Warped Tour

Warped Tour
Genre
DatesJune–August
Location(s)United States, Canada
Years active1995–2019, 2025
FoundersKevin Lyman
Websitewww.vanswarpedtour.com
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The Warped Tour was a traveling rock tour that toured the United States and Canada each summer from 1995 until 2019. It was the largest traveling music festival in the United States[1] and the longest-running touring music festival to date in North America.[2] The festival visited Australia in 1998–2002 and again in 2013.[3][4]

Following the first Warped Tour, the skateboard shoe manufacturer Vans became the tour's main sponsor, when it then became known as the Vans Warped Tour.[5] Although Vans continued as main sponsor and lent its name to the festival, other sponsors also participated, with stages or other aspects of the festival being named after them on occasion.

Warped Tour was conceived by Kevin Lyman as an electric alternative rock festival, but later began focusing on punk rock music.[5] Although it was primarily a punk rock festival, it covered diverse genres over the years.[6][7][8]

Lyman said that the 2018 Vans Warped Tour would be the final, full cross-country run. On December 18, 2018, Lyman revealed details for the tour's 25th anniversary, with only three events in 2019.[9]

In November 2019, rumors spread that Chris Fronzak planned to bring back the Warped Tour after Lyman's retirement. On October 4, 2020, Fronzak confirmed his intent to be involved in the return of Warped Tour; however, "for legal reasons it (could not) come back for 'three years or so'".[10] In 2024, Lyman confirmed that Warped Tour would return in 2025, with the lineup yet to be announced.[11]

  1. ^ Owens, Paige (July 17, 2015). "Vans Warped Tour Pittsburgh Welcomes Local Band to the Stage". ManiacMagazine.com. Maniac Magazine. Archived from the original on August 19, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  2. ^ Hiatt, Brian (July 14, 2005). "Rock & Roll: Punk-Rock Circus-How the No Frills Warped Tour Grew into America's Most Successful Festival". Rolling Stone. p. 28.
  3. ^ Vassilev, M. (July 22, 2015). "Vans Warped Tour 2013" (PDF). Avert Risk (Draft 1 ed.). Avert Risk Management Services 201: 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  4. ^ Ho, Billy, ed. (February 26, 2013). "Still Lame: Vans Warped Tour Australia 2013". SoundsofSirens.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Waddell, Roy (July 31, 2015). "Vans Warped Tour Founder Kevin Lyman Reflects on 20th Anniversary: 'I Love It When People Talk Sh-t About Me'". Billboard. Lynne Segall. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  6. ^ newfurymedia (February 17, 2015). "Wait, They Played Warped? 10 Surprising Warped Tour Alumni". Thenewfury.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  7. ^ Crane, Matt (January 23, 2015). "10 Reasons You Should Be Especially Excited for Warped Tour This Year". Alternative Press. Cleveland, Ohio: Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  8. ^ O'Connor, Christopher (March 11, 1999). "Vans Warped Tour Goes Hip-Hop". MTV.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  9. ^ Giordano, Medea (July 3, 2018). "R.I.P. Warped Tour. At Least We Still Have Vans". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  10. ^ "News: Warped Tour Can't Legally Return Until 2023!". DeadPress.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  11. ^ Mims, Taylor (September 19, 2024). "Warped Tour to Return in 2025". Billboard.