Kevin Lyman
Encyclopedia
Kevin Lyman is creator of a touring music and extreme sports festival called the Warped Tour
, the Taste of Chaos
, and the Mayhem tours. He also is a partner at SideOneDummy Records
. He owns 4FINI which annually produces the above-mentioned tours as well as produced past tours such as the Down From the Mountain Tour, The Watcha Tour, and Sprite Liquid Mix Tour. 4Fini is based out of Pasadena, California with 4 employees, to include Kevin. The operations manager for 4fini is Keri Lee, who worked in radio for many years. One of Kevin's most recent success' is the Coachella
and Stagecoach Festival campgrounds. He was contracted by the promoter Goldenvoice to consult on the Campgrounds. In 2007 it was reported that campground attendance was in upwards of 17,000.
and No Doubt
, shoved them on a bus and embarked on what was inevitably a financially unsuccessful, but life-affirming tour. Debating calling the whole thing off for the upcoming 1995 summer, Lyman was approached by the Vans Shoe Company to put together a skating fest. Seeing the obvious connection, Kevin jumped on the chance to incorporate their idea into his Warped Tour, and the longest-running annual tour in North America was born: The Vans Warped Tour. By 1997, the crowd was twice as large than the one in 1996 due to the fact that bands such as Blink-182
and Social Distortion
were there all year long. This still continues, and that is why it is known as "The Tour That Won't Die". Kevin also included Warped Recycling in recent Warped Tours to help get all the trash left at the shows recycled. The incentive is that if you bring the most trash to the "recycling tent" at any show out of all participants, you win $100. He also worked with Shelleylyn (owner of Tada Catering), who is the annual tour caterer, to include EarthWare as the dishware used everyday. He also started to use a mix of diesel and bio-diesel in the production buses on the tour. Kevin has openly admitted that the concept of the Warped tour was inspired by Perry Farrell, founder of Lollapalooza. Lyman was also a judge for the 7th, 9th, and 10th annual Independent Music Awards
to support independent artists. In an interview with Punknews.org Lyman said, "If it was the just the “Kevin Lyman Tour,” it’d be Bad Religion
, NOFX
, Flogging Molly
, and the Bouncing Souls all the time."
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
, the Taste of Chaos
Taste of Chaos
Taste of Chaos is a hardcore tour that was started in the winter of 2005 by Kevin Lyman, the creator of the successful Warped Tour along with friend and business partner, John Reese. The Taste Of Chaos tour caters for fans of the post-hardcore, screamo, and metal genres, while offering the same...
, and the Mayhem tours. He also is a partner at SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label whose roster focuses mostly on punk and related genres. Founded in 1995 by Joe Sib and Bill Armstrong, who continue to run it today, the label has built a reputation for its diverse roster of artists ranging from third wave ska...
. He owns 4FINI which annually produces the above-mentioned tours as well as produced past tours such as the Down From the Mountain Tour, The Watcha Tour, and Sprite Liquid Mix Tour. 4Fini is based out of Pasadena, California with 4 employees, to include Kevin. The operations manager for 4fini is Keri Lee, who worked in radio for many years. One of Kevin's most recent success' is the Coachella
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
and Stagecoach Festival campgrounds. He was contracted by the promoter Goldenvoice to consult on the Campgrounds. In 2007 it was reported that campground attendance was in upwards of 17,000.
Previous tours
- Down From the Mountain Tour
- The Watcha Tour
- Sprite Liquid Mix Tour
- This is Why Wurr Hot Tour
- Taste of Chaos
Filmography
Kevin Lyman has appeared in two films:- Punk Rock HolocaustPunk Rock HolocaustPunk Rock Holocaust is a 2004 low-budget slasher film/horror-comedy directed by Doug Sakmann. It is about a serial killer on the loose at the Vans Warped Tour who tries killing off the bands one by one, and features bands such as Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Less Than Jake, The Used, Big D and...
- Punk Rock Holocaust 2
Warped Tour
In 1994, Warped Tour started out as Kevin Lyman, a 3-year Lollapalooza veteran, took a handful of his favorite SoCal Punk & Ska bands, including SublimeSublime (band)
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...
and No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
, shoved them on a bus and embarked on what was inevitably a financially unsuccessful, but life-affirming tour. Debating calling the whole thing off for the upcoming 1995 summer, Lyman was approached by the Vans Shoe Company to put together a skating fest. Seeing the obvious connection, Kevin jumped on the chance to incorporate their idea into his Warped Tour, and the longest-running annual tour in North America was born: The Vans Warped Tour. By 1997, the crowd was twice as large than the one in 1996 due to the fact that bands such as Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
and Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
were there all year long. This still continues, and that is why it is known as "The Tour That Won't Die". Kevin also included Warped Recycling in recent Warped Tours to help get all the trash left at the shows recycled. The incentive is that if you bring the most trash to the "recycling tent" at any show out of all participants, you win $100. He also worked with Shelleylyn (owner of Tada Catering), who is the annual tour caterer, to include EarthWare as the dishware used everyday. He also started to use a mix of diesel and bio-diesel in the production buses on the tour. Kevin has openly admitted that the concept of the Warped tour was inspired by Perry Farrell, founder of Lollapalooza. Lyman was also a judge for the 7th, 9th, and 10th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
to support independent artists. In an interview with Punknews.org Lyman said, "If it was the just the “Kevin Lyman Tour,” it’d be Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
, Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly is a seven-piece Irish-descendant band from Los Angeles, California, that is currently signed to their own record label, Borstal Beat Records.-Early years:...
, and the Bouncing Souls all the time."