New Book on Lollapalooza Music Festival, With Interviews From Green Day and Pearl Jam, to Rock Next Year (Exclusive)
‘Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival’ tells of the historic music festival’s origins and lasting impact
Carla Fredericks; St. Martin's Press; Maria McKenna
Authors Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour and the cover of 'Lollapalooza'Get ready to rock, music fans.
A deep dive into the 1990s alternative rock festival Lollapalooza is coming in the form of a new book, PEOPLE can exclusively share. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival, written by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour, is forthcoming from St. Martin’s press next year.
The book, described by its publisher as a “no-holds-barred history,” traces the origins of the iconic festival, which was originally started by Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for the band in 1991.
St. Martin's Press
'Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival' by Richard Bienstock and Tom BeaujourSince then, Lollapalooza has expanded into an annual Chicago event, which highlights not only music, but nonprofit organizations, political outfits and the visual arts as well. Lollapalooza sees an estimated 400,000 people attending each summer, and the co-authors' new book pays tribute to its legacy as one of the largest and longest-running music festivals.
Bienstock and Beaujour will also cover the festival’s onstage and backstage action through first-person accounts. Lollapalooza will include original interviews with the festival’s organizers and crew, as well as iconic artists like Pearl Jam, Green Day, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Patti Smith and more.
Bienstock, a former editor at Guitar World, has written several music books, including Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck and Nothin’ But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the ‘80s Rock Explosion, co-authored with Beaujour. Beaujour is the former editor-in-chief of hard rock and heavy metal magazine Revolver, and has produced and mixed albums for bands like Nada Surf and Guided by Voices.
Erika Goldring/WireImage
MAX performing at Lollapalooza in 2021The co-authors' new project will not only give readers a backstage pass to a beloved festival, but share “the reverberations that led to a massive shift in the music industry and the culture at large,” its publisher says.
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Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival will be published on April 1, 2025 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.
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