Ice on Fire Tour
# Ice on Fire Tour

The Ice on Fire Tour was a worldwide concert tour held by English musician and composer Elton John, in support of his 19th studio album Ice on Fire. The tour included three legs (in the UK, Europe and North America) and a total of 122 shows.

## Background

John had decided he wanted to hit the road with his new band, made up of some of the musicians who had worked with him on the Ice on Fire album in January, as well as a new set of backing singers: Alan Carvell, Helena Springs and Shirley Lewis – making it the largest band John had ever taken on tour.

On 14 November 1985, the tour began in Dublin and continued across the British Isles, including nine nights in a row at Wembley Arena, before concluding on 11 January 1986, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As usual, John would select a handful of songs from his most recent album for inclusion in the set; in this instance, "Shoot Down the Moon", "This Town" and the singles "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up" — all from Ice on Fire. The tour would continue in three months' time, but with a different percussionist.

Percussionist Jody Linscott replaced Ray Cooper on this second leg of the 1985–1986 World Tour, which began at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid on 1 March and continued through Europe before concluding on 26 April at the Vorst Nationaal in Brussels, Belgium.

After a four-month a break, during which John and the band recorded the Leather Jackets album, the North American leg of the world tour began at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan on 17 August and ended on 15 October with eight nights at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre. One unique aspect to this tour was that John played acoustic guitar on stage (on Lesley Duncan's "Love Song"), something he had not done since 1976.

This part of the tour proved especially difficult for John, who unknowingly had developed potentially cancerous nodules on his vocal cords, and by the time he played his four-night run in New York City in mid-September, he was having a great deal of difficulty singing. John was ordered by his doctor not to speak while off-stage, and there was serious doubt as to whether or not he could finish this segment of the tour, let alone pull off the upcoming symphonic tour of Australia.

## Setlists

### 1985

* "Highlander"
* "Tonight"
* "One Horse Town"
* "Better Off Dead"
* "Rocket Man"
* "Honky Cat"
* "Burn Down the Mission"
* "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
* "The Bitch Is Back"
* "Song for You"/"Blue Eyes"/"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"
* "Restless"
* "Passengers"
* "Bennie and the Jets"
* "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"
* "Shoot Down the Moon"
* "This Town"
* "Nikita"
* "I'm Still Standing"
* "Your Song"
* "Wrap Her Up"
* "Candle in the Wind"
* "Kiss the Bride"
* "Can I Get a Witness"

### 1986

* "Highlander"
* "Tonight"
* "One Horse Town"
* "Better Off Dead"
* "Rocket Man"
* "Philadelphia Freedom"
* "Burn Down the Mission"
* "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
* "The Bitch Is Back"
* "Song for You"/"Blue Eyes"/"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"
* "Paris"
* "Restless"
* "Bennie and the Jets"
* "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"
* "Cry to Heaven"
* "This Town"
* "Nikita"
* "I'm Still Standing"
* "Song for Guy"
* "Wrap Her Up"
* "Candle in the Wind"
* "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
* "Your Song"
* "Can I Get a Witness"
* "Tonight"
* "One Horse Town"
* "Better Off Dead"
* "Rocket Man"
* "Philadelphia Freedom"
* "Burn Down the Mission"
* "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
* "The Bitch Is Back"
* "Song for You"/"Blue Eyes"/"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"
* "Levon"
* "Paris"
* "Restless"
* "Bennie and the Jets"
* "Love Song"
* "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"
* "This Town"
* "I'm Still Standing"
* "Nikita"
* "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
* "Candle in the Wind"
* "Daniel"
* "Your Song"
* ”Can I Get A Witness”

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| - | - | - | - |
| United Kingdom ||||
| 14 November 1985 | Dublin | Ireland | Royal Dublin Society |
| 15 November 1985 | Dublin | Ireland | Royal Dublin Society |
| 16 November 1985 | Dublin | Ireland | Royal Dublin Society |
| 17 November 1985 | Dublin | Ireland | Royal Dublin Society |
| 20 November 1985 | Newport | Wales | Newport Centre |
| 21 November 1985 | Newport | Wales | Newport Centre |
| 23 November 1985 | Cornwall | England | St Austell Coliseum |
| 24 November 1985 | Cornwall | England | St Austell Coliseum |
| 26 November 1985 | Sheffield | England | Sheffield City Hall |
| 27 November 1985 | Sheffield | England | Sheffield City Hall |
| 28 November 1985 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh Playhouse |
| 29 November 1985 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh Playhouse |
| 1 December 1985 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo |
| 2 December 1985 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo |
| 3 December 1985 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo |
| 4 December 1985 | Nottingham | England | Nottingham Royal Concert Hall |
| 5 December 1985 | Nottingham | England | Nottingham Royal Concert Hall |
| 7 December 1985 | Brighton | England | The Brighton Centre |
| 11 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 12 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 13 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 14 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 15 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 16 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 17 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 18 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 19 December 1985 | London | England | Wembley Arena |
| 21 December 1985 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 22 December 1985 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 23 December 1985 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre |
| 30 December 1985 | Bournemouth | England | Bournemouth International Centre |
| 31 December 1985 | Bournemouth | England | Bournemouth International Centre |
| 3 January 1986 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Centre |
| 4 January 1986 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Centre |
| 5 January 1986 | Newcastle | England | Newcastle City Hall |
| 6 January 1986 | Newcastle | England | Newcastle City Hall |
| 7 January 1986 | Newcastle | England | Newcastle City Hall |
| 9 January 1986 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | King's Hall |
| 10 January 1986 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | King's Hall |
| 11 January 1986 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | King's Hall |
| Europe ||||
| 1 March 1986 | Madrid | Spain | Palacio de Deportes |
| 2 March 1986 | San Sebastian | Spain | Velódromo de Anoeta |
| 4 March 1986 | Barcelona | Spain | Palau dels Esports de Barcelona |
| 6 March 1986 | Bordeaux | France | Patinoire de Mériadeck |
| 7 March 1986 | Toulouse | France | Palais des Sports de Toulouse |
| 8 March 1986 | Toulouse | France | Palais des Sports de Toulouse |
| 10 March 1986 | Lyon | France | Palais des Sports de Gerland |
| 11 March 1986 | Marseille | France | Parc des Expositions |
| 12 March 1986 | Montpellier | France | Zénith Sud |
| 14 March 1986 | Nantes | France | Palais des Sports de Beaulieu |
| 15 March 1986 | Brest | France | Parc de Penfeld |
| 17 March 1986 | Lille | France | Palais des Sports Saint-Sauveur |
| 18 March 1986 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 19 March 1986 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 20 March 1986 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 21 March 1986 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 22 March 1986 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 23 March 1986 | Lausanne | Switzerland | Palais de Beaulieu |
| 25 March 1986 | Basel | Switzerland | St. Jakobshalle |
| 26 March 1986 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
| 27 March 1986 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion |
| 29 March 1986 | Munich | West Germany | Olympiahalle |
| 30 March 1986 | Munich | West Germany | Olympiahalle |
| 1 April 1986 | West Berlin | West Germany | Deutschlandhalle |
| 2 April 1986 | Hanover | West Germany | Eilenriedehalle |
| 3 April 1986 | Frankfurt | West Germany | Festhalle Frankfurt |
| 4 April 1986 | Frankfurt | West Germany | Festhalle Frankfurt |
| 5 April 1986 | Dortmund | West Germany | Westfalenhallen |
| 6 April 1986 | Cologne | West Germany | Koln Sporthalle |
| 8 April 1986 | Ludwigshafen | West Germany | Friedrich-Ebert-Halle |
| 9 April 1986 | Ludwigshafen | West Germany | Friedrich-Ebert-Halle |
| 10 April 1986 | Stuttgart | West Germany | Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle |
| 12 April 1986 | Hamburg | West Germany | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle |
| 13 April 1986 | Hamburg | West Germany | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle |
| 14 April 1986 | Hamburg | West Germany | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle |
| 16 April 1986 | Bremen | West Germany | Stadthalle |
| 19 April 1986 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle |
| 20 April 1986 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle |
| 23 April 1986 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy Sportpaleis |
| 24 April 1986 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy Sportpaleis |
| 26 April 1986 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National |
| North America ||||
| 17 August 1986 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| 18 August 1986 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| 19 August 1986 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center |
| 21 August 1986 | Bonner Springs | United States | Sandstone Amphitheater |
| 22 August 1986 | Bloomington | United States | Met Center |
| 23 August 1986 | Hoffman Estates | United States | Poplar Creek Music Theater |
| 26 August 1986 | Toronto | Canada | CNE Grandstand |
| 27 August 1986 | Montréal | Canada | Stade Parc Jarry |
| 29 August 1986 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center |
| 30 August 1986 | Saratoga Springs | United States | Saratoga Performing Arts Center |
| 31 August 1986 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| 2 September 1986 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| 3 September 1986 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum |
| 5 September 1986 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum |
| 6 September 1986 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum |
| 7 September 1986 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center |
| 8 September 1986 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| 11 September 1986 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 12 September 1986 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 13 September 1986 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 14 September 1986 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 16 September 1986 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum |
| 19 September 1986 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| 20 September 1986 | Tallahassee | United States | Leon County Civic Center |
| 21 September 1986 | Tampa | United States | USF Sun Dome |
| 23 September 1986 | Antioch | United States | Starwood Amphitheatre |
| 24 September 1986 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum |
| 26 September 1986 | Houston | United States | The Summit |
| 27 September 1986 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena |
| 30 September 1986 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena |
| 1 October 1986 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace |
| 3 October 1986 | Oakland | United States | Oakland Coliseum Arena |
| 4 October 1986 | Costa Mesa | United States | Pacific Amphitheatre |
| 7 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 8 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 10 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 11 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 12 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 13 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 14 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 15 October 1986 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre |

### Box office score data

| Venue | City | Tickets sold / available | Gross revenue (1986) |
| - | - | - | - |
| Pine Knob Music Center | Clarkston, Michigan | 48,000 / 48,000 (100%) | $674,520 |
| Poplar Creek Music Theater | Hoffman Estates | 24,161 / 24,161 (100%) | $326,000 |
| National Exhibition Grandstand | Toronto | 24,298 / 24,298 (100%) | $448,275 |
| The Spectrum | Philadelphia | 34,222 / 34,222 (100%) | $562,367 |
| Civic Center | Providence | 13,120 / 13,120 (100%) | $229,600 |
| Centrum | Worcester | 36,831 / 36,831 (100%) | $613,368 |
| The Omni | Atlanta | 14,449 / 14,449 (100%) | $252,858 |
| Leon County Civic Center | Tallahassee | 10,768 / 10,768 (100%) | $175,395 |
| Sun Dome | Tampa | 10,492 / 10,800 (97%) | $173,188 |
| Mid-South Coliseum | Memphis | 9,625 / 12,000 (80%) | $149,188 |
| The Summit | Houston | 13,740 / 13,740 (100%) | $240,450 |
| Reunion Arena | Dallas | 14,753 / 14,753 (100%) | $258,178 |
| McNichols Sports Arena | Denver | 13,845 / 18,365 (75%) | $237,334 |
| Alameda County Coliseum | Oakland | 13,745 / 13,745 (100%) | $240,538 |
| Pacific Amphitheater | Costa Mesa | 17,872 / 18,764 (95%) | $273,489 |
| TOTAL | TOTAL | 299,921 / 308,016 (97%) | $4,854,748 |

## Tour band

* Elton John – lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar on "Love Song"
* Davey Johnstone – lead guitar, backing vocals
* David Paton – bass guitar
* Fred Mandel – keyboards, rhythm guitar
* Charlie Morgan – drums
* Ray Cooper – percussion (UK leg)
* Jody Linscott – percussion (Europe and North American legs)
* Alan Carvell – backing vocals
* Helena Springs – backing vocals
* Shirley Lewis – backing vocals
* Onward International Horn Section
