What is the history behind the Vans Warped Tour?

It started out as an offshoot of the skater and punk rock lifestyle in Southern California. I had done Lollapalooza [in 1992], which helped launch the Red Hot Chili Peppers off the top of the ramp. That was when X Games was coming forth, and I realized that soon that whole lifestyle would be shown to the whole country. I thought, ‘Maybe I can get some friends together and do it myself.’ I had been doing...