What started as a Violent Femmes headline tour with Nirvana supporting, ended in a one-day music festival with 21 bands. When Nirvana released Nevermind just before coming to Australia, the Big Day Out found themselves dealing with the biggest band in the world.Host: Gemma PikeProducer: Gab BurkeSupervising Producer: Mike WilliamsExecutive Producer: Meagan LoaderSound Engineers: John Jacobs, Tim JenkinsTheme music: Lindsay McDougallMusic: Hamish CamilleriArtwork: Brad CookDigital Team: Dan Condon, Luanne Shneier
The Big Day Out expands quickly and becomes a national touring circus. Every music fan wants to go, and every artist wants to play. There were raucous backstage antics, with many bands treating the tour like a holiday. But as the festival grows, so does the pressure.Host: Gemma PikeProducer: Gab BurkeSupervising Producer: Mike WilliamsExecutive Producer: Meagan LoaderSound Engineers: John Jacobs, Tim JenkinsTheme music: Lindsay McDougallMusic: Hamish CamilleriArtwork: Brad CookDigital Team: Dan Condon, Luanne ShneierPhotography: Sophie HowarthWith thanks to Channel [V]
The 2001 Big Day Out ends in tragedy with the death of Jessica Michalik during Limp Bizkit’s Sydney set. Jessica’s best friend Liza Ryan was with her and shared the emotional story of the music fan behind the headline. Phil Jamieson from Grinspoon recalls performing at her memorial.Host: Gemma PikeProducer: Gab BurkeSupervising Producer: Mike WilliamsExecutive Producer: Meagan LoaderSound Engineers: John Jacobs, Tim JenkinsTheme music: Lindsay McDougallMusic: Hamish CamilleriArtwork: Brad CookDigital Team: Dan Condon, Luanne ShneierPhotography: Sophie HowarthWith thanks to Channel [V]
While ticket sales soared to hundreds of thousands in the 2000s, artistic differences led to a breaking point in the founder's relationship. The manager, who has been holding everything together, ends up in rehab, and the festival starts to unravel.Host: Gemma PikeProducer: Gab BurkeSupervising Producer: Mike WilliamsExecutive Producer: Meagan LoaderSound Engineers: John Jacobs, Tim JenkinsTheme music: Lindsay McDougallMusic: Hamish CamilleriArtwork: Brad CookDigital Team: Dan Condon, Luanne ShneierPhotography: Sophie Howarth
Not able to agree on two headliners for the 2014 show, the duelling owners book three. To break even, the festival will need to break records. The original founder is on the verge of losing everything. Hasty decisions are made to salvage a cultural icon, but the ship is sinking.Host: Gemma PikeProducer: Gab BurkeSupervising Producer: Mike WilliamsExecutive Producer: Meagan LoaderSound Engineers: John Jacobs, Tim JenkinsTheme music: Lindsay McDougallMusic: Hamish CamilleriArtwork: Brad CookDigital Team: Dan Condon, Luanne ShneierPhotography: Sophie Howarth
Melissa Green
Wow. So many memories. Sad BDO is no longer and such a shame it ended the way it did. I met my husband at the BDO in 2002 at Melbourne Showgrounds. Connected during the Jurassic 5 set. Basement Jaxx in the Boiler Room playing ' Where's Your Head At?' was unforgettable. We still go to loads of festivals but BDO will always ha e a special place in our hearts. Nothing else like it.
Pogla
As a punter I thought "Why not go to Soundwave?". It was slightly cheaper, and had more bands that I liked. If it weren't for volunteering with groups like Loveworks I never would have seen the BDO in its final years. I also would have missed out on bands like Tool and Violent Femmes.
Pogla
It was around this time that crowds stopped going up and down, and started going side to side. The mosh started getting nasty.
Nicole
Had my first eva eccie at my first BDO and went and saw the Chemical Bros in the boiler room, where I watched a group of people snort coke off a credit card whilst moshing!!!!! Will always be cemented in my memories! Great podcast
carissa small
1st episode is epic. Brings back so many memories of all the Big Days Out I attended many years ago. Keep the goodness coming!