The date is approaching. We are in the middle of the countdown to one of the events that, at least once in a lifetime, anyone who truly loves live music should experience. Rock in Rio will open its doors this Saturday, June 15, to celebrate the 20th edition of its history. Yes, it is true that the origins date back to 1985, but it has included parentheses that make the accounts different. CADENA 100 will travel to Lisbon to tell you the details of what happens there. Both that first weekend, in which artists of the best musical variety will appear on stage on Sunday and Ed Sheeran, Lukas Graham and Iñigo Quinteroas in the second, when it is the turn of stars like Aitana and Camila Cabello and we will even see the Hermanos Jonas.
The first stone to lift it
But, beyond the poster that Rock in Rio presents on its 20th anniversary, we are going to do a little retrospective to delve into its origins. “The biggest festival in the world”, as its creator defined it, dates back to 1985. It was the Brazilian music producer Roberto Medina who shaped the event that would be held, in its original edition, in Rio de Janeiro. It was held in January and, as headliners, they offered their live show Queen, Iron Maiden, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, George Benson, Yes, Scorpions and Ozzy Osbourne. Yes, as we can see, with the passage of time it has been turning towards a space in which to offer a greater spectrum of musical genres to reach a more varied audience. ‘Business is business’.
You probably remember that in Madrid it was enjoyed. On three occasions, to be more exact (2008, 2010 and 2012). Our capital is therefore one of the four locations around the world where Rock in Río has set its sights. To those already mentioned Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon -this 2024 is one more on that list in which they had already registered their name on five previous occasions- we must add Las Vegaswhich hosted the event in 2015.
The non-existent formula to create a festival
Located in space and time, what proceeds is to rescue that spirit that is described on the official website of the event. “Is there a formula for creating a music festival? Maybe. But the fact is that Roberto Medina invented his and with it he held one of the largest festivals in the world. And he did it when that dream seemed almost impossible in Brazil. In 1985, The country was going through great transformations. After a long period under a military dictatorship, the country was beginning to take its first steps towards democracy. It was on that stage that Rock in Rio was born. For the first time, a South American country hosted a musical event of this type. Rock in Rio celebrates 40 years of history in 2025, 20 years of history in Lisbon in 2024 and we won’t stop there. The search for the best experiences and an ever-better festival continues!”
A perfect summary that gives us the necessary coordinates to understand the tradition of those settings through which, over the years, figures who are true legends such as George Michael, Justin Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen, Gun’s and Roses, Shakira, Amy Winehouse, Bon Jovi, Police, Elton John, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, David Guetta, Beyoncé and a long etcetera of stars who have been able to enlarge the history of a party of which we will tell you all the details on CADENA100.es and on our social networks.
