Largest rock festival attendance

The largest rock festival attendance was 670,000 people at Steve Wozniak's 1983 US Festival in Devore, near San Bernardino, California. It lasted from 28–30 May 1983, with a fourth day for country music on June 4. Artists performing included The Clash, Van Halen, David Bowie and Willie Nelson.

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair held on 15-17 Aug 1969 at Bethel, New York, USA is thought to have attracted an audience of 300-500,000. The attendance at the 3rd Pop Festival at East Afton Farm, Freshwater, Isle of Wight from 26 to 31 Aug 1970 was claimed by its promoters, Fiery Creations, to be 400,000.

Wozniak’s two US Festivals (the first took place on 3-5 September 1982) were billed as music and culture festivals, designed to advertise technological advances in computer software while showcasing some of the world’s most celebrated rock and country acts.

Heavy Metal Day (29 May 1983) set a single-day festival attendance record of 375,000 (estimated). The other themed day were New Wave Day (28 May), Rock Day (30 May) and Country Day (4 June).

Heavy Metal Day headliners Van Halen were paid an appearance fee of $1.5 million, which rose from $1 million after the band discovered that David Bowie was getting $1 million for his appearance on Rock Day. Van Halen had a clause in their contract stipulating that they would be paid more than any other act.

Wozniak had hoped to attract 800,000 people to Devore.