Arizona Threw Ultimate Party: The Birth of Lollapalooza in ’91

Think of the biggest music festivals that have ever existed: Coachella, Bonnaroo, Vans Warped Tour. All have made their marks on music history. And we can't forget about Lollapalooza. Since 1991, it has been one of the biggest music festivals in the United States & the world. While we know Lollapalooza is held at Grant Park in Chicago, if it wasn't for Tempe, Arizona & Dallas, Texas, Lollapalooza wouldn't be the same today.

What is Lollapalooza & where did it start?

It started off originally as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction; the 20 city tour was the brain child of front man Perry Farrell. July 18, 1991 was the official start of Lollapalooza; in Tempe, Arizona. If you remembered the lineup, you remembered a huge stacked lineup: Living Colour, Nine Inch Nails, Ice-T, the Butthole Surfers, Henry Rollins...

and of course: Jane's Addiction.

Texas was also on that very first Lollapalooza tour

It was near the end of the tour but August 22nd & 23rd at the Starplex Ampitheater in Dallas, Texas marked the 2 dates on the historic first Lollapalooza tour in 1991.

To say the tour was chaotic is an understatement. Just go back & watch the interview clips from 1991 & you can tell the biggest thing the artists had to deal with was the unforgiving heat.

Did Lollapalooza come back to Arizona & Texas after 1991?

Oh yes; MANY times. Before it moved to Grant Park in Chicago, both states remained frequent stops between 1991 to 1997. Including Phoenix, Arizona & Houston, Texas.

And of course you'd see artists from both states represent in future Lollapaloozas like Mesa, Arizona's Jimmy Eat World in 2017,

And Khalid from El Paso, Texas in 2018.

Regardless on where Lollapalooza goes every year, one thing is for certain: if it wasn't for Arizona or Texas being part of that very first run in 1991, Lollapalooza would certainly be very different.

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