Arena rocker Billy Squier to join Cheech & Chong at the Chip

Concert Passes Here

Bikers who come to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be treated to a rare performance by Billy Squier, one of arena rock’s icons.  Squier will play on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground.

Originally from Wellesley Hills, Mass.,  Squier began his pursuit of rock ‘n’ roll at 14 with a $90 guitar and amp.  Early influences were the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. (Right up a Sturgis biker’s ally, don’t you think?)

He was still in high school when his group, The Tom Swift Electric Band played at The Psychedelic Supermarket, opening for none other than the Grateful Dead, Moody Blues, Cream and The Steve Miller Band, the same music that has inspired Sturgis Motorcycle Rally bikers for years.

He joined Magic Terry and the Universe while in college.  He began hanging with rock’s nobility, including Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, until 1973 when he joined The Sidewinders, produced by Lenny Kaye, Patty Smith Group guitarist.

In 1974, the singer-songwriter-guitarist joined Piper, which A&M signed. They recorded two albums. The band didn’t last long, but the impression Squier made did. "Billy Squier may be the most articulate, emotionally intense total rocker the 70's has produced to date," wrote one critic. His solo demo prompted his signing to Capitol, and his debut 1980 disk, Tale Of The Tape, included "The Big Beat."  Squier is exactly the kind of artist the Buffalo Chip loves to bring in for its Sturgis Bike Week crowd.

The rest is history.  Here’s a rocker who couldn’t be cubby-holed with a string of hits including “Rock Me Tonight,” “The Stroke,” “In The Dark,” and “My Kinda Lover.”

Squier’s Buffalo Chip performance on Tuesday, Aug. 4 is sure to be one for the Sturgis record books.

Concert Passes Here