Lollapalooza, the legendary multi-artist festival that forever changed the face of music, returns with a new and astounding 2003 North American tour featuring an incredible lineup of some of music’s most vital artists, a fully interactive extravaganza with a wealth of new sights, sounds and experiences, and its dedication to diversity and spectacle more pronounced than ever. The 2003 tour kicks off on July 5th in Indianapolis, IN. A full list of confirmed tour dates is below.

   Founded in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza has exposed millions of people to scores of new musical artists, cultural trends, lifestyle alternatives and political points of view over its seven outings, leading Spin magazine to rate it the “#1 Tour that Changed the World.”

   “Lollapalooza’s mission is to be great and wonderful, to speak to people and speak for the earth, and to embody music’s power to bring people together,” says Farrell. “It was created to share the bountiful gifts that our culture holds, and now it’s returning to enjoy its permanent place in that culture.”

   The Lollapalooza 2003 mainstage again features a deeply diverse lineup of bands driven by a passion for music and dedicated to pushing its boundaries:

   Jane’s Addiction returns to claim its original headlining slot, with Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins joined by new bassist Chris Chaney previewing new material live and with a devastating new album, Strays, to be released on Capitol Records on July 22nd.

   In the spirit of rock’s legendary supergroups, two of the most important bands of the nineties pooled their talents to create Audioslave. Produced by Rick Rubin, the band’s platinum-selling self-titled debut album features former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell (Vocals) and Rage Against The Machine's Tim Commerford (Bass), Tom Morello (Guitar), and Brad Wilk (Drums).

   Incubus, after touring virtually non-stop for over two years in support of their multi-platinum album, Morning View, took a short break, recruited new bassist Ben Kenney (formerly of the Roots) and has started writing for their fourth full-length album (due early 2004).

   With their bonecrushing and beautiful latest release, Songs For The Deaf, continuing to conquer the world (and critics’ top ten lists) with the hits “No One Knows” and “Go with the Flow,” the Queens of the Stone Age will take to the Lollapalooza stage with their own brand of rock n roll depravity.

   Jurassic 5 are four Los Angeles-based MCs and two DJs who have garnered a truly dedicated following in the U.S. and abroad. MCs Chali 2na, Zaakir (Soup), Akil and Marc 7 and DJs Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark have released two critically acclaimed albums on Interscope: Quality Control (2000) and Power in Numbers (2002).

   The Donnas have kicked down the doors of rock’s boys’ room with a Chuck Taylor-ed foot. Their major label debut, Spend the Night, was recently released and features the hits “Take it Off” and “Who Invited You.”

   A Perfect Circle is not a side project. It is not a hobby for any of those involved. It does not represent the beginning of anything. It is the continuation and the furtherance of many extraordinary musical ideas.

   The Blender Magazine Second Stage, a fertile launching pad for developing artists, will this year feature streetwise punkers the Distillers, moody, “Jackass” madman Steve-O, as well as British dance/rock alchemists The Music, alternative metal conceptualists Cave In, neo-Southern rockers Kings of Leon, indie-pop buzzband Rooney, white-hot garage kings the Mooney Suzuki, underground rap guru, MC Supernatural, blistering hard rock trio Burning Brides, progressive rock upstarts 30 Seconds to Mars, the exotic Bellydance Superstars, hot, hot BoySetsFire, and melodic Bay Area rebels Fingertight as well as a local band performing an opening set in each market..

   Lollapalooza’s bustling midway will once again provide an abundance of new sights, sounds, tastes and experiences. Concertgoers will immerse themselves in new worlds of video game competitions, interactive wireless spectacles, exotic foods and adventurous art. And be on the lookout for participatory games that find attendees met with surprises like being whisked backstage moments before Jane’s Addiction hits the stage for a cat’s eye view. In short, no two concertgoers will have the same experience.

   And Lollapalooza’s World of Just (Be)Causes will feature both local and national nonprofits addressing a range of social issues, continuing the festival’s commitment to progressive politics and new points of view, with a particular focus on providing information about the world of alternate energies.

“As town criers we’re very interested in promoting alternative fuel,” says Farrell. “We’re in danger of losing every environmental law written in this country, and the voice that reaches out furthest is a musical one.”