Legendary drummer Carmine Appice recently criticized the high ticket prices charged by major touring acts. He questioned how average working-class people can afford to see big-name performers like Bruce Springsteen or KISS. His comments were shared during an interview on The Classic Metal Show.
Appice addressed the stark contrast between ticket prices for major acts and smaller shows. He highlighted the financial burden on concertgoers.
“You notice everybody’s touring, and look at their ticket prices. I mean, you go see Rod Stewart — it’s a thousand dollars. But you can come see our show for 75 bucks. It’s the same thing,” Appice said.
The drummer expressed particular concern about the extreme pricing for top-tier artists. He questioned the accessibility of live music for ordinary fans.
“But that’s it — you look at everybody touring, and the money that people are spending on tickets. $3,000 or something for [a ticket to see] Bruce Springsteen. And I heard that KISS, the last show, [it] was 12, 13 grand for one ticket. That’s ridiculous. Who the hell buys tickets for $12,000?” he continued.
Appice further emphasized the total cost burden when factoring in additional expenses for couples attending shows.
“And [if] you [wanna] bring your wife, it’s $25,000. By the time you’re done with everything, it’s probably $27,000. If you buy a shirt, two shirts… It’s ridiculous. Where do people get that money to do that? Credit cards? … Come on. I mean, that’s ridiculous,” he said.
The veteran musician concluded by questioning the demographics of concertgoers who can afford such prices.
“What do these people do for a living? Average people, what do they make? 70, 80,000 a year? I mean, who’s buying all these tickets? Rich people?” Appice asked.
Appice’s concerns about ticket pricing reflect a broader industry trend that has affected concertgoers across the music spectrum. Real-world data supports his claims about extreme costs for major artists.
Current ticket pricing data validates Appice’s observations about astronomical costs for premium artists. Gametime revealed that Bruce Springsteen tickets for his May 22, 2026 Cleveland show range from $294 for upper concourse seats to an eye-watering $6,398 for premium main concourse positions. These prices include fees and demonstrate the vast disparity between different seating sections. Mid-tier options like mezzanine seats average around $448.
The pricing structure for other major acts shows similar patterns. However, there is some variation in accessibility. Gametime data for Rod Stewart’s July 31, 2026 show at Jones Beach Theater reveals a more moderate range. Mezzanine seats start at $86 and orchestra seats reach $623. While still expensive, these prices are significantly lower than the $1,000 figure Appice cited. This suggests pricing varies by venue and market demand.
The contrast becomes even starker when compared to classic rock acts of similar vintage. SeatGeek showed that many classic rock concerts offer standard seats in the $40-$75 range. Premium floor seats typically range from $150-$500. Recent examples include ZZ Top tickets starting at $87 and America concerts beginning at $89. This demonstrates that established acts can still offer relatively affordable options to fans.
The extreme pricing Appice referenced for KISS’s farewell tour appears to stem from the scarcity and finality of their “last show” performances. Dynamic pricing and resale markets inflated costs to the $12,000-$13,000 range he mentioned. This phenomenon reflects how farewell tours and reunion concerts drive premium pricing due to their once-in-a-lifetime nature. It creates a market where only affluent fans can afford prime experiences while average music lovers are priced out of seeing their favorite artists.
