Lollapalooza names stage after Skrillex but the decision leaves him ‘sick to his stomach’

Skrillex has paid homage to Perry Farrell during his closing set at Lollapalooza, voicing mixed feelings about the stage rebrand.

Skrillex has reached yet another milestone: opening and closing his own stage at Lollapalooza. Nonetheless, Skrillex expressed discomfort with Lollapalooza’s decision to name a stage after him. The legendary DJ used his performance to address the issue, honoring the stage’s predecessor, Perry Farrell.

Launched in 1991, the iconic music festival announced the stage dedication to celebrate Skrillex’s significant contributions to the electronic community. However, Skrillex shared his mixture of gratitude and deference to the stage’s original namesake with the Lolla crowd.

“I think this is like my third or fourth time playing this festival,” Skrillex said, addressing the festival’s global audience. Furthermore, he said, “when they came to me and said turn it into the Sonny stage, I said no.” “That’s blasphemy,” he added, noting, “this is Perry’s stage. I can’t do that.”

Skrillex continued his speech with a nod to Farrell, urging the audience to explore the festival’s roots. “I felt kinda sick to my… he’s been a very big part of my career since the beginning,” Skrillex said. Having finally accepted the stage dedication, Skrillex naturally wanted to give “a big shoutout to Perry Farrell.”

According to Skrillex, Perry Farrell – lead vocalist of Jane’s Addiction – played a pivotal role in shaping the festival landscape. Farrell originally conceived Lollapalooza as a traveling festival to showcase a diverse lineup of bands and artists. Moreover, his contributions to music and the festival have cemented his status as a key figure in the industry.

Thanks to his vision, Lollapalooza has grown from a modest tour into a global festival phenomenon. But Farrell’s influence extends far beyond Lollapalooza. He and Jane’s Addiction also played a major role in the alternative rock movement of the 90s.

Skrillex (a.k.a. Sonny Moore) has himself been a major force in the electronic scene since his breakthrough in the early 2010s. From pioneering dubstep to making a massive comeback alongside Fred Again.. and Four Tet, there’s truly nothing this man can’t do. Ultimately, the gesture was a testament to Skrillex’s respect for Lollapalooza’s origins and Farrell’s enduring impact on the music world. To check out Skrillex’s tour dates, head over to his website.

About The Author

Ginger Ale

Having grown up just an earshot from Ultra Miami’s venue Bayfront Park, it was next to impossible for me not to fall in love with electronic music. My love for music was evidently strong enough for me to write my college essay on festival culture and continue attending Ultra for 10+ years now. I have always had a knack for writing and the power of words, which I continued cultivating through a Philosophy degree in college. Now, I am finishing up law school and hope to merge my passions by working in the music industry. I am an avid traveler and am certainly not afraid to hop on a plane for a music event. My next bucket list items to attend are Tomorrowland in Belgium and ADE in the Netherlands. Though the list could go on forever, some of my favorite artists include Franky Wah, Kevin de Vries, Eli Brown, and John Summit.

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