Big Day Out Lees and West Split - Noise11.com
Chris Cornell - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Chris Cornell - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Big Day Out Lees and West Split

by Paul Cashmere on November 1, 2011

in Live,News,Noise Pro

The Lennon & McCartney of Australian music festivals Vivian Lees and Ken West have split.

Chris Cornell - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Chris Cornell - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

For 20 years Lees & West produced The Big Day Out, the juggernaut of Australian music festivals. The Big Day Out became the template that every other Australian concert promoter copied to create a music festival.

The Lees and West split comes ahead of the big one, the 20th Big Day Out in January 2012 featuring Soundgarden and Kanye West.

Vivian Lees has walked away from his co-creation. Christie Eliezer today published Vivian’s statement. “After 20 wonderful years as co-producer of the Big Day Out Festival I have decided to move on. My decision is principally to ease the workload on myself and I believe this will also allow me to increase my commitment to my family and interests outside of Big Day Out.

“For the first time in my life I will be stepping off the gas a little instead of stepping on it and I am looking forward to new challenges I may find outside the Big Day Out.

“I am a passionate supporter of the Big Day Out and the musical legacy I have created with Ken West who will now continue to produce the show as sole producer.

“To all my friends and supporters, the loyal and committed Big Day Out staff and the legions of Big Day Out audience members I thank you and I will always be indebted to you for keeping me in such a great job for so long.”

Related Posts

Daft Punk photo by Tim Cashmere, Noise11, photo
Daft Punk Become First French Act To Top Australian Chart

Daft Punk climbs a place from their No.2 debut last week to claim the ARIA Singles Chart crown with the track “Get Lucky”, making them the first French Group to take the honor, plus the track is now Gold (●) in sales.

May 5, 2013
Pink at the Forum Theatre 2012
Pink The Truth About Love Was Australia’s Top Album Of 2012

Pink had the biggest selling album of 2012 in Australia with 'The Truth About Love.

January 8, 2013
Paul Kelly - Image By Damien Loverso, Noise11, Photo
Paul Kelly, Bamboos, Lanie Lane To Perform At 2012 Independent Music Awards

Paul and Dan Kelly, The Bamboos with Tim Rogers, Lanie Lane, and more will perform at the 2012 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards.

September 5, 2012
Nero - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Parklife Line-up Includes Nero, Presets And Passion Pit

Here is the line-up for Parklife 2012 and it includes The Presets, Nero and Passion Pit as well as Plan B, Tame Impala and Chairlife.

June 19, 2012
Sigur Ros
Beck and Sigur Ros Expected To Appear On Harvest Festival, 2012

Fans of Sigur Ros and Beck fans had better make sure they have some festival money lying around because the second annual Harvest Festival is expected to be announced soon and according to one industry insider, Sigur Ros and Beck going to be on it.

May 30, 2012
Everclear
Everclear Announce Australian Tour

Portland alt-rockers Everclear return to Australian audiences after 14 years .

May 28, 2012
Flight Of The Conchords
Flight Of The Conchords Add Another Perth Show

Kiwi comic folk duo Flight Of The Conchords book their third stadium show in Perth. Madness.

May 24, 2012