act thats had the biggest impact on Coachella

[WhatLies]

Since 1999, Coachella has seen 1000’s of musicians come and go and despite this fact there are a few performances that have undoubtedly changed the course of history at Coachella. This poll is an attempt by me to narrow down the 10 artists I believe that have made said impact. I’m probably one of the last people from this forum that should be doing this, as my selection of acts is mostly academic (I’ve only been part of this for 5 years, some of you have been here from the beginning and have seen the changes of this festival first hand). That said, here are the 10 artists that I would argue that have made the greatest impact. Feel free to add any act that you feel I have snubbed, maybe we could revise this thread into something better.

Pixies: The reunion act of all reunion acts. Pixies were the first big name reunion act that chose Coachella as the location for their 10 year reunion. Considering their influence on musicians today, Pixies gave goldenvoice, or more importantly, Coachella the nod as being the place to start your reunion. If it weren’t for Pixies coming together, radiohead wouldn’t of played creep and Coachella probably would never have gained the reputation for being THE festival that can bring anyone back together.

Daft Punk: 2006 was when the legend of daft punk and the infamous pyramid began. Not much left to say

Rage Against the Machine: Reunion that had everyone lose their shit. If I have my facts right, 2007 was the first year Coachella sold out, which was directly caused by RAGE headlining.

Prince: Wasn’t there in 2008 but everyone keeps praising his set. I don’t really have an argument on how he’s had a lasting impacted Coachella but I can argue that he saved 2008 from bankrupting this festival.

Paul McCartney: 3.5 hour set at Coachella with a living-breathing beetle. Macca headlining was HUGE at the time. No festival in North America had been able to land him at the time. Friday sold out that year, and ever since then, Coachella has seen good fortune.

Chemical Brothers: 99, 01, 02, 05, 09, 11. They have played six coachellas and were the biggest EDM act billed for every Coachella they’ve played. They are EDM legends and one of the biggest reasons why EDM has been successful at Coachella.


Jay-Z: When Jay-Z headlined in 2010, he redefined what a Coachella headliner could be. The scope and demographic of what Coachella could attract changed the moment Jay-Z walked onto stage. His set was a huge success and one could argue that he put Coachella on the map for the average music fan. Since he played, Coachella has sold out 4 consecutive years, with each year highlighting the biggest names in hip hop. I’m not saying that his set was the best of all time, but it’s clear to most of us that he set the precedent for the “new rap headliner formula” and he has brought a new crowd to Coachella.

Swedish House Mafia: These guys had the biggest negative impact on Coachella. Ever since they came the sahara has been full of cheese house and SHM is the archetypical group that had brought this disease to Coachella. Brochella has gone to a whole new level and I blame it on ingrossoaxwellandwhoeverthefuckthelastguyis making some fucking noise.

Dre & Snoop: Considering the amount of guests that played with Dre and the fact that the tupac hologram debuted here is what makes this set legendary. Mainstream media couldn’t stop talking about the hologram. That sort of buzz cannot go unnoticed here.

Arcade Fire: Coachella’s indie rock Cinderella story. They’ve worked their way from the bottom of the poster and have now (or are going to) headline Coachella twice. Their impact on Coachella is indirect, as they are more of a representation of what Coachella is all about. Rather than changing the demographics of the festival, they have kept its integrity. It would have been awesome seeing them play the outdoor in 2005 to the ball drop in 2011.

[gillster17]

Looking at the poll I wouldnt say they had the biggest impact overall, but my mom who lives in a small town in illinois knew what coachella was after dre and snoop which is a pretty insane to me.

[Boourns]

Macca did not play for 3.5 hours. He was scheduled to start at 10, was at least 10 minutes late, and was over by 1.

2007 was not the first sell-out. 2004 and 2006 did, although not nearly as fast.

Iggy and the Stooges were also a major reunion. And Siouxsie and the Banshees. And Jane's Addiction.

[tyles]

The first time Coachella actually sold out a day was in 2004, if I remember correctly.

The Sahara was full of cheese house well before SHM was there.

Also, are we overstating the Pixies, while downplaying Jane's Addiction literally saving the festival in 2001? Just a thought.

I had the above in the first non-poll version of this you had.

[travelfan]

Dre and Snoop clearly had the biggest impact on catapulting Coachella to the mainstream. Before 2012, I had to explain what Coachella was to most people. After 2012, when 2Pac was all over the media, it felt like overnight everybody knew, including people much older than me (grandparents, co-workers, bosses, that sort of thing). I wouldn't say they had the biggest impact on the festival in and of itself, but I think they were the act that clearly set Coachella above all other American music festivals in the public perception. In 2011, I would say that Lollapalooza, Coachella, Bonnaroo, and ACL were all at the same level...Coachella's shadow just seems so much bigger than the other three now, and I don't think the Dre/Snoop/2Pac thing is solely responsible, but the shock of the hologram sort of captured the momentum of the festival as a whole into one shareable media-friendly moment.

As for SHM, I would say Coachella's Sahara lineup was cheesey heavy starting at least in 2010 (Guetta, Kaskade, Benassi, deadmau5, Tiesto) so I don't think they were that influential.

Jane's Addiction needs to be up there seeing as how they literally saved the festival.

[WhatLies]

Swedish House brought it to a whole new level though. Yes it was around but the edc goers weren't clamoring for coachella before swedish house mafia played.

Good point about Janes, I should of put them on the list. BTW when was your first coachella travel fan?

[getbetter]

What is Jane's Addiction.

[WhatLies]

I had the above in the first non-poll version of this you had.

yeah I saw that, my bad

[purplecow]

I voted Dre/Snoop cuz dat hologram

[mikey1313666]

I honestly think if Prince wouldn't have been added to the lineup, Coachella would not be considered the massive festival is today.

[chaz86]

Arcade Fire in 2011 was honestly the best show I have ever seen. And they weren't even near one of my favorite bands at the time. The show they put on and the energy they had, and those balls dropping on my face just put that icing all over me. Mm

[sonofhal]

You can't beat balls dropping on your face.

[GuyInTucson]

I am surprised Radiohead isn't on this list. Not much of a fan, myself, but their impact on the festival from 2004 to today is certainly significant.

[DFrank]

Daft Punk: "Not much to say"

Over half the people will say Daft Punk and that's your summary.

Very objective, im assuming you're the 1 person who voted for Jay Z

[TonyWonder]

Pearl Jam

[kronz420]

^Correct answer

[Neighborhood Creep]

I can't tell you how many people asked me about that stupid Tupac hologram when I got back home. That alone earns my vote

[amyzzz]

I'd like to say Daft Punk, but seeing Paul was really great, and I've gotten to see him a couple more times since then. And where have Daft Punk been? Not touring.

[paulb]

Daft Punk's insane craze started at Coachella, but I think their brand is what exploded, not Coachellas.... Coachella getting Rage Against The Machine in 2007, the insanely fast sellout, changing the brand to 3 days... I think that had the biggest impact on Coachella.

[JustSteve]

The act that had the biggest impact on Coachella was the sex act Paul's parents engaged in many moons ago.

[chaz86]

I am surprised Radiohead isn't on this list. Not much of a fan, myself, but their impact on the festival from 2004 to today is certainly significant.

I'm not surprised at all after the 2012 show they put on. The best part of that set was I caught a hula hoop, and kept it.

[WhatLies]

Daft Punk's insane craze started at Coachella, but I think their brand is what exploded, not Coachellas....

This. Of course there's a symbiotic element to a show but coachella is where the legend of daft punk grew, not the other way around. For that I'm a little bit disappointed in the poll results but yet again anytime daft punk is an option, they will undoubtedly win.

[WhatLies]

Over half the people will say Daft Punk and that's your summary.

Very objective, im assuming you're the 1 person who voted for Jay Z

why make an argument for something that's already been defined?

[kvnty]

You can't beat balls dropping on your face.

you just said a mouthful, guurl

[Electrotek]

What is Jane's Addiction.

They pretty much saved the festival more than any of the acts IMO. If it weren't for them Coachella would never have existed.

[Twattycakes]

Rage. Done.