Okay, nostalgia time. When I read that Jane’s Addiction would be returning to Lollapalooza this year, I got a little verklempt. See, it got me thinking back to 1991, the year of the very first Lollapalooza festival, which everyone remembers as the one headlined by the festival’s creator Perry Farrell and his band Jane’s Addiction. But for me, 1991 was the year that alterna-rock/post-punk legends Siouxsie and the Banshees played the mega-fest, breaking into the U.S. mainstream on a bigger platform than ever before. I am among the hugest, most devoted Siouxsie fans on earth, so the Banshees’ participation in that tour was electrifying for me. Too bad I never got to witness their Lollapalooza magic. I did have tickets (of course I did! My sister and I slept outside overnight to get them!), but Sioux lost her voice and the band ended up canceling the two nights that my 16-year-old self would have been going apoplectic at Great Woods in Mansfield, Mass. I had seen the Banshees before Lollapalooza and went on to see them (and The Creatures and Siouxsie solo) many times after, but I never quite got over the heartbreak of missing this historic event. Interviewing Siouxsie with my sis in 1992 on ridiculously made-up credentials, then by myself as a legitimate journalist for a 2004 EW story helped ease the pain — a lot. And I can always console myself with the video below, in which the Banshees perform their 1988 ode to love, "The Last Beat of My Heart," at the ’91 fest. (Note how the adoring crowd goes nuts at the 0:40 mark…right when Siouxsie takes the stage. Aw yeah. Also, love the gypsy head garb, Siouxsie.) Tell me, PopWatchers, what monumental (to you, anyway) pop culture events do you regret missing?
Mar 9
2009
09:21 PM ET
Jane's Addiction returns to Lollapalooza...and oh the (Siouxsie) memories from 1991
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Lollapalooza 1991 was amazing. But even better than Siouxsie was a little known opening act with just 1 album out… Nine Inch Nails.
sorry but nine inch nails prerecorded(remember reznor smashing the keyboards, the crowd goes crazy, the music keeps playing and then they pick up the keyboard) show left me less than amused. but i too was saddened by no siouxsie.
lately i went to a nine inch nails show for openers bauhaus and tv on the radio only to find out the show was a makeup date and the only opener would be peaches. now i have nothing against peaches but…….
The best of all the Lollapaloozas, IMHO. Remember – Lollapalooza was NOT a proven brand name at the time, neither was Siouxsie, though ‘Kiss Them For Me’ was scraping the bottom of the Top 40 at the time. Saw it in Reston, VA. Nine Inch Nails were stunning, bumrushing the crowd with the performance. However, watching Siouxsie play, visibly pregnant, in a dusty field through stultifying Virginia heat is by far my most prized memory of the day. When the Banshees launched into ‘Kiss Them’ the crowd began throwing empty water bottles into the sky. Literally hundreds of them filling the sky. Roadies were removing them from the stage by the armloads in order to keep Ms. Sioux from falling. A beautiful day!
During that song the same thing happened in Dallas.
A pregnant Siouxsie?? I don’t think so
I was at those same Great Woods shows and was super-uber-bummed about Siouxsie. I’m glad I am not alone in my tragedy.
My biggest pop culture event I regret missing is seeing Nirvana play the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA in October 1991. Painful.
I was so utterly heartbroken when Nirvana was going to do Lollapalooza 94, then they pulled out, then Kurt died. I can’t believe I never saw Nirvana.
Siouxsie at Lolla was a trip, I loved that she *loathed* going on stage in full afternoon sun. Goth to her toes.
I saw the original Lollapalooza with Siouxsie in tow in San Diego. Was an awesome show.
Biggest regret was missing the US Festival ’83 with Van Halen, Scorpions, Ozzy, Judas Priest, Motley Creu, Quiet Riot and Triiumph. I was a little too young for my brother to watch out for me for that one.
Nine Inch Nails played with prerecorded loops as all Industrial bands do but they were not lip singing or anything. That’s just the nature of that kind of music. I believe they had a keyboardist in addition to Trent playing the keys as well.
WOW! I can’t stop watching that siouxsie video! AWESOME!
Did EW allow a story about Siouxsie in the print edition? If so, how did they find the space amidst the endless inane Top 50 lists and limited-edition Twilight covers? I’ve subscribed or purchased newsstand copies for two decades, but the gradual loss in quality and “edge” has finally gotten to me.
To me, the biggest music story of 2007 was the release of Siouxsie’s triumphant solo album and subsequent take-no-prisoners tour. EW didn’t find either worthy of mention.
Then previously-respected film critic Owen Gleiberman didn’t bother to watch my favorite movie of 2008, “Let the Right One In,” before writing his embarrassingly uninformed review.
Then hundreds of readers commented, agreeing that Owen couldn’t possibly have viewed the film before writing such a half-assed review. And never a peep from Owen to defend–or apologize for–his non-review.
I doubt this will be read, but it gives me a sense of closure. Farewell, EW. You used to be cool, but now you suck. Good riddance.
my favorite Lollapalooza moment was watching Jane’s Addiction in Phx Az 1991.that performance was awesome even though Perry Farrell got into a brawl onstage with his guitarist Dave Navarro towards the end of their set.it was also the very first Lolla show ever.damn i miss the early 90′s!!
Bowie and Trent Reznor…..REGRET MISSING THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had my tickets for the 1991 venue…..I was enthralled with the enthusiasm…especially with the crowd surfing by Living Color……sliding in the mud….Trent Reznor et al. I was fortunate enough to catch the double headliner with Sisters of Mercy and Public Enemy…..I had front row when the girls for Public Enemy had no comprhension of Mr Andrew Eldrich……I wish I had gotten to see the Bowie/Reznor tour…I went on to see him in Providence…..not Bowie…yet…..I saw Peter Murphy at RIC….but he is not Bowi (NIN) was suppose to open….a newbie band…….
I was at the San Diego show! I do feel stupid for missing the Jane’s set by going outside of the venue (though I did hear them play). But seeing Siouxsie kicked ass! Kiss Them For Me was so great to hear a lot at that time! I was a lucky 13 year old…