Reset: Lollapalooza 1991

What

2011 marks the 20^th anniversary of Lollapalooza—a certain "dammit, I’m old" realization for myself and various high school classmates. On paper, it was a dubious concept, based on an assumption that Jane’s Addiction could upsize to amphitheatres when fluffed by a series of like-minded souls from the alleged “Alternative Nation”. To the surprise of many, it worked. The annual summer caravan was a must-see proposition for us children of the Nineties. It was a place you moshed, bought really poorly made hemp necklaces, surfed archaic websites and railed about “society”, while devouring overprized slices of cold Pizza Pizza and hanging out with kids from your high school. Which OBVIOUSLY begs the question—what if we reset the entire first year line-up? Without the drama of the impending Jane’s break-up, the ferocity of Ice-T and star making sets from Nine Inch Nails, the next six summers may have sounded far different for a generation of suburban hipsters.

Components

Jane's Addiction
Siouxsie and the Banshees

Living Colour

Ice-T & Body Count

Nine Inch Nails

Butthole Surfers

Rollins Band

Replacement Parts

Jane's Addiction => Depeche Mode

This is a tough choice and I'm not entirely sure Depeche Mode were the best option. Ideally, it'd have been an American outfit headlining, but the Gunners would've been too trashy and R.E.M. too precious. Depeche Mode is the lesser of three evils and were clearly far, far more popular than Jane's Addicition at this point anyway. Yeah, not feeling it but ??? Given the timing, it's a fair bet than Dave Gahan would've died on this tour if they'd signed on.

Also considered: Guns N' Roses, R.E.M.

Siouxsie and the Banshees => The Cult

It still seems weird that the Banshees were popular enough in America to enjoy a sub-heading slot. I guess 1991 caught them at their commercial peak and a quick Wikipedia check confirms that Superstition, the album they were touring at the time, actually made the Billboard Top 40. Huh! Anyway, the Cult is a much better fit here IMHO--a proven, stadium-worthy outfit that appealed to both modern rock fans and white trash. Plus The Cult had US package tour experience with its own A Gathering of the Tribes festival a year prior in California.

Also considered: Love & Rockets, Dead Can Dance

Living Colour => Faith No More

Kinda similar, if you throw out the race card. FNM had finished cresting from "Epic"/The Real Thing by this point so Mike Patton would've likely been behaving badly on this one. Peeing on the audience. Punching the stage crew. Moshing(!!). In retrospect, it's surprising these guys never made the cut.

Also considered: The Pixies, The Replacements

Ice-T & Body Count => Public Enemy

Much like FNM, the mighty Public Enemy were starting to bottom out by 1991 yet were still courting controversy wherever they went. Apparently a solid live act, they'd have easily jived with the confrontational line-up and inspired must shoving and crowd surfing with the audience.

Also considered: N.W.A., Black Sheep

Nine Inch Nails => Skinny Puppy

This is an obvious swap, considering that Trent Reznor was still very much aping the Canadian industrial pioneer's MO in 1991. It'd be interesting see how Ogre would've managed to turn on the menace during daylight hours in midwestern amphitheatres et all.

Also considered: Sisters of Mercy, Foetus, Pop Will Eat Itself

Butthole Surfers => The KLF

An about face from the Buttholes but fitting if you consider this to be the "wacky" slot on the bill. I'm sure the unpredictable KLF/Timelords/JAMMs would have had some tricks up their sleeves and attempted to get themselves kicked off the tour. It’d probably have included a dead sheep or something. I'd give them 2-3 shows before Perry and friends gave them the boot.

Also considered: The Dwarves, Iggy Pop, The Cramps

Rollins Band => Helmet

Slow, grindy hard rock might not be the best curtain jerker for a package tour so at least Helmet would be able to bring some youth and energy, over and above the sounds that Rollins' crew could provide. They'd be pretty much unknown at this point but who knows--maybe they'd have sold a few more CDs and gotten a bit more radio play if they'd have occupied this slot. 

Also considered: Cop Shoot Cop, Unsane, Tad

Reset Rating: 7/10 

It’s solid overall. Still concerned about the headliner status—considering whether Neil Young or The Cure would be a viable alternative to the DM/Gunners/R.E.M. proposition. Otherwise, I think it works. The Dwarves are probably a more direct substitution for the Butthole Surfers. But the KLF are too underrated and far too forgotten not to make this line-up. Will have t-shirts made up shortly.