The history of Lollapalooza

Quick insights

• Lollapalooza kicked off in 1991 as a farewell tour by the band Jane’s Addiction but quickly turned into a major summer event for musical artists and fans.
• Set in Chicago, festivalgoers can fully immerse themselves in the music, art and culture of Lollapalooza with different genres like rock and roll, hip-hop, metal and more.
• For the music lovers who want to go all-out and enhance their experience, you can take advantage of credit card rewards programs to capitalize on exclusive benefits.

What started off as a farewell tour, turned into a global musical extravaganza. Lollapalooza completely changed the landscape for festivals and live performances. It has become one of the largest musical festivals in the world, significantly growing in popularity over the last 30 years. Taking place in downtown Chicago, Lollapalooza is an exciting event for both concertgoers and the city itself.

Origins of Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza or “Lolla” – as its affectionately referred to by fans – was originally created in 1991 as a farewell tour by Perry Farrell, leader of the rock band Jane’s Addiction. The first Lollapalooza tour stopped in 20 cities across North America, garnering groundbreaking success and achieving mainstream status. The lineup was diverse and made up of artists such as Jane’s Addiction, Living Colour, Ice-T, Henry Rollins Band and more. After a successful run of back-to-back tours, the festival went on a hiatus after the 1997 edition.

Lollapalooza revival

The rock band Jane’s addiction reunited and revived Lollapalooza in 2003. The revival tour was not a success during the 2003 season and was cancelled in 2004 due to low ticket sales. Farrell took a new course of action and turned Lolla into a “destination festival”. He made Chicago’s Grant Park the permanent location for upcoming concerts. The city of Chicago is apparently on board as it has recently signed a contract with the festival to keep it in the city until 2032.

Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago

With many major cities across the USA, you might be wondering why Farrell decided to make Chicago the stomping ground for Lollapalooza. There are plenty of reasons why Chicago is a prime location for such an epic festival such as the city’s robust transit system, vibrant culture, highly engaged audience and predictability in terms of attendance.

Lolla typically attracts up to 400,000 attendees during a four-day period, with over 160 performances across eight different stages. Taken together, the concert features a diverse range of music with some of the biggest superstars and up-and-coming artists. There’s a music genre for every concertgoer from pop to alternative rock to hip-hop.

International expansion of Lollapalooza

As Lollapalooza started to generate strong interest from music enthusiasts beyond the USA, the festival began to expand outside of North America. In 2011, Lollapalooza expanded its global reach to South America with a two-day festival held in Santiago, Chile. The Lollapalooza Chile lineup included some incredible bands and artists like Jane’s Addiction, 30 Seconds to Mars, Kanye West, The Killers and more. As of today, Lolla has expanded to eight countries on four continents including Lolla Chile, Lolla Paris, and the newest edition, Lola India.

Experiences & lounge options at Lollapalooza

We can all agree that Lollapalooza is a one-of-a-kind musical experience for first-timers and festival veterans. It’s a great opportunity to capture the essence of live music and indulge in delicious food. Perhaps you want to enhance your overall festival experience. We’ve got you covered. There are three main lounge options that will give you the VIP treatment you’re looking for.

• VIP Lounges
• Platinum Lounges

Various credit card programs offer exclusive perks to cardmembers such as early entry, VIP packages, complimentary food and more. Festival attendees can pre-game at one of the lounges listed above or visit different rooftop bars and pubs within Chicago. Keep the energy high by checking out an after-party show or restaurant for a late-night bite.

In summary

With such a phenomenal lineup, beloved comfort food scene and strong sense of community, Lollapalooza is worth attending at least once. The nearby lakefront and backdrop of Chicago’s impressive skyline make it an appealing summer setting to take in unbeatable views and explore the Windy City.