Lollapalooza Canceled!
06-22-04, 08:02 AM
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Lollapalooza Canceled!
Lollapalooza Canceled; Organizers Cite Poor Ticket Sales
06.22.2004 12:51 AM EDT
Three weeks prior to kickoff, Lollapalooza has been canceled.
Organizers cited poor ticket sales as the reason the 31-date, 16-city trek was called off. This year's lineup was set to include Morrissey, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, the Flaming Lips and the String Cheese Incident (see "Lollapalooza Adds Danger Mouse, Von Bondies; Dates Unveiled").
"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," read a statement from Lollapalooza co-founder Perry Farrell. "My heart is broken."
The decision to scrap Lollapalooza was made Monday evening (June 21), when organizers and promoters realized they stood to lose several million dollars. In all markets except New York, advance ticket sales were below estimates.
"On the average, the losses, had ticket sales not dramatically picked up — which they showed no indication of doing — the people involved faced losses in the mid-to-high six figures on a per-show basis," said the William Morris Agency's Marc Geiger, another Lollapalooza co-founder.
Fans who purchased tickets will be given refunds.
Geiger said Lollapalooza's plight is indicative of a summer touring season on the slide.
"Lollapalooza is not alone in this," he said. "Everyone from the Dead to Dave Matthews to Norah Jones is suffering. There's not one explanation for this. It might be that ticket prices are too high, which doesn't account for Lollapalooza, because our tickets were priced between $15 and $25. Maybe it's the sundry add-ons [like service charges] that up the cost? Maybe gas prices are too high? Just like the record industry is suffering, the concert business is not exempt.
"After people get through this summer season," he added, "there's going to be a lot of fixing that needs to be done in the concert industry."
Early on in its 13-year history, Lollapalooza built a reputation for eclectic lineups, but as the years wore on it became more well known for having trouble getting off the ground (see "Perry Hits Lollapasnooza Button: Tour Sleeps Another Year"). After 1997's outing with Korn, Tool and Snoop Dogg, the tour lied dormant until last year, when it returned with a lineup that featured Jane's Addiction, Queens of the Stone Age and Audioslave (see "Jane's Addiction Headline But Audioslave Steal Show At Lollapalooza Launch").
—Joe D'Angelo
06.22.2004 12:51 AM EDT
Three weeks prior to kickoff, Lollapalooza has been canceled.
Organizers cited poor ticket sales as the reason the 31-date, 16-city trek was called off. This year's lineup was set to include Morrissey, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, the Flaming Lips and the String Cheese Incident (see "Lollapalooza Adds Danger Mouse, Von Bondies; Dates Unveiled").
"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," read a statement from Lollapalooza co-founder Perry Farrell. "My heart is broken."
The decision to scrap Lollapalooza was made Monday evening (June 21), when organizers and promoters realized they stood to lose several million dollars. In all markets except New York, advance ticket sales were below estimates.
"On the average, the losses, had ticket sales not dramatically picked up — which they showed no indication of doing — the people involved faced losses in the mid-to-high six figures on a per-show basis," said the William Morris Agency's Marc Geiger, another Lollapalooza co-founder.
Fans who purchased tickets will be given refunds.
Geiger said Lollapalooza's plight is indicative of a summer touring season on the slide.
"Lollapalooza is not alone in this," he said. "Everyone from the Dead to Dave Matthews to Norah Jones is suffering. There's not one explanation for this. It might be that ticket prices are too high, which doesn't account for Lollapalooza, because our tickets were priced between $15 and $25. Maybe it's the sundry add-ons [like service charges] that up the cost? Maybe gas prices are too high? Just like the record industry is suffering, the concert business is not exempt.
"After people get through this summer season," he added, "there's going to be a lot of fixing that needs to be done in the concert industry."
Early on in its 13-year history, Lollapalooza built a reputation for eclectic lineups, but as the years wore on it became more well known for having trouble getting off the ground (see "Perry Hits Lollapasnooza Button: Tour Sleeps Another Year"). After 1997's outing with Korn, Tool and Snoop Dogg, the tour lied dormant until last year, when it returned with a lineup that featured Jane's Addiction, Queens of the Stone Age and Audioslave (see "Jane's Addiction Headline But Audioslave Steal Show At Lollapalooza Launch").
—Joe D'Angelo
06-22-04, 08:24 AM
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I thought it was a great lineup. Unfortunately the weren't having a show anywhere near me. I didn't think it was worth a 6 hour drive on a weekday to see it.
06-22-04, 08:43 AM
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The sucky thing about this is that nobody else will try and tour in the future with a cool lineup like this. As I stated before I passed on tix because of the festival-type standing room only.
No go for me.
No go for me.
06-22-04, 09:51 AM
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Originally posted by Jeraden
I thought it was a great lineup. Unfortunately the weren't having a show anywhere near me. I didn't think it was worth a 6 hour drive on a weekday to see it.
I thought it was a great lineup. Unfortunately the weren't having a show anywhere near me. I didn't think it was worth a 6 hour drive on a weekday to see it.
06-22-04, 09:57 AM
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Damnit, I bought tix to the NYC show. This was the best lineup since the old days, possibly since the first go round.
I wonder if Ticketbastard will refund the service charges, too, since that's what jacked up the ticket prices. Two 2-day passes to the NYC show came to $204 with all the fees.
I wonder if Ticketbastard will refund the service charges, too, since that's what jacked up the ticket prices. Two 2-day passes to the NYC show came to $204 with all the fees.
06-22-04, 10:35 AM
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Originally posted by Jeraden
I thought it was a great lineup. Unfortunately the weren't having a show anywhere near me. I didn't think it was worth a 6 hour drive on a weekday to see it.
I thought it was a great lineup. Unfortunately the weren't having a show anywhere near me. I didn't think it was worth a 6 hour drive on a weekday to see it.
06-22-04, 10:46 AM
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Dammit.
Where will I get my Moz fix now?
And who paid $15 to $25 for their tickets? I think mine ran at least $60 and I only got a ticket for the first day.
Where will I get my Moz fix now?
And who paid $15 to $25 for their tickets? I think mine ran at least $60 and I only got a ticket for the first day.
Last edited by grunter; 06-22-04 at 10:49 AM.
06-22-04, 11:27 AM
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well at least the Cure show with a boatload of great bands didn't bite the dust: The Cure, Mogwai, Interpol, The Rapture, Auf Der Maur, Muse, Cooper Temple Clause, now that's a lineup!
06-22-04, 12:44 PM
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everyone seems to have forgotten the extremely esoteric Area 1 & 2 festivals. those had great lineups. the second time around was a huge failure. did they cancel the dates? no, they still put on the shows. i suspect clear channel stinks. can anyone else smell it?
06-22-04, 01:22 PM
#12
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Originally posted by Hollowgen
everyone seems to have forgotten the extremely esoteric Area 1 & 2 festivals. those had great lineups. the second time around was a huge failure. did they cancel the dates? no, they still put on the shows. i suspect clear channel stinks. can anyone else smell it?
everyone seems to have forgotten the extremely esoteric Area 1 & 2 festivals. those had great lineups. the second time around was a huge failure. did they cancel the dates? no, they still put on the shows. i suspect clear channel stinks. can anyone else smell it?
06-22-04, 01:40 PM
#13
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Originally posted by Giles
remind me who was on the Area 1 and 2 fests.
remind me who was on the Area 1 and 2 fests.
Moby, OutKast, Incubus (East Coast dates), New Order (West Coast dates), Nelly Furtado (select dates), Paul Oakenfold, the Orb, Carl Cox, the Roots and Rinocerose
Ford Focus, for example, is sponsoring an air-conditioned tent featuring such techno artists as Paul Oakenfold, the Orb, Timo Maas and the Innovators, the latter being a Detroit collective comprising techno godfathers Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson.
For Area 2:
Moby, David Bowie, Busta Rhymes and Carl Cox, John Digweed, The Avalanches, DJ Tiesto, DJ Dan, and Tim Skinner.
I totally would've gone to Area 1, had it come to Columbus. It seemed like a really solid line-up. Hell, I'd pay a lot to see the Roots. The rest of the bands would just be a bonus.
As for this year's Lollapalooza, the only artist I was interested in seeing was Morrissey and I didn't want to be out in the sun for one, possibly two, whole days (having to buy overpriced water) for just him.
These big outdoor festivals seem great in theory (lots of bands), but I've found that, in practice, I haven't enjoyed them too much (all of the annoyances add up, sitting through bands I don't enjoy, etc.).
Last edited by DJLinus; 06-22-04 at 01:43 PM.
06-22-04, 02:11 PM
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I truly wish every major tour this year would be cancelled because of lack of ticket sales. Maybe that would be the ticket prices back down to a reasonable level.
06-22-04, 02:18 PM
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Originally posted by DJLinus
These big outdoor festivals seem great in theory (lots of bands), but I've found that, in practice, I haven't enjoyed them too much (all of the annoyances add up, sitting through bands I don't enjoy, etc.).
These big outdoor festivals seem great in theory (lots of bands), but I've found that, in practice, I haven't enjoyed them too much (all of the annoyances add up, sitting through bands I don't enjoy, etc.).
In non-US fests (other than Coachella) they are always done in pavilions or stadiums and not in a field, farm, or state park where you can enjoy walking between the many stages or lying down under a tree on the grass. UK fests strive to include a greater diversity of music and have at least four stages.
The food/water at US fests are crappy, boring, bland and expensive.
06-22-04, 03:18 PM
#18
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Originally posted by Miyazaki
Austin City Limits Fesitval is where it's at folks....great venue(Zilker Park), tons of stages and tons of great bands.
Austin City Limits Fesitval is where it's at folks....great venue(Zilker Park), tons of stages and tons of great bands.
06-22-04, 03:21 PM
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Originally posted by cdollaz
All of whom get shorter than full-length sets. That is the problem with festivals.
All of whom get shorter than full-length sets. That is the problem with festivals.
06-22-04, 03:46 PM
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Originally posted by cdollaz
All of whom get shorter than full-length sets. That is the problem with festivals.
All of whom get shorter than full-length sets. That is the problem with festivals.
06-22-04, 03:48 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Gdrlv
All the bands at ACL Fest last year got a full hour. I'd consider that basically a full length set. The headliners got 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
All the bands at ACL Fest last year got a full hour. I'd consider that basically a full length set. The headliners got 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
06-22-04, 06:19 PM
#23
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Originally posted by Giles
a boatload of great bands didn't bite the dust: The Cure, Mogwai, Interpol, The Rapture, Auf Der Maur, Muse, Cooper Temple Clause, now that's a lineup!
a boatload of great bands didn't bite the dust: The Cure, Mogwai, Interpol, The Rapture, Auf Der Maur, Muse, Cooper Temple Clause, now that's a lineup!
The Pixies are better than all seven of those artists combined.
