Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Irvine)
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with amphitheatres in Georgia, Missouri, or Virginia.
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Irvine (formerly Irvine Meadows and officially Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Los Angeles) is a 16,085-capacity amphitheater, located in Irvine, California
. Most of the amphitheater's seating is reserved (10,174); the lawn holds the other 5,911 spectators.
Built as Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in the 1980s, the name was changed to Verizon in 2000.
Despite its official full name, the amphitheater is actually located in Orange County
rather than Los Angeles
. The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre is currently Orange County's largest amphitheater. Until the opening of the Irvine Spectrum entertainment center and the nearby Quail Hill development, the amphitheater was located closer to neighborhoods and shopping centers in nearby Lake Forest
and Laguna Hills
than it was to neighborhoods and retail activity in the city of Irvine. The amphitheater is located at 8808 Irvine Center Drive, just to the southwest of the El Toro Y
, where I-5 meets I-405
. The land the amphitheater occupies is owned by the Irvine Company
.
Since 1987, it has been the summer home of the Pacific Symphony
Orchestra.
The amphitheatre has played host to music festivals, including The Uproar Festival
, The Area2 Festival
, The Gigantour
, Projekt Revolution
, Lollapalooza
and Lilith Fair
.
A benefit concert for then-recently deceased Social Distortion
guitarist Dennis Danell
, dubbed "When the Angels Sing", took place here on May 6, 2000. On the bill were The Offspring
, Pennywise
, X, TSOL
and Social Distortion. The benefit concert also marked Social Distortion's first show with Danell's permanent replacement Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham
.
It is home to the annual KROQ Weenie Roast
, except in 2000.
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Irvine (formerly Irvine Meadows and officially Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Los Angeles) is a 16,085-capacity amphitheater, located in Irvine, California
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
. Most of the amphitheater's seating is reserved (10,174); the lawn holds the other 5,911 spectators.
Built as Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in the 1980s, the name was changed to Verizon in 2000.
Despite its official full name, the amphitheater is actually located in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
rather than Los Angeles
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
. The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre is currently Orange County's largest amphitheater. Until the opening of the Irvine Spectrum entertainment center and the nearby Quail Hill development, the amphitheater was located closer to neighborhoods and shopping centers in nearby Lake Forest
Lake Forest, California
Lake Forest is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 77,264 at the 2010 census.Lake Forest incorporated as a city on December 20, 1991. Prior to a vote of the residents in that year, the community had formerly been known as El Toro since the 1880s...
and Laguna Hills
Laguna Hills, California
Laguna Hills is a city located in southern Orange County, California, United States. Its name refers to its proximity to Laguna Canyon and the much older Laguna Beach. Other newer cities nearby—Laguna Niguel and Laguna Woods—are similarly named.-Geography:...
than it was to neighborhoods and retail activity in the city of Irvine. The amphitheater is located at 8808 Irvine Center Drive, just to the southwest of the El Toro Y
El Toro Y
The El Toro "Y" is a freeway interchange in southern Orange County, California where the Santa Ana Freeway, Interstate 5, and the San Diego Freeway, Interstate 405 merge...
, where I-5 meets I-405
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
. The land the amphitheater occupies is owned by the Irvine Company
Irvine Company
The Irvine Company is a privately held real estate development company based in Newport Beach, Orange County, Southern California. The corporate center of the company lies in Newport Center. A large portion of its operations are centered in and around the City of Irvine, a planned city of 250,000...
.
Since 1987, it has been the summer home of the Pacific Symphony
Pacific Symphony
The Pacific Symphony is a symphony orchestra located in Orange County, California. The orchestra performs at the Renée and Henry Segerstom Concert Hall, part of the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California...
Orchestra.
The amphitheatre has played host to music festivals, including The Uproar Festival
Uproar Festival
The Uproar Festival, also called the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, is an annual hard rock/heavy metal tour inaugurated in 2010 by John Reese and sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink. The tour was also created by John Oakes, Darryl Eaton and Ryan Harlacher from the Creative Artists Agency,...
, The Area2 Festival
Area Festival
The Area Festival was a music festival founded by popular electronic musician Moby, who asserted that he was "in large part, inspired by the ethos of Lollapalooza", and wished to create a similarly "genuinely eclectic, interesting, alternative music festival". Moby organized the first such...
, The Gigantour
Gigantour
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal music festival organized by Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia...
, Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution is a music festival hosted by Linkin Park, bringing artists of various genres of music together. Linkin Park started Projekt Revolution in the year 2002 with just one stage...
, Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
and Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
.
A benefit concert for then-recently deceased 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...
guitarist Dennis Danell
Dennis Danell
Dennis Eric Danell was the founding guitarist for the Southern California punk rock band Social Distortion.Danell formed Social Distortion in 1979 with frontman Mike Ness while attending high school together...
, dubbed "When the Angels Sing", took place here on May 6, 2000. On the bill were The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, Pennywise
Pennywise (band)
Pennywise is a Californian punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The name is derived from the monster, It, from the Stephen King novel of the same title....
, X, TSOL
TSOL
TSOL is an American punk rock band which formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California. TSOL is short for True Sounds of Liberty although they are rarely referred to by their full name....
and Social Distortion. The benefit concert also marked Social Distortion's first show with Danell's permanent replacement Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham
Jonny Wickersham
Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham is the current guitarist for the Californian punk rock band Social Distortion. He joined Social Distortion after the death of founding member and longtime friend, Dennis Danell, in February 2000. Previously, he had been a guitarist for U.S...
.
It is home to the annual KROQ Weenie Roast
KROQ Weenie Roast
KROQ Weenie Roast is a multi-artist alternative rock concert, presented annually in June by the Los Angeles, California, USA radio station KROQ-FM. Since its beginning in 1993, the event has been traditionally held on a Saturday in June, except from 2005 to 2009 when it occurred in May.Every year...
, except in 2000.