LOLLAPALOOZA KICKOFF: “Lollapalooza” organizers maintain it’s the...

LOLLAPALOOZA KICKOFF: “Lollapalooza” organizers maintain it’s the tour concept that sells tickets for the traveling alternative-rock festival, not just the bands on the bill--and they think they’ve now got evidence of it.

Tickets went on sale recently in Chicago for a July 3 “Lollapalooza ‘93” concert before a single act was announced for the lineup, and 25,000 tickets were sold the first day, close to the capacity of the outdoor World Music Theatre.

“Last year ‘Lollapalooza’ became a giant mutation, with so much attention on Pearl Jam and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who had exploded in popularity and may have overshadowed the event itself,” says Andy Cirzan, senior talent buyer for Chicago’s Jam Productions, the promoter of the concert there. “This is the way to let the air out of that balloon and show what the name means again.”

This, though, is a one-time occurrence. There are no plans to sell tickets for any other of the tour’s dates until the announcement of a lineup, which is expected to include Alice in Chains, Arrested Development, Primus and Rage Against the Machine.