Securing bands for The Best Party Anywhere® is no easy feat.
It often takes the entire year before all the variables fall into place.
But the process always starts by listening to requests from fans like you.
Planning is currently underway, and lots of you have been asking about bands and listing ones you’d ride across the country naked in a blizzard to see perform.
The following is a list of 24 bands that fans like you have put on the Chip’s radar. Are these the bands you’d go nuts to see join the Sturgis Buffalo Chip lineup?
If so, and if not, tell us what bands you would like to see in the comments below!
DISCLAIMER: The following list in no way indicates any of these bands have been or will actually be able to be confirmed. It simply creates a place for you to share your band requests so the Chip can find out who you’d like to have rock your socks off. Sturgis Rider® News takes no responsibility for any band on this list failing to rip their shirt off and dive into the crowd, smash and set their instruments ablaze, spank your girlfriend with an oar or even show up at the Chip at all. Share at your own risk.
Blink-182
Blink-182 are masters of crafting unforgettable earworms and serving them up with a zany sense of humor. Monster hit songs like “All the Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again,” “First Date,” “The Rock Show” and “Dammit” exemplify this formula, keeping you laughing and rocking your ass off simultaneously. News that the band has returned to its classic lineup and is releasing new music has been making major headlines as of late, and their massive 2023 reunion tour conveniently has no dates in August. Is it possible they’re Edging toward another stop at the Buffalo Chip?
Cody Jinks
Outlaw country singer and songwriter Cody Jinks likes to do things his own way. His smooth baritone and lonesome, dark-hued country songs have quickly brought him through the ranks from underground act to mainstream sensation. Jinks prides himself on being “the biggest independent country artist on the planet”, so it seems only natural he could be inclined to make a stop at the world’s largest and longest-running independently owned music festival.
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is perhaps the most important band of the industrial rock genre. Founder and, until 2016, sole official member Trent Reznor has been the principal creative force and done the lion’s share of instrumental and production work on each of Nine Inch Nail’s 11 full length albums and six EPs. The year 2020 brought about two new NIN studio albums and a long-overdue induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Would a debut performance by Nine Inch Nails at the Buffalo Chip be The Perfect Drug for you?
Styx
Styx shot to superstar status during the late ‘70s and ‘80s as the first band ever to release four consecutive multi-platinum albums. But unlike many other acts of that era, this magical band of musical craftsmen have continued to release critically acclaimed music up to this day. Styx has been touring in support of their 2021 album “Crash of the Crown.” Would you have The Best of Times if that tour added a stop at the Best Party Anywhere?
The Offspring
Punk / alternative rock legends The Offspring have sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Their aptly named 1994 album “Smash” has sold over 11 million copies worldwide alone, making it the best-selling album to ever be released on an independent label. They’ve been churning out great albums and touring like crazy ever since. Would a 2022 Buffalo Chip debut from The Offspring make you Come Out and Play?
Alice Cooper
The Godfather of Shock Rock always delivers the goods. The band’s super spooky stage show coupled with the pyrotechnic rock guitar chops of scintillating lead guitarist Nita Strauss creates an experience that raises the dead and gets all the boys and ghouls screaming for more. Alice Cooper is no stranger to The Best Party Anywhere®, but he hasn’t set foot on the Wolfman Jack Stage in nearly a decade. Do you think it’s time he gets the Buffalo Chip under his wheels?
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s, often cited as an important act in the popularization of alternative rock music. In September, the band announced their new album “Atum”, which will be a 33-song rock opera in three acts. They’ve released one single, “Beguiled”, from the album, and there’s a handful of tour dates on the horizon. Surely, they could be planning more tour dates in support of this massive project. Would it be the greatest day you’ve ever known if Smashing Pumpkins made a stop at the Buffalo Chip?
YES
They may not have invented progressive rock, but YES is indisputably considered one of the genre’s most successful, influential and longest-lasting bands. Over the past 48 years, these prog pioneers have become known the world round for their expansive songs, mystical lyrics and elaborate live productions. The band’s 0223 tour schedule is currently wide open. Would you vote YES to see them make their Buffalo Chip debut in 2023?
Alice in Chains
Alice In Chains are one of the few remaining legends of the Grunge era. They released their sixth studio album, “Rainier Fog,” in August 2018 and are currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album “Dirt”. Currently their touring schedule is wide open. Would a 2023 appearance from Alice in Chains get you to move Them Bones of yours out to the Chip?
Foreigner
Foreigner’s electrifying mix of blustery blues and impeccably crafted pop have captivated generation after generation of music fans. Over their 40+ year career, the band has sold more than 75 million albums and experienced multi-platinum success around the world thanks to an enormous catalog of catchy hit songs. Would you go dizzy and develop Double Vision singing your lungs out with Foreigner at the Chip?
Megadeth
Legendary thrash metal band Megadeth are one of metal’s most prolific bands, having released 16 full length albums thus far and selling nearly 40 million copies worldwide. They’ve long been considered one of the genre’s “Big Four” bands, and they still tour and perform with the fire and tenacity of a much younger band. Would a Buffalo Chip appearance from Megadeth’s Symphony of Destruction satisfy your appetite for metal in 2023?
Willie Nelson
For over six decades, renegade country icon Willie Nelson has proved that amazing things can happen when you play by your own rules. His attitude toward the conventional Nashville sound brought about a slew of songs that have now become woven as tightly into the fiber of American life as the very braids draped over his shoulders. “Shotgun Willie” hasn’t made a stop at the Chip since 2016. Are you ready to take another ride with this outlaw country legend?
Godsmack
Godsmack’s pull-no-punches attitude and head-bangin’ tunes crushed fans during Buffalo Chip performances in 2015 and 2019. Guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin told Chris Trew in their Studio 14 interview how much they loved looking out and seeing all the motorcycles in the crowd. Do you hope they’ll be able to do it again at the Chip in 2022?
Billy Strings
Billy Strings is a GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician who Rolling Stone hailed as “one of string music’s most dynamic young stars” when he arrived on the scene. His songwriting provides an honest and personal perspective, incorporating a wide range of influences with elements of bluegrass, classic rock, metal, psychedelic music and more. A rigorous touring schedule has seen him sell out venues across the country and headline festivals including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and JazzFest. Do you think it’s time he add the Sturgis Buffalo Chip to that list?
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Southern rock’s native sons Lynyrd Skynyrd are the quintessential biker band. Their legacy and 30 million albums sold have earned them fans from all ages and walks of life. As the self-proclaimed Sturgis Buffalo Chip house band, it’s safe to say they’ve got massive cred with Chip fans. Skynyrd is currently celebrating their 50th anniversary, so it wouldn’t be outside of the realm of possibility for this long-running and favorite tradition to return for 2023.
Ghost
Ghost’s dark and mysterious aesthetic paired with their heavy, head-banging riffs and knack for writing pop song-worthy hooks has them rocketing toward the hard rock stratosphere. They won the 2016 Grammy for Best Metal Performance and were nominated for 2019 Best Rock Album. Tobias Forge and the Nameless Ghouls currently have a wide open summer schedule. Would a debut performance by Ghost at the Best Party Anywhere make for a supernatural good time?Motorcycling®?
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is one of rock ’n’ roll’s leading ladies. She’s known as “the Godmother of Punk,” and her 2015 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame further cements her status as one of the most badass babes to ever pick up a guitar. She hasn’t been to the Chip since 1990, but she is poised to tour in support of her 2022 album “Changeup”. Is a triumphant return from Joan Jett & the Blackhearts long overdue?
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s free sonic exploration makes it easy to mistake them for a long-forgotten relic of the 1960’s psychedelic explosion. This Australian band’s prolific nature has led them to release albums at a frenetic pace—22 albums since 2010! Their intense desire to seek out new sounds and follow new paths has resulted in rock encounters with everything from jazz to prog to death metal. Is it time they experiment with the sound of roaring motors at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip?
Jon Pardi
Much like the Buffalo Chip, country singer Jon Pardi isn’t concerned with what’s trendy; he cares about with making something that will last. That’s why his songs are stocked with classic Nashville melodies, blue-collar lyrics, real drums, loud-and-proud fiddles and twangy steel guitar. Pardi made his Buffalo Chip debut in 2022 and had as good a time taking part in the festivities as he did performing. Would you go Head Over Boots to join your fellow Pardi Animals again in 2023?
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes rapidly rose to fame in the early ’90s with their classic blues-rock revival sound. Following a string of releases and lineup changes, the band underwent a short hiatus in the early 2000s, and then again in 2015. In late 2019, the band’s founders, brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, announced they’d patched things up and were embarking on a 30th anniversary reunion tour commemorating their 1990 smash debut album, “Shake Your Money Maker”. Would adding the Best Party Anywhere to the tour make you Shake Your Money Maker?
Judas Priest
You’d be hard pressed to find a list of “Greatest Heavy Metal Bands of All Time” that didn’t list Judas Priest near the top. You’d also be hard pressed to find any band on those same lists that came out after Priest who wouldn’t cite them as a major influence. The band is currently celebrating their 50th anniversary on their 50 Heavy Metal Hears Tour. Would a Buffalo Chip stop add some serious FIREPOWER to the Chip’s 2023 lineup?
Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar’s list of musical and business ventures are long as your arm. From solo success to stints with Van Halen and Chickenfoot to tequila, rum and restaurant brands, the man seems to have done it all. But one thing Hagar has never done is make an appearance at the Legendary Buffalo Chip. Would you drive over 55 to see the Red Rocker make his debut performance at the Best Party Anywhere?
Billy Idol
Rock and roll and pop culture icon Billy Idol began his music career with the pioneering punk rock band Generation X and then went on to a massively successful solo career throughout the 1980s. He is still spreading the rock and roll gospel to huge audiences around the world to this day. Would you let out a Rebel Yell if he returned to the Chip in 2022?
Korn
Korn is a pioneer and one of the most successful bands of the nü-metal genre, having sold over 60 million albums worldwide and earning two GRAMMY awards and numerous other accolades. The band currently has no tour dates for 2023, but there’s plenty of time for dates to pop up. Would it make your life peachy if Korn made their Sturgis Buffalo Chip debut during the 83nd Sturgis Rally?
Volbeat
Volbeat’s blend of rockabilly and metal has quickly built them a large, rabid fan base and made them one of the biggest hard rock bands of the last decade. They made their Chip debut in 2019 and rocked the face off a huge crowd, and the requests for them to return in 2022 have been pouring in. Are you Still Counting the days until you hear an announcement featuring Volbeat?
Dying to know more about how the Buffalo Chip books its acts? You can find out what goes into the process under the “How do you choose bands?” section of the Chip’s FAQs.
Want to be the first to find out which bands will be rocking the Chip during the 2022 Best Party Anywhere? Be sure to sign up for the Sturgis Rider® Newsletter!
What bands you would like to see at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip? Tell us in the comments below!
Presented by the Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Known as The Best Party Anywhere®, the Legendary Buffalo Chip believes festivals should be fun like a high five, reenergize you like a broken rule, and romance you like someone you just met and have to take home.
This nine-day festival of concerts and motorcycle events promises to bring you exciting events like flat track races and live performances from artists like Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Five Finger Death Punch, Kid Rock, Rob Zombie and many more.
Find out more or get passes to the Best Party Anywhere at www.buffalochip.com and find out why it continues to be one of the most televised festivals in the world.
