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30 great shows in Michigan history

With memorable acts and historic venues, Michigan has been a crossroads of pop music for decades. Here's a look at 30 memorable concerts over the years. Were you there? Share your memories in the comments or use this form to tell us about the best Michigan shows you attended.

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The Beatles, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, 1964

The Beatles played two shows at Olympia Stadium in 1964 during their first visit to Detroit. Show times were 2 and 6 p.m. Like many shows of the era, the crowd could barely hear the music over the screaming crowd. One Detroit paper said a police officer stuffed his ears with bullets to block out the sound. The Fab Four would return to Olympia in 1966.

What's the best show you ever saw in Michigan? Tell us here!

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Led Zeppelin, Pontiac Silverdome, 1977

Jimmy Page didn't think much of the Silverdome when Led Zeppelin played to 77,000 people in 1977. He said playing to the massive crowd indoors was like something out of the movies "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "A Clockwork Orange." "It was really odd walking into this air-lock," he recalled. "... but we played well under the circumstances."

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Goose Lake International Music Festival, Goose Lake, 1970

The Goose Lake International Music Festival in 1970 took place a year after Woodstock with promoters striving to create a better-organized rock festival in Leoni Township. They succeeded in provided better accommodations for an estimated crowd of 200,000 people, but the festival was attacked for open drug use in the crowd. Music took center stage, though, and crowds were treated to dynamic performances by Faces, Chicago, Mountain, Bob Seger, MC5 and The Stooges, among many others. Tickets were $15 for the three-day festival.

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The Who, Pontiac Silverdome, 1976

The Who played the inaugural concert at the Silverdome in 1975. Some 76,000 people attended to hear the 24-song set that included many of their great songs, including "Baba O'Riley," "Pinball Wizard" and closed with "Won't Get Fooled Again."

What's the best show you saw in Michigan? Tell us about here.

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U2, Joe Louis arena, 1985

U2's first show in Metro Detroit was at Harpo's in 1981, but it's their 1985 show at Joe Louis arena that saw the band at the height of the '80s power. Free-Press reviewer Beth Fertig said Bono and company "was almost flawless" and brought an "almost holy quality" to the performance. U2 would return several times to tepid reviews for their arena shows, but this one soared.

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Bob Seger, Cobo Hall, Detroit, 1976

Bob Seger recorded his legendary "Live Bullet" at Cobo Hall in Detroit in 1976. The album launched Seger to national mainstream fame with live takes of "Turn the Page," "Nutbush City Limits," and "Travelin' Man" into "Beautiful Loser" that became rock-and-roll classics.

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Eminem and Jay-Z, Comerica Park, Detroit, 2010

Jay-Z and Eminem teamed up for "The Home & Home Tour" in 2010, with the rappers playing two sold-out shows at Comerica Park in Detroit, Eminem's hometown, and two sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium in New York, Jay Z's city.

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Jimi Hendrix, Fifth Dimension, Ann Arbor, 1967

Guitar god Hendrix played at set in 1967 at the now closed Fifth Dimension in Ann Arbor. The venue was a bowling alley converted into a concert hall before later becoming a restaurant called The Whiffle Tree. This was Hendrix's first tour of the U.S.

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Kiss, Cobo Hall, Detroit, 1976

KISS is known for two legendary performances in Michigan. The first was at Cobo Hall in 1976 when it recorded part of its "Alive!" live album that launched the band to fame. "Alive!" was a Top 10 hit and the band's first Gold-certified album. It's also credited as being among the great rock albums of all time, influencing rock acts for decades.

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John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, 1971

John Lennon and Yoko Ono joined the John Sinclair Freedom Rally at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor in 1971. The gathering's rallying cry was "10 for two," referring to Sinclair receiving a 10-year prison sentence for the equivalent of two joints of marijuana. Lennon was among a number of celebrity performers at the rally, which also included Bob Seger and Stevie Wonder. Lennon and Ono played four songs at 3 a.m., all acoustic, and only for 15 minutes, but the rally still lives in Michigan concert lore.

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Kid Rock, The State, Detroit, 1997

This was Kid Rock on the cusp of stardom. The Detroit Free-Press's Brian McCollum says this is the show that got Bob Ritchie signed to the major record deal that would lead to "Devil Without a Cause" and international fame. It was a long way back for Ritchie, who had been dropped from a label after Vanilla Ice fizzled. He reinvented himself from rapper into songwriter with a killer stage show, and won over the industry and millions of fans.

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The White Stripes, Chene Park, Detroit, 2002

The White Stripes were on the rise in 2002 when they played a raucous outdoor show at Chene Park with The Strokes, a band then arguably at their peak. The 6,000-seat venue was packed to catch a pre-"Seven Nation Army" Stripes tear through their older catalogue, including "The Big Three Killed My Baby."

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Big Sean, Joe Louis arena, Detroit, 2015

Big Sean brought some friends out for a memorable Detroit show last year. Eminem, Royce da 5'9", Dej Loaf, Danny Brown and Trick Trick all came together to perform "Detroit vs Everybody" for the frenzied crowd. It was a rare cameo for Eminem, who hadn't performed on stage in 2015 until that moment.

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Simon and Garfunkel, Saginaw YMCA, 1966

Simon and Garfunkel commemorated their 1966 show in Saginaw in the classic, "America," where the duo sings about hitchhiking from Saginaw. The story goes a promoter booked the band just before "Sound of Silence" became a national hit. Despite being paid a fraction of their fee, Simon said the came because he wanted to see what a city named "Saginaw" looked like. The trip turned out pretty well for them.

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Alice Cooper, Joe Louis arena, Detroit, 1986

Alice Cooper as you probably think of him arguably dates back to shock rocker's "The Nightmare Returns" tour in 1986-87. The tour marked the return of Cooper to the rock scene after two years away dealing with personal issues. His Detroit shows, including one on Halloween, were used for a well-known concert documentary.

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Metallica, Belle Isle, Detroit, 2013

Metallica surprised fans at the 2013 Orion Music + More Festival when it played the band's entire 1983 debut album "Kill 'Em All" album under the fake name "DeHaan." The 10-song, 55-minute set was a memorable moment in the now defunct festival's brief history in Detroit.

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MC5, Tartar Field, Wayne State University, Detroit, 1968

If you watch the video at left, warning: It's NSFW. Swearing aside, the footage of the raucous MC5 playing a field at Wayne State is an incredible music moment. The fans clearly aren't sure what to make of lead singer Rob Tyner and crew, who were arguably ahead of their time with the classic "Kick Out the Jams."

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The Rolling Stones, Pontiac Silverdome, 1981

The Rolling Stones were in peak form for this massive affair at the Silverdome in 1981. The group had a pile of classics to draw from, worked in some Motown and were in the midst of working out arguable their last great album, "Tattoo You."

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Aerosmith, Grand Valley State Field House, Grand Rapids, 1975

Aerosmith rolled out a new song at this 1975 show in Grand Rapids, one of the first the legendary rockers played outside of their hometown of Boston. The song? "Sweet Emotion," a rock classic and one of the band's most famous tunes. A whole $4.50 got you in the door.

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Marvin Gaye, Michigan State Fairground Coliseum, Detroit, 1962

Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandelles, The Miracles, The Supremes, Mary Wells and Stevie Wonder all played the 1962 New Year's Show at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.

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Janis Joplin, Gallup Park, Ann Arbor, 1969

Gallup Park in Ann Arbor drew some notable acts from 1969-71, including Janis Joplin. Other legends who stopped by the venue included B.B. King, Son House and Muddy Waters. After a lengthy hiatus, Gallup Park hosted Taj Mahal, Medeski Martin & Wood, Bo Diddley, among others, in the 1990s.

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The Stooges, Grande Ballroom, Detroit, 1969

Ann Arbor's The Stooges, led by Iggy Pop, never found commercial success, but they've gone down in history as one of the early founders of punk rock and arguably all of modern rock. The band was known for its wild performances, led by Pop, who went on to a significant solo career. The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

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Nirvana, St. Andrew's Hall, Detroit, 1991

Nirvana played Detroit a number of times, but this 1991 show before they exploded into the biggest band of their era stands out in time. This was grunge before anyone knew grunge.

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Kid Rock, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit, 2012

Kid Rock is the charismatic lead here, but the Detroit Symphony Orchestra stands out as a cultural institution finding a creative way to reach a mass audience. The DSO elevates Bob Ritchie's music to high art. Now, where's that concert DVD that was promised years ago?

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KISS, Cadillac High School, Cadillac, 1975

This is a high school dream come true. A high school football coach used KISS's music to loosen up his team (and reinforce the famous ""Keep It Simple, Stupid" saying). The band heard about the team and agreed to make an appearance at the school in 1975, playing Cadillac's Homecoming parade and dance.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, MSU Auditorium, East Lansing, 1991

Here's a show Michiganders love remembering. Headliners the Chili Peppers brought along some supporting acts: Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. The power trio played MSU, the Kalamazoo State Theatre, and The State in Detroit on this swing through Michigan.

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Bob Seger, Van Halen Elmer Engel Stadium, Bay City, 1978

Some 25,000 people packed into the 7,100-capacity stadium in Bay City to hear Bob Seger and rock newcomers Van Halen. Cheap Trick was supposed to play, too, but they backed out at the last minute. The show, organized by Bay City Central high school students, was the largest in Michigan in 1978. Money raised from the show, as well as concerts in 1977, 1979 and 1980 raised more than $100,000 for the school's athletic programs.

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Elvis Presley, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, 1957

Elvis allegedly played Olympia Stadium in 1957. We say allegedly because if you listen to the video all you're hear is a screaming crowd and an amazed radio announcer. "The kids are going crazy. Elvis is just standing there. He hasn't said a word yet." He continues: "Every kid here must have a flash bulb and they're shooting them off. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang."

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Aretha Franklin, Cobo Hall, Detroit, 1968

Aretha got quite the welcome from her hometown in 1968. Ahead of her February 16 show, Mayor Jerome Cavanaugh declared it "Aretha Franklin Day," and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. flew to Detroit to attend the 90-minute performance.

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Insane Clown Posse, Majestic Theater, Detroit, 1994

Insane Clown Posse started a Detroit Halloween tradition in 1994 with the first of its "Hallowicked" concerts at the Majestic Theatre. (Video is from the 1995 Hallowicked show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre.) The clown-faced duo have played a local Halloween show ever sense. The band told The Macomb Daily's Gary Graff that they give a little extra to their Halloween shows, which also mark the end of a year for ICP and the start of their next cycle.

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What's your best Michigan show?

What's the best show you've ever seen in Michigan? Use this form to tell us about it! (Maybe it was Eminem and Rihanna on their "Monster" tour in 2014?)