David Bowie performed at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee on 13 October 1974.
It was the 43rd date of the Diamond Dogs Tour, which had kicked off in Montreal on 14 June. This leg of the tour was known as the Soul Tour.
The musical director was Mike Garson, who also played piano and Mellotron. Earl Slick and Carlos Alomar played guitar, the bass guitarist was Emir Ksasan, and the drummer was Dennis Davis.
The backing singers were Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Geoff MacCormack (billed as Warren Peace), Luther Vandross, Diane Sumler, and Anthony Hinton. The line-up was completed by David Sanborn on saxophone and flute, and percussionist Pablo Rosario.
The MECCA Complex contained the Milwaukee Exposition, Convention Center and Arena. The arena opened in 1950, and the complex opened in 1974.
Bowie returned to the arena during the Isolar Tour on 20 February 1976, and for the Isolar II Tour on 24 April 1978.
The setlist
- ‘Memory Of A Free Festival’
- ‘Rebel Rebel’
- ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’
- ‘Sorrow’
- ‘Changes’
- ‘1984’
- ‘Moonage Daydream’
- ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll With Me’
- ‘The Jean Genie’
- ‘Future Legend’
- ‘Diamond Dogs’
- ‘Young Americans’
- ‘Can You Hear Me’
- ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’
- ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’
- ‘Suffragette City’
- ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide’
Also on this day...
- 1995: Live: Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas
- 1987: Live: Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles
- 1974: Recording: Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture
- 1972: Mixing: The Jean Genie, John I’m Only Dancing, Changes, The Supermen, Life On Mars?
- 1969: Live: Colston Hall, Bristol
- 1964: Live: Davie Jones and the Manish Boys, Putney Ballroom, London
- 1964: The Manish Boys meet TV producer Barry Langford
- 1962: David Bowie watches Little Richard live
Want more? Visit the David Bowie history section.