For fans of 1990s alternative rock, music festival, and cultural revolutions, March 25, 2025, marks a significant date: the release of Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by New York Times bestselling authors Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour. Published by St. Martin’s Press, this definitive oral history dives into the groundbreaking music festival that shaped an entire generation and forever changed the live music landscape.

What began as Perry Farrell‘s farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction in 1991 evolved into a cultural phenomenon that redefined live music. Lollapalooza wasn’t just a concert tour; it was a movement. From its inception, the festival united an eclectic mix of alternative rock, heavy metal, punk, hip-hop, industrial, and more under one unorthodox banner. It broke boundaries and celebrated diversity—an ethos that continues to influence festivals worldwide today

The book traces Lollapalooza’s 1991-1997 run, documenting its impact on not just music but also fashion, film, politics, and the broader cultural mindset of the decade. Through first-person accounts, Bienstock and Beaujour chronicle the highs and lows of the tour, offering readers a raw, behind-the-scenes look at one of music’s most iconic eras.

The book features hundreds of original interviews with the artists, tour founders, and insiders who lived it, including Perry Farrell, Kim Thayil(Soundgarden), Nine Inch Nails, Ice-T, Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Patti Smith, and many more. Whether recounting wild onstage moments, chaotic backstage antics, or the challenges of organizing such a groundbreaking event, these voices paint a vivid picture of the festival’s chaotic glory.

Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil provides a foreword, setting the stage for what Publishers Weekly describes as a “colorful, captivating slice of music history.”

Lollapalooza was a festival that dared to be different. It embraced activism, visual artists, nonprofit organizations, and even freak shows, offering a multi-dimensional cultural experience that resonated deeply with its audience. From the political outfits promoting causes to the genre-defying artists pushing boundaries, Lollapalooza captured the alternative spirit of the 1990s in a way no other festival had.

Today, the festival’s legacy lives on in its annual flagship event in Chicago, drawing an estimated 400,000 attendees each summer and securing its place among the largest and longest-running music festivals in the world.

Authors Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour are no strangers to documenting music history. Both are seasoned journalists and bestselling authors with impressive résumés. Bienstock has written for Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Guitar World, while Beaujour is a co-founder and former editor-in-chief of Revolver magazine. Together, they previously co-authored Nothin’ But A Good Time, making them the perfect duo to tackle Lollapalooza’s uncensored story.

Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival is available for pre-order now in hardcover, eBook, and digital audio formats. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the bands who made Lollapalooza legendary or simply a lover of music history, this book promises to be an unmissable addition to your collection.

Get ready to revisit the chaos, the music, and the revolution. Lollapalooza isn’t just a festival—it’s a cultural landmark, and its story deserves to be told in all its raw, uncensored glory.