If you want to see how much music has changed in the last 30 years, just look at the 2022 Lollapalooza poster
When Lollapalooza went on the road for the first time in 1991, it was envisioned as a caravan of weirdos and outliers, something genuinely alternative to what was happening in rock at the time. That first roadtrip, a Jane’s Addiction farewell tour cloaked as a traveling music festival, featured the Butthole Surfers, Rollins Band, Nine Inch Nails, Ice-T and Bodycount, and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
It was a stuttering start as far as attendance went, but by the following year, nothing was bigger than Lollapalooza. The 1992 edition is the stuff of legend. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Minister. Pearl Jam AND Soundgarden. Ice Cube. Jesus and March Chain. Lush. But there was a second stage with names that would later become superstars. Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Cypress Hill, House of Pain, and Stone Temple Pilots all made appearances at some point on that tour.
And that’s how things were for the next few years. Performers include Alice in Chains, more Rage, more Tool, The Verve, Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, George Clinton, Nick Gave, Green Day, Sonic Youth, Hole, Beck–you get the idea. Hardcore alternative types even tolerated the inclusion of Metallica in 1996, a year that also included the Ramones, Soundgarden (for a third time), and Rage (again for the third time on selected dates).
At the same time, that ’96 tour came as the alternative bubble of 90s burst. The 1997 festival wasn’t anywhere near as popular or as exciting as the last bunch. Lollapalooza had to go away until 2003 so it could recharge. Even then the 2004 excursion was canceled because of poor ticket sales. But then Lollapalooza found a second (third?) life in Chicago in 2005 (not to mention international events in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Berlin, and Paris).
Over the last 15 years, the lineup has evolved from its nearly 100% alternative roots to something that leans towards hip-hop and pop. Take a look at the 2022 poster.
Yes, Metallica and Green Day are back. Founders Jane’s Addiction will make a special appearance. Royal Blood gets a slot as do Dominic Fike, King Princess, Maneskin, Dashboard Confessional, and Wet Leg. And I guess Machine Gun Kelly is rock now. But the number of rock/alternative acts is in the minority.
The weirdest booking? It could be Meute, a German “techno marching band.” Or maybe it’s David Soloman, the CEO of investment bank Goldman Sachs. He’s going to perform a DJ set.
I’m not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing. It’s just an indication that the public’s taste in music is always changing.
