There’s not a lot of variety when it comes to the design of amphitheaters throughout the Midwest.
It’s typically a stage beneath an overhang facing reserved seating followed by a raised general admission lawn. Leading up to the venue are acres of asphalt for parking conveniently located off of the closest major highway.
Wisconsin’s Alpine Valley Music Theatre, built in 1977, is one of the few exceptions to standard amphitheater design that is prevalent in the Midwest.
Much of that is thanks to its location.
Found nearly 40 miles southwest of Milwaukee in East Troy, Wis., Alpine Valley surrounds music fans with lush greenery during the summer. A golf course and ski hills (yes, there are ski hills in Wisconsin) sit just beyond the wood-roofed stage.
Spend five minutes watching the opening band from the steep general admission hill you’ll realize why the venue has been a popular location for music video shoots.
Here are three times when Alpine Valley Music Theatre was featured in music videos.
Motley Crue “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)”
Filmed at a show in 1990, the video opens with a fan dedication and the Crue arriving at Alpine Valley via helicopter. Less than two months later on Aug. 27, legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and four others were killed when their helicopter crashed into a nearby ski hill after departing from the venue.
The Black Crowes “Hard To Handle”
A handful of cities make cameos in the video for “Hard To Handle” as The Black Crowes show us their life on the road, a bit of a trope for rock band videos throughout the ’80s and early ’90s. Alpine Valley shows up during a soundcheck sequence. At least let’s hope it is a routine soundcheck since the band is giving it their all in front of a sea of empty seats.
Korn “Politics”
Korn’s annual Family Values Tour returned after a five-year hiatus in 2006. Fans armed with handheld cameras helped shoot a video for the band’s latest single, “Politics,” during the tour’s stop at Alpine Valley on Aug. 26.
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