If you are into music history, especially 90’s music history, then this is the book for you. This is such an important festival for the big name brand festivals. I have talked to some members of bands who commented in this book and played the festival, and they all say how important of an event it was for them.

This book captures a time in history that we can never get back that we all wish we could.

As a fan of 80s rock, metal and progressive, alternative..., growing up in a family of musicians and experiencing the 80s ascension of so many bands in this decade I couldn't pass reading about this iconic festival (origin until the present day) through the testimony of more than 50 musicians and people related to the bands who give more authenticity to the stories, not only with their life experiences, but also their luck in having such an industry and fans supporting their passion when sometimes creativity was too hand and hand with drug and alcohol abuse. Still, the American way is always revolutionary at the core, fighting and sticking to what they think to be the right cause to fight for, even if their weapon is music. This iconic mobile festival, presently established in Chicago, has fathered others, becoming the model for so many important ones like the Ozy Fest and helping so many bands grow. It's a phenomenon worth reading from the testimony of those who loved it.
Easy to read and interesting.

Wow, wow, wow. If you're a music fan, this book is for you. This traces the history of Lollapalooza from inception in 1991 to the reboot in 2003. Full of interviews with the people that were there - bands, agents, managers and promoters. Endlessly fascinating. Lots of heroin, lots of big egos, lots of onstage and backstage antics. What a fun read! Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock have done it again.

I would like to thank Net Galley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This was a well written, well researched book about the origins of the Lollapalooza music festival. The author has spoken to all of the major players in this festival, and has amassed a wealth of inside information. It is interesting and in depth. I appreciated reading this book.

While it was fascinating to get an inside look at the influential music festival, and I truly wanted to enjoy this more, the interview-quote format didn’t quite offer the most engaging reading experience for me personally. The structure, while unique, didn’t fully capture my interest in the way I had hoped. However, I can see how this format might resonate with other readers who enjoy a more conversational or fragmented storytelling style.

Some background:

I was so excited for this book and even included it as one of my most anticipated reads for 2025. My best friend and my sister both attended in 2023 but I was in grad school and couldn’t go and was sooo disappointed. One day I would love to attend. I also love alternative rock and have read many memoirs, bios etc. of the artists mentioned like Anthony Kiedis, Dave Grohl, Ozzy, Patty Schemel and so on.

My thoughts in brief:

I was going to give the book 3 stars then settled on 3.5-4 since the time and effort that went into the book is evident. It is amazing that they were able to interview so many people. Although, the formatting of the book and the content itself fell a bit flat for me. Some factors that I think might’ve contributed to this are that

1. I was not conscious 1991-1997
2. I have read a lot of historical recounts which include academic footnotes etc that follow strict stylistic choices.

The Books Basics:
• Chronological
• This is the story of Lollapalooza and the 1990s alternative-rock revolution.
• THEY BROUGHT BACK FUNNY CHAPTER NAMES. Most books now just name chapters by number so I loved this.

There is an excellent “Cast of Characters” which is approx. 13 pages of the people who are referenced and included as the oral history aspect throughout the book. They range from artists to tour managers and reporters. I do wish the cast of characters was alphabetical since I often found myself wondering “oh, is this person in the book” then I had to flip around to try to find them.

Chapter 1 threw me for a loop. It was not what I was expecting since it is formatted like a script with each person’s name and job followed by what they said about Lollapalooza. It took me a bit to get used to the writing since reading the person’s name disrupted the flow of reading and the sentences often didn’t match up with the previous chunk of text. I wish I could include a screenshot as an example.

Perhaps footnotes or writing more similar to Eminem’s “The Way I Am” would’ve been better suited to this book since the authors could’ve added images and side text to reference speakers and exact moments in time.

The book follows the same format for most of the book. A chapter will begin with the year of Lollapalooza (91-97), the dates, the main acts, and a few pages about the particular year of the festival. Then a few chapters will follow of interviews spliced together. I found the book ended rather abruptly with an epilogue and then immediately after a jump to a new chapter 1 on the festival’s revival in 2003. I would’ve liked more of a wrap up about the impact and comeback and more cohesive ending.

If you are a fan of 90s alternative music, then give this book a try. Or if you’ve been to Lollapalooza, you may get a kick out of the throwbacks. Otherwise, I’d stick to artist books and articles.

Despite my not so great experience reading the book I did learn some cool things (like why its called Lollapalooza) and will most likely read other books by the authors as long as they do not follow the same format that reads like a script.

Thank you to the author/publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

As a person that loves going to concerts and festivals, I was super intrigued to read this one! I have never been to Lollapalooza but as a local it was one that sounded interesting to hear the history on such an iconic event. I liked the format of a quick summary and then diving into what those in the scene had to say about what they experienced, etc. I would love to read more books by this author or similar books to what this one did for other festivals.

Lollapalooza : The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

I am going to come clean here… I honestly thought I went to at least five Lollapaloozas. I went to a total of two. Funny what time does to one’s memory. In Denver there was a couple of radio festivals that coincided with my timeline I suppose which messed with my memory. So, going into the book I was excited to relive some memories. Which I did, but I think that they were some other festivals that I felt were Lollapalooza but were not… which made this book even more entertaining.
Another entertaining element? I am also going to come clean here… the recollections of the behind-the-scenes team (ie: Stuart Ross). I am thrilled to say that this is not a book of the leader of Jane’s Addiction’s recall (like the documentary was) but really the nuts-and-bolts people that made it happen.
Each section of the book fills the reader in on who played, where the festival happened and the juicy behind the scenes of each tour/instance.
I think that because we had Lollapalooza we have an alternative movement that is viable and continues to exist as it does.
The artists are well represented across all tours and it’s great to read their take on the tour. Some funny, some sad and some takes were just so interesting it made me realize how boring touring can truly be. Light at the end of the day for this though was that the artist was represented, which sometimes in other non-fiction isn’t as prevalent. There are slight nuggets of gossip peppered in, and they are worth having them take your breath away when they do come up. The book is not full of that though. So do not expect that. They are little treats and rewards.
Sure, I would have liked to have read more from the artists that I loved on these tours, but it is apparent why they didn’t contribute as much in the edit as others. I get that. It didn’t take away from anything, believe me.
As a customer, as an attendee and as someone who went to the tours it was a great book, and I really enjoyed reading this nugget of history that otherwise I didn’t know or would have known.
Who is this book for though? Anyone who went to Lollapalooza before it landed in Grant Park as a two-day festival I think, anyone that remembers the touring version of the show. Reading about the trials, tribulations and triumphs of how the tour came to be and where it has landed was a joy.

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.