Despite the suggestion of any of its headliner's album titles to the contrary, Rock the Bells organizer Chang Weisberg insists hip hop's not dead, and he's bringing Rock the Bells to a slew of cities on a 17 date tour to prove it. He might be on to something, having already sold 130,000 tickets.
Full-tour artists include headliners Wu-Tang Clan and Nas, along with Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, David Banner, Immortal Technique and Jedi Mind Tricks.
The show planned for San Bernadino's NOS Events Center is moving to the Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen. The Press Enterprise, a Southern California publication noted that ” Worries of an unruly crowd have spurred the move of [Rock the Bells] in San Bernardino to Devore, venue officials said.” In that piece, Weisberg remarks begrudgingly that the change would allow them a venue where they would be “wanted versus tolerated.”
Album releases for most of the touring artists occur during or directly following on the heels of the Rock the Bells dates, including Wu-Tang Clan's 8 Diagrams (August), Talib Kweli's Eardrum (July 24), David Banner's The Greatest Story Ever Told (end of summer).
TOUR DATES
JULY
26 MANSFIELD, MA TWEETER CENTER
28 NEW YORK, NY RANDALL'S ISLAND !
29 NEW YORK, NY RANDALL'S ISLAND !
AUGUST
02 ATLANTA, GA HI-FI BUYS AMPHITHEATRE
03 CHARLOTTE, NC VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE
04 MIAMI, FL BAYFRONT PARK AMPHITHEATRE
07 DALLAS, TX SMIRNOFF MUSIC CENTER
08 HOUSTON, TX RELIANT PARK
11 SAN BERNARDINO, CA HYUNDAI PAVILION AT GLEN HELEN !
12 SAN DIEGO, CA COORS AMPHITHEATRE (PARKING LOT)
18 SAN FRANCISCO, CA MCCOVEY COVE (PARKING LOT) !
21 SALT LAKE CITY, UT TBD
22 DENVER, CO RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE
25 MINNEAPOLIS, MN TBD
26 CHICAGO, IL CHARTER ONE PAVILION
29 DETROIT, MI DTE ENERGY MUSIC THEATRE
30 TORONTO, ONTARIO
! W/ RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
