Catalogued by Richard Bienstock, a journalist who has written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, andSpin, along with Tom Beaujour, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Revolver, this book is a no-holes-barred oral history of the Lollapalooza pioneering shows which ran 1991-1997.
Lollapalooza, originally founded by Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction in 1991, was designed to be a touring festival that showcased alternative, rock, and punk bands during a time when those types of music were mainstreaming. Throughout its pioneering years, the festival hosted legendary bands and artists, becoming a cornerstone of music culture. In the process, it led to alternative rock’s rise, causing reverberations across the music industry.
The arc of this book is created through the telling of those who lived it – the musicians, tour founders, festival organizers, promoters, reporters, and stage crews, among others. Quotes from interviews held with members of Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, Ice-T, Rage Against the Machine, Green Day, and Metallica are the stars of the book. However, quotes from other principles of the festival, press release and news article segments add layering and serve their purpose well.
This reading presents a view not commonly known of Lollapalooza. It’s interesting for those who love the festival, the bands who played at the festival, and/or fans of alternative music. But it’s equally interesting for those who are interested in music scenes in general. The only negative may be the presentation of the content – it may seem somewhat disorganized to the reader.
