What Lollapalooza Looked Like in the Early 90’s

The word “lollapalooza” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “one that is extraordinarily impressive.” Keeping this definition in mind, 25 years ago in 1991, Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell first used the word to name his now trademark music festival. Initially meant as a farewell tour for his band, the festival grew into an annual event touring North America with various headliners until 1997. The festival was later revived in 2003, and since 2005, has been held in Chicago’s Grant Park. In 2011, the first international version of Lollapalooza debuted in Santiago, Chile, featuring Kanye West, the Killers, and appropriately, a since-reunited Jane’s Addiction.

In the early 90’s, Lollapalooza looked very different than it does now, although today’s festival still holds some similarities to the original. Influenced by famed concert promotor Bill Graham’s A Gathering of the Tribes in 1990, aside from Jane’s Addiction, the inaugural lineup featured only eleven bands, including Nine Inch Nails and Ice T’s group Body Count. This year’s Lollapalooza boasts over 170 acts throughout the course of four days. About 300,000 people attended the festival last year. What does remain the same: festival attendees enjoying a plethora of acts over a wide array of musical genres.

However, Perry Farrell himself was recently quoted saying: “I hate EDM… I sometimes cringe at my own festival.”