Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour is the first world tour by American recording artist MC Hammer to promote his album ''Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em''. It was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola and promoted by MTV. Beginning in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 15, 1990, it visited North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, concluded in Paso Robles, California, on August 3, 1991. With a total of 144 shows, it grossed over $32 million.

The tour was a box office success. Pollstar ranked Hammer at seventh on the Top 10 highest-grossing act to tour U.S. of 1990. Also, it received generally positive reviews by the critics while some praising Hammer's energetic stage performance. Several acts were selected as opening acts of the tour. The first shows in United States were opened After 7, Michel'le, and Oaktown's 3.5.7 and later by En Vogue and fellow rapper Vanilla Ice. The European leg was supported by Snap! and the last leg by the group B Angie B.

Background

By June 1990, ''Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em'' become the first rap album to top the pop charts and by August it become the best-selling rap album of all time, surpassing ''License to Ill'' by Beastie Boys. Initial plans to tour the tour stated that it would visit North America, Europe, Japan and Australia. However, more shows were added due the high demand of tickets. Hammer led a 30-member troupe that included a live band, 10 backup singers, 15 dancers and some of the flashiest fashions this side of Mardi Gras. On the first concerts, the show consisted on five acts, four opening acts: Troop, After 7, Michel'le and Oaktown's 3.5.7 and the main act MC Hammer. The main artist performance was 80 to 90 minutes, with eight dancers and 10 backup singers. Fellow rapper Vanilla Ice also was selected as opening act until the end of November 1990, when he dropped out to do his own tour as a headliner.

During the tour, Hammer traveled by private Boeing 727 jet, the touring group included fifteen dancers, a dozen background singers, eight security, seven musicians, three valets and two DJs. According to some media outlets, rap fans had never seen anything of the magnitude of the Hammer Don't Hurt ’Em stadium gigs, which recalled Parliament-Funkadelic’s army-size traveling heyday in the 1970s. The first North America leg received several sponsors, including MTV, Pepsi, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The European and Asia legs were sponsored by Pepsi.

Reception

Critical reception

The tour received generally positive reviews by the critics praising Hammer's performance and charisma on stage. ''Rolling Stone'' claimed that the tour was "the most elaborate live show ever mounted by a rap entertainer". David Surkamp gave a positive review of the St. Louis concert and wrote "M.C. Hammer Delivers Knockout Performance". Reggie Matthews gave a positive review to the concert at the San Diego Sports Arena, stating "Thanks to ''Hammer'', rap is no longer pomp, stroll, strut and attitude. It now features the latest dance crazes and synchronized choreography". Patricia Smith attended the Rosemont Horizon show and wrote "he and his energetic posse had loosened a few ceiling fixtures, interfered with air traffic control at nearby O'Hare Airport and assured every single gasping audience member that they'd gotten more than their money's worth". In Canada, Rod Campbell attended the concert in Edmonton and wrote a positive review titled "M.C. Hammer nails crowd; Rap's first superstar dazzles with dynamic show".

On a less positive note, John Lannert from ''Sun Sentinel'' reviewed the concert of June 30, 1990, at Miami Arena stating "''Hammer'' did not rap enough or dance enough, and was weighed down throughout the concert by an overblown stage-side production that condemned the show to a sputtering, momentum-killing pace". Parry Gettleman from the ''Orlando Sentinel'' gave a positive review to the opening act After 7 stating "showed a vocal mix and elegant style recalling the Temptations and the Spinners", however criticized the main act performance, stating "It's a shame ''Hammer'' sometimes confused performing and cheerleading, because when he stuck to the former, Hammer'' time' was enjoyable." Steve Morse gave a mixed review to the concert at Worcester on a review titled "Hammer Time' Misses a Beat".

Commercial reception

The tour was a commercial success with several shows reported sold out while other cities added more shows due the high demand. Initially, the summer leg in North America was planned to be around 50 to 60 shows, however, more shows were added. Ticket prices for the North America leg were between $17 and $30. The Miami arena concert was reported "packed" with 15,000 fans. The concert of July 1, 1990, in Tampa, was reported with 10,000 fans. The concert at the Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo had attendance of 8,100 and over 10,000 in Atlanta at The Omni. In Canada, over 6,000 fans were reported at the Montreal concert. On December 20, 1990, around 1,000 fans asked for refunds after learning that the opening acts En Vogue and Vanilla Ice did not show up. Also, media reported that just 3,000 of the 25,000 tickets were sold of the Tacoma Dome concert on July 26, 1991.

By January 1991, Hammer was ranked seventh at Pollstar Top 10 highest-grossing act to tour U.S. for grossing US$26.3 million of 138 shows in 132 cities. In Japan, 55,000 tickets were sold for the first concert at the Tokyo Dome. Due to the high demand another show was added. The concert in Auckland, New Zealand, was reported sold out. Several shows were added at the Wembley Arena in London due the high demand. According to ''Billboard'', by the end of the tour, it grossed over US$32 million in 144 shows around the world.

Tour dates

Box office data

Notes

References

{{Reflist

1990 concert tours
MC Hammer