23 Photos of Cool Rock Star Tour Buses From Back in the Day

Carly Tennes Published 08/15/2024 in wow

When they're not buying mansions or trashing hotel rooms, classic rock stars spent a whole lot of their time living in another, much less glamorous locale: The tour bus. For as long as artists have hit the road, the tour bus has helped them not only get from concert to concert, but also bond with their bandmates and see the world, features that have helped these vehicles earn their reputation as a rock 'n roll status symbol.

From Dolly Parton flaunting her custom butterfly decal to Freddie Mercury playing Scrabble while on the road, here are 23 photos of cool rock star tour buses — and Led Zeppelin's tour airplane — from back in the day.

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1.
“Rush in their tour bus (1970s)”
2.
“Debbie Harry on a tour bus, travelling to Philadelphia (1978).”
3.
“Lita Ford in her tour bus in 1984.”
4.
“Dolly Parton in front of her tour bus, 1977.”
5.
“Roger Daltrey and The Who Tour Bus, Paris, 1965.”
6.
“Run DMC & Beastie Boys on a tour bus (1987) - Together Forever Tour.”
7.
“Tom Waits on the tour bus reading Last Exit to Brooklyn, 1975 by Michael Dobo.”
8.
“18-year-old LL Cool J sitting on the tour bus outside of the Municipal Auditorium in Columbus, Georgia during the RUN-D.M.C. Raising H— Tour. (1986).”
9.
“Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons in front of their bus for the 1978 Darkness on the Edge of Town tour.”
10.
“Ray Charles and his sons pretending to drive his tour bus (1966).”
11.
“John Deacon, Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor of Queen playing Scrabble on the tour bus, 1986.”
12.
“Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks on the Fleetwood Mac Tour bus in 1976.”
13.
“Led Zeppelin aboard ‘The Starship’, a private passenger jet, during their North America tour, 30th July 1973.”
14.
“Angus Young on tour bus, 1985. Photo by Ebet Roberts.”
15.
“The English Rock band The Cure sleeping in their bus during the 'Seventeen Seconds' tour, Holland 1980.”
16.
“Loretta Lynn posing with her tour bus (1977).”
17.
Joan Jett during a tour, date unknown.
18.
“The Beatles on their tour bus, 1966.”
19.
Van Halen on their tour bus, 1978
20.
“Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler - pose for a portrait in 1975 in London, UK.”
21.
Pink Floyd outside of their tour bus, date unknown.
22.
“Nicko McBrain, Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith of the heavy metal band 'Iron Maiden' relax on their tour bus in September 1983.”
23.
Paul McCartney and his then wife, Linda McCartney during his Wings Over Europe Tour, 1972.

1.
“Rush in their tour bus (1970s)”
2.
“Debbie Harry on a tour bus, travelling to Philadelphia (1978).”
3.
“Lita Ford in her tour bus in 1984.”
4.
“Dolly Parton in front of her tour bus, 1977.”
5.
“Roger Daltrey and The Who Tour Bus, Paris, 1965.”
6.
“Run DMC & Beastie Boys on a tour bus (1987) - Together Forever Tour.”
7.
“Tom Waits on the tour bus reading Last Exit to Brooklyn, 1975 by Michael Dobo.”
8.
“18-year-old LL Cool J sitting on the tour bus outside of the Municipal Auditorium in Columbus, Georgia during the RUN-D.M.C. Raising H— Tour. (1986).”
9.
“Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons in front of their bus for the 1978 Darkness on the Edge of Town tour.”
10.
“Ray Charles and his sons pretending to drive his tour bus (1966).”
11.
“John Deacon, Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor of Queen playing Scrabble on the tour bus, 1986.”
12.
“Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks on the Fleetwood Mac Tour bus in 1976.”
13.
“Led Zeppelin aboard ‘The Starship’, a private passenger jet, during their North America tour, 30th July 1973.”
14.
“Angus Young on tour bus, 1985. Photo by Ebet Roberts.”
15.
“The English Rock band The Cure sleeping in their bus during the 'Seventeen Seconds' tour, Holland 1980.”
16.
“Loretta Lynn posing with her tour bus (1977).”
17.
Joan Jett during a tour, date unknown.
18.
“The Beatles on their tour bus, 1966.”
19.
Van Halen on their tour bus, 1978
20.
“Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler - pose for a portrait in 1975 in London, UK.”
21.
Pink Floyd outside of their tour bus, date unknown.
22.
“Nicko McBrain, Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith of the heavy metal band 'Iron Maiden' relax on their tour bus in September 1983.”
23.
Paul McCartney and his then wife, Linda McCartney during his Wings Over Europe Tour, 1972.