 minutes)

Video shown on Tg2 about the Beatles, their first time in Italy

2. BOB MARLEY 1980

It was on the 27th of June 1980 at the Meazza Stadium when Bob Marley played in Italy at the first of the two concerts that he was to play in his entire career here in our country (the other one was the day after at the Communal Stadium in Turin). Marley’s arrival was the onslaught of a revolution: the proof was that the artist was allowed to play at the Meazza Stadium. The first time a non sport event had been held there.

Video. BOB MARLEY IN MILAN (duration 8 minutes)

Bob Marley at San Siro stadium, the memorable concert in front of 100,000 fans

3. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 1985

Friday the 21st of June 1985 at the San Siro stadium: the event or rather Bruce Springsteen’s first concert in Italy. A historical show, also considered so by Springsteen himself and one of the best ever in his career. At the Milanese stadium the Boss started singing while the sun was setting behind the stand (up until the night before torrential rain had troubled his fans). There were 65 thousand people for Bruce’s first date in Italy: it was the “Born in the USA” tour, the album which made Springsteen a global phenomenon.

Video. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN IN MILAN ON THE 21ST OF JUNE 1985 (6 minutes)

A short video of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s first concert in Italy on the 21st of June 1985

4. MICHAEL JACKSON 1997

Michael Jackson at the San Siro stadium in 97: his last time in Italy. There were 45 thousand fans at the event. The scenography was like a fair ground. In between the fireworks and flames Michael, dressed in a tight fitting gold body suit, appears to his by then delirious fans. From Man In The Mirror to Thriller, passing through Bad and Smooth Criminal, up until Billie Jean, thousands of fans watch his famous moonwalk dance steps.

Video. MICHAEL JACKSON AT SAN SIRO (duration 8 minutes)

In 95 the double album HIStory: Past, Present And Future - Book 1 came out. The record became the highest selling double album in the world with over 20 million copies sold for a total of 40 million records

5. MADONNA 2009

In 2009, there were 55,000 lucky fans who were able to see Madonna at San Siro stadium and who were able to witness her performance and her jokes. The show lasted two hours and the Material Girl sang a total of 23 songs. Madonna made a reference to her origins by shouting: "thank God my father is Italian!” Coming onto the stage at 21.25, Madonna made her entrance on a raised throne positioned in the centre of the stage which kicked off the frenetic show which started with Candy Shop and The Beat Goes On, to then exit with her dancers on a white Rolls Royce which drew up at the far end of the stage.

Video. MADONNA IN MILAN (duration 8 minutes)

From Human Nature to Vogue the stage, surrounded by numerous large screens, revealed platforms from which the various dances were performed up until the transformation into a boxing ring during a remixed version of Die Another Day

6. VASCO ROSSI EVERGREEN

We finish with the greatest Italian rock star and king of the stadium. It is difficult to choose one concert in particular because Vasco Rossi has become a constant figure in the Milanese summer. To be able to see one of his concerts is not only to participate in a musical event but to emerge oneself in the strange energetic atmosphere that links at least three generations of Italians.

Video. VASCO ROSSI 2007 (duration 6 minutes)

The song that has always been used for the finale at Vasco Rossi’s concerts: Albachiara

Other articles in the enews

1. CULTURAL CHIC TOURISM: THE PEARLS OF MILAN According to the New York Times, Milan is the capital of cultural-chic tourism and deserves to be among the top five destinations worth visiting in 2011. What are the pearls that attract the most interest from the media and international tourists? (click for article and video)
2. NEW FRONTIERS IN CREATIVITY Photographic and design workshops, showrooms and spaces dedicated to art are redesigning the cosmopolitan identity of Milan. From fuori saloni events, to installations and performances united by the search for an international identity. Who are the archi-stars and the artistic chefs in Milan?… (click for article and video)
3. MILAN IN THE WORLD: EXPO In 2015 Milan will be the centre of the World for the Universal Exposition. Between 2011 and 2020, as established by a study by Bocconi University, Expo Milan will employ around 61 thousand people and generate a total turnover of around 69 billion euro… (click for article and video)
4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE! For centuries the crossroads of knowledge the Lombardy city continues its long tradition as a centre of university research and training excellence on a European and international level. Yet that is not all, because it is here that dreams become reality… opportunities for young people!… (click for article and video)
5. THE CITY OF EVENTS It has become the capital of large international events: Fuori Salone, Fashion Week, Mito, LED as well as concerts that have become cult events. We look back at the biggest concerts in the history of rock and pop that have taken place in Milan. From the Beatles to the queen of pop… (click for article and video)