Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza

I'm a late Gen-xer, junior high in the early 90's, but damn did that music move me! Nine Inch Nails, TOOL, Rage, Ice Cube, the entire Grunge era!! My god, how lucky I feel to have been a teen at that time... Fast forward to today, I'm not sure what this says about society or young folks now, but when the documentary starts to show the Lollapalooza lineups of recent years, I can't help but wonder if we had it rough, or do they have it too easy now? Because the stark difference in not only genres from today and 30 years ago, but the messages that are conveyed in the music have flipped 180. Before it was, well, literally rage against the machine. Now it's love songs(Miley Cyrus), shake your ass songs(Sza, Ice Spice) or straight up pop music/top 40 (Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish)... I'm not meaning to judge better or worse, I'm wondering why this type of music resonates with young people now? Has life become too easy? To me, it seems like young people should be MORE angry than we were, yet their art doesn't seem to reflect that.

Also, there's seems to have been a shift in political alignment and musical taste. The younger folks I've met who are into more heavy, rock, Rage-type music now seem to lean more conservative, whereas the "activist" type, with liberal leaning seem to enjoy more of the pop, light, "fun" styles of music. 30 years ago, we were liberal but angry as f@*k. Hmm just my observation, especially watching the last episode of this mini-doc series. It really made me take notice, the stark difference.

Also, whatever. Music is awesome, and wholly subjective, so whatever gets you going is great music to you.

But, TOOL, NIN, Nirvana, Cypress Hill, Ice Cube forever, man! God I'm getting old.

Last year was my first time at Lollapallooza so I wanted to know more about its history, I find this doc very interesting but.... I don't know WHY it was made all about Perry Farnell, someone who's only contributions is to be the singer of a forgotten band and who succeeded (by accident) in the first festival, but he actually thinks he is something of a "Rock Jesuschrist" when in reality, the festival DID DIED during his ownership and was only resuscitated and make the success there is today thanks to an external company that managed many other music festivals.... still... great documentary!!!

The saddest thing in the world is when something that actually stands for something and is trying to go against the mainstream, eventually gives in(Sells out) and tries to pretend its still about the same things it started with. How can you have T Mobile sponsor your show and not be a sell out? But this review is not trying to say the doc was bad since it was well done, but it really exposed the whole idea of Lolla and I don't think the people in the doc even realize that. As another review said, if you're headlining your show with musicians who wont grammys you're going in the wrong direction. Lady Gaga, Miles Cyrus? Seriously? Those two aren't "alternative" they are pop music in a nutshell. They should have just stopped after the first 7 years if they were sincere about their intent but money corrupts everything and everyone, including Perry Farrell.

In the first episode they talk about this festival being a champion for all the youth and all these various very important causes. Including fighting back against censorship and ripping down the walls of racism. Then during the final performance Paramount decides self censor and they go ahead and censor Perry Pherell's "Don't Call Me" performance with Ice-T. Way to undercut the message you were building up for forty five minutes. So just to be clear.... censorship is bad up to the point until it could cost the corperation some money, then it's ok. Is that the message I was supposed to take away from this? Make it make sense please.

A documentary detailing the death and commercialization of a truly unique idea to bring people together.

The original idea - bring culture and alternative music to rural areas where people are never exposed to such a thing, keep ticket prices low so "the kids can see it" - Rebellion is a thing for the youth.. and Lolla started that way. Showcasing bands many may never have heard of. TRAVELING within the US to expose the country's youth to art and music which was DIFFERENT than the mainstream media was pushing. Episode one lays out the original mindset very well....

But it all devolved. "Grammy" should never be a phrase heard regarding any Lolla act.. but that's what it is today. F

Lolla no longer brings music to rural areas where kids can afford to go see it.. now they book big label backed pop stars (what's "alternative" about that?) and ONLY play Chicago, Lolla doesn't bother touring within the US at all, and Lolla then travels the world in a quest for more money, ... it's all about the dollar, not art.

This entire documentary builds to an excuse and justification for the commercialization. If Farrell can not see how Lolla has COMPLETELY lost the message, he's blind, or just lying to the audience or perhaps himself. Ferrell got old and sold out and Lolla devolved into a commercialized money-maker. Nothing wrong with selling out.. but at least own in.

Ferrell is kidding himself if he thinks it's still "about the music" it CLEARLY is not. With acts such as Lady Gaga, Chance the Rapper, and Miley Cyrus.... Music is CLEARLY unimportant and merely the vehicle to profits.

What a pathetic thing Lollapalooza has become. It is absolutely NOTHING special now and only serves as a profit machine.

I don't know how ANYONE can watch episode 1 of these series, then watch episode 3.. and think Lolla is anything other than a money-grubbing venture today.