Hey friends! Remember the thrill of your first Warped Tour? I certainly do. My buddy Matt and I convinced our friend Sarah to drive us to the show in exchange for a ticket. She rolled up to my house with this lanky dude rocking bleached hair, baggy jeans, and a tank top. He might have been 18, but to me, at just 15, he seemed ancient with his non-leaking car. He sped us from Provo to Salt Lake City like we were in a Fast and Furious movie, cutting what should’ve been an hour drive in half.
It was July in the blistering heat, and those mosh pits felt like a furnace. I still remember getting punched in the face during a Deftones set, and that guy with the car left the concert looking like he’d been mauled by a bear. Can you believe that was 20 YEARS AGO?
Ah, 1998, we thought we were so cool, right? Now here we are, just a short time away from when our doctors start recommending colonoscopies. What happened to us?
For many, Warped Tour was more than just a music festival; it was our community. I went every year from 1998 until 2004, the year I tied the knot. I saw everyone from Blink-182 and Eminem to The Black Eyed Peas and Katy Perry before they hit the big time. Not to mention bands like Pennywise, Social Distortion, and NOFX, who were the soundtrack to my teenage years.
If you’re reading this, you probably feel the same nostalgia for sweaty mosh pits and those inevitable sunburns. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. After 24 years, Kevin Lyman, the founder of Warped Tour, has announced that next year will mark the festival’s final full cross-country run. In his announcement, he expressed mixed feelings about stepping away, citing a changing festival landscape, fewer bands, and a decline in ticket sales among teens as the driving factors.
It’s bittersweet, and I’m just as bummed as you are. My kids will never know the excitement of poring over that massive lineup, strategizing how to hit every stage, or the thrill of crowd surfing—only to have some jerk swipe their shoe, prompting them to do something desperate, like snagging a shoe from another crowd surfer. They’ll miss the joy of discovering a new band on a small stage and watching them grow.
While the lineup for 2018 hasn’t been officially revealed yet, names like My Chemical Romance, Blink-182, and even Katy Perry are floating around. For those feeling sentimental, there are special final tour packages that offer collectible Warped Tour Vans (but maybe don’t wear them if you plan to crowd surf!).
And for those of you who are parents, here’s a fun tidbit: if you’re accompanying your child, you get in for free! So, if you have a tween or teen who still thinks you’re somewhat cool, this might be your chance to relive those glory days. The final tour will likely feature a mix of classic bands and fresh talent that your kids will love.
Now, it’s time to reminisce together. Here’s a picture of me, fresh out of my late teens, from a Warped Tour back in ’99. Wasn’t my Kurt Cobain hair something else? Feel free to share your own throwback pics in the comments!
Thanks, Warped Tour, for all the memories. It’s been quite the ride!
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Summary: Warped Tour is wrapping up after 24 years, and nostalgia is hitting hard as fans remember their first experiences. The festival’s founder cites industry changes and declining interest among teens as reasons for the decision. Parents can accompany their kids for free on this final tour, making it a perfect opportunity to relive those unforgettable moments.
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