Dio's Killing The World tour started on May 31st in the USA where they toured about two months with Deep Purple and Scorpions. The tour then continued to Europe where Dio played first some dates with Deep Purple and then continued on their own, headlining tour.
There were plans for the Asian tour after the European dates were done, but those plans were cancelled. Unfortunately the same happened to the South American dates. After Portsmouth, UK, the band had a short break before they resumed touring in the North America in November-December. On this tour warming-up bands were the Swedish metal band Hammerfall, as well as Kings X.
Killing The Dragon tour continued in the Summer 2003 in Europe, where Dio played at a couple of metal festivals again, as well as some gigs of their own!
After the European tour, Dio returned back to the US arenas together with Iron Maiden and Motorhead. Motorhead opened the shows, Dio was in the middle slot and Iron Maiden headlined. The tour ended in August.
| Date | Venue | City and State | Country | Other bands | Comments |
| 31.05.2002 | Alladdin Hotel & Casino | Las Vegas, NV | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 01.06.2002 | Cricket Pavillion | Phoenix, AZ | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | Click
here for ticket stub picture.
Click here for 2nd ticket stub picture. |
| 02.06.2002 | Journal Pavillion | Albuquerque, NM | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 04.06.2002 | Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre | Tucson, AZ | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 05.06.2002 | UTEP Don Haskins Center | El Paso, TX | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 07.06.2002 | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre | Selma, TX | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 08.06.2002 | C.W. Mitchell Pavillion | The Woodlands, TX | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 09.06.2002 | Smirnoff Music Centre | Dallas, TX | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 11.06.2002 | Verizon Wireless Music Center | Noblesville, IN | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 12.06.2002 | Riverbend Music Center | Cincinnati, OH | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 13.06.2002 | DTE Energy Music Theatre | Clarkston, MI | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 15.06.2002 | Post Gazette Pavillion @Star Lake | Burgettstown, PA | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 16.06.2002 | Polaris Amphitheatre | Columbus, OH | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Capacity 20000, 4262 people |
| 18.06.2002 | AmSouth Amphitheatre | Antioch, TN | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 19.06.2002 | HiFi Buys Amphitheatre | Atlanta, GA | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 21.06.2002 | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre | Charlotte, NC | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 22.06.2002 | Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheatre | Virginia Beach, VA | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 23.06.2002 | Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Amphitheatre | Wantagh, NY | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | Capacity 14029, 7695 people |
| 25.06.2002 | Merriweather Post Pavillion | Columbia, MD | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Capacity 17389, 5189 people |
| 26.06.2002 | Tweeter Center | Mansfield, MA | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | Click here for photos from the show by Genady Perchenko. |
| 28.06.2002 | Meadowbrook Farm Musical Arts Center | Gilford, NH | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Click here for photos from the show by Genady Perchenko. |
| 29.06.2002 | Budweiser Summer Stage | Big Flats, NY | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 30.06.2002 | P.N.C. Bank Arts Center | Holmdel, NJ | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 04.07.2002 | Agora du Vieux-Port | Quebec City, PQ | Canada | Voivod | 4000 people |
| 05.07.2002 | Medley | Montreal, PQ | Canada | Voivod | Sold out, 2000 people. Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 06.07.2002 | Docks | Toronto, ON | Canada | Scratching Post | Click here for ticket stub picture.
Click here for 2nd ticket stub picture. Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 10.07.2002 | Tower City Amphitheatre | Cleveland, OH | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Ronnie's birthday show |
| 12.07.2002 | Tweeter Center | Tinley Park, IL | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 13.07.2002 | Moondance Jam | Walker, MN | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 14.07.2002 | Marcus Amphitheatre | Milwaukee, WI | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 16.07.2002 | Mark Of The Quad Cities | Moline, IL | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 18.07.2002 | Rock Fest at Chippewa Valley | Cadott, WI | USA | Vic Ferrari, Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | http://www.rock-fest.com/ |
| 19.07.2002 | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater | Bonner Springs, KS | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Some sources list the venue as Sandstone Amphitheatre but that is
apparently the old name for the venue.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 20.07.2002 | UMB Bank Pavillion | Maryland Heights, MO | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 22.07.2002 | World Arena | Colorado Springs, CO | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 23.07.2002 | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 25.07.2002 | E Center | West Valley, UT | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 26.07.2002 | Idaho Center Amphitheatre | Nampa, ID | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 28.07.2002 | Chronicle Pavillion @ Concord | Concord, CA | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Click here for pass picture. |
| 30.07.2002 | Hilton Amphitheatre | Reno, NV | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 31.07.2002 | Konocti Harbor Resort Amphitheatre | Kelseyville, CA | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 02.08.2002 | Coors Amphitheatre | Chula Vista, CA | USA | Scorpions, Deep Purple (HL) | |
| 03.08.2002 | G.H. Blockbuster Pavillion | Devore, CA | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 04.08.2002 | The Greek Theatre | Los Angeles, CA | USA | Scorpions (HL), Deep Purple | |
| 27.08.2002 | Amphitheatre | Gelsenkirchen | Germany | The Planets, Deep Purple | Click
here for ticket stub picture.
Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 28.08.2002 | Tanzbrunnen | Cologne | Germany | The Planets, Deep Purple | Click
here for gig poster picture.
Click here for 2nd gig poster picture. |
| 30.08.2002 | Ferropolis "Stadt aus Eisen" | Grafenhainichen | Germany | The Planets, Deep Purple | |
| 31.08.2002 | Brenzpark | Heidenheim | Germany | The Planets, Deep Purple | Click here for ticket stub
picture.
Click here for 2nd ticket stub picture. Click here for 3rd ticket stub picture. Click here for 4th ticket stub picture. Click here for 5th ticket stub picture. Click here for 6th ticket stub picture. |
| 01.09.2002 | Stadthalle | Zwickau | Germany | The Planets, Deep Purple | Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 03.09.2002 | Volkswagen Halle | Braunschweig | Germany | The Planets, Deep Purple | Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker of Scorpions joined Dio on stage
and did Rainbow In The Dark with them.
Click here for gig poster picture. Click here for gig ad picture. |
| 05.09.2002 | Rockefeller | Oslo | Norway | Mister Kite | Sold out, 1400 people |
| 06.09.2002 | Hell Blues Festival | Hell/Trondheim | Norway | Peer Gynt, Hughes Turner Project | Sold out, 2000 people |
| 07.09.2002 | Chalmers Karhaus | Gothenburg | Sweden | ? | Mikkey Dee from Motorhead joined the band on stage on Neon Knights |
| 08.09.2002 | KB Hallen | Malmo | Sweden | Mister Kite | 700 people. Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 09.09.2002 | Pumpehuset | Copenhagen | Denmark | ? | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 11.09.2002 | Markthalle | Hamburg | Germany | Soul Doctor | Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 12.09.2002 | Columbia Fritz | Berlin | Germany | Soul Doctor | Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 13.09.2002 | Gasthaus 'Zur Linde' | Affalter | Germany | Soul Doctor | |
| 14.09.2002 | Festhalle | Herxheim | Germany | Soul Doctor | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 15.09.2002 | LKA Longhorn | Stuttgart | Germany | Soul Doctor | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 18.09.2002 | Planet Music | Vienna | Austria | ? | Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for photos from the show by Genady Perchenko. |
| 19.09.2002 | Orpheum | Graz | Austria | Local band? | Sold out, about 400 people.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 20.09.2002 | Alcatraz | Milan | Italy | ? | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 21.09.2002 | Konzertfabrik Z7 | Pratteln | Switzerland | ? | Capacity 1500 |
| 24.09.2002 | Razzmatazz | Barcelona | Spain | ? | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 25.09.2002 | Republica | Valencia | Spain | ? | |
| 26.09.2002 | La Industrial Copera | Granada | Spain | ? | |
| 27.09.2002 | Macumba | Madrid | Spain | ? | Capacity 1200. |
| 28.09.2002 | Sala Gares | Pamplona | Spain | ? | |
| 30.09.2002 | Le Divan du Monde | Paris | France | No warming-up band | |
| 01.10.2002 | Hof Ter Lo | Antwerpen | Belgium | Killer | Sold out, 1000 people.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 02.10.2002 | 013 Popcentrum | Tilburg | The Netherlands | Mystrez | Sold out, 2200 people. Some sources incorrectly claim there were 1200 people.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 04.10.2002 | The Astoria | London | UK | Oliver/Dawson Saxon | Sold out, 1200 people.
Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for 2nd ticket stub picture. Click here for pass picture (has wrong date for the show). |
| 05.10.2002 | Wulfrun Hall | Wolverhampton | UK | Oliver/Dawson Saxon | Sold out.
Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for pass picture. |
| 06.10.2002 | Manchester Academy | Manchester | UK | Oliver/Dawson Saxon | Sold out, 2000 people.
Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for gig ad picture. |
| 07.10.2002 | Barrowlands | Glasgow | UK | Oliver/Dawson Saxon | Sold out.
Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for 2nd ticket stub picture. Click here for 3rd ticket stub picture. |
| 09.10.2002 | Pyramid Centre | Portsmouth | UK | Oliver/Dawson Saxon | Sold out, Graham Oliver of Oliver/Dawson Saxon joined Dio on stage
for Rainbow In The Dark.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 08.11.2002 | Roseland Theater | Portland, OR | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 09.11.2002 | Showbox | Seattle, WA | USA | Kings X | Hammerfall was supposed to play but for some reason they didn't. |
| 10.11.2002 | Fat Tuesday's Concert Hall | Spokane, WA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 12.11.2002 | The Fillmore | San Francisco, CA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click
here for ticket stub picture.
Click here for pass picture. |
| 14.11.2002 | Universal Amphitheatre | Universal City, CA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 15.11.2002 | House Of Blues | Anaheim, CA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 16.11.2002 | House Of Blues | Las Vegas, NV | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 17.11.2002 | 4th&B | San Diego, CA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 19.11.2002 | Midnight Rodeo | Albuquerque, NM | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 22.11.2002 | Canyon Club | Dallas, TX | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 23.11.2002 | The Backroom | Austin, TX | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 24.11.2002 | House Of Blues | New Orleans, LA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 25.11.2002 | The Masquerade | Atlanta, GA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 27.11.2002 | Pop's | Sauget, IL | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click here for gig ad picture. |
| 29.11.2002 | The Quest Club | Minneapolis, MS | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 30.11.2002 | The Rave/The Eagles Club | Milwaukee, WI | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 01.12.2002 | House Of Blues | Chicago, IL | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 04.12.2002 | Piere's Night Club | Fort Wayne, IN | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 05.12.2002 | Annie's | Cincinnati, OH | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 06.12.2002 | Odeon Concert Club | Cleveland, OH | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 07.12.2002 | Harpo's | Detroit, MI | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 10.12.2002 | Recher Theatre | Towson, MD | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 11.12.2002 | 9:30 Club | Washington, DC | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | |
| 13.12.2002 | Roseland Ballroom | New York City, NY | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Filmed for the "Evil Or Divine" DVD release. Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 14.12.2002 | The Palladium | Worcester, MA | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click here for photos from the show by Genady Perchenko. |
| 15.12.2002 | Webster Theatre | Hartford, CT | USA | Hammerfall, Kings X | Click here for photos from the show by Genady Perchenko. |
| 26.06.2003 | Abart Music Club | Zurich | Switzerland | Capacity 500, 300 people in audience. Originally scheduled for Rohstofflager. | |
| 27.06.2003 | Bang Your Head!!! Festival | Balingen | Germany | Twisted Sister, Y&T, Thin Lizzy, Hammerfall, U.D.O., Sodom, Overkill, Hypocrisy, Dokken, TNT, Annihilator, Amon Amarth, Brainstorm, Masterplan, Axxis, Pink Cream 69, Rob Rock, Bitch, Angel Witch, Destructor, Hirax | Capacity 12000. Two-day festival, Twisted Sister will headline the 2nd day. Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 29.06.2003 | Rock The Nations Festival, Masiak | Istanbul | Turkey | Kreator, Opeth, Rotting Christ, Radical Noise, Antisilence, Almora | Capacity 8000, sold out.
Click here for gig poster picture. Click here for 2 other gig poster pictures. |
| 30.06.2003 | Ark Open Air Festival, Ark Nr. 6 | Athens | Greece | ? | Capacity 4000, sold out.
Click here for gig ad picture. Click here for artist pass picture. |
| 02.07.2003 | Vega | Copenhagen | Denmark | Stormbringer | Capacity 1000.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 03.07.2003 | Kulturbolaget | Malmo | Sweden | No warm-up band | Capacity 750, 300 people in audience. |
| 04.07.2003 | Vasterashallen | Vasteras | Sweden | Capacity 750, sold out with possible 1250 people. | |
| 06.07.2003 | Ruisrock Festival, Ruissalo | Turku | Finland | Amorphis, Apocalyptica, Apulanta, Boomhauer, The Cardigans, CMX, Danko Jones, Don Huonot, Eläkeläiset, Egotrippi, The Flaming Sideburns, Hanoi Rocks, The Hellacopters, HIM, Ismo Alanko säätiö, Jean S, Kotiteollisuus, Kwan, Lemonator, Looptroop, Lordi, Maija Vilkkumaa, Manic Street Preachers, Matti Servo & Napander, Nylon Beat, Peer Günt, Popeda, The Rasmus, Scandinavian Music Group, The 69 Eyes, Sleepy Sleepers, Sonata Arctica, The Sounds, Stratovarius, Sweatmaster, Tehosekoitin, Timo Rautiainen & Trio niskalaukaus, Turbonegro, Yup, Zen Cafe, Zwan, Yö | Two day festival, 25 000 people. Click here for pass picture. Click here for photos from the show by Tapio Keihanen. |
| 08.07.2003 | Restaurang Tradgarn | Gothenburg | Sweden | Bigelf | Capacity 750, sold out. Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 09.07.2003 | Rockefeller | Oslo | Norway | ? | Capacity 1350. |
| 11.07.2003 | Bospop Festival | Weert | Netherlands | ZZ Top, Motorhead, Bonnie Raitt, Subway To Sally, Danko Jones, Voederbietels, Tacker, Simple Minds, INXS, Anouk, HIM, Ilse de Lange, Blof, The Alarm, Intwine, Slow Poke Rodrigo, Action in DC, Saxon, Vega4, Daniel Lohues & The Louisiana Blues Club, Spanner, Sleazy Dreams | Capacity 12000.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 12.07.2003 | Metal Mania Festival, Auditorio Municipal | Villarrobledo | Spain | Iron Maiden, Saxon, Baron Rojo, Hammerfall, Primal Fear, Stray, Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Sepultura, Kreator, Apocalyptica, Overkill, Rebellion, Motorhead, Stratovarius, Masterplan, Immortal, Exodus, Dark Tranquility | Three day festival, Dio opened for Iron Maiden on Saturday. Click here for gig poster picture. Click here for another gig poster picture. |
| 21.07.2003 | Centrum Centre | Worcester, MA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 11800. |
| 22.07.2003 | Meadows Music Theater | Hartford, CT | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 24212. |
| 23.07.2003 | Tweeter Center at the Waterfront | Camden, NJ | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 25000.
Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 25.07.2003 | P.N.C. Bank Arts Center | Holmdel, NJ | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 17500. |
| 26.07.2003 | Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theatre | Wantagh, NY | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 14029. |
| 29.07.2003 | Merriweather Post Pavillion | Columbia, MD | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 16500 or 17389 depending on the source. |
| 30.07.2003 | Madison Square Garden | New York, NY | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 13100 or 20000 depending on the source, sold out.
Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for gig ad picture. |
| 01.08.2003 | Colisee de Quebec | Quebec City, PQ | Canada | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 11500. |
| 02.08.2003 | Bell Centre | Montreal, PQ | Canada | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 12000, almost sold out. |
| 03.08.2003 | Molson Amphitheatre | Toronto, ON | Canada | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 8635. |
| 05.08.2003 | Blossom Music Centre | Cleveland, OH | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 19100. |
| 06.08.2003 | DTE Energy Music Theatre | Clarkston, MI | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 15204.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 08.08.2003 | Post Gazette Pavillion | Pittsburgh, PA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 23116, 6000-7000 people in audience. |
| 09.08.2003 | Germain Amphitheater | Columbus, OH | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 20000. |
| 10.08.2003 | Tweeter Center | Tinley Park, IL | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 28590.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 13.08.2003 | Smirnoff Music Centre | Dallas, TX | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 11800.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 15.08.2003 | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater | San Antonio, TX | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 19450. |
| 16.08.2003 | Woodlands Pavillion | Houston, TX | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 15011. |
| 18.08.2003 | U.T.E.P./Don Haskins Center | El Paso, TX | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 6800. |
| 20.08.2003 | Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre | Englewood, CO | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 11225.
Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 21.08.2003 | Sunshine Theater | Albuquerque, NM | USA | Motorhead | Capacity 1000. Some sources claim this was at Journal Pavillion with Iron Maiden, but apparently Dio and Motorhead had their own show instead. |
| 22.08.2003 | Cricket Pavillion | Phoenix, AZ | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 7160. |
| 24.08.2003 | Verison Wireless Amphitheater | Irvine, CA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 16300. |
| 25.08.2003 | Long Beach Arena | Long Beach, CA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 11540.
Click here for gig ad picture. Click here for gig poster picture. |
| 26.08.2003 | San Diego Sports Arena | San Diego, CA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 10500. |
| 28.08.2003 | Shoreline Amphitheater | Mountain View, CA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 22000.
Click here for ticket stub picture. Click here for aftershow pass picture. |
| 29.08.2003 | Chronicle Pavillion | Concord, CA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 12500.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
| 30.08.2003 | Sleep Train Amphitheatre | Marysville, CA | USA | Iron Maiden, Motorhead | Capacity 18500.
Click here for ticket stub picture. |
This page is maintained by Tapio Keihänen,
E-mail: dio@iki.fi.
The page has been updated on 2023-02-24.
URL: http://www.dio.net/tour/killing_the_dragon.html,
the front page http://www.dio.net/.
