ContestsConcerts + Events

LISTEN LIVE

The 50-Year History of Pine Knob

Pine Knob, Aka DTE Music Theater, Aka Pine Knob, has had a long history of hosting some of the biggest bands and performers of all time. Pine Knob just recently…

DTE – The crowd shows UP for The Black Crowes

Pine Knob, Aka DTE Music Theater, Aka Pine Knob, has had a long history of hosting some of the biggest bands and performers of all time. Pine Knob just recently reverted back to the moniker of Pine Knob after having changed its name to DTE Music Theater after DTE Energy bought the naming rights back in 2001. The amphitheatre's first concert was on June 25th, 1972 with teen heart throb, David Cassidy. Andy Williams followed Cassidy and Pine Knob was on a roll.

Starting with a capacity of 12,500 and then later expanding to over 15,000. The theater hosted bands and performers from a wide variety of genres. From The Temptations, KISS, Aerosmith, John Denver and Blondie just to name a very small few that have played there. There's actually a neat little website called theconcertdatabase.com that tells you exactly what concerts were at Pine Knob and when (the database goes to the year 2000 as Pine Knob and then goes to 2015 as DTE).

The Oakland Press compiled a large list of 40 significant events that occurred in Pine Knob's history (note: this list was done for Pine Knob's 40th anniversary, so they've had another ten years of events after this). Some of the events included:

June 25, 1972 David Cassidy

“Partridge Family” heartthrob David Cassidy opens Pine Knob with a 3 p.m. matinee performance.

June 27, 1972 Andy Williams and Quincy Jones

Andy Williams and Quincy Jones join forces for a five-night run that was considered the venue’s “official” opening.

July 1, 1974 KISS

KISS, already establishing itself in Detroit’s smaller venues, makes its first venue appearance opening for Blue Oyster Cult.

Sept. 2, 1978 Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen

Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen meet for the first time backstage at Pine Knob. Springsteen had performed at the Masonic Temple the previous night and Seger was in the midst of a seven-show run.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bob Seger and Mr. Bruce SpringsteenTom Weschler

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bob Seger and Mr. Bruce Springsteen: Pine Knob '78

Aug. 26, 1982 Heart and John Cougar

Headliners Heart is upstaged by opener John Cougar (later known by his real name, Mellencamp) in the midst of his “American Fool” success.

July 27, 1983 Bette Midler

July 27, 1983 — Bette Midler collapsed on stage during a performance and was treated for exhaustion and an upset stomach at Pontiac General Hospital. She made up the show later in the summer, with the road crew creating a diagram chronicling the collapse backstage.

June 29, 1985 Phil Collins

Phil Collins halts the final show of a three-night stand because of voice problems, causing a fan furor and a major traffic jam on I-75 southbound.

June 14, 1996 Sarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan plays on an all-female Lilith Fair prototype show with Patti Smith, Lisa Loeb, Paula Cole and Aimee Man. Lilith’s inaugural 1997 run was the top-grossing festival tour of that year.

July 10, 1998 Metallica

Sod thrown by revellers on the lawn penetrates deep into the pavilion, knocking out the soundboard during Jerry Cantrell’s opening set for Metallica and jeopardizing the entire show. A Metallica crew member gives fans a stern talking-to before the band goes on.

Sept. 14, 1998 Aerosmith

During a day-off in the middle of a two-show stand, Aerosmith films a performance of its chart-topping hit “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” for British TV and plays a few more songs for fans who turned up to be part of the taping. (The first concert I ever went to :) ). 

Jan. 25, 2001 DTE Energy Music Theater

Amidst much fan outrage, PS&E announces that the venue’s name will be changed to the DTE Energy Music Theatre. The first DTE show is the WDRQ Summer Heat Rave with Nelly, Jessica Simpson and more on May 25.

July 5, 2007 Toby Keith

An intense storm knocks out DTE power, delaying Toby Keith’s sold-out concert by more than two hours. Opening act Flynville Train strolls the pavilion playing acoustically, and Keith ends at curfew-busting midnight.

May 21, 2021 Alice Cooper

And in 2021, at the start of the return of concerts after Covid, WCSX and Alice Cooper returned to Pine Knob (still DTE at the moment) to promote his new album "Detroit Stories".

Alice Cooper 2021 Pine KnobErik Aratari

Alice Cooper: Pine Knob 2021

Pine Knob and WCSX Through the Years

This year has been a wild ride. Lots of ups and downs and changes all around. But what a welcome change as DTE Energy Music changed back to Pine Knob just in time for their 50th anniversary. And just as exciting, we at WCSX, are hitting our 35th anniversary. We are going to celebrate these monumental achievements with an amazing concert planned on August 23rd with Sammy Hagar. However, we wanted to take you down the road of amazing shows both WCSX and Pine Knob (aka DTE) were a part of with some of the great photos recounting the events of the past years.

Photo-Sep-25-6-14-01-PM-scaled.jpg

Chip and Dale again! Posing with the now infamous Alice Cooper Court street sign.


Alice Cooper

Alice-Cooper-9.25.21_web-88.jpgErik Aratari

Photo-Sep-25-4-11-11-PM-scaled.jpg

Alice Cooper fan ready to rock with Alice!


Alice-Cooper-9.25.21_web-86.jpgErik Aratari

Alice Cooper: Pine Knob 2021

Erik Aratari


Kiss-7-scaled.jpg

Some of the lovely listeners take a moment in brief moment of sunlight to chill with us.


Kiss-10.15.21_web-75.jpgErik Aratari

Kiss 2021 DTE


Kiss-6-scaled.jpg

The fans of KISS are something else to behold.


Kiss-10.15.21_web-53.jpgErik Aratari

KISS: DTE 2021

Erik Aratari


Chicago-Doobie-Brothers-at-DTE-8-1-24__1600W.Jpeg

Chicago-Doobie Brothers at DTE


Chicago

chicago.jpg

Chicago played an amazing set on August 12 at DTE.


Dead & Company

Dead-Company-9.10.21_web-075.jpgErik Aratari

Dead & Company

Dead-Company-9.10.21_web-086.jpgErik Aratari

The Black Crowes

The-Black-Crowes-7.29.21-Web-46.jpgErik Aratari

D6801AC1-BB18-4850-99C6-FF1868BD4931-scaled.jpeg

So many parking lot parties for the Black Crowes! We love it!


ted-nugent.jpg

Motor City Mad Man, Ted Nugent, brought his Whiplash Bash to Clarkston on July 20.


8-31-19-Ted-Nugent-1.jpg

Deadly Tedly comes out swingin' with Stranglehold


DSC_0539_2.jpg

Styx played all their hits at DTE.


D55_1813.jpg

Styx was awesome


IMG_7433.jpg

Everyone still calls it Pine Knob!


DSC_0081_2.jpg

Jim had some fun with our listeners before the show.


IMG_-lop3ku.jpg

Bob Seger 2018 at DTE


DSC_0741.jpg

Alice Cooper always rocks Detroit!


DSC_0664.jpg

Alice Cooper was moving around the whole stage swinging his cane around!


DSC_0649.jpg

Alice Cooper took the stage and Pine Knob cheered!


DSC_0752.jpg

Curly Smith was rockin on the drums!


DSC_0550.jpg

Hanging out with WCSX before the show!


DSC_1060_1.jpg

Cyndi Lauper opened up show!


DSC_1208.jpg

Rod Stewart was singing his heart out for Detroit!


DSC_1389.jpg

CSX was there with the Rockin' Ride and games!


DSC_1500_1.jpg

The late, great Tom Petty , along with the Heartbreakers, played what ended up being their final show at DTE on July 18.


DSC_1520.jpg

Tom Petty DTE 2017


KIMG0023.jpg

WCSX was rockin with everyone at the Eddie Money concert at DTE!


130.jpg

Eddie Money at DTE 2016


DSC_9643.jpgRobert Bruce Photography

Van Halen 2015


DSC_7955.jpgRobert Bruce Photography

Van Halen


IMG_17361.jpg

Juline was hanging with our longtime WCSX listeners before the show, thanks for coming out and rockin!

Hot Scott, aka Scotty, when not wrangling his chihuahua he's writing, painting, and playing games. Loves Dungeon and Dragons, comics, and everything nerdy and geeky. He has an uncontrollable beard and has been known to wear a kilt on the right occasion. Might be a robot, we are checking on that. Send oil.