CULTURE & ARTS

Stunning Photos Show Chicago's Lollapalooza Festival Through The Years

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the iconic music festival.
By Alanna Vagianos
A view of the Samsung Stage at Lollapalooza 2016 on Day 3 of the festival. 
A view of the Samsung Stage at Lollapalooza 2016 on Day 3 of the festival. 

Chicago’s iconic Lollapalooza festival was created in 1991 ― and after 25 years the eclectic four-day concert has only gotten better. 

Created by Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza is set in the heart of Chicago’s Grant Park. Over the years, the festival has brought in some of the biggest names in music, including Radiohead, A Tribe Called Quest, Smashing Pumpkins, Florence and the Machine and many, many more. The festival is a nonstop dance party where everyone and anyone can find their favorite genre. 

Between 1991–1997 the festival ran annually and toured around the U.S. and Canada. Due to low ticket sales, the festival was canceled. In 2005, Lolla was revived and now boasts over 160,000 attendees each year. The festival also has annual international destinations including Berlin, Santiago, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.

To celebrate Lolla’s 25th anniversary, we’ve rounded up 36 photos of artists performing at the festival over the years. Scroll below to see how the music festival has transformed from 1991 to 2016. 

  • 1 1994 -- The Smashing Pumpkins
    Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
    Steve Eichner via Getty Images
    Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
  • 2 1994 -- A Tribe Called Quest
    A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip at performs at Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois, July 15, 1994. 
    Steve Eichner via Getty Images
    A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip at performs at Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois, July 15, 1994. 
  • 3 2003 -- Jane's Addiction
    Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction perform on July 12, 2003, at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois.
    Scott Harrison via Getty Images
    Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction perform on July 12, 2003, at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 4 2005 -- Arcarde Fire
    The Arcade Fire perform live in concert at Lollapalooza 2005 in Chicago, Illinois.
    Matt Carmichael via Getty Images
    The Arcade Fire perform live in concert at Lollapalooza 2005 in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 5 2005 -- Weezer
    Bassist Scott Shriner of Weezer performs at Lollapalooza, July 23, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois.
    Justin Renney via Getty Images
    Bassist Scott Shriner of Weezer performs at Lollapalooza, July 23, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 6 2006 -- Kanye West
    Kanye West during Lollapalooza 2006 - Day 2 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States. 
    KMazur via Getty Images
    Kanye West during Lollapalooza 2006 - Day 2 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States. 
  • 7 2006 -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers during 2006 Lollapalooza - Day 3 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States. 
    Lyle A. Waisman via Getty Images
    Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers during 2006 Lollapalooza - Day 3 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States. 
  • 8 2006 -- 30 Seconds to Mars
    Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars. 
    KMazur via Getty Images
    Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars. 
  • 9 2006 -- The Flaming Lips
    Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips during Lollapalooza 2006 - Day 2 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States. 
    KMazur via Getty Images
    Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips during Lollapalooza 2006 - Day 2 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States. 
  • 10 2007 -- Iggy Pop
    Iggy Pop of Iggy and the Stooges performs at Lollapalooza 2007 in Grant Park in Chicago.
    Jared Milgrim via Getty Images
    Iggy Pop of Iggy and the Stooges performs at Lollapalooza 2007 in Grant Park in Chicago.
  • 11 2007 -- Ben Harper
    Ben Harper of Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals performs during the first day of Lollapalooza 2007 at Grant Park on Aug
    Jeff Gentner via Getty Images
    Ben Harper of Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals performs during the first day of Lollapalooza 2007 at Grant Park on August 3, 2007, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 12 2008 -- Lupe Fiasco
    Lupe Fiasco performs at the 2008 Lollapalooza Music Festival in Grant Park in Chicago. 
    Jared Milgrim via Getty Images
    Lupe Fiasco performs at the 2008 Lollapalooza Music Festival in Grant Park in Chicago. 
  • 13 2009 -- Ra Ra Riot
    Alexandra Lawn of Ra Ra Riot performs onstage during the 2009 Lollapalooza music festival at Grant Park on August 9, 2009, in
    Roger Kisby via Getty Images
    Alexandra Lawn of Ra Ra Riot performs onstage during the 2009 Lollapalooza music festival at Grant Park on August 9, 2009, in Chicago.
  • 14 2009 -- Santigold
    Santigold aka Santi White performs as part of Lollapalooza 2009 at Grant Park on August 8, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois.
    Tim Mosenfelder via Getty Images
    Santigold aka Santi White performs as part of Lollapalooza 2009 at Grant Park on August 8, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 15 2009 -- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
    The Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform during the 2009 Lollapalooza music festival at Grant Park on August 8, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois
    Barry Brecheisen via Getty Images
    The Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform during the 2009 Lollapalooza music festival at Grant Park on August 8, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 16 2010 -- Erykah Badu
    Erykah Badu performs as part of Day 3 of the Lollapalooza Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
    Tim Mosenfelder via Getty Images
    Erykah Badu performs as part of Day 3 of the Lollapalooza Music Festival at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 17 2010 -- Lady Gaga
    Lady Gaga jumps into the crowd during the performance of Semi Precious Weapons at Lollapalooza at Grant Park on Aug. 6, 2010,
    Roger Kisby via Getty Images
    Lady Gaga jumps into the crowd during the performance of Semi Precious Weapons at Lollapalooza at Grant Park on Aug. 6, 2010, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 18 2010 -- Mumford & Sons
    Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons performs as part of Lollapalooza 2010 at Grant Park on Aug. 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois
    Tim Mosenfelder via Getty Images
    Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons performs as part of Lollapalooza 2010 at Grant Park on Aug. 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 19 2011 -- Lykke Li
    Lykke Li performs onstage during 2011 Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
    Roger Kisby via Getty Images
    Lykke Li performs onstage during 2011 Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 20 2011 -- Kid Cudi
    Kid Cudi performs on stage during Lollapalooza Festival 2011 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
    Daniel Boczarski via Getty Images
    Kid Cudi performs on stage during Lollapalooza Festival 2011 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 21 2011 -- Ellie Goulding
    Ellie Goulding performs during 2011 Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago.
    Timothy Hiatt via Getty Images
    Ellie Goulding performs during 2011 Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago.
  • 22 2011 -- My Morning Jacket
    Jim James (R) of My Morning Jacket performs as part of Lollapalooza 2011 - Day 2 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
    Tim Mosenfelder via Getty Images
    Jim James (R) of My Morning Jacket performs as part of Lollapalooza 2011 - Day 2 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 23 2012 -- Childish Gambino
    Childish Gambino performs during 2012 Lollapalooza at Grant Park on Aug. 5, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.
    Scott Legato via Getty Images
    Childish Gambino performs during 2012 Lollapalooza at Grant Park on Aug. 5, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 24 2012 -- Florence and the Machine
    Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine performs on stage during day three of Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 5, 2012
    Daniel Boczarski via Getty Images
    Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine performs on stage during day three of Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 5, 2012 in Chicago, United States.
  • 25 2013 -- Cat Power
    Cat Power performs during Lollapalooza 2013 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
    Taylor Hill via Getty Images
    Cat Power performs during Lollapalooza 2013 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 26 2013 -- Angel Haze
    Angel Haze performs as part of Lollapalooza 2013 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
    Tim Mosenfelder via Getty Images
    Angel Haze performs as part of Lollapalooza 2013 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 27 2014 -- Chance the Rapper
    Chance the Rapper performs during the 2014 Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
    Josh Brasted via Getty Images
    Chance the Rapper performs during the 2014 Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 28 2014 -- The Avett Brothers
    Joe Kwon and Tania Elizabeth of The Avett Brothers perform at Samsung Galaxy stage during 2014 Lollapalooza - Day 3 at G
    Theo Wargo via Getty Images
    Joe Kwon and Tania Elizabeth of The Avett Brothers perform at Samsung Galaxy stage during 2014 Lollapalooza - Day 3 at Grant Park on Aug. 3, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 29 2014 -- Krewella
    Yasmine Yousaf of Krewella performs at Lollapalooza 2014 at Grant Park on Aug. 2, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois.
    Timothy Hiatt via Getty Images
    Yasmine Yousaf of Krewella performs at Lollapalooza 2014 at Grant Park on Aug. 2, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 30 2015 -- Gary Clark Jr.
    Gary Clark Jr. performs during the 2015 Lollapalooza Music Festival at Grant Park on July 31, 2015, in Chicago, Illinois.
    C Flanigan via Getty Images
    Gary Clark Jr. performs during the 2015 Lollapalooza Music Festival at Grant Park on July 31, 2015, in Chicago, Illinois.
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