Pine Knob Music Theatre facts for kids
Signage for the venue (c.2023)
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| Former names | Pine Knob Music Theatre (1972–2001, 2022–) DTE Energy Music Theatre (2001–2022) |
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| Address | 33 Bob Seger Dr Clarkston, MI 48348-4784 |
| Location | Pine Knob Ski Resort |
| Owner | Palace Sports & Entertainment |
| Operator | 313 Presents |
| Capacity | 15,040 (6,968 in pavilion; 8,072 on lawn) |
| Opened | June 25, 1972 |
Pine Knob Music Theatre is a popular outdoor concert venue. It is located in Independence Township, Michigan, about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Detroit. The theater is often called "Pine Knob" because it's close to the Pine Knob ski area and golf course.
The venue was built in the early 1970s by the Nederlander Organization. Today, it is owned by Palace Sports & Entertainment. This company also owns the Detroit Pistons basketball team. Another group, 313 Presents, helps organize and put on concerts here. They also manage shows at other places in Michigan, like Little Caesars Arena and Fox Theatre.
Pine Knob is one of the top-selling outdoor concert venues in the world. It has won many awards. For example, it was named Pollstar's Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue in 2000. It also won Billboard's Top Amphitheater for attendance in 2011.
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History of Pine Knob Music Theatre
The Pine Knob Music Theatre first opened its doors on June 25, 1972. The very first show was a daytime concert by teen idol David Cassidy. Two nights later, Andy Williams performed the first evening concert. When it first opened, Pine Knob was the biggest outdoor theater in the United States. It could hold 12,500 people.
Early Features and Changes
In its early years, the entrance to Pine Knob had long cement walls. These walls were painted with the logos of every artist who had performed there. In the early 1980s, these walls were replaced with stairs. This change also added more seating on the lawn. This made the theater's capacity grow to over 15,000 people.
In 1990, Palace Sports & Entertainment bought Pine Knob. They spent $8 million to make improvements. They added video screens inside the covered seating area. By 1995, more screens were added to the roof. This allowed people sitting on the lawn to see the stage better.
Name Changes and Upgrades
On January 25, 2001, the theater's name changed to DTE Energy Music Theatre. This was part of a 20-year deal with a local energy company.
Before the 2012 concert season, the theater got a new sound system. It also got a fresh look with forest green colors and new signs. They added more food choices and a new outdoor beer garden called The Pine Tap.
On January 14, 2022, the venue went back to its original name: Pine Knob Music Theatre.
Famous Performers at Pine Knob
Many famous musicians have played at Pine Knob. For over 20 years, Eddie Money often started the concert season in May. The band Chicago has performed at the venue 82 times. This is more than any other music act.
Linda Ronstadt also performed there almost every summer for many years. Bob Seger has played more than 33 sold-out shows. In 1977, he set a record with eight shows in one season. Kid Rock matched this record in 2013 and then broke it in 2015 with ten sold-out shows.
Other big names include Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, and Dave Matthews Band. Pine Knob is a common stop for large summer tours. These include Ozzfest, Projekt Revolution, and Lilith Fair. The venue also hosts graduation ceremonies for local high schools.
In June 2019, the theater's address was changed to 33 Bob Seger Drive. This was to honor Bob Seger for his 33 shows at the venue. He played his last show there on June 21, 2019.
Concert Time Rules
Pine Knob Music Theatre is known for having a strict rule about noise. Because homes are nearby, concerts must end by 11:00 pm. If a performer plays past this time, they have to pay a fine of $1,000 for every minute they go over.
This time limit caused a problem between Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie in 2012. Marilyn Manson started their show late. This meant Rob Zombie's performance had to be cut short to avoid the fine.
Concerts on Video and Audio
Many concerts from Pine Knob have been recorded over the years.
The band Barenaked Ladies released a DVD called Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan. In the show, the singer asks how the "Pine Knobbers" are doing. A big cheer from the crowd follows.
In 1982, a Steve Miller Band concert was shown on TV and played on the radio at the same time. This was a new way to share live music.
Singer Peter Frampton released a live CD and DVD called Live in Detroit. It features a concert he played at Pine Knob on July 17, 1999.
Many unofficial recordings of concerts from Pine Knob also exist. For example, the Grateful Dead's shows from June 19 and 20, 1991, were officially released later.
Phil Collins, the drummer and singer for Genesis, can be seen wearing a Pine Knob golf shirt in a music video.
The Dave Matthews Band has included parts of their Pine Knob shows on special bonus discs for their fans. They also shared a video of their July 9, 2019, show online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A photo of Jackson Browne and Lynne Sweeney at Pine Knob is in his album booklet for Running On Empty.
The front cover of Joni Mitchell's 1974 live album, Miles of Aisles, shows the inside of the Pine Knob stage area. However, the songs on the album were recorded at other places.
Green Day's live album, Awesome as ..., includes a song recorded at Pine Knob in 2010.
The J. Geils Band recorded their live album Showtime! at Pine Knob in 1982.
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band filmed their May 1998 performance at Pine Knob for a home video.
Steely Dan's album Alive in America has four songs recorded at Pine Knob in 1994.
Def Leppard released a live CD/DVD called And There Will Be a Next Time... Live from Detroit. This was recorded at a concert at Pine Knob in July 2016.
Roxy Music Live includes two songs recorded from their July 29, 2001, show at Pine Knob.
A very famous photo of Cliff Burton, the bass player for Metallica, was taken at Pine Knob in 1986.
See also
- List of contemporary amphitheatres
