A new oral history of Lollapalooza recalls the alt-rock music festival's wildest days

The Impact of Lollapalooza on Music Culture

Lollapalooza, founded in the early 1990s by Perry Farrell, played a pivotal role in reshaping the American music scene by promoting a diverse lineup of artists and genres. The festival emerged from the chaos of its inaugural tour, marked by on-stage brawls and technical mishaps, yet it solidified itself as a cultural phenomenon, coinciding with the mainstream success of alternative rock following the release of Nirvana's 'Nevermind.' One of its defining features was the inclusion of eclectic acts, such as Ice-T and Nine Inch Nails, which challenged the norms of music festivals at the time by blurring genre boundaries. This celebration of diversity in music and thought was central to Farrell's vision, as he sought to create an environment where contrasting ideas could coexist, thereby enriching the festival experience.