Launched in 1991 by Jane's Addiction founder Perry Farrell back when he was still young and starry-eyed, Lollapalooza was originally envisioned as a touring festival that would showcase disparate artists and shun corporate sponsorship. Things changed. The tour ran with varying degrees of musical and commercial success until 1997, was revived in 2003, and then was scheduled but scrapped in 2004 due to dismal ticket sales. By all rights, it should've stayed dead. From the outset, Lollapalooza 2005 had little to do with Lollapalooza 1991. Farrell and a big-time events company grabbed a better idea from festivals like Reading and Coachella, planning a two-day, one-city blowout that would stand or fall on its own. Bands were hired, Chicago's Grant Park was chosen, and plenty of companies jumped on board to reach the kids. (Honestly, does having the words "an SBC experience" underneath the title really affect anyone either way?) The acts chosen were relatively safe bets, but most made sense in the lineup. Mother Nature cooperated on day one, and even though she brought beastly heat on day two (Chicago's Midway Airport recorded the second-highest temperature in Chicago history—104 degrees), that didn't stop revelers from reveling. The A.V. Club sweated to the newies to bring you this minute-by-minute report.
saturday, july 23
11:45 a.m.: The Redwalls and The (International) Noise Conspiracy begin the weekend's first performances. Since when is rock up at this hour?
4:31 p.m.: Anton Newcombe, mercurial frontman for The Brian Jonestown Massacre, makes it through his band's set without getting into a fight with the crowd or his band, though he repeatedly taunts Dashboard Confessional, playing simultaneously across the field. BJM closes its set with a long, feedback-drenched song.
5:32 p.m.: A surprisingly fit, muscular Billy Idol begins his hit-filled set on one of the two big stages. Nearly everyone murmurs, "Isn't it weird that he's playing?"
5:58 p.m.: Silence between songs during Blonde Redhead's stellar set is punctuated by Idol howling "more, more, more!" from across the field. Awesome.
6:03 p.m.: A light rain begins to fall, but the performances continue. The day remains overcast, with unexpectedly mild temperatures, but forecasts for Sunday promise punishment.
6:32 p.m.: Primus plays in front of two massive, inflatable duckies.
7:30 p.m.: Before introducing the Pixies, Perry Farrell makes a brief, awkward plea for concert patrons to join the fight against global warming. The crowd mostly humors him. Farrell's later introductions prove similarly clumsy. But he's the godfather, and thus commands a certain level of respect here.
8:45 p.m.: Weezer takes the stage to a delighted audience, while on the opposite end of the field, reunited hip-hop trio Digable Planets plays to a much smaller (but also enthusiastic) crowd.
sunday, july 24
12:15 a.m.: The Walkmen take the Schubas stage for one of many "official" (says who?) Lollapalooza after-shows around the city. (The other hot ticket: Blonde Redhead at the Double Door.) In spite of the late hour, the temperature outside has increased—a bad omen for day two of the main fest.
2 p.m.: Temperatures top 100 degrees and the heat index exceeds 110, but many concertgoers continue to pound cups of beer. Given beer's dehydrating effects, they might as well be drinking seawater.
2:16 p.m.: Worst job at Lollapalooza (probably): A volunteer carries a bright sign that says "Lolla Info! Ask me!" through the hot, dusty field. Maybe it's about self-flagellation and cleansing, who knows...
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