How did Lollapalooza make music history? The new docuseries “Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza” explores the influential festival and its impact on an entire generation. Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros frontman Perry Farrell created a tour that featured up-and-coming bands — many of whom would become synonymous with the decade. The event proved to be more than just another concert for audiences and performers. It offered the chance to be connected with a safe haven away from mainstream idealism and unrealistic social norms.
‘Lolla’ drew interest after screening during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Many highlighted the docuseries’ approach to not only the festival, but its place in ‘90s culture. The Playlist’s Rodrigo Perez praised the project, calling it “a terrifically watchable snapshot of an unpredictable, combustible, vibrant, and once-in-a-lifetime period in music culture we may never see repeated again.”
The docuseries’ official synopsis:
“In the summer of 1991, the Lollapalooza music festival was born. What started as a farewell tour for the band Jane’s Addiction rose from the underground to launch a cultural movement and change music forever. LOLLA: THE STORY OF LOLLAPALOOZA depicts the exciting and strangely symbiotic 30+ year relationship between the iconic festival and Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction, Porno for Pyros). Throughout the series, Farrell reconnects with what the event has become and reflects on the festival’s cultural significance across multiple genres and decades.”
James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte are executive producers on “Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza.” The docuseries debuts on Paramount+ on May 21. Get your first look at the trailer below: