LOLLAPOST-MORTEM: Well before the Santa Fe Dam...

LOLLAPOST-MORTEM: Well before the Santa Fe Dam parking lot emptied after the final “Lollapalooza ‘93” show last weekend--of course, that was a long time after the show ended--organizers were already thinking about what to do differently next year, or whether to do it at all. Co-organizer Ted Gardner said backstage that with others having taken on the “Lollapalooza” format--notably Blues Traveler’s H.O.R.D.E. tour and Peter Gabriel’s world music WOMAD trek--”Lollapalooza” must change in order to have a distinctive edge.

If Gardner wants a few suggestions from fans, Pop Eye can provide them. While a quick poll of some audience members on the final day showed overwhelming support for another year, several complaints about this year were heard repeatedly, mostly about the price of food and goods in the park and fans not being allowed to bring in their own food or drink. With sodas going for around $3 and meals upward from $5, the long, hot day got expensive for people who had already paid $36 to get in.

Gardner maintains that with eight bands and a variety of other entertainments, fans got good value for their money, and that food prices were fair.

Despite the complaints, fans generally favored the park-like setting over the fixed-seat Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, where the L.A. area “Lollapalooza” shows were held the past two years. Paul Tollett, co-owner of Goldenvoice, the firm that promoted the Santa Fe Dam shows, said that he wouldn’t hesitate to return there next year.

“But I’m not sure it should be there next year because it’s already been there,” he said. “That may be a good reason to change. But I liked the place.”