Glockenturmstraße 1The Waldbühne (Woodland Stage or Forest Stage) is an amphitheatre at Olympiapark Berlin in Berlin. It was designed by German architect Werner March in emulation of a Greek theatre and built between 1934 and 1936 as the Dietrich-Eckart-Freilichtbühne (Dietrich Eckart Open Air Theater), a Nazi Thingplatz, and opened in association with the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Since World War II it has been used for a variety of events, including boxing matches, film showings, and classical and rock concerts. It seats more than 22,000 people. The venue is located off Friedrich-Friesen-Allee just northeast of Glockenturmstraße.
After World War II, the Olympic grounds were within the British occupation sector of Berlin. They were released for public use beginning in 1948, and the amphitheater was used for film showings, including for the Berlinale, and beginning in 1960 for boxing matches. Use for concerts began in the 1960s, but when The Rolling Stones performed there on 15 September 1965, the theatre was severely damaged. Fans stormed the stage, and after the band left after a set of only 20 to 25 minutes, fought police, who attempted to control them with rubber truncheons and fire hoses, and destroyed the seating, fire hydrants, and other furnishings. 270,000 DM in damage was done, in a riot that fulfilled the dire prophecies of some Berlin newspapers about rock concerts and was the first inter-generational battle of the 1960s in Germany. A reporter from Bild wrote of the concert, "I know Hell." The arena had to be completely renovated and was then little used until 1978.
Jimi Hendrix's second-to-last appearance in "Berlin Super Concert70" was planned at the Waldbühne on 4 September 1970. Due to bad weather conditions, it was relocated to the Deutschlandhalle. Alongside were also Ten Years After and Procol Harum.
Following a concert by Bob Marley in 1980, it became well known as a rock venue and has been regularly used for that purpose since. Some other artists who have appeared there include Queen, U2, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Berlin's Rammstein in 2016, Germany's Alphaville in 1986, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, Radiohead, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Prince, Depeche Mode, Whitney Houston, and Barbra Streisand.
Phil Collins, in the British Sector of West Berlin during the last months of East Germany's existence, performed at the Waldbühne on 14–15 July 1990, during his Seriously, Live! World Tour.
The Berlin Philharmonic holds its outdoor concert there every summer, featuring noted guest artists. This concert has been broadcast on live TV since 1992.