Now that Coachella, Sasquatch, and Bonnaroo have all confirmed their acts for their respective music festivals, we are left to ponder only about the lineup of August's Lollapalooza Festival at Chicago's Grant Park. The Chicago Tribune's music blog recently leaked who is expected to headline this year's 3-day affair. It seems the Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, and Jane's Addiction (shocking!) will be carrying the banner for the hot and humid music fest this time around. Let the message board rumor insanity begin!
I jokingly say "shocking" upon hearing that Jane's Addiction's will headline since Perry Farrell, the band's lead singer and creator, came up with the idea for Lollapalooza in 1991 as a farewell tour for his band -- a concept I am sure he is glad, as far as Jane's Addiction is concerned, didn't pan out. The original lineup of Jane's Addiction recently announced a national tour -- complete with a conspicuously absent Chicago date so as to set the stage for their headlining gig at Lollapalooza.
Booking the Beasties is a great move for the festival. The Boys are set to release a new album later this year, and I can't wait -- 2007's The Mix-Up was fun and all, but I don't turn to the Beastie Boys for my instrumental music. I can't help but revel in the fact Mike D is 43 years old, Ad-Rock is 42 and MCA is 44. Their show will probably blow the non-existent roof off of Grant Park, and I am insanely jealous that Coachella absolutely whiffed at the chance to book them, settling on The Killers.
And then there's Depeche Mode. If the Beasties are to be considered "old," then please don't tell Depeche Mode lead singer/vest aficionado Dave Gahan. Mind you -- I have no problem with the age of Lollapalooza's headliners; I am just amazed by the fact these three bands can still get out there, tear it up like they do and headline music festivals like Lollapalooza. I am left to simply revel in the fact that these fine gentlemen are still relevant in this day -- their careers all started in the early- to mid-'80s. We're pushing 30 years later and all three bands can still bring it, and some are even set to release new albums this year.
Job well done, Lollapalooza promoters. I'm sure it wasn't difficult to persuade Jane's Addiction to play, but so far your headliners are nothing short of impressive. I will assume this year's affair will be a little less chaotic than last year's gate-crashing mob fest. If the festival promoters have any sense of humor, they will book the Arcade Fire and The Flaming Lips on the same day. I would sure as hell pay to see that.
