Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour is an engaging oral history that captures the 1990s alternative rock scene through the lens of the groundbreaking music festival, Lollapalooza. Conceived by Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction as a farewell tour for his band in 1991, the festival evolved into a cultural phenomenon, introducing audiences to bands like Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Drawing from over two hundred interviews with artists, promoters, and industry insiders, the authors provide an in-depth look at the festival's inception, its innovative traveling format, and its role in promoting political and cultural advocacy. They also take the reader behind-the-scenes with plenty of hilarious stories of the crazy things that happened on tour.
The book also highlights the challenges faced during the festival's peak and its eventual decline due in part to competition from other events like Lilith Fair and Ozzfest. Another factor of the tour’s decline was a sort of identity crisis in terms of festival lineups. From an indie-oriented Sonic Youth in 1995, Metallica was selected in ‘96 before organizers pivoted Lollapalooza towards its conventional alternative roots in ‘97 (plus the inclusion of Snoop Dogg).
Overall, Lollapalooza offers a comprehensive and entertaining account of the festival's impact on alternative rock and its lasting influence on the music industry. It's a must-read for fans of '90s music and those interested in the evolution of live music festivals.
MY RATING: 5
