The 25 Greatest Coachella Performances

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is back this week, with Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator and Doja Cat headlining with an anticipated reunion from So Cal ska-punk heroes No Doubt.

We’ve rounded up the five best things to do at the festival besides listening to music if you’re heading to Indio for Weekend 1 (April 12-14) or Weekend 2 (April 19-21), but whet your appetite of upcoming performances let’s look back at some of the legends who graced the stage in the last quarter of a century.

Here are the headlines from Coachella’s 25-year history.

Rage Against The Machine kick things off with a bang – 1999

The inaugural Coachella in 1999 was headlined by Beck, Tool and Rage Against The Machine. It was the latter band, who had just played Woodstock ’99, that made a big and loud impact. The band broke up the following year shortly after releasing their fourth record Apostates. Where did they choose for their 2007 meeting? Coachella’s main stage, of course.

Jane’s Addiction reunion – 2001

Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell is best known as the founder of the touring extravaganza Lollapalooza, but he also found time to help the fledgling Coachella festival in 2001 by reuniting his band for the first time in years. 90’s and provide a full set.

Iggy and the Stooges, finally back together – 2003

Before the 2003 edition of Coachella, Iggy Pop had not performed with his brothers Ron and Scott Asheton for 30 years. After headlines from The White Stripes and The Beastie Boys, was the first group the Stooges put together that brought the party to an exciting climax by providing raw energy on time.

Wayne Coyne surfs in the bubble – 2004

Coachella was sold out for the first time in 2004, helped by the long-awaited reunion of the powerful Pixies, but that was not the only memorable performance of the weekend. The Flaming Lips’ set is best remembered for Wayne Coyne’s first moment when the crowd surrounded the audience with a human-sized plastic balloon.

New Order Ian Curtis Tribute – 2005

Playing Coachella a month before the 25th^th commemorating the tragic death of their bandmate Ian Curtis, New Order did something they hadn’t done in nearly two decades – they played Joy Division songs. Powerfully moving performances of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and “Transmission” provided the best moments of the year.

Daft Punk’s game-changing pyramid – 2006

Arguably the most popular and influential Coachella performance of all time – at least before Beyoncé. Daft Punk took to the festival’s Sahara Tent in a pyramid that looked eerily like a spaceship and proceeded to deliver a world-class performance that changed dance music . It had such an impact on a generation of young producers that this show was to EDM what the Sex Pistols at the Manchester Free Trade Hall were to punk.

Amy Winehouse defines the era – 2007

2007 saw headliners from Björk, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine reunited. However, it was more the British soul singer that captured the public’s attention. Like Deputy He wrote: “Amy may not have headlined the festival, but she was Coachella 2007’s star, a star-studded and raucous ensemble that defined the moment.” While performing at the peak of her powers, Winehouse was joined by Paris Hilton and Kelly Osbourne and even found time for a backstage photo shoot with Danny DeVito.

Roger Waters Proves Pigs Can Fly – 2008

2008 is remembered for Prince’s amazing headline act and for Roger Waters pulling double duty, playing his own set and a full set of Pink Floyd’s. Dark of the Moon. During “Pigs” he released a two-story inflatable pig into the skies. The picture of the pig had the words, “Don’t be sent to the slaughter” painted on it next to a funny picture of Uncle Sam holding two bloody rags, so that do not be someone who accuses the Waters treacherously.

Morrissey flew off stage after smelling “burning flesh” – 2009

When he played on Friday night, shortly before the vegetarian Paul McCartney, the frontman of the Smiths brought his show to an end after catching the smell of meat in the air. “I can smell it burning flesh.. .and I hope to God it’s human,” Morrissey said before closing his mouth and walking into “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others”. He finally returned to the stage, saying: ” The smell of burnt animals made me sick. I couldn’t stand it.”

Phoenix survived the volcano – 2010

Back in 2010, a series of volcanic eruptions in Iceland grounded flights across the Atlantic. That meant many bands, including The Cribs and Gary Numan, couldn’t make it to Coachella. Although French indie rockers Phoenix managed to arrive on time, their lighting technology did not, leaving them with no choice but to perform in front of the lights. soft white. It turned out to be just what they needed, and their set went down so well that they were asked to return to headline 2013.

Kanye touch the sky – 2011

The news that Kanye West has dropped out of this year’s Coachella will disappoint anyone who saw his first triumphant headlining set back in 2011. West set the stage by appearing on the main stage on ‘a crane that shines 30ft above thousands of amazing fans. There was only one unheard question on his lips: “Can we go higher than that?”

Resurrection of Tupac – 2012

During the closing ceremony hosted by Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, rapper Tupac appeared to join them, undeterred by the fact that he died in 1996. His hologram appearance surprised fans and divided critics, but Tupac’s “Hail Mary” and “2 of Americaz Most Wanted” were certainly memorable.

Fall Out Boy made a surprise appearance during 2 Chainz’s set – 2013

As unexpected collaborations go, rapper 2 Chainz’s production of emo rockers Fall Out Boy’s “Songs I Know What You’re Doing in the Dark (Remix)” is definitely up there. Fans of the Georgian singer were very surprised by the whole incident, although he said: “I’m not just here to save hip-hop, I’m here to save rock and roll.”

Nas celebrates Illmatic and Jay-Z and Diddy – 2014

Nas knew they were 20^th commemorating his rap genre-defining album Illmatic was something to be celebrated, so for his midnight set in 2014 he was helped by several images: Jay-Z made a surprise appearance with “Dead Presidents”, while Diddy come on stage for “Hate Me Now”.

Madonna praises Drake – 2015

Drake’s closing Sunday night at Coachella 2015 is best remembered for the moment when Madonna herself interrupted the Canadian singer’s “Madonna” performance by crying on stage, singing a few of his songs and planting a smooch long, passionate. headache. Looking confused, Drake could only laugh: “What just happened?”

Axl Rose and Slash hide the hatchet – 2016

Coachella has built a reputation for bringing bands back together long after they’ve seemingly called it quits. In 2016 they brought back not only LCD Soundsystem but also Guns N’ Roses, with frontman Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan playing together at a major event for the first time since 1993. Sadly, metatarsal pierced meant that Rose had to do. from a straight seat out Game of Thronesbut in good news fans are enjoying an outing from AC/DC guitarist Angus Young.

Lady Gaga heads the bill, and a movie star is born – 2017

Lady Gaga’s 2017 headline set showcased the pop icon at her best, from laid-back bangers to soulful piano ballads like “Edge of Glory”, which proved to be a true anointed one. After that, he dusted himself off and shot pictures with Bradley Cooper that would continue to be used in 2018. A Star Is Born.

Beyonce (and her band) win Beychella – 2018

Beyonce was scheduled to perform at Coachella in 2017 before she found out she was pregnant. He finally took the stage in 2018 for such a spectacular performance that by the time the festival was over it was called “Beychella” for a while. The whole production was so important that it formed the basis of his documentary film To return home, which shed light on the eight months of study and rehearsal that brought the historic concert to the stage.

Kanye takes Coachella to church – 2019

When Kayne West returned to Coachella in 2019 for his Sunday Service performance, he offered a truly religious experience. Not only were there gospel singers and celebrities from Donald Glover and Chance The Rapper, but everything took place on top of a purpose-built grass hill on the festival grounds. party. It was rumored that West would have performed on the main stage of the festival, but it is clear that this was the same hill West West was ready to die.

Billie Eilish becomes the youngest person to headline – 2022

Billie Eilish’s Coachella career didn’t get off to a good start: When she made her first concert in 2019, at just 17 years old, the pop prodigy’s band was hit by sound problems and technical problems. After three years, he decided who he was. His placement on the main stage in 2022 made him, at the age of 20, the youngest artist ever to headline the festival. He may have been old enough to wear one of the party’s 21+ wristbands, but he delivered a performance with energy and verve that used the cameos from artists including R&B star Khalid and Blur’s Damon Albarn, or, as he’s known in America, Damon Albarn of Gorillaz.

Blackpink makes history as the first headliners of K-pop – 2023

Blackpink – made up of singers Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa – have a history when it comes to Coachella. In 2019 they made their American debut as they became the first Korean girl group to play the festival, and in 2023 they made a triumphant return as the first K-pop headliners of Coachella. Onstage, Rosé called the moment “a dream come true” – a sentiment shared by the group’s loyal fans, known as Blinks, who came in droves to greet their heroes.