Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of eight major acts announced as a headliner for the 2023 installment of Lollapalooza.
Set for August 3-6, Lollapalooza will return to Chicago’s Grant Park. Other headlining acts include Kendrick Lamar, Bili Eilish, Odesza, Lana Del Rey, Karol G, The 1975 and Tomorrow X Together.
The Chili Peppers have a history with the long-running festival. Keep scrolling to check out Lollapalooza’s history since first launching in 1991.
Lollapalooza was first launched on July 18, 1991.
Originally launched as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction, the festival has had a unique history from its initial run from 1991 to 1997. It was then revived in 2003, canceled in 2004 but has been active from 2005 to today. In the video below, Jane’s Addiction frontman and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell offers a brief history of the festival.
Perry talks about the definition of the word “Lollapalooza” and says, “I thought about that and I went, ‘I can take all these different elements of music and art and lifestyle and swirl them together and make something wonderful.’ So, I thought it was the perfect name.”
Lollapalooza 2024
This week, the 2024 Lolla lineup was unveiled. As with previous years, its lineup is incredibly diverse.
Taking place August 1-4, the headliners include SZA, Tyler, the Creator, blink-182, The Killers, Future x Metro Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez and Skrillex.
Other notable acts on the lineup include deftones, Renee Rapp, Pierce the Veil, Sexyy Red, Two Door Cinema Club, Destroy Boys, Cults, Cannons, Waterparks, In This Moment, Militarie Gun, Hanabie and many more.
Lollapalooza 2024 lineup poster. (Live Nation)
Lollapalooza has definitely evolved over time from a traveling festival to its current multi-day extravaganza in Chicago’s Grant Park. The festival’s partnership with the City of Chicago helps give back to the host city. Per a Live Nation press release, ” … Organizers created the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund, a $2.2M donation to support arts and education in Chicago Public Schools.”
The press release notes the festival supports other local nonprofits. They include Community Goods and Yollocalli, the Sueños Festival Job Fair, the African American Heritage Festivals, Teens in the Park Fest, Black Culture Fest, and Musically Fed.
So, how has the festival fared musically over the course of three decades? Here’s a look at past headliners and other notable acts from years past.
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights