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Mar 25, 2025 By Hays Davis

There had never been anything like it. Though the idea of Lollapolooza began as a grand farewell tour for the soon-to-disband (at least temporarily) Jane’s Addiction in 1991, by summer’s end it became clear that Lollapalooza was an alt-rock juggernaut built to sail further. And as it pioneered the concept and practical considerations of a touring rock festival, Lollapalooza would be instrumental in bringing alternative rock fully into the mainstream.

In their highly entertaining book, Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour present an oral history of the event in Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival. There was cause for celebration among fans of non-mainstream music when a tour was announced for the summer of 1991 with a bill that included Jane’s Addiction, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nine Inch Nails, rapper Ice-T and his metal band Body Count, and more. With that tour wrapping up just before Nirvana’s Nevermind album exploded that fall, Lollapallooza’s timing was not only perfect; with hindsight, it was seemingly prescient in regards to alternative rock’s oncoming ascendance.

The Uncensored Story provides year-by-year recollections from the organizers and performers including members of Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, and many more. As the title claims, it is indeed a freely uncensored picture of Lollapalooza’s early years and what happened when a bunch of bands hit the road together with plenty of free time on their hands. Along with details of behind-the scenes wrangling over artist selection (as well as Nirvana’s absence from the tour), rockers and rappers find common ground, a few volatile figures tend to tilt the equilibrium, Patti Smith discusses her unexpected appearance, and the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow makes summer stars of The Torture King and The Amazing Mr. Lifto.

(https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250283702/lollapalooza/)

Author rating: 8/10