Forty Licks was billed as the band's 40th anniversary tour

The 116-venue tour grossed nearly $300m, playing to more than 3.4 million people, Billboard magazine said.

It ranks behind only the Stones' marathon Voodoo Lounge stadium tour, which grossed $320m in 1994-95.

Billed as the band's 40th-anniversary tour, Forty Licks began on 3 September, 2002, in Boston, and ended on 2 October 2003 in Zurich.

The band played a variety of stadiums, arenas and theatres and filled venues to 99% capacity over the dates.

They played in the United States, Australia and the Far East before going to Europe in June.

But there were a series of on-tour troubles for the band.

Frontman Mick Jagger had to postpone the opening UK show at Twickenham rugby stadium because of flu.

Other problems faced by the group included postponing a concert in Amsterdam because Jagger had a sore throat.

Previous concerts were cancelled due to the Sars epidemic in Asia, safety fears in Belgrade and problems with their flights.

Earlier in the tour they cancelled a concert in Spain after Jagger came down with laryngitis.