Big Day Out split

01 November 2011

by Christie Eliezer

One of the most successful partnerships in Australian music history — between Vivian Lees and Ken West who’ve run Big Day Out since 1992 and did international tours together for ten years before — has ended.

Lees has decided to bow out, citing the need to spend more time with his family, and interests outside the festival.

West will continue to promote Big Day Out by himself although, he says, he might take in a minor partner down the track.

Lees told TMN: "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.”

The partnership between the extroverted West and the quieter Lees was an odd one. West, who came up with the idea of Big Day Out, acknowledges, “Tension were always constant. It was my vision for the show, and his concept was to streamline it as much as possible so he could understand it. You could say we stayed together for the children — the children the Big Day Out and everyone associated with it!”

West told TMN that in the last few years, BDO grew to an entourage of 800 and they got in to bidding wars for headliners, which added to the stress. “It’s like, every year I do my HSC. Every year I put everything I earn on the line, even at this level.”