Claim OwnershipInside the Big Day Out
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Description
For music fans across Australia, The Big Day Out was a rite of passage headlined by some of the biggest names in music. Like Lollapalooza and Glastonbury, it was a summer's day out in the sun with mates and an introduction to mind-blowing music. For the people who created it, it was a wild ride of legendary line-ups and backstage shenanigans — until it fell apart.
In this 5-part series, Australia's ABC Radio's Double J takes you inside the story of this iconic music festival. Meet the characters who kept this juggernaut rolling and find out what really went down on tour; from the coup of securing Nirvana in its first year in 2001, to its tumultuous downfall in 2014, and all the partying in between. Follow the story of the rise and rise, then sudden demise of Australia’s Big Day Out.
Host: Gemma Pike
Producer: Gab Burke
Supervising Producer: Mike Williams
Executive Producer: Meagan Loader
Sound Engineers: John Jacobs, Tim Jenkins
Theme music: Lindsay McDougall
Music: Hamish Camilleri
Artwork: Brad Cook
Digital Team: Dan Condon, Luanne Shneier
In this 5-part series, Australia's ABC Radio's Double J takes you inside the story of this iconic music festival. Meet the characters who kept this juggernaut rolling and find out what really went down on tour; from the coup of securing Nirvana in its first year in 2001, to its tumultuous downfall in 2014, and all the partying in between. Follow the story of the rise and rise, then sudden demise of Australia’s Big Day Out.
Host: Gemma Pike
Producer: Gab Burke
Supervising Producer: Mike Williams
Executive Producer: Meagan Loader
Sound Engineers: John Jacobs, Tim Jenkins
Theme music: Lindsay McDougall
Music: Hamish Camilleri
Artwork: Brad Cook
Digital Team: Dan Condon, Luanne Shneier
5 Episodes
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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]
1The 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
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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.
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.
It was around this time that crowds stopped going up and down, and started going side to side. The mosh started getting nasty.
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
1st episode is epic. Brings back so many memories of all the Big Days Out I attended many years ago. Keep the goodness coming!
I managed to get tickets to the 97 big day out. what a show! Patti Smith, Beasts Of Bourbon, Soundgarden, Insurge