This section covers Cher concerts and in-store appearances.
In-Store Appearances
Read my review of Cher’s in-store appearance to promote her Believe album and The First Time autobiography.
Cher Tours
- Read blog posts about concerts.
- See my listing of individual concert dates and local reviews and box office grosses.
Cher has been touring with live shows on and off since the mid-1960s, culminating in her Farewell Tour from 2002 to 2005. She has also performed in Las Vegas, Monte Carlo and on fair and nightclub circuits as part of Sonny & Cher and in many one-off club dates in promotion for her single “Believe.”
Costumery is an important aspect of Cher’s live show and she has largely utilized Bob Mackie in designing various costumes and headdresses for her live tours.
Here We Go Again Tour
(September 2018 – Ongoing)
Original setlist
Woman’s World
Strong Enough
Gayatri Mantra
All or Nothing
Little Man / All I Ever Need is You
The Beat Goes On
I Got You Babe
You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me
Welcome To Burlesque
Lie To Me
Waterloo
SOS
Fernando
Cher Movie Montage
After All
Heartbreak Hotel
Walking in Memphis
The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
I Found Someone
If I Could Turn Back Time
Believe
Photos
The Big Entrance / First Fit / Turn Back Time Fit
Classic Cher – Las Vegas at the Monte Carlo
(February 2017–March 2019) 
Original setlist
Woman’s World
Strong Enough
All or Nothing
The Beat Goes On
All I Really Want to Do
I Got You Babe
Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves
Dark Lady
Half-Breed
Welcome to Burlesque
Take Me Home
After All
Walking In Memphis
The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)
I Found Someone
If I Could Turn Back Time
Believe
Photos
The Big Entrance / First Fit / The Hole Fit
Dressed to Kill (D2K) Tour
(March-July 2014) 
Some of the best sets and lighting of her tour career. Finally broke up the set list of the past 15-years. Tighter and more compact, includes more self-reference and camp (Cher on a pedistal, Cher as a saint), some fresh blood with costumes, wigs and sets.
Staff: choreographer-Doriana Sanchez; Costumes-Hugh Durrant; Wigs-Serena Radqaelli; backup singers-Stacy Campbell and Nikki Tillman; musical directors-Ollie Marland and Paul Mirkovich; guitars-David Barry
Original setlist
“Woman’s World”
“Strong Enough”
“Dressed To Kill”
“Little Man” Video Montage
“All I Ever Need Is You” Video Montage
“The Beat goes On” virtual duet with Sonny
“I Got You Babe” virtual duet with Sonny
“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves/Dark Lady”
“Half Breed”
“Welcome To Burlesque”
“You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me”
“Take It Like A Man”
“Walking In Memphis”
“Just Like Jesse James”
“Heart Of Stone”
“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)”
“Bang Bang” Video Montage
“I Found Someone”
“If I Could Turn Back Time
“Believe”
“I Hope You Find It”
Photos
The Big Entrance
D2K Fit / The Hole Fit / Believe Fit (didn’t last past the first show)
Cher at the Colosseum – Las Vegas at Caesars Palace
(May 2008-2012)
(3 year run)
This show was mostly a recreation of the Farewell Tour in set list (with the exception of “Love is a Battlefield” and “The Beat Goes On”) which involves a good sampling of her hits. The difference is amped up visuals, mostly in costumes and sets. Sold out shows proves this formula is a crowd pleaser. The show has a hologram instead of an opening impersonator, 4 aerialists and 12 dancers. I attended three of these shows, one each year. Read my review of (1) the show, (2) the tourbook and (3) gift store. Here are my pictures from Caesars.
Staff: choreographer-Doriana Sanchez; Costumes-Bob Mackie; Wigs-Renata; backup singers-Stacy Campbell, Jenny Douglas-Foote, Patti Russo, Danni Gee, Nichelle Tillman; musical director-Paul Mirkovich; guitars-David Barry
Cher Scholar pics from Las Vegas 2008
Cher Scholar at Colosseum, 2008
Cher Scholar review of the tour book, 2008
Cher Scholar review of the Cher Store, 2008
Cher Scholar at Colosseum, 2009; Part 2
Colosseum News, 2009
Cher Scholar at Colosseum, 2010
Original setlist
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (U2 cover)
“Song for the Lonely” (dropped early)
Flying Death Mobile Monologue
Laverne Skit – “I’ve Gotta Be Me” (Sammy David Jr. cover)
“All Or Nothing” (dropped early)
“I Found Someone” (dropped early)
“Love Is a Battlefield” (Pat Benetar cover)
Video Interlude: “It’s the Little Things”
“The Beat Goes On” (Duet with Sonny)
“All I Really Want to Do”
Grand Canyon Closet Monologue
Medley: “Half-Breed/Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves/Dark Lady”
Dance Interlude: “Burn Baby Burn/Y.M.C.A.” (The Trammps/Village People covers)
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” (partial) (Thelma Houston cover)
“Take Me Home”
“Love Hurts” (dropped early)
“The Way of Love”
Video Interlude: Cher Movie Monologues
“After All” (Duet with Paul Markovich)
“Walking In Memphis”
“The Shoop Shoop Song” (dropped)
Video Interlude: “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”
“Strong Enough” (dropped early)
“If I Could Turn Back Time”
“Believe”
Added Songs
“Love Hurts” replaced “The Way of Love”
“Let the Good Times Roll”
“The Fire Down Below” (Bob Seger cover)
“Old Time Rock and Roll” (#3 and 4 replaced “Love is a Battlefield”/Bob Seger cover)
Photos
The Big Entrance
The Red Wig / Take Me Home Fit / The Hole Fit
The Farewell Tour – aka The Living Proof Tour, The Never Can Say Goodbye Tour
(June 2002 – April 2005)
Amazingly fun filled show that was basically a recreation of the Believe Tour set list with amped up visuals (sound familiar?). Bold entrance from a chandelier. The set list never changed in four years, except to get smaller. I saw this show twice at the MGM in Vegas, five times in Los Angeles (twice at Staples, once in Anaheim, once in San Bernadino where I had all my Cher merchandise stolen by the people sitting behind me, and the final show at the Hollywood Bowl). Show was also remarkable for its many false alarms on absolutely final shows, which included false ends in Canada on Halloween, in Australia and then New Year’s shows in Las Vegas. The tour played 325 shows in total. The final show, after many false ends, was at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on April 30, 2005, which I attended as well as the 8.6.02 show in LA, the 8.7.02 show in Anaheim, 12.2.02 show in LA, 12.13.02 MGM show in Las Vegas, the 8.30.03 show at GlenHELLen amphitheater in California’s Inland Empire (the night I was robbed of all my merchandise) and the 1.2.04 “New Years Eve” show at MGM show in Las Vegas. The show included 8 dancers and some aerial work. Awesome opening show by Cyndi Lauper, even better than her Believe tour set. This concert is available on DVD.
Staff: choreographer-Doriana Sanchez; backup singers-Stacy Campbell, Patti Darcy Jones; musical director-Paul Mirkovich; guitars-David Barry; Costumes-Bob Mackie; Wigs-Renata; Opening acts included Cyndi Lauper (02-03), Dom Irrera (03), KC & The Sunshine Band and the Village People (04-05), Pam Ann (UK), Christophe Mae (France).
Cher Scholar at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Original setlist
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (U2 cover)
“Song for the Lonely” (only sang this in early shows)
“A Different Kind of Love Song” (only sang this in early shows)
Dancers Interlude: “Gayatri Mantra”
“All or Nothing”
“We All Sleep Alone” (only sang this in early shows)
“I Found Someone”
Dancers Interlude: “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” (I believe she only sang this in early shows)
“Sonny & Cher Video Montage” (“The Beat Goes On”, “Baby Don’t Go” and “I Got You Babe”)
“All I Really Want to Do”
Medley: “Half-Breed/Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves/Dark Lady”
Video Interlude: The Cher Show
Dancers Interlude: “Take Me Home”
“Take Me Home”
“The Way of Love” (this was taken out in some shows I saw)
“Love Hurts” (I never saw this song performed in shows I saw)
“The Power”
Video Interlude: Movie Monologues
“After All” (feat Paul Mirkovich)
“Walking in Memphis”
“Just Like Jesse James” (this was taken out in some shows I saw)
“Heart of Stone” (only sang this in early shows)
“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)”
Video Interlude: Cher’s quote attack
“Strong Enough”
“Save Up All Your Tears” (I never saw this song performed in shows I saw)
“If I Could Turn Back Time”
“Believe”
Photos
The Big Entrance / Take Me Home Fit / The Hole Fit
Do You Believe? Tour
(June 1999 – March 2000)
Cyndi Lauper opened many of these shows as well with an ecclectic show but nothing like the stadium rockfest she launched for Cher’s Farewell Tour. The tour was remarkable in that Cher reintroduced her hits into her act, including songs like “All I Really Want to Do,” the “Gypsys Tramps and Thieves/Half Breed/Dark Lady” medley. One of the last shows where she made her entrance down a grand staircase. The shows were plagued with some cancellations due to throat troubles. The show had 5 dancers. There were 122 shows. I saw the Jones Beach show on 7.5.99 and the Madison Square Garden show on 7.13.99. Read my review on Ape Culture. This concert is available on DVD.
Staff: choreographer-Doriana Sanches; musical director-Pual Mirchovich; Costumes-Bob Mackie; Wigs-Renata; guitar-David Barry; backup singers-Stacy Campbell and Patti Darcy Jones; opening acts included Cyndi Lauper and Wild Orchid, Michael McDonald and Julio Iglesias Jr.
Cher Scholar at Madison Square Garden
Original setlist
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (U2 cover)
“All or Nothing”
“The Power”
Dancers Interlude
“We All Sleep Alone”
“I Found Someone”
Video Interlude: “Sonny & Cher” Montage
“The Way of Love”
Medley: “Half Breed / Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves / Dark Lady”
Dancers Interlude: “Take Me Home” Intro
“Take Me Home”
Video Interlude: Cher’s Movie Monologue
“After All”
“Walking in Memphis” (only sang this in early shows)
“Just Like Jesse James”
“Heart of Stone” (only sang this in early shows)
“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)”
Dancers Interlude: Flamenco Dance, Pt. 1
“Dov’é L’Amore”
Video Interlude: “Strong Enough” Intro
“Strong Enough”
“If I Could Turn Back Time”
“Believe”
Photos
The Red Wig / The Hole Fit (variation) / Take Me Home Fit
Love Hurts Tour
(October 1991-November 1992)
I haven’t seen this tour live. It’s tour dates didn’t come through my town which at the time was St. Louis, Missouri. There were 29 shows mostly in Europe. There were some cancellations due to flare-ups of Epstein-Barr virus diagnosed in late 1992. This was not an elaborate show, including the costumes, some of which were recycled, others included a suite and baby-doll dress. Cher was joined on stage in New York City by Richie Sambora. There were 4 dancers.. Read my review on I Found Some Blog.
Staff: manager-Bill Sammeth; cosumes-Bob Mackie and Maggie Barry; choreographer-Doriana Sanchez; backup singers-Patti Darcy Jones. keyboards and vocals-Paul Mirchovich; opening acts by Thomas Brill, Monique Spartalis, Split & Sonja Kimmons, Be Bop Daddies, Dom Irrera (US)
Original setlist (Germany 1992 show)
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (U2 Cover)
“Bye Bye Baby”
“We All Sleep Alone”
“I Found Someone”
“Love and Understanding”
“Save Up All Your Tears”
“After All”
“Many Rivers to Cross” (Jimmy Cliff cover)
“Fire” (Bruce Springsteen cover”
“Just Like Jesse James”
“Love is a Battlefield” (Pat Benetar cover)
“If I Could Turn Back Time”
“Love Hurts”
“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)”
“The Fire Down Below” (Bob Seger cover)
Photos
The Red Wig / The Hole Fit
Heart of Stone Tour
(March 1990-1991)
The first Cher concert I ever saw – in St. Louis, Missouri, at the late Checkerdome in June 1,1990. Two of my friends criticized the show for being only one hour and mostly costume changes. I took copious notes but never did a review. This show was typical at the time of having no Cher hits and mostly covers in the set list. Darelene Love and sang backup on the tour. There were 66 shows total with 7 dancers and one Cher impersonator. This concert is available on DVD. It aired on TV as Extravaganza: Live at the Mirage.
Staff: director and set designer-Kenny Ortega; musical director-Gary Scott; costumes-Bob Mackie, Ret Turner, Mike Schmidt; wigs-Renata; keyboards-Paul Mirkovich; guitars-Elijah Blue Allman, backup singers-Darlene Love, Patti Darcy Jones, Edna Wright.
Original setlist
“I’m No Angel” – (Gregg Allman cover)
“Hold On” – (Eddie Money cover)
“We All Sleep Alone”
“Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”
“I Found Someone”
“Perfection” – with giant big combs and hair dryers being carried around
“Tougher Than The Rest” – (Bruce Springsteen song/in amazing dress and wig and set was an elevated pool hall)
“After All”
“If I Could Turn Back Time”
“Many Rivers to Cross” – (Jimmy Cliff cover)
“Fire Down Below” – (Bob Seger cover)
“Takin’ It To The Streets” – (Doobie Bros. cover)
Photos
Black Rose Tour
(1980)
From Wikipedia: “To support the album and to lift sales in 1980, the Black Rose band and Cher did a mini tour called The Black Rose Show performed only in North America. The set list for the show contained: “Never Should’ve Started”, “Julie”, “You Know It”, “Ain’t Got No Money”, a little band introduction, and “Dirty Old Man”. For some dates Black Rose was the opening act for Hall & Oates. The costumes for the show were designed by Bob Mackie. The band performed in Pennsylvania, Central Park, Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel Township and elsewhere.”
Band: guitar-Les Dudek, Ron Ritchotte; drums-Gary Ferguson; keyboards-Mike Finnegan; backup singer-Warren Ham
Some believe this was the partial set list
(as posted on the Cher.com message board)
“Never Should’ve Started”
“Julie”
“You Know It”
“Ain’t Got No Money” (Bob Seger cover)
Band introductions
“Dirty Old Man” (sometimes)
Bootleg audio from the Dr Pepper Central Park Music Festival (1980)
Photos
Black Rose Hole Fit
Take Me Home Tour / Cher at Caesars
(July 1979- August 1982)
This show showed audiences this first icicle-fit and the first hole-fit. The rare Showtime TV special Live in Monte Carlo was a good representation of this show in 1979. Later in 1983, after the Black Rose Tour, another TV special derivative of this show was recorded, Celebration at Caesars. The show had 6 dancers and three drag queens.
Staff: backup singers-Michelle Aller, Warren Ham, Petsye Power; music director-Gary Scott; 5 dancers (and Damita Jo Freeman doing an early version of the Moonwalk); costumes-Bob Mackie, wigs-Renata; sax-Warren Ham; drums-Gary Ferguson; guitar-Ron Ritchotte
Take Me Home setlist
“Aint Nobody’s Business” – Laverne
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” (Stevie Wonder cover)
“Fire” (Bruce Springsteen cover)
“Easy to Be Hard” (from the musical HAIR)
“The Way of Love”
Drag Queen Medley: “Aint No Mountain High Enough” by J.C. Gaynor, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by Kenny Sasha, “Friends”
Rock & Roll Medley: “Jailhouse Rock”, “Dream Lover”, Great Balls of Fire”, “Rockin’ Robin” , “Johnny B. Goode”, Dedicated to the One I Love”, “Hand Jive”, “Honky Tonk Woman”, “Old Time Rock & Roll”
“Take it to the Limit” (Eagles cover)
“Take Me Home”
“Takin it to the Streets” (Doobie Brothers cover)
“Aint Got No Money” (Bob Seger cover)
Caesars Palace Set List
“Could I Be Dreaming” (Pointer Sisters cover)
“Singed Sealed Delivered” (Stevie Wonder cover)
“You Make My Dreams Come True” (Hall & Oates cover)
“Those Shoes” (Eagles cover)
“Out Here On My Own” (from FAME)
“Take it to the Limit” (Eagles cover)
Drag Queen Medley: “I’m Coming Out” by J.C.Gaynor, “In the Mood” by Kenny Sasha, “Friends”
Country Medley: “Lookin for Love” (from URBAN COWBOY and “When Will I Be Loved” (Linda Rondstadt cover)
“More than You Know”
“Fame” (from FAME)
Photos
Original Take Me Home Fit / Original Hole Fit / Flowing Feather Fit
The Two the Hardway Tour
(July – December 1977)
This is the European tour Cher did with Gregg Allman to support their 1977 duet album. Allegedly, they also broke up in the middle of this tour…for good. Cher scaled down her wardrobe for this tour, wearing jeans, tanks and a cowboy hat. The tour was scheduled for 29 dates but Cher left the tour in December over their marital troubles.
Alleged set list
“Sweet Feelin'” (from 1977 Gregg Allman Band album Playin’ Up a Storm)
“Move Me” (with Cher)
“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” (with Cher)
“This Be a Lesson to Ya” (Gregg Allman song)
“Love the One You’re With” (with Cher)
“Love Me” (with Cher)
“Half-Breed (Acustic Version)” Cher solo (with Greg at the guitar) – Uh, I would have killed to have seen that.
Alternative Alleged Set List:
“Matthew’s Arrival” (from 1977 Gregg Allman Band album Playin’ Up a Storm)
“Trouble No More” (from the 1969 The Allman Brothers Band album)
“Don’t Keep Me Wonderin” (from the 1970 Allman Brothers Band album Idlewild South)
“Queen of Hearts” (from 1973 Gregg Allman solo album Laid Back)
“Let This Be a Lesson To Ya” (from 1977 Gregg Allman Band album Playin’ Up a Storm)
“Sweet Feeling” (from 1977 Gregg Allman Band album Playin’ Up a Storm)
“One More Try” (from 1977 Gregg Allman Band album Playin’ Up a Storm)
“Oncoming Traffic” (from 1974 Gregg Allman Live album)
“Come and Go Blues” (from 1977 Gregg Allman Band album Playin’ Up a Storm)
“Bring It On Back” (from 1977 Gregg Allman Band album Playin’ Up a Storm)
“Leave My Blues at Home” (from the 1970 Allman Brothers Band album Idlewild South)
“Whipping Post” (from the 1969 The Allman Brothers Band album)
“Move Me” (with Cher)
“Do What You Gotta Do” (with Cher)
“Midnight Rider” (from 1973 Gregg Allman solo album Laid Back)
Also included in some setlists
“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” (with Cher)
“Love the One You’re With” (with Cher)
“Love Me” (with Cher)
“Half-Breed” (Acoustic Version) Cher solo (with Allman at the guitar)
Photos
Rainbow Theatre (London) November 24, 1977
Various Sonny & Cher Tours
(1965-1977)
1965, 1972 and 1977 Tourbooks
1970s: Sonny and Cher performed in Las Vegas and on the night-club and state fair circuits. See their two live albums, Sonny & Cher Live (1971) recorded in Century City in The Westside Room of The Century Plaza Hotel and Sonny & Cher Live Vol. 2 (1973) recorded at the Sahara in Las Vegas.
According to Wikipedia there was an All I Ever Need Is You Tour (1971-1972)
From a December 1977 show in Hawaii at The Hilton Hawaiian Village:
“All I Ever Need Is You”
“I Can See Clearly Now”
“Without You”
“United We Stand”
“The Way of Love”
“Baby Don’t Go”
“All I Really Want To Do”
“Laugh At Me”
“You Better Sit Down Kids”
“The Beat Goes On”
“Isn’t She Lovely”
“Send In The Clowns”
“Bang, Bang, My Baby Shot Me Down”
“A Cowboy’s Work is Never Done”
“I Got You Babe”
From a 1972s show at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana:
“All I Ever Need Is You” (Ray Charles cover)
“The Beat Goes On”
“United We Stand” (Brotherhood of Man cover)
“You’ve Got a Friend” (Carole King cover)
“Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again” (The Fortunes cover)
“You Made Me Love You” (Cher solo)
“Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” (Cher solo)
“The Way of Love” (Cher solo)
“You Better Sit Down Kids” (mistakenly listed as “Remember, I Love You”) (Sonny solo)
“I Got You Babe”
Photos:
1960s: Sonny & Cher performed at sold-out venues such as the Hollywood Bowl.
According to Wikipedia there was a Wondrous World Tour (1966-1967)
Possible set list from 1968
(from Cher.com forum post)
“The Beat Goes On”
“Just You”
“Sing cest La Vie”
“Laugh at me”—Sonny solo
“A Beautiful Story”
“You’d Better Sit Down Kids”—Cher solo
“It’s the Little Things”
“Little Man”
“All I Really Wanna Do”—Cher solo
“Baby, Don’t Go”
“Needles and Pins”
“Alfie”—Cher solo
“I Got You Babe”
Photos
See my page of individual concert dates and local reviews and box office grosses.
