Lollaplaooza 2004: R.I.P. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 06-22-2004, 04:39 PM

Lollaplaooza 2004: R.I.P.

By Josh Grossberg
E! Online

Let's just call it Lollapa-loser.

Not even a stellar lineup--Morrissey, the Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, the String Cheese Incident, Wilco and a reunited Pixies--couldn't save this summer's Lollapalooza festival, which has been deep-sixed due to poor ticket sales just three weeks before its launch.

Organizers made the announcement on the fest's official Website, lollapalooza.com, blaming "competitive ticket prices" and a weak summer touring season as the reasons for the cancellation.

"I'm in utter disbelief that a concert of this stature, with the most exciting lineup I've seen in years did not galvanize ticket sales," tour cofounder Marc Geiger says in a statement.

Taking the bad news especially hard was Lollapalooza cofounder Perry Farrell, whose band, Jane's Addiction, headlined the inaugural fest back in 1991 as well as last year's edition, which revived the traveling carnival after a five-year layoff.

"My heart aches along with the bands and all of our employees, whose hard work developed one of the most exciting and important tours that this nation was to see. My heart is broken," says Farrell.

The 31-date, 16-city trek was supposed to kick off July 14 at White River amphitheater in Auburn, Washington.

Organizers had intended this year's outing to be the most ambitious yet--a two-day jamboree with an eclectic rotating roster that would have seen the likes of PJ Harvey, the Polyphonic Spree, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Modest Mouse, Danger Mouse, Le Tigre and Elbow at various venues, along with the requisite body-art booths, ethnic food stands and progressive political stumping (this year's second stage was supposed to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells).

Fans who've already bought tickets will be issued refunds.

Geiger says the demise of Gen-X's signature touring festival can be chalked up to soft sales across the board, even though promoters tried to make Lollapalooza affordable by offering reserved seating at $49.50 per day, lawn tickets at $29.50 per day and a special two-day lawn package at $50. Those prices are a relative steal in today's concert market, where acts like Madonna, the Rolling Stones and the Eagles, routinely charge hundreds of dollars for stand-alone gigs.

"I'm surprised that given the great bands and the reduced ticket prices that we didn't have enough sales to sustain the tour," says Geiger. "Concert promoters across the country are facing similar problems. Many summer tours are experiencing weak ticket sales."

That's a far cry from Lollapalooza's glorious grungy days, when the road show's main stage played host to such bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Beck, Nirvana, Sinead O'Connor, Metallica, Snoop Dogg, the Smashing Pumpkins and the Beastie Boys, making it the hot ticket of summer.

But with poor sales plaguing last year's installment and now scuttling this year's, we may have seen the last of Lollapalooza.

AKA · 06-22-2004, 04:43 PM

You can imagine the dismay I share at this moment with the artists and musicians who were looking forward to the tour. Lollapalooza could no longer see fit to continue this year. Our plight is a true indication of the general health of the touring industry and it is across musical genres. Unexhausted is our virtue. We are taking Lollapalooza back and plan on rebuilding and recreating the festival in surroundings more conducive to the cultural experience we've become known for.
- Perry Farrell

Dean Winchester · 06-22-2004, 05:08 PM

blame it on MTV, radio and the fact that many (not all) of today's teens prefer cookie-cutter predictable crap, compared to what teens liked in the 90's.

Don't forget to blame Canada too, lol

ABlairican Pie · 06-23-2004, 01:29 AM

The tour was supposed to start just a few miles literally up the street from me. I can't believe it.

Jessica Simpson tickets are still available for her show at WRA.

AKA · 06-24-2004, 04:25 PM

Lollapalooza Bands Reshuffle Summer Plans

By Jason MacNeil
Billboard

With Lollapalooza cancelled, several bands originally confirmed for the bill have begun either rescheduling their summer itineraries or heading for the studio.

Morrissey's summer plans for North America are unknown beyond a previously announced July 17 show in Chicago as part of American Express' Blue Jam Sessions. Sonic Youth is setting up a headlining tour, which, according to its official Web site, will kick off July 13 in Vancouver and head east, visiting both American and Canadian cities.

String Cheese Incident, which was to headline Lollapalooza's second day lineup, is also setting up new North American dates. "We are big supporters of the vision of Lollapalooza and we were looking forward to collaborating with so many great musical acts," SCI bassist Keith Moseley says.

The Flaming Lips will spend the summer working on their new album as well as a movie. "With the cancellation of Lollapalooza 2004, we are reminded once again of the risk and uncertainty that accompanies any venture that is purposefully not mainstream," lead singer Wayne Coyne said on the band's official Web site. "Perhaps in a less concert heavy summer this collection of unconventional entertainers may have at least aroused some curiosity, but sometimes being different comes at a price."

According to its official Web site, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were scheduled to tour with the Von Bondies during days off from Lollapalooza, but because BRMC does "not have a record company at the moment, limited funds means the band cannot tour independently." Instead, it is believed the band will begin work on the follow-up to 2003's "Take Them On, On Your Own," its final set for Virgin.

Modest Mouse has scheduled brief series of shows beginning July 16 in Chico, Calif. Gomez has yet to announce any new North American dates, nor has the Polyphonic Spree, according to their respective official Web sites.

Other bands currently in limbo include Broken Social Scene and the Walkmen. The former is expected to begin work on its next studio album, which should be out by next spring.

Yesterday, tour co-founder Perry Farrell posted a message to artists on the festival's official Web site. "Please know that I value your talents and look forward to meeting you again -- a little later on to re-discover ourselves as friends," he said. "If it makes you feel any better, I am in the same boat as most of you; 'Only loaded with talent.' But with talent like ours, they can't hold us down for long."

Farrell also cryptically added that the festival might be resurrected for one or two shows: "I am still looking for a shining moment or two for us this summer. I hope you will receive me when I call."

06-22-2004, 04:39 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Lollaplaooza 2004: R.I.P. Lollaplaooza 2004: R.I.P. By Josh Grossberg E! Online Let's just call it Lollapa-loser. Not even a stellar lineup--Morrissey, the Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, the String Cheese Incident, Wilco and a reunited Pixies--couldn't save this summer's Lollapalooza festival, which has been deep-sixed due to poor ticket sales just three weeks before its launch. Organizers made the announcement on the fest's official Website, lollapalooza.com, blaming "competitive ticket prices" and a weak summer touring season as the reasons for the cancellation. "I'm in utter disbelief that a concert of this stature, with the most exciting lineup I've seen in years did not galvanize ticket sales," tour cofounder Marc Geiger says in a statement. Taking the bad news especially hard was Lollapalooza cofounder Perry Farrell, whose band, Jane's Addiction, headlined the inaugural fest back in 1991 as well as last year's edition, which revived the traveling carnival after a five-year layoff. "My heart aches along with the bands and all of our employees, whose hard work developed one of the most exciting and important tours that this nation was to see. My heart is broken," says Farrell. The 31-date, 16-city trek was supposed to kick off July 14 at White River amphitheater in Auburn, Washington. Organizers had intended this year's outing to be the most ambitious yet--a two-day jamboree with an eclectic rotating roster that would have seen the likes of PJ Harvey, the Polyphonic Spree, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Modest Mouse, Danger Mouse, Le Tigre and Elbow at various venues, along with the requisite body-art booths, ethnic food stands and progressive political stumping (this year's second stage was supposed to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells). Fans who've already bought tickets will be issued refunds. Geiger says the demise of Gen-X's signature touring festival can be chalked up to soft sales across the board, even though promoters tried to make Lollapalooza affordable by offering reserved seating at $49.50 per day, lawn tickets at $29.50 per day and a special two-day lawn package at $50. Those prices are a relative steal in today's concert market, where acts like Madonna, the Rolling Stones and the Eagles, routinely charge hundreds of dollars for stand-alone gigs. "I'm surprised that given the great bands and the reduced ticket prices that we didn't have enough sales to sustain the tour," says Geiger. "Concert promoters across the country are facing similar problems. Many summer tours are experiencing weak ticket sales." That's a far cry from Lollapalooza's glorious grungy days, when the road show's main stage played host to such bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Beck, Nirvana, Sinead O'Connor, Metallica, Snoop Dogg, the Smashing Pumpkins and the Beastie Boys, making it the hot ticket of summer. But with poor sales plaguing last year's installment and now scuttling this year's, we may have seen the last of Lollapalooza.

06-23-2004, 01:29 AM	#4
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	The tour was supposed to start just a few miles literally up the street from me. I can't believe it. Jessica Simpson tickets are still available for her show at WRA.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

06-22-2004, 04:43 PM	#2
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	You can imagine the dismay I share at this moment with the artists and musicians who were looking forward to the tour. Lollapalooza could no longer see fit to continue this year. Our plight is a true indication of the general health of the touring industry and it is across musical genres. Unexhausted is our virtue. We are taking Lollapalooza back and plan on rebuilding and recreating the festival in surroundings more conducive to the cultural experience we've become known for. - Perry Farrell

06-22-2004, 05:08 PM	#3
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	blame it on MTV, radio and the fact that many (not all) of today's teens prefer cookie-cutter predictable crap, compared to what teens liked in the 90's. Don't forget to blame Canada too, lol

06-24-2004, 04:25 PM	#5
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Lollapalooza Bands Reshuffle Summer Plans By Jason MacNeil Billboard With Lollapalooza cancelled, several bands originally confirmed for the bill have begun either rescheduling their summer itineraries or heading for the studio. Morrissey's summer plans for North America are unknown beyond a previously announced July 17 show in Chicago as part of American Express' Blue Jam Sessions. Sonic Youth is setting up a headlining tour, which, according to its official Web site, will kick off July 13 in Vancouver and head east, visiting both American and Canadian cities. String Cheese Incident, which was to headline Lollapalooza's second day lineup, is also setting up new North American dates. "We are big supporters of the vision of Lollapalooza and we were looking forward to collaborating with so many great musical acts," SCI bassist Keith Moseley says. The Flaming Lips will spend the summer working on their new album as well as a movie. "With the cancellation of Lollapalooza 2004, we are reminded once again of the risk and uncertainty that accompanies any venture that is purposefully not mainstream," lead singer Wayne Coyne said on the band's official Web site. "Perhaps in a less concert heavy summer this collection of unconventional entertainers may have at least aroused some curiosity, but sometimes being different comes at a price." According to its official Web site, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were scheduled to tour with the Von Bondies during days off from Lollapalooza, but because BRMC does "not have a record company at the moment, limited funds means the band cannot tour independently." Instead, it is believed the band will begin work on the follow-up to 2003's "Take Them On, On Your Own," its final set for Virgin. Modest Mouse has scheduled brief series of shows beginning July 16 in Chico, Calif. Gomez has yet to announce any new North American dates, nor has the Polyphonic Spree, according to their respective official Web sites. Other bands currently in limbo include Broken Social Scene and the Walkmen. The former is expected to begin work on its next studio album, which should be out by next spring. Yesterday, tour co-founder Perry Farrell posted a message to artists on the festival's official Web site. "Please know that I value your talents and look forward to meeting you again -- a little later on to re-discover ourselves as friends," he said. "If it makes you feel any better, I am in the same boat as most of you; 'Only loaded with talent.' But with talent like ours, they can't hold us down for long." Farrell also cryptically added that the festival might be resurrected for one or two shows: "I am still looking for a shining moment or two for us this summer. I hope you will receive me when I call."