When the seeds of Coachella were first planted in 1993, it was intended as a protest against venues controlled by Ticketmaster. Grunge band Pearl Jam were disgruntled over claims that the ticketing giant had been passing on service charges to fans and driving up prices, so they set up an “alternative” concert of their own at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Despite being set in a literal desert, the location proved to be fertile ground for future events and so by 1999 a two day festival - Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival - was born. The first Coachella was small, only 37,000 people attended, but successful nonetheless, especially in comparison to the mismanagement (to put it lightly) of Woodstock 99, which was held just a few months prior.
