Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues (generally parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected). The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans has sponsored the tour among others every year since 1995 and it is often referred to as the Vans Warped Tour.

Overview

As of the mid-2000s, the Warped Tour has featured as many as 100 bands per show. The bands play for up to 30 minutes over approximately 10 different stages, although the biggest bands generally play the two "Main" stages. A typical day would have bands starting at 11:00am and end at 9:00 p.m. with several bands playing at once. The individual band times and stages where each band play is marked on a large board usually centered in the middle of the venue. The full area is set up to prevent music from one stage disrupting other active stages. One band, by fan vote, is allowed to play ten extra minutes at each show.

Every year there is a "BBQ Band," which, in exchange for the privilege of playing on the tour, must prepare food for the bands and crew for the barbecue which is held most evenings. Past "BBQ Bands" have included Dropkick Murphys and "The Fabulous Rudies".[1] Similarly, one band, Animo (formerly DORK) has been permitted for the past four years to play on the tour in exchange for work on the setup crew.

The tour started as a skate punk, and third wave ska tour, but later began to feature mostly post-hardcore, pop punk, and metalcore acts, but there are also some hardcore punk and street punk bands that still play Warped Tour, as well as older bands that have played the tour numerous times since its inception (Bad Religion, NOFX, etc.)

History
The Warped Tour was created in 1994 by Kevin Lyman, who got the idea while working on skateboarding shows such as the Vision Skate Escape and Holiday Havoc which included music with skateboarding contests. The Warped name comes from the short-lived Warp Magazine, published by Transworld, which covered surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and music.

In 1998, the tour went international, including venues in Australia, Japan, Europe, Canada, and the United States.

In 1999, the tour started off in New Zealand and Australia in the New Year. It then started up again in the United States for the northern hemisphere summer before ending up in Europe.

As well as music, this tour brings many attractions, including a half pipe for skaters and bikers. The tour also features many booths creating a flea market-like atmosphere, having tents for each of the bands to sell merchandise, independent record labels, magazine publishers, non-profit organizations, and sponsors looking to market their products to the tour's audience. Many of the bands will retreat to their tents after their performance in order to meet up with the fans and groupies, and sign autographs which is just another added perk of attending the tour.

The Warped Tour also benefits up-and-coming bands, and those looking to gain more recognition. The tour provides a direct market in order for these bands to obtain or extend their fan base. The bands can set up tent areas and are able to talk with those atteding the tour and sell their merchandise as well as give away promotional freebies.

Various illustrators are contracted each year to design promotional artwork. In 2006, The Vans Warped Tour hired New York's Punk Artist Joe Simko (Sweet Rot) to create all the character designs, Official tour poster, backstage passes (image shown at right), and official 2006 logo. Simko's Warped Tour artwork has been attached to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame marketing campaign.

Several backstage VIP passes are placed for auction on eBay, allowing access all summer long. Sponsors are issued a number of "Sponsor" laminate passes or wristbands, and in 2006 and 2007, there were promotions announced, tied to blood donation, which allow access.

The Vans Warped is a sponsor for many organizations. Such as Boarding for Breast Cancer, Unite the United, and One, just to name a few.

Tour Dates

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