Hubbry Logo
FanMail TourFanMail TourMain
Open search
FanMail Tour
Community hub
FanMail Tour
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
FanMail Tour
FanMail Tour
FanMail Tour
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
FanMail Tour
Tour by TLC
Promotional poster for tour
Associated albumFanMail
Start dateOctober 22, 1999 (1999-10-22)
End dateJanuary 29, 2000 (2000-01-29)
Legs2
No. of shows33 in North America
TLC concert chronology
  • 1995 Budweiser Fest Tour
    (1995)
  • FanMail Tour
    (1999–2000)
  • Japan and Malaysia tour
    (2010)

The FanMail Tour is the debut headlining tour by American group TLC. The tour support their third studio album, FanMail. The tour visited North America with dates later planned for Japan and Europe. However, the international dates after the second North American leg were cancelled.

Background

[edit]

Most dates of the tour were sold out and the group would perform all the hits from throughout their career. The tightly choreographed concert featured a five-piece band, seven dancers, cybertechnics, and a giant-screen android named "Virtual Vic-E".[1] On September 27, 1999, TLC donated an exclusive track entitled "I Need That" to MP3.com, that the fans could download from the company's website for free. In exchange, MP3.com sponsored the tour and donated ten cents to the Sickle Cell Disease Association each time the song was downloaded.[2][3]

At the time, TLC had to address the incessant rumors that they were breaking up. Lisa Lopes told the New York Daily News, "A lot of people are under the impression that I'm leaving the group. That's not the case..." She also added, "The magic of the group has everything to do with the chemistry between myself, Tionne [Watkins] and Chilli [Rozonda Thomas]...with TLC, it's like, if there wasn't something going wrong, it just wouldn't be right."[4] The tour wrapped up in their hometown of Atlanta, a day prior to Super Bowl XXXIV. Mayor Bill Campbell gave the group a key to the city and declared January 29, "TLC Day". On March 18, 2000, the group had a PayPerView special of the full live show in Atlanta, called TLC: Sold Out.

Shortly after the Atlanta show, all three members were offered $25 million to extend the tour into Europe and Japan, but backed out of it when Lopes instead requested time off to visit Honduras and to work on her debut solo album, Supernova. Even though Watkins and Thomas were unhappy with her decision, they reluctantly agreed to pass on the extension.

A few performances from their concert at MCI Center, Washington, D.C., on January 23, 2000, have later been included on their Japanese compilation TLC 20: 20th Anniversary Hits (2013).

Concert synopsis

[edit]

The show was divided into five acts plus an encore. It began with a futuristic theme and an introduction by the giant screen android, "Virtual Vic-E", welcoming the audience to the show. After the video ends, all three members rise from the stage, each in different silver clothing to perform "FanMail" as well as "Silly Ho" and "If They Knew". The backup dancers wore purple raincoats and pants.[5] The first leg of the tour featured the girls wearing butterfly-themed outfits, but they were quickly replaced with the silver outfits for unknown reasons. After the end of "If They Knew", Lopes revealed a bag of mail received from fans in the city, and promised that she and the other members would read through it later in the show.

The show continued with the Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip era, in which the members performed "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg", "What About Your Friends" and "Baby-Baby-Baby", dressed in white overalls surrounded with multi-colored spray paint in homage to their early image. Lopes also wore large pink sunglasses and a pacifier around her neck.[6]

Shortly before the beginning of the CrazySexyCool era, Vic-E detected an intruder backstage. The intruder, a man in a black hooded costume, revealed himself as an evil villain. He spotted the bag of fanmail and proceeded to steal it, leaving the band and the backup dancers too later to stop him. However, they barely had any time to mull it over, when TLC returned to perform "Creep" shortly after, unaware of the theft, with Lopes, Watkins and Thomas wearing silk pajamas, very similar to the ones they wore in the "Creep" music video. The backup dancers also wore pajamas. Lopes and Thomas each had their own platform on both ends of the stage, while Watkins was in the middle of the main stage. All girls were eventually on the main stage to perform Lopes' rap. Right after the song, "Red Light Special" followed, which again featured Lopes and Thomas on their separate platforms, but instead sitting on a chair and Watkins on the main stage. Several female dancers also sat on chairs, dancing seductively.[7]

The solos of each member followed shortly after the dance interlude of "Housequake", starting with Left Eye, performing an unreleased rap entitled "Crazy". She also did several magic tricks and played the keyboard. Then followed Chilli's solo, dressed as a cowgirl to perform "Come on Down". She was also accompanied by several female dancers also dressed as cowgirls. After the song, she was then lowered down the main stage. She re-emerged wearing a new costume which she, along with the rest of the members, then wore until the end of the concert. She would then pick a man from the audience and begin to perform "I Miss You So Much" with the man sitting on a chair and Chilli singing to him. T-Boz was last to perform her solo, appearing on stage dressed in a purple suit with a wooden cane to sing the first lines of the famous military march chant, "I Don't Know (But I Been Told)". She would then remove her suit to reveal a costume similar to Chilli's during the performance of "I Miss You So Much", to sing "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "Touch Myself" and" Dear Lie".

After the girls' solos was Act 4, entitled Rain. "Unpretty" was the first song of the act, which featured many children from the audience who came up to sing with them. "I'm Good at Being Bad", "My Life" and a salsa version of "Shout" were performed after.[8]

Act 5 commenced with Lopes finally noticing the missing bag of fanmail, and the group were informed by the band and the audience that the evil villain took it. Disappointed, the girls would turn to Vic-E, who would explain that the letters would not reveal the full strength of the bond between TLC and the fans, and assure the audience that TLC loves them. The girls then performed their signature song, "Waterfalls". The giant screen showed clips from the music video and water running. Backup dancers wore different colored shirts.

During the last show of the tour in Atlanta, Goodie Mob made a special appearance to perform their song with TLC, "What It Ain't (Ghetto Enuff)". "No Scrubs" was the final song of the show, which had Watkins and Lopes on the end platforms of the stage and Thomas on the main stage, with a dancer trying to give his number to her. They would all eventually end up back on the main stage together to perform Left Eye's rap on the song. Just as the song was ending, the bag of fanmail returned. There was a note attached to it from the evil villain, apologising for the theft, and explaining that he had written to them hundreds of times and they never wrote back. He reveals that he bought some T-shirts as an apology gift and placed them in the bag. The girls proceeded to hand out the T-shirts to the audience and to thank the crowd. All backup dancers then joined hands with Lopes, Watkins and Thomas to end the show.[9]

Critical reception

[edit]

The tour received very positive reviews from critics. Natalie Nichols of the Los Angeles Times described the Anaheim show as: "...a thoroughly 21st century pop concert, with all the razzle-dazzle and sense of fun you'd expect [...] TLC delighted fans while underscoring the staying power that has made it the best-selling female trio in history [...] a seven-piece band managed to stay out of the way, playing TLC's blend of soul, hip-hop, funk and pop with surprising verve...However, this was one modern multi-platinum act that had plenty of meat to match the sizzle".

Darryl Morden of The Hollywood Reporter described the New York City show as "smart, sexy, stylish, sweet, daring, dazzling and diverse, the 100-minute performance Friday night was full of flash but grounded in personal charisma. Effects and gimmickry took a back seat to old-fashioned, engaging showmanship".

Variety's Troy Augusto described it as "an exciting evening of singing and dancing that delivered all of their hit songs in charming fashion".

Gene Stout of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer added, "Pent-up demand for the Atlanta-based trio's incendiary blend of pop, hip-hop and R&B made the evening a celebration."

However, Craig Seymour of Entertainment Weekly states, "...there were occasional signs of the strife that has divided Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes from her band mates Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins. At various points during the show, Chilli and T-Boz high-fived each other while ignoring Left Eye. Left Eye, in turn, strutted past the other two as if they were merely set pieces to avoid. Things heated up during a particularly aggressive rendition of 'What About Your Friends' when T-Boz appeared to glare at Left Eye while singing the lyrics, What about your friends/Will they let you down/Will they be around?”.

Opening Acts

[edit]

Set list

[edit]

Act I: The Future

  1. "Vic-E" (intro)
  2. "FanMail" (includes "The Vic-E Interpretation Interlude")
  3. "Silly Ho"
  4. "If They Knew"

Act II: Back to the TLC Tip

  2. "Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip" (interlude)
  3. "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg"
  4. "What About Your Friends"
  5. "Baby-Baby-Baby"

Act III: CrazySexyCool

  2. "The Villain" (interlude)
  3. "Creep" (Salsa Dance Remix)
  4. "Red Light Special" (includes "Housequake" interpretation)
  5. "Crazy" (Left Eye solo)
  6. "Sexy" (interlude)
  7. "Come on Down" (Chilli solo)
  8. "I Miss You So Much" (Chilli solo)
  9. "Cool" (interlude)
  10. "Touch Myself" (includes elements of "Back That Azz Up" & "Nasty Girl") (T-Boz solo)
  11. "If I Was Your Girlfriend" (T-Boz solo)
  12. "Dear Lie" (T-Boz solo)

Act IV: Rain

  2. "Unpretty"
  3. "I'm Good at Being Bad"
  4. "My Life"
  5. "Shout" (Remix)
  6. "Waterfalls"

Encore

  2. "No Scrubs"

Tour dates

[edit]
Date City Country Venue
North America[14][15][16][17][18]
October 22, 1999 Toronto Canada Air Canada Centre
October 23, 1999 Montreal Molson Centre
October 25, 1999 Ottawa Corel Centre
October 27, 1999 Grand Rapids United States Van Andel Arena
October 29, 1999 Fairborn Nutter Center
October 31, 1999 Baltimore Baltimore Arena
November 2, 1999 Greenville BI-LO Center
November 5, 1999 Raleigh Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena
November 7, 1999 Hampton Hampton Coliseum
November 9, 1999 Toledo Savage Hall
November 12, 1999 Hartford Hartford Civic Center
November 13, 1999 Providence Providence Civic Center
November 15, 1999 Albany Pepsi Arena
November 16, 1999 Cleveland Gund Arena
November 18, 1999 Cleveland CSU Convocation Center
November 20, 1999 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
November 22, 1999 Milwaukee Bradley Center
November 26, 1999 Minneapolis Target Center
November 28, 1999 St. Louis Kiel Center
December 1, 1999 Houston Compaq Center
December 3, 1999 Phoenix America West Arena
January 3, 2000 San Diego San Diego Sports Arena
January 5, 2000 Oakland The Arena in Oakland
January 7, 2000 Anaheim Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
January 8, 2000 Oakland The Arena in Oakland
January 10, 2000 Seattle KeyArena
January 11, 2000 Portland Rose Garden
January 16, 2000 Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills
January 20, 2000 Boston FleetCenter
January 21, 2000 New York City Madison Square Garden
January 23, 2000 Washington, D.C. MCI Center
January 25, 2000 Philadelphia First Union Center
January 27, 2000 Sunrise National Car Rental Center
January 29, 2000 Atlanta Philips Arena
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
October 12, 1999 Winnipeg, Canada Winnipeg Arena Cancelled
October 15, 1999 Montreal, Canada Molson Centre Rescheduled to October 23, 1999
October 16, 1999 Toronto, Canada Air Canada Centre Rescheduled to October 22, 1999
October 21, 1999 Greenville, South Carolina BI-LO Center Rescheduled to November 2, 1999
October 23, 1999 Sunrise, Florida National Car Rental Center Cancelled
October 27, 1999 Raleigh, North Carolina Dorton Arena Rescheduled to November 5, 1999 and moved to the Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena
October 29, 1999 Auburn Hills, Michigan The Palace of Auburn Hills Cancelled
October 31, 1999 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First Union Center Cancelled
November 3, 1999 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Civic Arena Rescheduled to November 20, 1999
November 5, 1999 Uniondale, New York Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Cancelled
November 7, 1999 Cleveland, Ohio Gund Arena Rescheduled to November 18, 1999 and moved to the CSU Convocation Center
November 9, 1999 Boston, Massachusetts FleetCenter Cancelled
November 14, 1999 Washington, D.C. MCI Center Cancelled
November 18, 1999 Cincinnati Firstar Center Cancelled
November 20, 1999 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Bradley Center Rescheduled to November 26, 1999
November 24, 1999 Indianapolis, Indiana Market Square Arena Moved to the Conseco Fieldhouse
November 24, 1999 Indianapolis, Indiana Conseco Fieldhouse Cancelled
November 26, 1999 Rosemont, Illinois Allstate Arena Cancelled
November 30, 1999 St. Charles, Missouri Family Arena Cancelled
December 4, 1999 Las Vegas, Nevada MGM Grand Garden Arena Rescheduled to December 5, 1999
December 5, 1999 Las Vegas, Nevada MGM Grand Garden Arena Cancelled
December 6, 1999 Tacoma, Washington Tacoma Dome Cancelled
December 9, 1999 Los Angeles Staples Center Cancelled
December 11, 1999 Oakland, California The Arena in Oakland Cancelled
December 15, 1999 Houston, Texas Compaq Center Rescheduled to December 1, 1999
December 16, 1999 New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans Arena Cancelled
December 18, 1999 Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum Cancelled
December 19, 1999 Atlanta, Georgia Philips Arena Cancelled
January 14, 2000 Rosemont, Illinois Allstate Arena Cancelled
January 18, 2000 Cleveland, Ohio CSU Convocation Center Cancelled
February 27, 2000 Nagoya, Japan Nagoya Rainbow Hall Cancelled
March 1, 2000 Osaka, Japan Osaka-jō Hall Cancelled
March 2, 2000 Osaka Osaka-jō Hall Cancelled
March 4, 2000 Yokohama, Japan Yokohama Arena Cancelled
March 6, 2000 Tokyo, Japan Yoyogi National Gymnasium Cancelled
March 8, 2000 Tokyo, Japan Yoyogi National Gymnasium Cancelled
March 12, 2000 Cologne, Germany Kölnarena Cancelled
March 13, 2000 Rotterdam, Netherlands Rotterdam Ahoy Cancelled
March 15, 2000 Birmingham, England National Indoor Arena Cancelled
March 16, 2000 London, England Wembley Arena Cancelled
March 18, 2000 Dublin, Ireland Point Theatre Cancelled

Personnel

[edit]

Band

  • Dallas Austin – keyboards
  • Thomas Martin – guitars
  • Thomas Knight – drums, percussion
  • Ethan Farmer – bass
  • Eric Daniels – keyboards, musical director
  • Christopher Rupert – drums, percussion

Choreographer

  • Devyne Stephens

Dancers

  • Oththan Burnside
  • Jamaica Craft
  • Ray Johnson
  • Aakomon Jones
  • Shannon Lopez
  • Dean Pagtakhan
  • Kevin White

Production manager

  • Jason Scianno
  • Tanya Greenblatt

Wardrobe and stylist

  • Julieanne Mijares
  • Laurie Chang (assistant stylist)

Tour production manager

  • Dale "Opie" Skjerseth

Stage designer

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

FanMail Tour

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The FanMail Tour was the debut headlining by the American R&B group TLC, launched in support of their third studio album, , released on February 23, 1999. Spanning late 1999 and early 2000, the tour consisted of two legs across North American arenas, marking TLC's first major trek as headliners after previous albums Oooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992) and (1994). It was the final tour to feature the group's original trio. Christina Aguilera served as the opening act for the tour's second leg that began in January 2000, pairing the established R&B trio with the rising solo artist on her debut arena tour. TLC's 90-minute performances featured a futuristic stage design inspired by the album's cyber-themed aesthetic, incorporating synchronized video projections, elaborate props, magic illusions, a troupe of dancers, and an interactive pit for select audience members. The production utilized advanced audio systems, including Showco's line arrays and in-ear monitors for the group, emphasizing crisp R&B vocals and dynamic hip-hop elements during sets that highlighted tracks like "" and "." Commercially, the tour grossed approximately $72.8 million, establishing it as a landmark for girl groups at the turn of the millennium.

Background and Development

Conception

TLC decided to launch their first headlining tour to promote their third studio album, , which was released on February 23, 1999, by LaFace and . This marked a significant step following the massive commercial success of their previous album, (1994), which sold over 23 million copies worldwide and established the group as one of the best-selling female acts in music history. The tour, scheduled to begin on October 22, 1999, represented TLC's return to the road after a five-year hiatus since their 1994–1995 Tour, emphasizing live performances to capitalize on the album's themes of fan interaction and digital communication. Amid internal conflicts during the FanMail recording sessions—including creative differences that led Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes to temporarily quit the group—the tour planning proceeded amid public disputes and speculation about the group's future. Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas pushed forward with the tour to demonstrate unity. By committing to the headlining outing, TLC aimed to reaffirm their cohesion and refocus attention on their collective artistry. The tour's conception drew heavily from FanMail's futuristic, cybernetic aesthetic, which explored fan-mail through a digital lens and anticipated internet-era anxieties about superficial connections. This inspired a sci-fi for the live shows, featuring the android character Virtual Vic-E on a giant screen to introduce performances and tie into the album's blend of technology and human emotion. In a related promotional effort tying album themes to social good, TLC donated an unreleased track, "I Need That," to MP3.com on September 27, 1999, with the platform pledging 10 cents per download to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. This initiative, aiming for one million downloads, linked the group's digital fan-engagement concept to , enhancing the tour's buildup as a multifaceted campaign.

Announcement and Preparations

The FanMail Tour was officially announced on September 27, 1999, marking TLC's first major headlining outing following years of supporting roles on tours by artists such as and . The tour was positioned as a showcase for the group's third album , emphasizing their evolution into a futuristic-themed production that aligned with the album's cyber-inspired aesthetic. Planning for the tour included a 34-date North American itinerary divided into two legs, targeting high-capacity venues in urban markets such as in (January 21, 2000) and Philips Arena in (January 29, 2000). Preparations involved extensive rehearsals for amid ongoing group dynamics. Promotion leveraged the massive success of singles "," which topped the for four weeks in spring 1999, and "," which reached number one in August 1999, generating widespread hype through radio, TV appearances, and print coverage. In a nod to the group's roots, Bill Campbell declared January 29, 2000, as "TLC Day" ahead of the tour finale at Philips Arena, presenting the members with a key to the city.

Concert Production

Synopsis

The FanMail Tour was structured as a five-act production plus an encore, with each act themed to reflect different phases of TLC's career and the futuristic motifs of their 1999 album . The show opened with a video introduction featuring the android character Virtual Vic-E, who narrated transitions between acts and appeared on-stage for interactive segments, setting a cybernetic tone for the performance. The acts progressed thematically: Act 1 focused on "The Future" with new material; Act 2 evoked the group's debut era ""; Act 3 celebrated ; Act 4 incorporated a "Rain" motif drawing from album interludes; and Act 5 explored "The Meaning of FanMail" before transitioning to an encore medley of hits. Visual and performance elements emphasized high-tech aesthetics, including shimmering metallic costumes for the group and synchronized by seven dancers amid cybertechnic effects like projected screens and lighting rigs evoking digital interfaces. Individual spotlights highlighted member solos, such as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' rap verse during a -themed segment, Chilli's performance of "Come on Down," and T-Boz's medley blending personal tracks. The overall runtime clocked in at approximately 90 minutes, balancing energetic group dances with more intimate vocal moments to engage audiences. The tour's North American leg culminated at Philips Arena in on January 29, 2000, where joined TLC for a on "What It Ain't (Ghetto Enuff)," amplifying the homecoming energy with local hip-hop flair. This finale underscored the group's roots, delivering a thematic arc that wove their evolution from debut to hits into a cohesive, forward-looking spectacle.

The FanMail Tour's set list was structured around thematic acts reflecting TLC's career progression and the futuristic motifs of their album FanMail, drawing from their discography across multiple eras. The performance typically opened with an introductory video sequence featuring the virtual character Vic-E, setting a sci-fi tone for the show. Act I: The Future
This opening act focused on tracks from FanMail, emphasizing the album's innovative sound. The sequence included:
  • "Vic-E" intro video
  • "FanMail"
  • "The Vic-E Interpretation" interlude
  • "Silly Ho"
  • "If They Knew"
Act II: TLC Tip
Transitioning to their debut album , this segment highlighted early hits with high-energy choreography. The songs performed were: Act III: CrazySexyCool
Drawing from their breakthrough album , this act featured remixed versions and individual member spotlights to showcase personal flair. Key performances included:
  • "Creep"
  • ""
  • Lisa's "Crazy" solo
  • Chilli's "Come on Down" solo
  • T-Boz medley ("If I Was Your Girlfriend" / "Touch Myself" / "")
Act IV: Rain
Thematically tied to 's elemental imagery, this act blended new material with a signature classic, building emotional depth. The lineup consisted of: Act V: The Meaning of FanMail
  • "Waterfalls"
Encore
The show closed with the blockbuster single "," often extended with crowd interaction to cap the evening on a celebratory note. In select performances, such as the finale, joined for "What It Ain't (Ghetto Enuff)." Variations occurred across the tour's 1999 and 2000 legs, with early shows incorporating additional tracks like "My Life" or "Shout" more frequently to promote the album's release, while later dates streamlined the set for pacing.

Reception

Critical Reception

The FanMail Tour garnered positive feedback from critics for its high-energy performances and elaborate staging, though some noted underlying group tensions. In a review of the Anaheim concert, the praised TLC's execution of hits like "Waterfalls" and "," describing the 90-minute set as fun and energetic while underscoring the group's status as the best-selling female R&B trio, but critiqued the grandiose production—including a flashy light show, giant oval screen, seven dancers, and video clips—for overshadowing emotional depth and limiting fan connection. Craig Seymour, writing in 1999, observed the Arena show as entertaining despite visible interpersonal strains, such as T-Boz and Chilli ignoring Left Eye and a glare during ""; he commended the enthusiastic audience response to staples like "Creep" and "," with fans largely unaware of the issues, affirming the group's ability to deliver a compelling live experience. Overall, reviewers highlighted the tour's futuristic aesthetic and polished as innovative for R&B, reaffirming TLC's stage command in the wake of 's success, though the emphasis on spectacle sometimes tempered deeper artistic intimacy.

Commercial Performance

The FanMail Tour, comprising 33 shows across two North American legs from 1999 to 2000, achieved strong commercial success with many dates selling out, including high-demand performances in cities like and New York. The tour grossed approximately $72.8 million and was recognized as the highest-grossing tour by a and the top R&B tour of the 1999-2000 period. A Pay-Per-View special titled TLC: Sold Out, filmed at the Atlanta finale on March 18, 2000, further amplified the tour's reach and became one of Pay-Per-View's highest-grossing music events at the time. Although international extensions to and were initially planned to capitalize on the tour's , they were ultimately cancelled due to challenges faced by member T-Boz, limiting potential additional earnings. In the long term, the tour significantly boosted the album's sales, which were certified six-times by the RIAA for over 6 million copies sold in the United States, while sustaining chart dominance for singles like "" and "."

Personnel and Support

Opening Acts

The FanMail Tour featured a rotating lineup of opening acts across its two legs, with serving as the primary opener for the 1999 North American portion, including performances in cities such as on October 16 and on October 23. The group, riding the success of their debut album , performed hits like "" to energize audiences and foster synergy with TLC as fellow R&B contemporaries. For the 2000 leg, served as the primary opening act, including shows in on January 7 and the finale in on January 29, showcasing tracks from her self-titled debut album during her rising breakthrough year. Some dates also featured additional openers such as and . Earlier in the 1999 leg, also appeared as a key opener for multiple stops, adding established R&B draw before departing mid-tour due to scheduling conflicts. Variations occurred across the tour, with some mid-1999 dates featuring additional or local acts like Ricky J and . These supporting performers enhanced the tour's appeal by introducing emerging talents to TLC's fanbase, contributing to the overall success that culminated in a sold-out finale at Philips Arena in on January 29, 2000, broadcast as the Pay-Per-View special TLC: Sold Out.

Tour Personnel

The FanMail Tour's musical backing was provided by a live band led by musical director Rex Salas, with on keyboards. Choreography was directed by Devyne Stephens, with a team of dancers. The production crew included wardrobe stylist Julieanne Mijares, while the tour's futuristic visuals incorporated "Virtual Vic-E," a character voiced by an uncredited actor. Overall management fell to Bill Diggins, TLC's longtime manager, who coordinated the 50+ person crew responsible for logistics and technical execution throughout the tour.

Tour Dates

1999 Leg

The 1999 leg of the Tour marked TLC's first headlining outing, launching on October 22, 1999, at the in , , . The performance kicked off a series of North American dates, with subsequent stops including , , at the Centre Molson on October 23 and , , at the Corel Centre on October 25. These early shows highlighted high-energy renditions of tracks like "Silly Ho" and "," setting a futuristic theme with elaborate stage production and video interludes. The itinerary continued through the Midwest and East Coast, featuring performances in , at on October 27; Dayton, Ohio, at E.J. Nutter Center on October 29; and Baltimore, Maryland, at Baltimore Arena on October 31. A notable New York-area stop occurred on November 7 at , drawing strong fan enthusiasm amid the tour's growing buzz. The leg encompassed around 22 dates across the U.S. and , including December shows in , Tacoma, and , concentrating on East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast markets. Despite some logistical challenges, such as adjustments to the Canadian routing, the performances maintained a focus on dynamic debuts of material, blending R&B hits with theatrical elements to engage audiences. Overall, the 1999 leg generated significant momentum through its regional concentration and energetic shows, culminating in a holiday break that paved the way for the tour's extension into 2000.

2000 Leg

The 2000 leg of the FanMail Tour resumed in early at the Arrowhead Pond in , on January 7, marking the second North American portion of TLC's debut headlining outing. This phase featured around 12 arena performances across the , emphasizing high-energy shows with elaborate production elements drawn from the album's futuristic theme. Notable stops included a January concert at the Arena in Miami, Florida, where the group delivered their signature blend of R&B hits and choreography, and the January 22 date at the Staples Center in , , which highlighted fan engagement through extended medleys of tracks like "" and "Waterfalls." Minor scheduling adjustments occurred during the leg, such as the Hartford, Connecticut, show on January 14 at the Hartford Civic Center. The itinerary concluded with a performance on at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, serving as the tour's grand finale and the last full-group show before a period of hiatus. The sold-out event drew over 20,000 attendees and included a special guest appearance by local hip-hop group for a live rendition of their collaborative track "What It Ain't (Ghetto Enuff)," adding a regional flavor to the setlist. Emotional moments defined the evening, with the members reflecting on their journey amid speeches that underscored the tour's role in closing out the decade. The concert was captured for the TLC: Sold Out, broadcast later that year as a event documenting the full performance. International extensions planned for February in and a spring European run were ultimately cancelled, stemming from internal group fatigue following an intensive schedule and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes's focus on her debut solo album , which she began prioritizing post-tour to explore individual creative directions amid ongoing tensions. The decision allowed TLC to transition from the promotional cycle of , their multi-platinum 1999 release, while highlighting the personal and professional strains that would shape their future.

References

  1. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-tlc-fanmail-1999-no-scrubs-unpretty-798907/
  2. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/tlcs-chilli-talks-dream-tour-with-spice-girls-for-national-concert-8509988/
  3. https://www.mixonline.com/live-sound/tour-profile-tlc-and-christina-aguilera-double-dose-girl-power-367684
  4. https://celebmix.com/10-highest-grossing-girl-group-tours-of-all-time/
  5. https://www.discogs.com/master/51821-TLC-Fanmail
  6. https://www.nme.com/features/tlc-crazysexycool-landmark-album-25-2574616
  7. https://www.biography.com/musicians/lisa-left-eye-lopes-tlc-car-crash
  8. https://ew.com/article/1999/11/05/unpretty/
  9. https://pitchfork.com/features/article/8827-tlc/
  10. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/09/29/pop-notes/67b90db4-6daa-4796-ba6b-7a493edf25f5/
  11. https://www.nme.com/news/music/tlc-28-1396035
  12. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/tlc-73d68601.html?tour=3d6492f
  13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t37T8L_CpQ
  14. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tlc/1999/civic-arena-pittsburgh-pa-63ffc613.html
  15. https://randbeing.com/1999/11/09/tlc-fan-mail-tour-review/
  16. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tlc/2000/philips-arena-atlanta-ga-1bd619b0.html
  17. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/tlc-73d68601.html?tour=3d6492f
  18. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-10-ca-52508-story.html
  19. https://tlc.fandom.com/wiki/FanMail
  20. https://news.pollstar.com/2000/09/27/tlcs-t-boz-retires-from-touring/
  21. https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/tlc-fanmail-interview-20th-anniversary-dallas-austin-8499567/
  22. https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/1999/10/08/find-out-what-the-guster-hubbub-is-all-about/29614646007/
  23. https://www.angelfire.com/ga/blaque/tour.html
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465634/
  25. https://www.today.com/popculture/devyne-stephens-brings-best-out-top-stars-wbna32489878
  26. https://i-d.co/article/tlc-fashion/
  27. https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/music/article_913136ec-0255-11ee-b0ac-87c46c201c3d.html
  28. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tlc/1999/centre-molson-montreal-qc-canada-13e3b575.html
  29. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tlc/1999/corel-centre-ottawa-on-canada-4bebc3ce.html
  30. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tlc/1999/air-canada-centre-toronto-on-canada-43fc8363.html
  31. https://www.angelfire.com/ca4/illimattic/tour.html
  32. https://guestpectacular.com/artists/tlc/events/tour/fan-mail
  33. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/tlc-73d68601.html?year=1999
  34. https://www.angelfire.com/music/TLCvirtual/updates.html
  35. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/FanMail_Tour
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.