What a fabulous, addictive read. I've been reading fervently about this festival and many of these artists for most of. life, and I still learned so much from this book. I can't wait to hear what my friends think about it.

Lollapalooza by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour is a vibrant, uncensored chronicle of one of the most iconic music festivals in history. Told through the words of the organizers, artists, and staff who brought it to life, the book captures the chaotic, exhilarating spirit of Lollapalooza during its transformative early years. From its debut in 1991 to its seven-year run as a defining force in “alternative” culture, this history is as wild and eclectic as the festival it chronicles.

At the center of the narrative is Perry Farrell, the mercurial visionary who conceived Lollapalooza. His bold, sometimes contentious decisions—like curating diverse lineups blending indie rock, hip-hop, and experimental acts—shaped the festival’s identity. The book doesn’t shy away from Farrell’s polarizing tendencies or the backstage conflicts that arose. These anecdotes, from fierce debates over which bands should (or shouldn’t) play to fiery artist clashes, make for a gripping and often hilarious read. I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t want Pearl Jam, Green Day, and Stone Temple Pilots on his stage, but he also lost some of those battles.

For those who lived through the era, Lollapalooza serves as a time machine back to the early 1990s, a pivotal period when “alternative music” emerged as a commercial force. The book effectively blends tales from artists like Henry Rollins, Living Color, Nine Inch Nails, and Ice-T (all from year one) with show staff who often have anecdotes to challenge or augment what the artist recalls. Through this mosaic of voices, the book goes over into the festival’s cultural impact, including its role in normalizing indie music and its connection to social movements. Farrell’s insistence on including activist groups on-site added another layer of significance, ensuring the festival wasn’t just about music but also about progressive change.

The authors really excel in presenting a richly detailed oral history, balancing the share of voice between superstar performers and the regular crew. The raw, behind-the-scenes stories—from Sinead O’Connor’s discontent to the pathetic whininess of Korn to the Jesus and Mary Chain’s palpable disdain for the tour—are complemented by laugh-out-loud tales of backstage antics. The tensions and triumphs, the highs and lows, all paint a vivid picture of a “traveling circus” that had a huge cultural impact on rock music in the US.

For fans of the 1980s-1990s independent music scene, Lollapalooza is an essential read. It captures the era’s spirit with insider revelations and a touch of nostalgia, making it irresistible for Gen Xers who still hold onto their “cool” cred. Whether you’re reliving your memories or discovering the festival’s legacy for the first time, this book is a compulsive, joyous ride through the messy, magical world of Lollapalooza.

An informative and fascinating study of the origins of Lollapalooza and the bands that played it. Although not initially my genre of music, it induced me to investigate some of the bands that played the festival. It's given me more good music to play. Worthy study of the festival.

Mark my words. This oral history will go down in the rock music book canon as one of the best of all time.

Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour - co-writers of the wildly successful book
"Nöthin' but a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion" have outdone themselves with the history of Lollapalooza. The two authors, who both are plugged into the music scene, spent four years compiling personal interviews - whether it's a surprisingly lucid Perry Farrell or members of freak show acts from the second stage.

Perry Farrell created the travelling Lollapalooza Festival in 1991 as a farewell tour for his band Jane's Addiction. He wanted a diverse set of bands encompassing rap to industrial music to open. At this time, the few musical festivals which existed were stationary and mostly located in Europe.

Perry and his leadership team successfully pulled off a travelling tour in 1991 throughout the United States. Every year, it got bigger - whether it was name quality of bands, inclusion of an additional stage for avant-garde acts and booths dedicated to local art, freedom of speech, and the early days of technology.

This oral history takes the reader on a rollicking ride from when the tour started on a wing and a prayer in 1991 to becoming a cultural phenomenon, and eventually a victim of its own success.

The stories these musicians and everyone else behind the scenes shared are absolutely wild - backstage rock excess to the Nth power, live shows that went totally off the rails in the name of art, and tremendous gossip.

Now if you will, let me act as though I'm a hype man like for the rap acts at the festival.

If you are a music-loving Gen Xer or grey-haired millennial who even vaguely remembers Lollapalooza, buy this book when it's released in 2025. If you know someone who fits the mold, this would be an amazing gift. If you are the intended audience, but don't like reading, buy the audio version. If your attention span is wrecked to the point of not being able to listen to the audio version - then still, buy it anyway and play it at 2 or 3 time speed.

This is the 80th book I've read in 2024 - and the only music book that even compares this year was an old copy of Mark Yarm's Oral History of Grunge.

Needless to say 5 stars. I would like to thank St. Martin's Press for providing me with an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to rock out to some Fishbone on Spotify.

This was a super interesting history of Lollapalooza. I definitely would purchase the physical book, it would make a great gift for any music lover!

This book definitely took me back in time to my carefree teen years! Lollapalooza was the first of its kind, a festival music tour that has been duplicated by all genres since. It really was the feeling of summer, buying CHEAP tickets with all your friends and traveling to the biggest outdoor space in your state to see an all day show of some of the greatest alternative acts at that time. I loved hearing about all the backstage shenanigans and design about what it took to put on a show of this magnitude. I wasn’t old enough to go to the first couple of tours, and this made me regret that even more. Quite the timing for reading this now, as we’re watching the news reports of Jane’s Addiction in their current tour fallout. A huge shame, with Perry’s never ending creativity and the musical talent of the whole band.

Thanks so much to Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour, St Martin’s Press for the advance copy. Will be picking up a hard a hard copy of this release for my shelves.

Fun and interesting! I love oral histories and this is one of the better ones. The author also wrote “Nothin’ But A Good Time”, which I loved, so my expectations were high and I wasn’t disappointed.

All of the people interviewed for this had such a great personal take on the Lolla experience and it really rounded out all the stuff I thought I knew. You finish this and you feel like you know the history and the story in its entirety.

I highly highly highly recommend this one, and I can’t wait to see what the author does next.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Good overview of Lollapalooza and the history of the festival. Was interesting finishing it up during the Jane's Addiction drama and reading about the drama before.

A fascinating look into the creation of an iconic music festival with unexpected origins and eternal influence. The ability to piece together bites of several interviews with several people to tell a single story and keep it easy to follow and interesting is an extremely impressive feat. Definitely a good research source for music writers like me.

7/10

I probably liked this book more than the normal person because I worked in the music business during the early days of Lollapalooza and knew a few people involved.

With so many mega-tours and festivals happening in the world these days, it’s hard to remember how important Lollapalooza was. It changed the game. It changed the thinking about what a musical tour could be.

I’m not sure Coachella would be what it is without Lollapalooza setting the stage.

In the early days of Jane’s Addiction I just thought Perry was a drug addled wacko. I have a lot more respect for him having read this book.

If you’re a music fan and if you grew up in the days of Lollapalooza, this is a great book that tells the story straight from the people who were there.

#netgalley #lollapalooza

As the founder of Rock 'n' Roll Highway, I've always been drawn to the origin stories of iconic music moments, and Lollapalooza’s beginnings are as legendary as they come. In Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival, Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour take us right to the heart of how this groundbreaking festival came to life, offering a narrative that feels as if you're sitting at a round table with the very people who made it happen.

The book opens with how Perry Farrell, the frontman of Jane’s Addiction, envisioned Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for his band. This traveling festival would bring together the best of alternative music, performance art, and counterculture. What started as a wild idea soon became a cultural phenomenon, capturing the spirit of a generation hungry for something different, something raw and honest.

Bienstock and Beaujour do an incredible job of recreating that initial spark of inspiration. Through interviews with key players—musicians, promoters, and insiders—the book offers a round table feel, where each voice adds depth and dimension to the story. It’s as if you’re listening to the brainstorming sessions, the late-night conversations, and the debates that shaped the festival’s identity.

The authors skillfully weave these perspectives together, creating a tapestry of stories that not only chronicles the logistics of organizing such an ambitious event but also captures the chaotic energy and excitement of those early days. The round-table approach makes the narrative feel intimate and immediate as if you’re getting the inside scoop from the people who lived it.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is how it delves into the challenges and triumphs of pulling off the first Lollapalooza in 1991. The festival was a gamble—a risky, bold, and ultimately game-changing experiment that defied conventional wisdom about what a music festival could be. The book captures the tension, the creativity, and the sheer willpower it took to bring Lollapalooza to life, offering readers a front-row seat to the birth of a cultural icon.

As someone deeply invested in documenting and preserving music history, I found this book to be a treasure trove of insights. It tells the story of Lollapalooza’s beginnings and honors the collaborative spirit that made it possible. The round table format allows for a rich, multi-faceted exploration of the festival’s impact, making it clear that Lollapalooza was more than just a concert series—it was a revolution.

For anyone interested in the history of alternative rock, festival culture, or the behind-the-scenes stories that shape music history, Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival is an essential read. It captures the essence of a moment in time when music, art, and rebellion came together to create something truly unforgettable.