Paul Tollett | |
---|---|
Born | 1965 (age 58–59) |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Cal Poly Pomona |
Occupation | Promoter |
Years active | 1986 – Present |
Employer | Goldenvoice |
Title | CEO and president |
Paul Tollett is an American music promoter. He is the president and CEO of Goldenvoice, a Los Angeles-based concert production company, and the co-founder of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. [1]
Tollett was born in Ohio and grew up in Pomona, California. He and his brother, Perry, regularly attended punk and hardcore shows promoted by Goldenvoice. [2] The Tolletts promoted their first show while in high school. [3]
Tollett met Gary Tovar, Goldenvoice's owner, at a Bad Manners concert in Long Beach in 1986. [4] He worked part time for Goldenvoice while a chemistry student at CalPoly Pomona, dropping out in his senior year to become a full time employee. [5]
In 1991, he and Rick Van Santen, a longtime associate of Tovar's, bought Goldenvoice. Their first shows featured artists including Black Flag, Jane’s Addiction, and N.W.A. [6] [7] Tollett said in 2011 that Tovar taught him "everything". [2]
In 1996, Paul and Perry Tollett converted a Thrifty drug store in Pomona into a 600-capacity live music venue, the Glass House. [8] No Doubt was the first band that played the Glass House, which became known for its all-ages rock and punk shows. In 2007, with partners Ed and Jerry Tessier, the Tolletts purchased and renovated the historic Pomona Fox Theater. [9]
In 1997, Tollett and Van Santen developed the concept for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which was held for the first time in 1999. It lost approximately $750,000. Although Goldenvoice survived the loss, based in part on Tollett's history of "fair dealing with bands and venders", it was a struggle; Tollett sold his house and his car. [4]
Goldenvoice was acquired by AEG in March 2001; by then it was one of the most prominent promoters of rock and punk shows in the United States. [10]
The second Coachella took place as a one-day festival in 2001. In 2012 it was expanded to six days over two consecutive weekends. [11] The 2018 festival drew an audience of approximately 250,000 people. The 2019 festival sold out in six hours. [12] [13] [14]
Van Santen died in 2004. [7] Tollett and Van Santen were "inseparable" from 1988 to the time of Van Santen's death. In a 2011 interview, he said: "We couldn't have done it without each other." [2]
Paul Tollett | |
---|---|
Born | 1965 (age 58–59) |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Cal Poly Pomona |
Occupation | Promoter |
Years active | 1986 – Present |
Employer | Goldenvoice |
Title | CEO and president |
Paul Tollett is an American music promoter. He is the president and CEO of Goldenvoice, a Los Angeles-based concert production company, and the co-founder of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. [1]
Tollett was born in Ohio and grew up in Pomona, California. He and his brother, Perry, regularly attended punk and hardcore shows promoted by Goldenvoice. [2] The Tolletts promoted their first show while in high school. [3]
Tollett met Gary Tovar, Goldenvoice's owner, at a Bad Manners concert in Long Beach in 1986. [4] He worked part time for Goldenvoice while a chemistry student at CalPoly Pomona, dropping out in his senior year to become a full time employee. [5]
In 1991, he and Rick Van Santen, a longtime associate of Tovar's, bought Goldenvoice. Their first shows featured artists including Black Flag, Jane’s Addiction, and N.W.A. [6] [7] Tollett said in 2011 that Tovar taught him "everything". [2]
In 1996, Paul and Perry Tollett converted a Thrifty drug store in Pomona into a 600-capacity live music venue, the Glass House. [8] No Doubt was the first band that played the Glass House, which became known for its all-ages rock and punk shows. In 2007, with partners Ed and Jerry Tessier, the Tolletts purchased and renovated the historic Pomona Fox Theater. [9]
In 1997, Tollett and Van Santen developed the concept for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which was held for the first time in 1999. It lost approximately $750,000. Although Goldenvoice survived the loss, based in part on Tollett's history of "fair dealing with bands and venders", it was a struggle; Tollett sold his house and his car. [4]
Goldenvoice was acquired by AEG in March 2001; by then it was one of the most prominent promoters of rock and punk shows in the United States. [10]
The second Coachella took place as a one-day festival in 2001. In 2012 it was expanded to six days over two consecutive weekends. [11] The 2018 festival drew an audience of approximately 250,000 people. The 2019 festival sold out in six hours. [12] [13] [14]
Van Santen died in 2004. [7] Tollett and Van Santen were "inseparable" from 1988 to the time of Van Santen's death. In a 2011 interview, he said: "We couldn't have done it without each other." [2]