Riot Fest Chicago had one of the biggest lineups in the festival’s history. After three years at Humboldt Park, the festival was moved to Douglas Park, but a lawsuit from Saint Anthony Hospital—less than a week before the festival—almost prevented the festival from happening. Luckily things settled and Riot Fest started Friday, Sept. 11, as scheduled, but had a delay because of needing more barricades, but the first band of the day still played on time.
This year there were seven stages—five of the seven had major bands. The Friday highlights were Flogging Molly, No Doubt, Faith No More, Coheed and Cambria, Living Colour, Fishbone, Ice Cube, Slightly Stoopid, Dirty Heads, Motorhead Anthrax, Atryu and Alkaline Trio. This was the rock/metal day. Rain from the previous days leading up to the festival left the park completely thrashed just like last year at Humboldt. All the festivalgoers had shoes and clothes covered in mud by the end of the day.
Gwen Stefani of No Doubt
Dave King of Flogging Molly
Lemmy of Motorhead
Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal
Scott Ian of Anthrax
