1992
This was the year that changed Australian music festivals.
It was the
first year for the Big Day Out. It was
only held in Sydney, with an attendance of 9,500 people. There where 21
bands and only three stages. Heading that year was Nirvana. There was not a
single injury that day, but one complaint, not enough time to see everything.
That day 9,500 people consumed 55,000 cans of beer and spirits and other
substances.
Nirvana, picture from the website Nirvana Photo Gallery
1993
This year the Big Day Out expanded to Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, with a total attendance of 46,000. There where 10 bands that toured nationally and the rest of the line up was made up of local bands, from each state. All up there were 1000 bands participating. Also this year kicked off the first skateboard demonstration for Big Day Out. Paul Jeep and Tas Papps couldn't believe how much attention they attracted, both at the time were among the nations best ramp riders.
1994
The Big Day Out expanded once again, this time the Gold Coast and Auckland, NZ were included. Increasing to the current total of six shows. The attendance was growing in all cities, this year 120,000 people turned up to see acts like the Smashing Pumpkins and You Am I. They also introduced a techno rave room which is now know as the Boiler room. An art exhibition was also introduced.
1995
130,00 people attended in total to see acts like Hole, Off Spring, Sliverchair, Ministry and Primal Scream.
1996
Attendance rose up by 10,000, a total of 140,000 people. Jabba from Channel V hit the Big Day Out in four states and said "it's hard to pick highlights from a line up as good as this". Some of the bands that played that year were the Prodigy, Rancid, Rage Against The Machine, Tism and Regurgitator.
1997
This year was the year that the Big Day Out would finish. With an attendance of 210,000 people and a great line up, it finished in style. This year was quoted as "the very last and biggest" Big Day Out. It would go down in rock history. Ms Lees and Mr West decided to give it all up because they wanted to explore other things and said " the pressure of organising such a big event is very stressful". Some of the bands that played were Fear Factory, Prodigy, Bodyjar, The Off Spring, Frenzal Rhomb, Supergrass and Spiderbait.
Rage Against The Machine,
Photo from the official site