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Watch the Fingers, Man
As I remember it, it was a particularly hot Texas day.We were all set to go see the Beasties, Tribe, and Smashing Pumpkins at L... More
Broke, but Still Rocked Out in the Parking Lot
When the show played two nights at the World Music theater in Tinley Park, IL I was pretty broke and couldn't score any tic... More
First, but not last, lollapalooza!
1994 ROCKED! I was 17 and had never been to a concert. My best friend's dad was a small town DJ. He drove the two of us ( h... More
The Day I Got Engaged
Going in to Lollapalooza a single man, I never thought I would be meeting my soulmate. I met Carolina, my wife, at Lollapalooza 1994. I was so entranced with her image and the way she held herself that I did not even know who was playing that day. We met and I instantly knew that this could be the girl I marry. It sounds cliche, but when you love someone as much as I do, you know it is real. I have never really thought that if it weren't for Lollapalooza I wouldn't be the same person that I am today. So I thank you oh so very much. The last time I went to Lollapalooza was the day I met Carolina. I just wish the same luck that I had to my son and all the young men and woman that go to Lollapalooza. It truly is a special place. Hey, who knows, I just might buy my son a ticket next year! Thanks, Dan
Detroit, 100 degrees and the Beastie Boys still turned up the heat more
It was a sweltering day at then Pine Knob Music Center. Laid out on the grass with no shade whatsoever. The entire day was awesome, but when the Beastie Boys hit the stage, the entire place got turned on its head. Fires in the grassy area's, mosh pits from one side of the place to the next, and just an awesome experience. We left so burned we could barely move our legs to make it to the car (bad planning on our part :( ) But it was truly a memorable experience. Got the chance to see the Beasties a few years ago, and had an awesome time again. Their music, and their influence is timeless. The only other real musical experience I can recall was George Clinton. Glad to see Lolla still going strong after all these years. Keep it up Perry, we're still here :)
Performing at Lolla
In 1994, I had just broken up with a very significant boyfriend and I heard through some acquaintances that they were needing some side stage acts. Being a full time entertainer, I hopped on board meeting a group of guys who would be playing doumbeks while I belly danced. The show itself went great. Not only getting to dance at Lollapalooza, but having five drummers accompanying me. Afterwards we were able to roam free throughout the concert with our passes, and sit in the vip section to watch the rest of the bands who of course were awesome. It was definitely a highlight in my concert performing experience. The only image I have in unfortunately in my head, unless someone out there was taking photos.
Mosh Pit Mishap
My first Lollapalooza was in 1994. I recall a tornado of dusty dirt coming from the middle of the so-called lawn seats. "What the fuck is happening over there?" I asked my stoned and drunk friend, J.R. "It's a mosh pit bitch let's go check that shit out!" were his exact words. So there we were, and our mission was to get in the middle and toss some people around. First we had to weave through the stampede without getting trampled on. We made it! We threw people while the Beastie Boys encouraged us with their rowdy set. So then we made our way back out, through the stampede of screamin' fans. Just as we reached the edge, thankful I made it out alive, I looked back to see if J.R. was still behind me. He was pushed from behind and his hand glazed across my cornea, knocking my contact out... The funny thing is I CAUGHT my fucking contact as it slowly fell toward the ground!!! I put it in my mouth to wash the dust and dirt off, put it back in my eye! Kept on rockin! hYellmafugginyeah I did!
Lolapalooza 94...
I was there on that day. I had just graduated high school and moved to Virgina with my brother. We were so excited to go. I was sooo excited to finally see the Beastie Boys in concert. Anyways to make a long story short my brothers friend had a backstage pass so he was bringing us beer, well you can imagine what happened....Next thing you know I wake up and the last band was on and I dont remember a damn thing about the concert. Such as life. I just regret it now cuz that was my only oppt. to see B.B. and I blew it. Now Im back home in Nevada and they never come out here and Lola stays in one spot now. I wish I had a time Machine.....lol.
1994
THE SMASHING PUMPKINS & BEASTIE BOYS HEADLINE ALONE
Grunge rock juggernauts Nirvana were initially scheduled to headline Lollapalooza’s 1994 tour alongside The Smashing Pumpkins and the Beastie Boys, but the band pulled out on April 17th. The following day, frontman Kurt Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle. Using the music and community of the festival to help fans process the tragedy, Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love, made appearances at multiple festival dates, performing songs and speaking to audiences about her late husband.
An early adopter of the hard-hitting genre, hip-hop acts featured prominently at this year’s festivities, providing a counter-balance to alternative and rock acts on the bill. Latino rappers Cypress Hill featured on the side stage, while the seminal hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and Brooklyn’s legendary Beastie Boys both had main stage berths. George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars also featured on the main stage, Lollapalooza’s nod to the trailblazing old schoolers that laid the groundwork for hip-hop.
Keeping it interesting, Lolla activities included virtual reality rides and interactive computer displays, ideas founder Perry Farrell had been trying to incorporate into the festival in previous years. A third stage featured poetry readings and a dance troupe of Tibetan monks. Showing that ladies can rock just as hard as the men, the tour also featured more female artists than previous years, including The Breeders, L7, and Shonen Knife.
Lollapalooza ‘94 holds the record for being the longest tour at 43 dates.
Festival highlight
GREEN DAY GETS KNOCKED OUT
In the midst of turning the music world on its head, Green Day joined Lolla for its second half, also making an appearance at Woodstock ‘94 where bassist Mike Dirnt was injured by a security guard after being mistaken for a fan. Due to the injury, the band was forced to withdraw from Lollapalooza’s Miami date for some emergency dental work.
Culturally Speaking
- Pulp Fiction is nominated for seven Oscars.
- April 5, 1994: Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain dies.
- Nancy Kerrigan attacked by Tonya Harding's henchman.
- Beck's Loser skyrockets up the charts.
- George Foreman's Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine debuts.
- LAPD's slow-speed chase of O.J. Simpson interrupts the 1994 NBA Finals.
- The DVD player is invented.
- Woodstock '94 commemorates the 25th anniversary of the original Festival.
tour stops + dates
- 07/07/1994 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Santa Fe Dam, Henderson, NV
- 07/09/1994 – Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village, CO
- 07/11/1994 – Sandstone Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, KS
- 07/12/1994 – Harriet Island, St. Paul, MN
- 07/14/1994 – Marcus Amphitheater, Milwaukee, WI
- 07/15/1994 – World Music Theater, Tinley Park, IL
- 07/16/1994 – World Music Theater, Tinley Park, IL
- 07/17/1994 – Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO
- 07/19/1994 – Polaris Amphitheater, Columbus, OH
- 07/20/1994 – Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
- 07/22/1994 – Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN
- 07/23/1994 – Pine Knob Amphitheatre, Clarkston, MI
- 07/24/1994 – Pine Knob Amphitheatre, Clarkston, MI
- 07/25/1994 – Pine Knob Amphitheatre, Clarkston, MI
- 07/27/1994 – Le Parc des Iles, Montréal, QC
- 07/28/1994 – Molson Park, Barrie, ON
- 07/29/1994 – Pine Knob Amphitheatre, Clarkston, MI
- 07/30/1994 – Starlake Amphitheater, Burgettstown, PA
- 08/01/1994 – Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park Park, Philadeplhia, PA
- 08/02/1994 – Saratoga Raceway, Saratoga Springs, NY
- 08/03/1994 – Quonset State Airport, North Kingstown, RI
- 08/05/1994 – Downing Stadium at Randall’s Island, New York, NY
- 08/06/1994 – Downing Stadium at Randall’s Island, New York, NY
- 08/08/1994 – Charles Town Races, Charles Town, WV
- 08/10/1994 – Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC
- 08/11/1994 – Blockbuster Pavillion, Charlotte, NC
- 08/12/1994 – Lakewood Amphitheater, Atlanta, GA
- 08/13/1994 – Lakewood Amphitheater, Atlanta, GA
- 08/15/1994 – Bicentennial Park, Miami, FL
- 08/18/1994 – University of New Orleans Soccer Field, New Orleans, LA
- 08/19/1994 – Houston Raceway Park, Houton, TX
- 08/20/1994 – Starplex Amphitheatre, Dallas, TX
- 08/21/1994 – Starplex Amphitheatre, Dallas, TX
- 08/24/1994 – Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ
- 08/25/1994 – San Diego State University Aztec Bowl, San Diego, CA
- 08/27/1994 – Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
- 08/28/1994 – Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
- 08/30/1994 – Cloverdale Raceway, Surrey, BC
- 08/31/1994 – Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA
- 09/01/1994 – Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA
- 09/04/1994 – Velodrome Field, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
- 09/05/1994 – Velodrome Field, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Beastie Boys
- George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars
- The Breeders
- A Tribe Called Quest
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- L7
- The Boredoms
- Green Day
- The Black Crowes
- Blast Off Country Style
- The Boo Radleys
- Charlie Hunter Trio
- Cypress Hill
- The Flaming Lips
- The Frogs
- FU-Schnickens
- Girls Against Boys
- God Lives Underwater
- Guided By Voices
- king kong
- The Last Poets
- Lambchop
- Luscious Jackson
- Palace Songs
- The Pharcyde
- Rollerskate Skinny
- Shonen Knife
- Shudder to Think
- Souls of Mischief
- STEREOLAB
- The Verve
- PAVEMENT
