# XXX Tour

The XXX Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band ZZ Top. Staged in support of their 1999 album XXX, the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 1999 to 2002. With five legs and 134 shows, the tour began in Denver, Colorado on September 12, 1999 and ended on November 1, 2002 in London, England. The first two legs took place in the United States before the next leg visited Australasia. After three legs, the band was initially expected to tour Europe, but the European leg was postponed until over two years later, which was branded as "Euro-Afrique". Although the tour provoked a range of reactions from critics, it was generally well received.

## Background

ZZ Top's 1996 album Rhythmeen and the supporting Continental Safari Tour brought them to new audiences, particularly in South Africa. Unlike their previous tours, Continental Safari was a minimalistic, sparse production. According to a press release, guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons described the tour's production as a "no-frills, full-thrill presentation—streamlined and down and gritty", further acknowledging, "ZZ Top drives it home with a meaner rhythm than ever before." Although their 1997 Mean Rhythm Global Tour did not visit Europe, they performed over 170 shows in support of Rhythmeen.

## Stage design and production

The XXX Tour stage was designed by Chris Stuba, ZZ Top's lighting director. To design the set, Stuba collaborated with longtime production manager Donny Stuart stage set. In place of ZZ Top's elaborate productions of the past, the XXX Tour stage was a simple setup, designed to be intimate. The set included a 48-by-30 foot (15 by 9 m) stage, and was supplemented by giant stretch fabric fixtures, known as Transformits, and were made into geometric shapes, which showed various visuals, including the "XXX" logo behind the stage; for any in-the-round venues, the Transformits were not used. Stuba faced the challenge of designing a lighting system to suit both ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd, the opening act for most of the tour; both bands used the same wash lights. The set used 87 automated luminaries and 180 PAR lamps, emitting much heat in which the band favored. Stuba explained:
   Because the band has literally grown up with conventional lights, they tell me they play better when they 'feel the heat'. They like a really hot stage. The story is they had so many PARs they couldn't move the drum riser until a half hour after the show because it was so hot. They like it that way, and as more conventional lighting goes away and more automated lighting comes into play, a lot of newer bands have no idea what it's like to play under a 150-degree stage. It's an observation we've made about the whole thing, from Billy's point of view.
   The way we discovered this was, I was running moving light cues and Billy was saying there was something missing and he couldn't put his finger on it. And it came to turn out that it was just the heat factor. He missed the heat. I was pretty shocked hearing that and didn't give it much thought myself until he pointed that out. Our cues now have more PARs in them just for that reason. If they're happy with the heat and they don't think about it and it's the norm, then in turn they probably do play better.

## Tour dates

List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, tickets sold, number of available tickets and amount of gross revenue :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening act(s) | Attendance | Revenue |
| Leg 1: arenas in the United States |||||||
| September 12, 1999 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena | The Groove Hawgs | — | — |
| September 15, 1999 | Pensacola | United States | Pensacola Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 17, 1999 | Orlando | United States | Orlando Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 18, 1999 | Fort Lauderdale | United States | National Car Rental Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 19, 1999 | Gainesville | United States | O'Connell Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| September 21, 1999 | Greenville | United States | Bi-Lo Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 22, 1999 | Greensboro | United States | Greensboro Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | 6,822 / 23,500 | — |
| September 24, 1999 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 25, 1999 | Birmingham | United States | Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 26, 1999 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson–Boling Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 28, 1999 | Atlanta | United States | Philips Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| September 29, 1999 | Roanoke | United States | Roanoke Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | 9,408 / 9,828 | — |
| October 1, 1999 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| October 2, 1999 | Philadelphia | United States | First Union Spectrum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 3, 1999 | Pittsburgh | United States | Pittsburgh Civic Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 6, 1999 | Buffalo | United States | Marine Midland Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 8, 1999 | East Rutherford | United States | Continental Airlines Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 9, 1999 | Worcester | United States | Worcester's Centrum Centre | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 10, 1999 | Fairfax | United States | Patriot Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 12, 1999 | Cleveland | United States | CSU Convocation Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 13, 1999 | Fairborn | United States | Ervin J. Nutter Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 15, 1999 | Grand Rapids | United States | Van Andel Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 16, 1999 | Detroit | United States | Palace of Auburn Hills | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | 13,896 / 13,896 | $476,361 |
| October 17, 1999 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| October 19, 1999 | Moline | United States | MARK of the Quad Cities | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| October 20, 1999 | Madison | United States | Kohl Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| October 22, 1999 | Chicago | United States | United Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 23, 1999 | Ames | United States | Hilton Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd | 7,362 / 14,092 | — |
| October 24, 1999 | Fargo | United States | Fargodome | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| October 26, 1999 | Minneapolis | United States | Target Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 28, 1999 | Kansas City | United States | Kansas City Municipal Auditorium | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 29, 1999 | St. Louis | United States | Kiel Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| October 30, 1999 | Memphis | United States | Pyramid Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | 13,621 / 13,621 | $489,795 |
| November 5, 1999 | New Orleans | United States | New Orleans Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 6, 1999 | Jackson | United States | Mississippi Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 7, 1999 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 9, 1999 | Shreveport | United States | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 10, 1999 | Little Rock | United States | Alltel Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 12, 1999 | Oklahoma City | United States | Myriad Convention Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 13, 1999 | Tulsa | United States | Tulsa Convention Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 14, 1999 | Wichita | United States | Britt Brown Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 16, 1999 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Civic Auditorium Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| November 17, 1999 | Rapid City | United States | Rushmore Plaza Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| November 19, 1999 | Salt Lake City | United States | Delta Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 21, 1999 | Billings | United States | MetraPark Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 22, 1999 | Missoula | United States | Adams Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| November 24, 1999 | Tacoma | United States | Tacoma Dome | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 26, 1999 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 27, 1999 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 28, 1999 | Boise | United States | Idaho Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| November 30, 1999 | Reno | United States | Lawlor Events Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| December 1, 1999 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| December 3, 1999 | Oakland | United States | The Arena in Oakland | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sy Klopps Blues Band | — | — |
| December 4, 1999 | Anaheim | United States | Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| December 5, 1999 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd | — | — |
| December 7, 1999 | Las Vegas | United States | Mandalay Bay Events Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| December 9, 1999 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Convention Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | 7,379 / 8,962 | $258,265 |
| December 10, 1999 | Phoenix | United States | America West Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| December 11, 1999 | Albuquerque | United States | Tingley Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| December 14, 1999 | Odessa | United States | Ector County Coliseum | Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| December 16, 1999 | Lubbock | United States | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | — | — |
| December 17, 1999 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies | 14,654 / 14,654 | $579,290 |
| December 29, 1999 | Lafayette | United States | Cajundome | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jivin’ Sister Fanny | — | — |
| December 30, 1999 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jivin’ Sister Fanny | — | — |
| December 31, 1999 | Houston | United States | Houston Compaq Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jivin’ Sister Fanny | 11,777 / 11,777 | $681,372 |
| Leg 2: arenas in the United States |||||||
| January 14, 2000 | Hershey | United States | Hersheypark Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Demonseeds | — | — |
| January 15, 2000 | Charleston | United States | Charleston Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Demonseeds | 11,423 / 11,423 | $379,891 |
| January 16, 2000 | Wheeling | United States | Wheeling Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Demonseeds | — | — |
| January 18, 2000 | Wilkes-Barre | United States | Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| January 19, 2000 | Rochester | United States | Blue Cross Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 5,147 / 10,877 | — |
| January 21, 2000 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 9,784 / 12,500 | $334,342 |
| January 22, 2000 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| January 23, 2000 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| January 25, 2000 | Albany | United States | Pepsi Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 8,899 / 10,000 | $297,211 |
| January 26, 2000 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 8,068 / 8,068 | $282,380 |
| January 28, 2000 | Uncasville | United States | Mohegan Sun Arena | | — | — |
| January 29, 2000 | Atlantic City | United States | Trump Marina | | — | — |
| February 2, 2000 | Tampa | United States | Ice Palace Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 4, 2000 | Savannah | United States | Savannah Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 5, 2000 | Tupelo | United States | Tupelo Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 6, 2000 | Biloxi | United States | Mississippi Coast Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 8, 2000 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 11,116 / 13,000 | $341,567 |
| February 9, 2000 | Huntsville | United States | Von Braun Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 7,862 / 7,862 | $269,867 |
| February 11, 2000 | Johnson City | United States | Freedom Hall Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 7,958 / 7,958 | $278,530 |
| February 13, 2000 | Fort Worth | United States | Fort Worth Convention Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 11,923 / 11,923 | $492,155 |
| February 16, 2000 | Macon | United States | Macon Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 18, 2000 | Albany | United States | Albany Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 19, 2000 | North Charleston | United States | North Charleston Coliseum | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 20, 2000 | Raleigh | United States | Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 22, 2000 | Toledo | United States | Savage Hall | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 23, 2000 | Kalamazoo | United States | Wings Stadium | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 25, 2000 | Cincinnati | United States | Cincinnati Gardens | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 26, 2000 | Columbus | United States | Value City Arena | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 27, 2000 | Evansville | United States | Roberts Municipal Stadium | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| February 29, 2000 | Peoria | United States | Peoria Civic Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| March 2, 2000 | Terre Haute | United States | Hulman Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | 6,086 / 10,200 | — |
| March 3, 2000 | Cape Girardeau | United States | Show Me Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| March 5, 2000 | Beaumont | United States | Montagne Center | Lynyrd Skynyrd, Laidlaw | — | — |
| Leg 3: arenas and stadiums in Australasia |||||||
| April 17, 2000 | Perth | Australia | Perth Entertainment Centre | | — | — |
| April 19, 2000 | Adelaide | Australia | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | Orianthi | — | — |
| April 21, 2000 | Byron Bay | Australia | Red Devil Park | Robert Cray Band, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones | — | — |
| April 22, 2000 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | | — | — |
| April 24, 2000 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre | Never the Bride | — | — |
| April 26, 2000 | Melbourne | Australia | Melbourne Park | | — | — |
| April 28, 2000 | Auckland | New Zealand | Ericsson Stadium Supertop | Delta | — | — |
| April 30, 2000 | Christchurch | New Zealand | WestpacTrust Centre | Delta | — | — |
| May 1, 2000 | Wellington | New Zealand | Queens Wharf Events Centre | Delta | — | — |
| Leg 4: arenas and stadiums in the United States ("Casino Tour") |||||||
| May 4, 2002 | Atlantic City | United States | Etess Arena | | — | — |
| May 7, 2002 | Uncasville | United States | Mohegan Sun Arena | | — | — |
| May 9, 2002 | Albuquerque | United States | Sandia Resort and Casino | | — | — |
| May 11, 2002 | Paradise | United States | Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts | | — | — |
| May 12, 2002 | Alpine | United States | Viejas Casino | | — | — |
| Leg 5: auditoriums and arenas in Europe ("Euro-Afrique") |||||||
| October 1, 2002 | Helsinki | Finland | Hartwall Areena | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 3, 2002 | Stockholm | Sweden | Hovet | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 5, 2002 | Aalborg | Denmark | Aalborg Stadion | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 7, 2002 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Falkoner Teatret | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 8, 2002 | Hamburg | Germany | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 10, 2002 | Berlin | Germany | Velodrom | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 11, 2002 | Leipzig | Germany | Arena Leipzig | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 12, 2002 | Frankfurt | Germany | Jahrhunderthalle | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 14, 2002 | Paris | France | Zénith de Paris | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 15, 2002 | Saarbrücken | Germany | E-Werk | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 16, 2002 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 18, 2002 | Essen | Germany | Grugahalle | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 19, 2002 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 20, 2002 | Stuttgart | Germany | Schleyerhalle | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 22, 2002 | Vienna | Austria | Spark7 Halle | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 23, 2002 | Brno | Czech Republic | Hala Rondo | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 24, 2002 | Zagreb | Croatia | Dom Sportova | | — | — |
| October 26, 2002 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 27, 2002 | Milan | Italy | PalaVobis | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 29, 2002 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Heineken Music Hall | Gary Moore | — | — |
| October 31, 2002 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo | Gary Moore | — | — |
| November 1, 2002 | London | England | Carling Apollo Hammersmith | Headway | — | — |