Live: Michigan Theater, Detroit

David Bowie performed at Detroit’s Michigan Theater on 20 October 1974.

It was the 49th 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.

This was Bowie’s last of six consecutive nights at the Michigan Theater. Parts of this show were used on the 2020 live album I’m Only Dancing (The Soul Tour 74).

The setlist

• ‘Rebel Rebel’
• ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’
• ‘Sorrow’
• ‘Changes’
• ‘1984’
• ‘Moonage Daydream’
• ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll With Me’
• ‘Love Me Do’
• ‘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’
• ‘Panic In Detroit’