According to industry secret-keeper Christie Eliezer’s article for The Music Network, the 20-year partnership between Big Day Out promoters Vivian Lees and Ken West has come to an end. But it doesn’t sound like there’s any chance of their friendship being shaky.
Evidently, it is Lees who has pulled away from the festival juggernaut, having decided that after a couple of decades running the longest running and most successful Australian music festival he would like to lighten his workload and spend more time with his family.
“After 20 wonderful years as co-producer of the Big Day Out Festival I have decided to move on.” Lees told Eliezer. “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.”
