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