Dorothy

By sheer numbers, Blockbuster Rock Fest was one of the biggest musical events of the 1990s. On the first day of summer in 1997, more than 350,000 people packed into the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth to see a dozen bands, among them Counting Crows, Bush, the Wallflowers and Third Eye Blind. Those groups were all multiplatinum staples of alternative rock radio and MTV, which, you’ll have to take it as an article of faith, were things that not only existed but actually drove the culture.

Also shown was Chilean president Salvador Allende, who killed himself during the 1973 CIA-backed coup that toppled his socialist government and brought in the brutal military dictator Augusto Pinochet. Though some still believe the US also played a role in Allende’s death, a scientific autopsy in 2011 confirmed there was “absolutely no doubt” he died by his own hand.

The statement appeared to refer to the 1999 civil case King v. Jowers, in which a jury found that King's assassination was the result of a conspiracy that included government entities. A 2000 Department of Justice review found no credible evidence that U.S. government agencies were involved in King’s assassination and rejected claims of a broader conspiracy.

Rumors that Madonna and Carpenter would pair up reached a fever pitch this week, after Madonna announced her latest album release on Wednesday. Those who follow the 67-year-old star's every move noted that she'd rolled into the Palm Springs area earlier on Friday, so fans were primed and ready as Carpenter wrapped her performance of “Juno,” up, singing the line “Have you ever tried this one?” before Madonna—ascending from beneath the stage—joined her as the two launched into 1990's epic smash hit, "Vogue."

Coachella began as an “anti-Woodstock,” a trial run for the idea that a festival could give concertgoers a smooth, curated experience. Now the symbiotic relationship between brands and influencers is part of the very structural makeup of Coachella. The festival’s campground runs on layers of exclusivity, which have consistently increased online interest and engagement. For creators, it can be the biggest payday of the year. Coachella didn’t invent the influencer — but it’s making them a whole lot of cash.

But the crowd wasn’t camping out for that night’s headliner, Sabrina Carpenter, or for the buzzy girl group Katseye. Attendees were patiently waiting to see Bob Baker Marionette Theater, home to some of Los Angeles’s most popular puppets.