'A Freudian nightmare': Madonna's Blond Ambition tour turns 30

In Toronto, Madonna simulated masturbation on a velvet bed under the watchful eye of the Canadian police, who threatened her with arrest if her show went ahead. In Italy, unions called for a general strike if Madonna performed, and Pope John Paul II declared her concert “one of the most satanic shows in the history of humanity”. The Blond Ambition tour, which turned 30 years old last month, remains among the most controversial tours of all time.

It seems bizarre now that so much fuss was made over a little fake frotting and a few gyrating nuns. But this was 1990, when Kylie Minogue was still performing in straw hats, Bananarama were deemed dangerous and the gossip pages raged over Annie Lennox singing Would I Lie to You in a bra. Into this age of relative wholesomeness landed Blond Ambition Madonna, on a mission to combine fashion, rock, Broadway theatricality and performance art, to “be provocative” and “break useless taboos”. Mission accomplished. Jean Paul Gaultier’s famous conical corset has been described as a “Freudian nightmare”, a generation of teenagers asked their parents what S&M stood for, and the coy suggestiveness of the live pop spectacle was blown wide open.

The themed set-pieces - religion, German expressionism, art deco, Madge’s rubbish new movie Dick Tracy - set a new bar for confrontational theatricality that only greater shock tactics could ever challenge. Marilyn Manson’s onstage Bible shredding is straight out of the “Madonna 90” guidebook, and with her firework bras, stage blood and copious dry-humping, Lady Gaga looks as if she was conceived at a Blond Ambition gig. But the key taboo Madonna broke that summer was that of feminine sexuality as strength rather than titillation, as something owned by the artist not cashed in by the svengalis. That’s what gave us SexKylie, “zig-a-zig-AH!”, Wrecking Ball-era Miley and Nicki Minaj’s bottom-obsessed Anaconda. It’s one of the reasons female artists feel comfortable singing about sex and desire today.

Sex sells, though, and more sex sells more. Over the decades, overt sexuality became the expected – nay, contractual – pop norm. Attention-grabbing boundaries were pushed to their limits, and artists were pressured to play this new, ever raunchier game. Enter Billie Eilish, defiantly covered, mocking the uber-sexualised expectations of modern pop with a film of her stripping off beneath blackened water: “If I wear more, if I wear less, who decides what that makes me?” she intones, shaming the bodyshamers and staring out the monetisable male gaze. By asserting ownership of her body she is not re-establishing any old taboos, she’s breaking the oldest one of all – subservience. Her image, her body, her art, her rules. Which was Madonna’s point all along.

From The Guardian

Madonna’s Dancer Lil Buck ‘Bumped Heads’ With Her Before She Became ‘One Of His Best Friends’

Lil Buck is an extraordinary performer who has led the Memphis jookin scene for years and he sat down with HL to reveal how Madonna got to be ‘like a sister’ to him!

Lil Buck was catapulted into stardom after a video of him performing “The Swan” went viral back in 2011. Since then, Lil Buck – whose real name is Charles Riley – has toured with Madonna and performed alongside her during her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in 2012. He also co-choreographed and performed in Janelle Monáe’s 2010 “Tightrope”, and has worked with a slew of celebrities over the years including Kendall Jenner, Spike Lee, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

HollywoodLife sat down with Lil Buck who EXCLUSIVELY dished on what it’s been like working with Madonna and how despite initially “bumping heads” with the “Vogue” singer, she’s grown to become “one of his best friends.” The famed dancer and choreographer was discovered by Madonna after she held a competition called the Dance for Madonna Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Competition. “This company called Dance On reached out to me about a pop star. They couldn’t get into who it was and I had to sign in confidentiality. I eventually found out it was Madonna, it was a whole competition to be on her tour,” he explained.

“As soon as I heard it was a female pop star I was like, ‘I don’t know if I want to do this because I know how that goes,’” he revealed. “You know, you look back at the past and you look at any of Madonna‘s old tour videos or tapes or any pop star. If they’re a rebel, especially if they have a strong way of presenting their art in their own way they just take their art to the next level. Madonna is really one of those people who challenges stigmas in a lot of different things. I know how it is when she makes guys wear brassieres, like crazy things. If you look at it from my perspective, I’m at the head of a real life street dance, you know what I’m saying? Like, I’m from the hood, hood. You know what I mean?”

“You have this huge responsibility of carrying this street dance in the best way, especially not being from Memphis on top of that,” the Chicago native said. “So I’m trying to navigate the best way to put this street dance out there that I’ve been introduced to since I wasn’t born in Memphis originally and there’s a huge responsibility being at the head of that and trying to do it the right way. I didn’t want kids to see me wearing certain things and then they feel like they wouldn’t want to do that. A lot of kids give up easier in my neighborhood just because there’s no platform for us to do what we do artistically. So if there’s no way out for you or if you feel that there’s a way out but you’re not comfortable doing that then it could be demotivating in a sense where they don’t even want to go for it. So I thought about it that deep.”

“Especially with what I’m trying to do with Memphis jookin now, I didn’t know if that was the right move for me. So me and Madonna we’re kind of bumping heads for a little bit at the beginning but then eventually we learn to respect each other’s views on art and what’s important. Just like how the streets were important to me there’s a lot of topics and subjects that she touches upon that the whole world needs to open their eyes to, even the people from my neighborhood. Eventually we grew to love each other and she’s become one of my best friends.”

Lil Buck was introduced to the Memphis jookin scene at the age of 11, but has been dancing all his life and got into street dance after growing up watching Michael Jackson‘s music videos. The talented star, who is also classically trained in ballet, eventually spent several years as a choreographer and dancer for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: One show in Las Vegas.

From Hollywood Life

MDNA Tour 'Girl Gone Wild' Rehearsal Footage

This video footage of rehearsal for the MDNA Tour Girl Gone Wild performance was put online yesterday. The footage shows the amazing amount of work and people involved to make the performance absolutely perfect.

Thanks to Aaron

Madonna: I’ll never perform in Russia again

The star has said that it is unlikely she will return due to the country’s treatment of the LGBT community.

The singer made the comments in an interview to promote her upcoming tour, which begins in September. The tour will involve concerts in 35 cities across North America, Europe and Australia.

However, the singer has stated that Russia will not be on that list, reports The Moscow Times.

'I won’t appear in Moscow or St Petersburg anymore, because I don’t want to perform in places where being homosexual is tantamount to a crime,' said the singer.

Conservative St. Petersburg lawmaker Vitaly Milonov - infamous for his anti-LGBT views - responded swiftly to Madonna’s statement.

In an interview to Russian News Agency, Milonov called the singer a 'hypocritical old lady' and accused her of prioritising gay rights over the lives of children suffering because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The singer has previously accused Vladimir Putin’s regime of showing 'blatant intolerance of gay rights, artistic freedom, freedom of speech, and human rights in general.'

Speaking about the arrest of pro-gay band Pussy Riot members in 2012, she said: 'I was shocked and outraged when I heard about this, and I spoke about it openly on stage [in Moscow] during my show. For this I received several death threats.'

'What I realised when I went to Russia, and saw what was going on with Pussy Riot, and what was going on with the gay community, was how lucky I was and am to live in a country where I can speak my mind. It’s time for the rest of the world to be as brave as Pussy Riot, to stand up against people like President Putin that do not respect human rights, and perpetuate oppression, discrimination, and injustice of any kind.'

'We all have a moral obligation to stand up for anyone who’s being persecuted, whether it’s down the street from us, or on the other side of the world.'

From PinkNews.co.uk

Madonna Was Nearly Arrested 25 Years Ago Today

Anyone who's watched Madonna's revealing 1991 documentary Truth or Dare remembers the unforgettable scene where Madonna, despite warnings of arrest from local police, simulates masturbation while singing 'Like a Virgin' on her Blond Ambition Tour.

Today, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of that unusual Canadian controversy.

On May 29, 1990, Madonna was preparing to take the stage for the third night at Toronto's SkyDome on her Blond Ambition Tour. Right around that time, her crew received a visit from officers who threatened to arrest the Queen of Pop for her salacious onstage simulation. Christopher Ciccone, who was assisting his sister on tour at the time, relayed the message to Madonna, explaining 'a representative from the D.A.'s office' was worried about her 'immoral live performance.'

Her response? 'I’m not changing my fucking show.'

To read the rest of the article visit: www.billboard.com/articles

25 Reasons Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour Still Rules, 25 Years Later

Madonna kicked off her Blond Ambition World Tour on April 13, 1990, 25 years ago this week. Besides offering the world Madonna in her absolute prime - as a performer and as an all-around focus of attention - Blond Ambition changed the pop-culture landscape.

Fans might be surprised to learn that it's not Madonna's highest-grossing tour; Sticky & Sweet, MDNA and The Girlie Show each performed better. And it featured only 57 stops. But it's still hugely important and might have done the most to define Madonna as a music icon - and here are 25 reasons for that.

To read the full article visit: people.com/madonna-blond-ambition-25th-anniversarys

UK Tour dates announced on Monday!

Pre-Order Madonna's New Album and Get Access to Her Upcoming UK Tour Tickets Presale.

Pre-order your CD, Vinyl or MP3 copy of Rebel Heart by Madonna by 23:59 GMT on Monday, 9 March, 2015 and you'll receive a passcode giving you access to a 30-hour presale window for the chance to buy up to two (2) tickets to one of Madonna's 2015 UK tour dates, before general release to the public.

Please note that the passcode does not guarantee you a ticket. For full details of how to claim, when you'll receive your passcode, details of the presale window and other important information, please see the terms & conditions. No purchase necessary.

Visit http://madonnauktour.co.uk/

Happy 10th Anniversary to the Re-Invention Tour

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Re-Invention Tour. The tour premiered in Los Angeles on May 24th 2004 and ended in Lisbon on September 14th 2004 after 56 shows.

What are your memories of the tour? And did you experience the fan pit?

The Impossible Feat of Billboard Award-Winning MDNA Tour

Sunday night Madonna received a Billboard Music Award for the Top Touring Artist of 2012. Her MDNA tour, which brought in $305 million, was a musical and visual extravaganza. Madonna performed with 140,000 pounds of gear suspended above her head. She danced on 42-square-inch squares undulating up and down, reaching eight feet above the stage. What’s more, at each of the 88 stops of the tour, the stage had been built in a few short hours by a local crew who has never seen it (or the traveling roadies) before.
Rock concerts descend upon a host site and then quickly disappear. The only certainty is that of unforeseen obstacles. How do they get the show to go on every night, no matter what?
The people who know the answer to that question work for TAIT, the company behind Madonna’s stage set. TAIT has built the sets for all ten highest grossing tours of all time, including for Roger Waters, The Rolling Stones, and U2. TAIT has developed expertise in designing complex stage sets that can be safely, quickly, and cost effectively put together and taken apart.
I recently spoke with the project manager who worked on the MDNA tour, James Erwin, about how the MDNA stage was designed to deliver consistent performance despite vastly differing circumstances on each of the tour’s stops.

To read the rest of the article visit www.forbes.com/sites/ruthblatt

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MDNA Tour dancers make-up tutorial

MDNA make-up artist Tiffany Saxby is publishing video clips online showing how she put on the make-up of the MDNA tour dancers. The first clip is for the first section of the show, the second clip for the Express Yourself and Vogue sections.

North American tour dates on Ticketmaster

Several North American ticket dates are currently showing on Ticketmaster.com.

Ticketmaster preview new tour artwork

As we impatiently wait for the 2012 tour announcement to come, Ticketmaster.com have just published this picture - the new tour logo perhaps?

Thanks to Vickster

Madonna tour date in New Orleans in October

Ticketmaster.com are listing a tour date for Madonna at the New Orleans Arena on Saturday 27 October 2012. The website also states that tickets will go on sale on Monday 05 March with a price range of US $45.00 - US $355.00!

Thanks to John

Madonna to open 2012 tour in Israel

The Jerusalem Post are reporting this news about the tour opener:

International superstar Madonna may have been focusing on her Super Bowl halftime performance for Sunday night, but soon her sights will turn to the Middle East.
The iconic singer will launch a world tour in support of her upcoming album MDNA with a show on May 31 at Ramat Gan Stadium. Details of the show and ticket availability will be revealed later in the week.
The Material Girl is no stranger to Israel, having performed here twice and spent time in the country as part of her Kabbala studies. She closed 2009's 'Sticky and Sweet' tour, which became the second-highest grossing tour of all time with $408 million in receipts, in Israel.

Thanks to Niv

Tour dancer auditions in Paris

According to the Culture Ministry of Spain website there will be a audition in Paris on Thursday 09 February looking for 'flamenco' dancers to join Madonna's tour.

The article also states they must be over 18 and have Arab characteristics, be racially mixed or Latin, with a good technical level and much creativity.

They must be able to start work on Monday 13 February.

The original article in Spanish can be read at www.danza.es

Thanks to Juanma H.

Will Madonna answer prayers of fans with show in Edinburgh?

madonnalicious reader Scott was interviewed for this article from The Scotsman about a possible Scottish date in Edinburgh on the tour:

She’s the world’s top-selling female recording artist and probably the biggest superstar never to perform in Scotland.
But now – if mounting rumours are to be believed - pop icon Madonna is set to put that right with a barnstorming concert at Murrayfield this summer.
The Material Girl could make her Scottish debut in the Capital as part of a tour to promote her 12th studio album MDNA, which is due for release in March.
Grapevine gossip suggests the 53-year-old will take to the Murrayfield stage on July 21, although no tour dates have been confirmed.
News of a possible date broke online yesterday, but neither the Scottish Rugby Union, which runs Murrayfield Stadium, nor Beverley Hills-based events company Live Nation, which represents Madonna, would confirm or deny the speculation.
Live Nation would only say that 'there would be something later in the year'.
One self-confessed Madonna superfan in Edinburgh, Scott Anderson, 34, who has watched the US songstress in concert 14 times, said she could sell out Murrayfield Stadium several times over.
'I had heard rumours that this might be happening,' he said.
'I think it’s about time she would play in Scotland and thought there might be a chance because she got married here. She often does play in places where she hasn’t been before and will be guaranteed a sell-out here – she could probably do a couple of nights.'
'I hate to think of the money I have spent seeing Madonna over the years but it was worth it every time.'
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh’s festivals and events champion, said securing a Madonna concert in the Capital would be a 'huge coup'.
'If this is true, this is fantastic news for the city,' he said. 'Madonna is the superstar which all the rest try to emulate and if she comes to Murrayfield it will be a sell-out and another feather in Edinburgh’s cap.'
'People will travel from all over Scotland and elsewhere. She is the queen of pop.'

Madonna to play Québec City?

A rumour that Madonna's next world tour will stop at 'Les Plaines d'Abraham' (and outside venue) in Québec City on Saturday 01 September 2012 is being reported by fr.canoe.ca and tvanouvelles.ca

Thanks to Alain, François and Pierre

Madonna's tour may still visit New Zealand

The Queen of Pop's world tour may yet kick off in Auckland.
In October a leaked document suggesting Madonna was to play here was rubbished by her management, but negotiations with the prospective venue suggest the deal may still be done.
An alleged leaked itinerary of the iconic music star's next world tour was sent by an anonymous music industry insider to a Madonna fan site in the US on October 13.
The email contained a photo of the 2012 tour schedule printed on an official letterhead from promoter Live Nation and indicated that Madonna would perform at Mt Smart Stadium on March 31, 2012.
The document was quickly denied as a fake by Madonna's management, and group manager of Mt Smart Paul Nisbet said they had not been approached with any bookings for that date.
But in a council meeting just days later, Regional Facilities Auckland discussed negotiations that were underway to secure a large concert for the venue.
In the Operations Performance Report from the board of directors dated October 19, the board discussed the concert that was 'initially scheduled for March 2012 but has now been moved to October 2012 due to changes to the touring schedule'.
Regional Facilities Auckland's Paul Brewer said he can't say who or what the show is until the deal is signed, sealed and delivered but confirmed talks for a show were ongoing.
'Negotiations are underway. I wish I could say [more] but I would be shot,' he said.
'We are always trying to negotiate concerts and obviously they have to be strictly confidential until things are signed on the dotted line. But rest assured, we are always doing our best to bring in acts from overseas and in New Zealand.'
In August, alcohol brand Smirnoff released details on its website regarding an international dance contest indicating that successful finalists would be dancing with Madonna.
Terms and conditions outlined that participants must have 12 month validity on their passport from March 2012 and make themselves available to travel all over the USA, South America, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

From www.stuff.co.nz/auckland

Tour Preview: Why 2012 Is Shaping Up to Be a Monster Year

Rolling Stone magazine have published a guide to the biggest (likely) tours of 2012, Madonna is of course included:

Her new single recently leaked and she's rumored to be performing at halftime during this year's Super Bowl – so there's no doubt that the Madonna machine is gearing up for a big 2012. She stayed off the road for most of the 1990s, but in 2001 she came back strong with the Drowned World Tour. She followed it up with even bigger tours in 2004 and 2008/09. While it's impossible to say for sure, if she does perform at halftime, expect her to put the tour onsale the following morning. Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen saw big success with the same trick.

Likelihood: 90 percent. In 2007, Live Nation made a $120 million deal with Madonna. They aren't paying for her to sit home and not tour, especially when supporting a new album. A fake itinerary hit the web a few weeks ago showing Madonna at stadiums in America, but expect to see her at arenas. Also, expect to pay a small fortune for tickets.

Read more at: www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/tour-preview

Open-air festivals for those without tickets to enjoy Games

A brief mention of the Madonna Hyde Park concert in July 2012 is featured in this article from www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-olympics:

Three million people will be treated to music acts and live televised Olympic action in free open-air festivals during the Games.
Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and Victoria Park in Bow will host events which are intended to recreate the excitement of the Olympics for those who missed out on tickets.
The 14 days of free 'London Live' events will be book-ended by two paid-for 80,000-capacity concerts in Hyde Park on the nights of the opening and closing ceremonies.
Organiser Live Nation hopes to line up superstars for the concerts but will not sign up acts until shortly before tickets go on sale next year.
Hyde Park will be in the thick of the Olympic action next summer as it hosts the Olympic torch on July 26, the night before the opening ceremony.
Separately, Madonna will play a one-off show in Hyde Park on July 11 and Bruce Springsteen will headline Hard Rock Calling at the same location three days later.

Liz Rosenberg declares tour list is a 'fake'

On Oct. 3, word broke that she was supposedly going to perform at the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show in February. (Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said 'there is nothing to confirm or deny at this time.') Now, fan sites having been chattering about an alleged world tour, due to begin in March.
The statement on what appeared to be Live Nation letterhead listed alleged tour dates for a tour that would take Madonna on a tour of at least four continents, beginning in Auckland, New Zealand.
Contacted by Billboard, Rosenberg said the dates and press release are 'fake.'
Now, let's get back to guessing about what Madonna may perform at the Super Bowl. At least that rumor hasn't been shot down entirely yet.

From www.billboard.com

Promoter: Madonna tour schedule a hoax

A leaked tour schedule revealing Australian tour dates for Madonna is a 'hoax', according to the singer's promoter Live Nation.
The itinerary, which appeared to be printed on the letterhead of Live Nation, was sent to fansite drownedmadonna.com, by an 'an unconfirmed insider', according to the website.
According to the document the superstar singer, who has never performed in Perth, was going to announce her world tour on October 31 and head Down Under in April.
She would then end her Australian leg of the tour in Perth, on April 24, at Patersons Stadium.
However, the company took to its Twitter page to hose down rumours of a tour saying: 'As much as we would love it to be real the Madonna article going around is a hoax.'
Rumours of a world tour have circulated ever since the singer announced she was working on a new album with her Ray of Light producer William Orbit.
Earlier this year vodka giant Smirnoff revealed they were working with Madonna to find backing dancers for a tour.

From au.news.yahoo.com

Tour announcement coming this month?

madonnalicious has learnt that a 2012 tour announcement from Live Nation may be released as early as this month.

The tour would start with New Zealand followed by several Australian dates (lets hope the tour finally gets down under this time!) The itinerary at this time also includes stadium venues in Europe and North America.

Negotiations are taking place to bring the tour to China, Taiwan and the Phillipines. Tour stops in UAE, Israel, South Korea and Japan are currently scheduled.

Madonna to perform in Israel 2012?

Two years after rocking Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park with two concerts, Madonna may be returning to Israel as early as next year.
Madonna's new album is expected to be released on March 2012. Its first single will be released in the beginning of the year.
The concert tour, which will be launched immediately after the album's release, will be sponsored by Smirnoff Vodka under the banner, 'Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange.' As part of the cooperation with the brand, a contest will be held between 50 countries asked to select a dancer to present the country's culture and nightlife.
Israel is among the 50 participating countries, and Madonna is expected to cooperate with an Israeli dancer. However, the contest does not guarantee that the singer will perform in each of the countries the dancers come from.
Meanwhile, Ynet has learned that talks are being held to bring Madonna back to Israel. According to a source associated with the international production, the requested date is April 2012.
Madonna's last concerts in Israel were produced by Shuki Weiss together with international concert manager Marek Lieberberg, who will also be in charge of the singer's next tour.
The Queen of Pop performed in Israel on September 1-2, 2009, in two concerts which concluded her Sticky & Sweet tour.
Shuki Weiss' office declined comment.

From www.ynetnews.com

Is Madonna planning a tour stop in Australia?

Is the groundwork being laid for an Australian tour next year by the queen of pop, Madonna?
According to sources, preliminary work has started on a potential tour and confidential feelers have been put out regarding accommodation and venue availability.
But approached about the possibility of Madonna heading Down Under, promoter Live Nation yesterday offered a polite but firm 'no comment'.
The singer has a massive global deal with Live Nation, which looks after all her tours.
Plans for Madonna to undertake an Australian tour in January 2009 were scrapped because of the global financial crisis. She last visited in 1993, and has bypassed Australia with each subsequent world tour.

From news.com.au - thanks to Chris M

Rumours of a Madonna Tour with Glee Are Out of Tune

Last year, 'Glee' devoted an entire episode to Madonna’s music.
Is the Material Girl set to return the favor?
One rumor that’s been picked up everywhere today claims Madonna plans to invite members of the 'Glee' cast to perform with her during an upcoming tour.
So are Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison and Cory Monteith set to take the stage with Madge as widely reported?
No. A rep for Madonna tells Gossip Cop the rumor is 'not true.'

From Gossip Cop

Madonna to to take Glee cast on tour?

After giving the go-ahead for her very own Glee episode last year, it’s no secret superstar Madonna is a big fan of the musical show. And now the singer plans to take her Glee obsession one step further, according to reports, and has invited some of the key cast members to join her on tour.
Madonna’s already known for her show stopping, no expense spared concerts, but according to insiders, next year’s tour could be one of her last, so she’s desperate to make it the most memorable yet.
And among the many treats she has up her sleeve? An appearance from the cast of Glee.
It’s thought the American popstral is so keen on the McKinley High kids she’s asked organisers of her upcoming Urban Treat tour to arrange for key characters from of the show to join her on stage during shows.
'Madonna wants to break records and make her career bigger than ever,’ one source told the the News of the World.
'And because the Glee episode featuring her music was such a hit, there are plans for the cast to appear.
'She is in amazing shape for her age but this could be her last big world tour she does for a while as she wants to concentrate on business ventures.'

From Marie Claire

Madonna back on the road in 2011?

A Portuguese newspaper is reporting today that Madonna may tour in 2011.

Arthur Fogel, the president of Live Nation is reported to have confirmed that Madonna will tour in 2011 despite the fact that she will have no new material to tour with. A new album would be expected in 2012.

To read the original article visit www.cmjornal.xl.pt

Thanks to Valdemar

Tour rumours already started by UK press

This story was started today about an 'upcoming tour' by UK newspaper the Daily Mirror:

Madonna has been auditioning dancers for her 'most unexpected' tour to date.
The 'Material Girl' singer - who is set to embark upon a six-month tour next autumn - road-tested dancers at the prestigious Aura nightclub in London's Mayfair district to find the perfect people to fit in with the 'hip-hop' feel of the tour.
An insider said: 'Madonna is in peak condition so the gruelling aspect of life on the road isn't a problem. She road-tested dancers at her favourite London club, and had her lover Jesus Luz give his opinion.'
The performers showcased their talents in a cordoned off area of the popular nightspot, while the 51-year-old singer and her 23-year-old model lover graded each of them individually.
The as-yet unnamed tour - which is part of Madonna's deal with Live Nation - is expected to net the singer in excess of £100 million, and will see her 'go back to her roots'.
The source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'It's going to be her biggest, most unexpected tour to date. She is going back to her New York City roots, with a street/hip-hop feel, and wants to make it a physical, dance-heavy set of gigs.'
Madonna's last tour - 'Sticky and Sweet' - finished last September.

From contactmusic.com - thanks to Vickster

The Virgin Tour 25th Anniversary

Today is the 25th anniversary of the opening night of Madonna's The Virgin Tour. On April 10 1985 Madonna played the first show of the tour at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.

madonnalicious reader Johnny has put together a montage of pictures and footage from the tour to celebrate it's 25th birthday!

Sticky & Sweet Tour CD/DVD delayed in the US

Fans in the US who have pre-ordered the Sticky & Sweet Tour CD/DVD have been informed that the release date has been pushed back one week from Tuesday 30 March to Tuesday 06 April.

At the moment the UK release date is still scheduled for Monday 29 March.

Thanks to Matthew

Hoax tour email disappoints Australian fans

Australian fans of pop star Madonna were in a frenzy after an e-mail sporting details of an extensive Australian tour started circulating.
The e-mail said that the Material Girl would be performing in ten Australian concerts, with three planned for Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. It said that the tour was a 'gift' to the country and offered a chance to meet Madonna for AU$3,000 (S$3,783), with the cheapest tickets going for AU$249.
However, Australian media reported that no local promoter had been linked to the tour and those contacted on Thursday said the e-mail was fake.
'The last I heard - which was only a few weeks ago - was there was no Australian tour planned,' well-known promoter Paul Dainty said. 'Stranger things have happened, but it's not very likely.'
Industry insiders were also reported as saying that it would be 'near impossible' to organise a major touring show without tickets having been on sale earlier.
Madonna has only toured Australia once, in 1993. Although her manager, Guy Oseary, had previously promised her Australian fans that she would visit the country, he admitted that she had 'betrayed her Australian fans'. 'Madonna really needs to go to Australia,' he said last year. 'We are long overdue for a trip Down Under and apologise for that, it will happen.'

From The Straits Times

On the road again in 2011?

Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour drummer Brian Frasier-Moore was recently interviewed at the NAMM 2010 conference. He was asked what his he had been up to lately, his reply:

I just finished Madonna's tour, I was out with her for a year and six months. Starting up with Christina (Aguilera) in February and then back to Madonna again at the top of 2011.

Sticky & Sweet CD/DVD Track Listing

Online music retailer HMV.com have published the tracklisting for the Sticky & Sweet CD/DVD that is due out at the end of March.

Disc One (CD)
1 - Candy Shop Medley
2 - Beat Goes On Medley-Feat. Kanye West
3 - Human Nature
4 - Vogue 2008
5 - She's Not Me
6 - Music 2008
7 - Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
8 - Spanish Lesson
9 - La Isla Bonita 2008
10 - You Must Love Me
11 - Get Stupid Medley
12 - Like A Prayer 2008
13 - Give It 2 Me

Disc Two (DVD)
1 - Intro: The Sweet Machine
2 - Candy Shop Medley
3 - Beat Goes On Medley-Feat. Kanye West
4 - Human Nature
5 - Vogue 2008
6 - Die Another Day 2008
7 - Into The Groove 2008
8 - Heartbeat
9 - Borderline
10 - She's Not Me
11 - Music 2008
12 - Rain / Here Comes The Rain Again
13 - Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
14 - Spanish Lesson
15 - Miles Away
16 - La Isla Bonita Medley
17 - Me Darava / Doli Doli
18 - You Must Love Me
19 - Don't Cry For Me Argentina
20 - Get Stupid Medley
21 - 4 Minutes-Feat. Justin Timberlake And Timbaland
22 - Like A Prayer 2008
23 - Ray Of Light
24 - Like A Virgin 2008
25 - Hung Up Medley
26 - Give It 2 Me
27 - Credits
Plus 8 Behind-The-Scenes Clips

Thanks to Darren and Dean

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Gothenburg Fan Pictures - Part 2

Here are more fan pictures from Madonna's record-breaking Sticky & Sweet Tour. This set was taken by madonnalicious reader Anne at the first show in Gothenburg on Saturday 08 August 2009.

Sticky & Sweet Tour to be released on DVD, Blu-Ray and CD

The news fans have been waiting for came today in this official press release:

Madonna’s most recent stage extravaganza, the 'Sticky & Sweet' concert, will be released on March 30th, it was announced today by Live Nation, the world’s largest live music company.
'Sticky & Sweet', which was produced by Live Nation, was the most successful tour by a solo artist in history and was seen by over 3.5 million fans in 32 countries around the world.
The show, which will be distributed by Warner Bros Records, will be available on DVD, Blu-Ray and CD and will include many of the Material Girl’s hits from the course of her unprecedented career including, '4 Minutes,' 'Like a Prayer,' 'Hung Up' and 'Ray of Light'.
Filmed in Buenos Aires, over four days to a crowd exceeding 256,000 fans, the concert also includes a show stopping moment when Madonna performs a historic 'Don’t Cry For Me Argentina' to a thunderous audience response from her Argentine fans.
Also included are several hits from the multi-Grammy winner’s most recent CD 'Hard Candy' which debuted at No. 1 in 37 countries. The DVD also includes 30 minutes of exclusive footage filmed behind the scenes during the course of the tour.
'Part concert, part block party and all fun, there is still only one Madonna,' raved the Oakland Press in their review of the 'Sticky & Sweet' Tour. 'A night of triumph and defiance....A two hour multi-media juggernaut,' glowed the LA Times. 'Our lady of perpetual motion…This may be the best tour she’s ever stitched together,' claimed the NY Post.

From Madonna.com - thanks to Rodolfo

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Tallinn Fan Pictures - Part 2

Madonna performed in Estonia for the first time on her Sticky & Sweet Tour earlier this year on Tuesday 04 August in Tallinn. These pictures were taken at that show by madonnalicious reader Aleks.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Oslo Fan Pictures - Part 4

madonnalicious reader Spadge took some great pictures at Madonna's second Sticky & Sweet Tour show in Oslo on a very rainy Thursday 30 July.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Oslo Fan Pictures - Part 3

The first Sticky & Sweet Tour concert in Oslo took place on Tuesday 28 July and these pictures were taken by madonnalicious reader Lewis that night.

The Stones, U2 and Madonna Named Top Touring Acts of Decade

The Rolling Stones were the most successful live band of the decade as the rockers’ 264 concerts over the past 10 years grossed over $869 million, good enough for Number One atop Billboard’s Top Touring Acts of the 2000s list. Only three artists surpassed the $800 million mark for the decade and are now able to brag to friends that they grossed more than most countries’ yearly gross national product: the Stones, U2 with $844 million and Madonna, who was both the top-grossing female and solo artist, with $802 million.
While the Rolling Stones took the decade’s crown, U2 were easily the most in-demand live act as all 288 shows the band performed this decade were sold out, a stat no other artist this decade can claim. With U2 set for the second leg of their 360 Tour in 2010, it’s only a matter of time before they surpass $1 billion for the past 11 years. Of the 25 acts on Billboard’s list, the Dave Matthews Band performed in front of the most fans, selling over 11 million tickets over the course of 547 shows, good for $505 million and seventh on the list.
Coming in at Number Four was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band with a hearty $688 million from 403 shows.
The Police and Paul McCartney needed the least amount of shows to get onto the Billboard list: The reunited Sychronicity band played only 144 shows but managed to place 11th with $362 million, while Paul McCartney needed only 106 shows to gross $239 million. Other notables on the list include Billy Joel at 10, the Eagles at 12, Metallica at 19 and Britney Spears at 21.

From rollingstone.com

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Werchter Fan Pictures - Part 4

This selection of pictures by madonnalicious reader Kenneth from the Saturday 11 July concert in Werchter completes the Paris and Werchter sections of the tour galleries here.

Sticky & Sweet Tour DVD delayed

The release of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour - Live in Buenos Aires DVD has been put back from a November/December release date.

Guy Oseary tweeted on his Twitter page about the DVD release date:

It will not be ready by then (December). We are working on finishing it. We will have more info soon on Madonna.com. Stay tuned.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Werchter Fan Pictures - Part 3

Madonna's fifth show of the 2009 leg of the Sticky & Sweet Tour took place in Werchter, Belgium - here are some more fan pictures from the show taken by madonnalicious reader Katie.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Into The Groove video at Billboard

Billboard.com are exclusively streaming Madonna's Into The Groove performance from the Sticky & Sweet Tour on their website at the moment ahead of the US premiere on EPIX:

Millions of Madonna fans - 3.5 million at 85 shows in 32 countries, to be exact - were lucky enough to witness the pop megastar's record-breaking 'Sticky & Sweet Tour' live before it wrapped in September. But there are still millions more who never saw the show, which until now, hasn't been broadcast for fans at home. So there is no doubt that we are proud to present this exclusive video of 'Into The Groove' from her Buenos Aires show before its world premiere on EPIX.

To read the rest of the article and view the video visit www.billboard.com

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Manchester Fan Pictures - Part 6

This set of pictures from madonnalicious reader Stephen P from the Manchester concert at the MEN Arena on Tuesday 07 July complete the London and Manchester sections of the Sticky & Sweet Tour gallery.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Manchester Fan Pictures - Part 5

madonnalicious is continuing to put online hundreds of fan pictures from the 2009 leg of the Sticky & Sweet Tour - this set are from the Manchester concert on Tuesday 07 July and were taken by madonnalicious reader Jim.

Sticky & Sweet Tour Billboards in Venezuela

These huge billboards advertising a showing of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour last weekend were taken by madonnalicious reader Angelo in Venezuela.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: London Fan Pictures - Part 12

madonnalicious reader Mariska again provides us with some fantastic pictures. This set are from the Sunday 05 July show at London's O2 Arena.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: London Fan Pictures - Part 11

Even though the Sticky & Sweet Tour is over we still have hundreds of fan pictures to share and put online - this set were taken at the first show of the 2009 leg of the tour in London on Saturday 04 July by madonnalicious reader Andrew.

Sticky & Sweet Tour: Tel Aviv Fan Pictures - Part 4

madonnalicious reader Michal captured some great shots at the final show in Tel Aviv last week. She even caught the moment the dancers 'surprised' Madonna when they took off their capes at the end of Spanish Lesson to reveal they were wearing nothing more than their underwear!