# Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour is the first world tour by American recording artist MC Hammer to promote his album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em. It was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola and promoted by MTV. Beginning in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 15, 1990, it visited North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, concluded in Paso Robles, California, on August 3, 1991. With a total of 144 shows, it grossed over $32 million.
The tour was a box office success. Pollstar ranked Hammer at seventh on the Top 10 highest-grossing act to tour U.S. of 1990. Also, it received generally positive reviews by the critics while some praising Hammer's energetic stage performance. Several acts were selected as opening acts of the tour. The first shows in United States were opened After 7, Michel'le, and Oaktown's 3.5.7 and later by En Vogue and fellow rapper Vanilla Ice. The European leg was supported by Snap! and the last leg by the group B Angie B.

## Background

By June 1990, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em become the first rap album to top the pop charts and by August it become the best-selling rap album of all time, surpassing License to Ill by Beastie Boys. Initial plans to tour the tour stated that it would visit North America, Europe, Japan and Australia. However, more shows were added due the high demand of tickets. Hammer led a 30-member troupe that included a live band, 10 backup singers, 15 dancers and some of the flashiest fashions this side of Mardi Gras. On the first concerts, the show consisted on five acts, four opening acts: Troop, After 7, Michel'le and Oaktown's 3.5.7 and the main act MC Hammer. The main artist performance was 80 to 90 minutes, with eight dancers and 10 backup singers. Fellow rapper Vanilla Ice also was selected as opening act until the end of November 1990, when he dropped out to do his own tour as a headliner.
During the tour, Hammer traveled by private Boeing 727 jet, the touring group included fifteen dancers, a dozen background singers, eight security, seven musicians, three valets and two DJs. According to some media outlets, rap fans had never seen anything of the magnitude of the Hammer Don't Hurt ’Em stadium gigs, which recalled Parliament-Funkadelic’s army-size traveling heyday in the 1970s. The first North America leg received several sponsors, including MTV, Pepsi, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The European and Asia legs were sponsored by Pepsi.

## Reception
### Critical reception

The tour received generally positive reviews by the critics praising Hammer's performance and charisma on stage. Rolling Stone claimed that the tour was "the most elaborate live show ever mounted by a rap entertainer". David Surkamp gave a positive review of the St. Louis concert and wrote "M.C. Hammer Delivers Knockout Performance". Reggie Matthews gave a positive review to the concert at the San Diego Sports Arena, stating "Thanks to Hammer, rap is no longer pomp, stroll, strut and attitude. It now features the latest dance crazes and synchronized choreography". Patricia Smith attended the Rosemont Horizon show and wrote "he and his energetic posse had loosened a few ceiling fixtures, interfered with air traffic control at nearby O'Hare Airport and assured every single gasping audience member that they'd gotten more than their money's worth". In Canada, Rod Campbell attended the concert in Edmonton and wrote a positive review titled "M.C. Hammer nails crowd; Rap's first superstar dazzles with dynamic show".
On a less positive note, John Lannert from Sun Sentinel reviewed the concert of June 30, 1990, at Miami Arena stating "Hammer did not rap enough or dance enough, and was weighed down throughout the concert by an overblown stage-side production that condemned the show to a sputtering, momentum-killing pace". Parry Gettleman from the Orlando Sentinel gave a positive review to the opening act After 7 stating "showed a vocal mix and elegant style recalling the Temptations and the Spinners", however criticized the main act performance, stating "It's a shame Hammer sometimes confused performing and cheerleading, because when he stuck to the former, 'Hammer time' was enjoyable." Steve Morse gave a mixed review to the concert at Worcester on a review titled "Hammer Time' Misses a Beat".

### Commercial reception

The tour was a commercial success with several shows reported sold out while other cities added more shows due the high demand. Initially, the summer leg in North America was planned to be around 50 to 60 shows, however, more shows were added. Ticket prices for the North America leg were between $17 and $30. The Miami arena concert was reported "packed" with 15,000 fans. The concert of July 1, 1990, in Tampa, was reported with 10,000 fans. The concert at the Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo had attendance of 8,100 and over 10,000 in Atlanta at The Omni. In Canada, over 6,000 fans were reported at the Montreal concert. On December 20, 1990, around 1,000 fans asked for refunds after learning that the opening acts En Vogue and Vanilla Ice did not show up. Also, media reported that just 3,000 of the 25,000 tickets were sold of the Tacoma Dome concert on July 26, 1991.
By January 1991, Hammer was ranked seventh at Pollstar Top 10 highest-grossing act to tour U.S. for grossing US$26.3 million of 138 shows in 132 cities. In Japan, 55,000 tickets were sold for the first concert at the Tokyo Dome. Due to the high demand another show was added. The concert in Auckland, New Zealand, was reported sold out. Several shows were added at the Wembley Arena in London due the high demand. According to Billboard, by the end of the tour, it grossed over US$32 million in 144 shows around the world.

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| June 15, 1990 | Louisville | United States | Louisville Gardens |
| June 21, 1990 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson-Boling Arena |
| June 24, 1990 | Antioch | United States | Starwood Amphitheatre |
| June 28, 1990 | Tallahassee | United States | Leon County Civic Center |
| June 30, 1990 | Miami | United States | Miami Arena |
| July 1, 1990 | Tampa | United States | USF Sun Dome |
| July 4, 1990 | Grove City | United States | Capital Music Center |
| July 6, 1990 | St. Louis | United States | St. Louis Arena |
| July 7, 1990 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena |
| July 8, 1990 | Kalamazoo | United States | Wings Stadium |
| July 12, 1990 | Greenville | United States | Greenville Memorial Auditorium |
| July 13, 1990 | Augusta | United States | Augusta Civic Center |
| July 18, 1990 | Huntsville | United States | Von Braun Center |
| July 19, 1990 | Chattanooga | United States | UTC Arena |
| July 21, 1990 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum |
| July 22, 1990 | Baltimore | United States | Baltimore Arena |
| July 26, 1990 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| July 27, 1990 | Philadelphia | United States | Spectrum |
| July 29, 1990 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre |
| August 1, 1990 | Alburquerque | United States | Tingley Coliseum |
| August 2, 1990 | Phoenix | United States | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| August 3, 1990 | Las Vegas | United States | Thomas & Mack Center |
| August 4, 1990 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena |
| August 5, 1990 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena |
| August 7, 1990 | Salt Lake CIty | United States | Salt Palace |
| August 8, 1990 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena |
| August 10, 1990 | Oklahoma City | United States | Myriad Convention Center |
| August 11, 1990 | Houston | United States | The Summit |
| August 12, 1990 | Baton Rouge | United States | Riverside Centroplex |
| August 13, 1990 | Pensacola | United States | Pensacola Civic Center |
| August 15, 1990 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum |
| August 16, 1990 | Saginaw | United States | Wendler Arena |
| August 17, 1990 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon |
| August 18, 1990 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena |
| August 20, 1990 | Rockford | United States | MetroCentre |
| August 24, 1990 | Orlando | United States | Orlando Arena |
| August 31, 1990 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena |
| September 2, 1990 | Atlanta | United States | The Omni |
| September 9, 1990 | Fresno | United States | Selland Arena |
| September 13, 1990 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| September 15, 1990 | Philadelphia | United States | Veterans Stadium |
| September 18, 1990 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Civic Auditorium |
| September 19, 1990 | Cedar Rapids | United States | Five Seasons Center |
| September 20, 1990 | Peoria | United States | Peoria Civic Center |
| September 21, 1990 | Noblesville | United States | Deer Creek Music Center |
| September 23, 1990 | Bloomington | United States | Met Center |
| September 26, 1990 | Bethlehem | United States | Stabler Arena |
| September 27, 1990 | Worcester | United States | Centrum |
| September 28, 1990 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| September 30, 1990 | Norfolk | United States | Scope Arena |
| October 4, 1990 | Roanoke | United States | Roanoke Civic Center |
| October 5, 1990 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum |
| October 7, 1990 | Fairfax | United States | Patriot Center |
| October 10, 1990 | Syracuse | United States | Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium |
| October 13, 1990 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
| October 14, 1990 | Albany | United States | Knickerbocker Arena |
| October 16, 1990 | Toronto | Canada | SkyDome |
| October 17, 1990 | Montreal | Canada | Forum de Montreal |
| October 19, 1990 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum |
| October 20, 1990 | Carbondale | United States | SIU Arena |
| October 21, 1990 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| October 22, 1990 | Madison | United States | Dane County Memorial Coliseum |
| October 25, 1990 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena |
| October 26, 1990 | Champaign | United States | Assembly Hall |
| October 28, 1990 | Milwaukee | United States | Bradley Center |
| October 30, 1990 | Kalamazoo | United States | Wings Stadium |
| November 2, 1990 | Fort Wayne | United States | Allen Country War Memorial Coliseum |
| November 3, 1990 | Columbia | United States | Hearnes Center |
| November 4, 1990 | Chicago | United States | UIC Pavilion |
| November 6, 1990 | Miami | United States | Miami Arena |
| November 8, 1990 | Tampa | United States | USF Sun Dome |
| November 9, 1990 | Macon | United States | Macon Coliseum |
| November 10, 1990 | Murfreesboro | United States | Charles M. Murphy Athletic Center |
| November 11, 1990 | Chapel Hill | United States | Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center |
| November 13, 1990 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson-Boling Arena |
| November 15, 1990 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum |
| November 20, 1990 | Lafayette | United States | Cajundome |
| November 21, 1990 | Houston | United States | The Summit |
| November 22, 1990 | New Orleans | United States | Lakefront Arena |
| November 24, 1990 | Little Rock | United States | Barton Coliseum |
| November 30, 1990 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena |
| December 2, 1990 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Convention Center |
| December 3, 1990 | Tempe | United States | ASU Activity Center |
| December 5, 1990 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena |
| December 6, 1990 | Fresno | United States | Selland Arena |
| December 7, 1990 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena |
| December 9, 1990 | Reno | United States | Lawlor Events Center |
| December 13, 1990 | Portland | United States | Portland Memorial Coliseum |
| December 15, 1990 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum |
| December 17, 1990 | Portland | United States | Portland Memorial Coliseum |
| December 20, 1990 | Boise | United States | BSU Pavilion |
| December 21, 1990 | Tacoma | United States | Tacoma Dome |
| Oceania and Asia ||||
| February 26, 1991 | Auckland | New Zealand | Mount Smart Stadium |
| March 19, 1991 | Melbourne | Australia | Rod Laver Arena |
| March 26, 1991 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| March 27, 1991 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome |
| March 29, 1991 | Manila | Philliphiness | Araneta Coliseum |
| Europe ||||
| April 6, 1991 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy |
| April 8, 1991 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle |
| April 9, 1991 | Zurich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
| April 11, 1991 | Madrid | Spain | Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid |
| April 12, 1991 | Barcelona | Spain | Palau Sant Jordi |
| April 16, 1991 | Frankfurt | Germany | Festhalle |
| April 17, 1991 | Düsseldorf | Germany | Philipshalle |
| April 20, 1991 | Paris | France | Le Zenith |
| April 21, 1991 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National |
| April 24, 1991 | Berlin | Germany | Deutschlandhalle |
| April 27, 1991 | Stockholm | Sweden | Globe Arena |
| April 28, 1991 | Oslo | Norway | Oslo Spektrum |
| May 2, 1991 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena |
| May 4, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| May 5, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| May 6, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| May 8, 1991 | Manchester | England | G-MEX Centre |
| May 10, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| May 11, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| May 12, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| May 17, 1991 | Whitley Bay | England | Whitley Bay Ice Rink |
| May 18, 1991 | Glasgow | Scotland | SECC Glasgow Hall 4 |
| North America ||||
| June 21, 1991 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson-Boling Arena |
| July 5, 1991 | Salem | United States | L.B Day Amphitheatre |
| July 26, 1991 | Tacoma | United States | Tacoma Dome |
| July 27, 1991 | Penticton | Canada | Kings Park |
| July 28, 1991 | Calgary | Canada | Olympic Saddledome |
| July 29, 1991 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum |
| August 3, 1991 | Paso Robles | United States | California Mid-State Fairgrounds |

### Box office data

| City | Country | Attendance | Box office |
| Bloomington | United States | 12,390 / 14,478 (86%) | $255,963 |
| Knoxville | United States | 9,210 / 12,006 (77%) | $161,153 |
| Tallahassee | United States | 9,648 / 10,006 (96%) | $154,275 |
| Atlanta | United States | 14,894 / 17,154 (87%) | $292,017 |
| Richfield | United States | 17,472 / 19,746 (88%) | $343,286 |
| Philadelphia | United States | 24,875 / 66,943 (37%) | $371,775 |
| Worcester | United States | 10,800 / 10,800 (100%) | $225,630 |
| Fairfax | United States | 8,743 / 10,000 (87%) | $186,997 |
| Toronto | Canada | 11,053 / 14,000 (79%) | $260,128 |
| Vancouver | Canada | 12,469 / 15,162 (82%) | $301,858 |
| Arbun Hills | United States | 17,928 / 17,928 (100%) | $392,881 |
| Madison | United States | 10,250 / 10,250 (100%) | $199,246 |
| Columbia | United States | 10,366 / 10,366 (100%) | $195,673 |
| Houston | United States | 14,081 / 15,000 (94%) | $266,583 |
| Carbondales | United States | 8,087 / 10,800 (75%) | $148,325 |
| London | United Kingdom | 11,500 / 11,500 (100%) | $295,463 |
| Calgary | Canada | 7,062 / 12,197 (58%) | $176,670 |
| Paso Robles | United States | 21,489 / 30,446 (71%) | $472,820 |
| Total | Total | 226,323 / 308,782 (73%) | $4,700,923 |