Festivals aren't what they used to be. Before the days of social media and Instagram influencers, the things that went on in the musical fields were debauched and deranged. Nobody cared how they looked, and the insanity that unfolded on stage would have most modern bands locked up.
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In a new book titled, Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival, hundreds of interviews from the touring festival reveal just how wild things got out there. The shows saw weird, wild, and wonderful acts. How the thing didn't completely derail is a work of magic.
Looking back, many of the interviewees marvel at what went on. Nothing was out of the question and everything was permitted, provided it made for a good show. According to the newly released Lollapalooza memoir, one act even liked to fire a shotgun into the crowd.
Through 20 Lollapalooza tour dates, the shows got wild. The lead singer of the Butthole Surfers loved a bit of showmanship. According to the book, he broke Jack Daniel's bottles over his head and even fired blanks from a shotgun at the audience.
Of course, there was no real danger to the music lovers. But, they didn't know that. With how drug-addled the audience and acts were, you never could be too sure.
Lollapalooza Lunacy
The book delves into some of the madness that went on on the various dates of Lollapalooza. The bands were young men mostly, with the world at their fingertips. Groups such as Tool, Nine Inch Nails, and even Ice-T, played the various events.
It was no small feat keeping the festival running either. Besides the shotgun blanks came the various other issues that go with trying to get a bunch of wasted acts on stage. Even having them sober enough to perform was the first hurdle. Actually having them use stage theatrics was considered a total success.
The first Lollapalooza toured in 1991 and featured a lot of acts that became huge names in alternative music. By 1992, Nivarna had become mainstream, and Lollapalooza 2 was on and promised to be bigger than ever.
For six years, Perry Farrell managed to host one of the most legendary US music festivals.
