Worried your hazy memories from the 75th rally anniversary party at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip® might not last long enough to get you by until the bands announced for the Chip’s 35th take the stage? The legendary party brought out the very best in the performers, and the Chip’s photographers were there to capture the amazing concert photos that prove it. Transport yourself back to 32 of the festival’s most memorable musical moments here:
Always one to laugh in the face of convention, Dee Snider doesn’t hold anything back during his performance Monday, Aug. 3.
Dee sat down backstage in Studio 14 prior to his performance and shared some ideas he thinks will revolutionize the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. Watch the video to find out what kind of twisted ideas he has!
Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch gives a shout out to fans during the band’s Aug. 1 performance.
Moody and the rest of 5FDP are putting fans first again this holiday season by giving away the Epiphone Les Paul Custom PRO guitar they all signed at the Chip in the Rock the Holidays Sweepstakes. Enter for your chance to win the guitar and a $250 Hot Leathers shopping spree now!
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Rickey Medlocke channels the gods during an otherworldly guitar solo.
Fans throw up horns for Alice Cooper’s freakish fantasies on Aug. 1.
Brantley Gilbert raises hell during his Sturgis Buffalo Chip concert on Sunday, Aug. 2. Experience Brantley’s rally mayhem backstage by checking out his Studio 14 interview.
The sound coming from outlaw country rocker Brian Grilli is powerful enough to blow your hair back.
Guitarist Dave “The Snake” Sabo flashes some serpentine tongue during Skid Row’s performance Friday, Aug. 7.
Charlie Brechtel lays down a real face melter during his July 31 performance.
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot tips his head back, closes his eyes and breathes in the experience of the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling™ while praying to the parachute pant gods.
Brent James jumped into his first Chip performance with both feet.
You can hear “Motorcycle Church,” the song Brent James & The Vintage Youth debuted at the Chip, on the Buffalo Chip Rock Playlist!
Godsmack’s Robbie Merrill prepares for a wicked slide down his bass during the band’s Aug. 3 performance.
Sometimes even John Fogerty himself is blown away by the notes coming from his guitar.
Two rockabilly bands from opposite sides of the globe, Denver-based The Living Deads and Japan’s preeminent biker rockers MMS, come together for an impromptu performance on the Kinison Stage that transcends all cultural barriers.
Leigh Kakaty and the rest of Pop Evil rock the faces off thousands of fans on the opening night of the Pre-Rally Party on Friday, July 24.
Things got so patriotic during a Colossal Boss performance at Bikini Beach that a bald eagle exploded out of frontman Steven Douglas’ Captain ‘Merica jumpsuit.
See more ridiculously weird shots like this one in 9 WTF Moments that Could Only Happen at the Chip.
Lukas Nelson nearly rips his pants as he flies high during the Buffalo Chip performance with his band, Promise of the Real.
Females flock to the front row when Kelly Juett of Mothership asks for all the ladies to come closer during a midnight show at Bikini Beach. Is she crying or melting from fandom fantasies? It’s hard to tell.
Carl Sentence of Nazareth delivers the Hair of the Dog that Chip fans crave on Monday, Aug. 3.
Iron Cowgirl Missy gives a heartfelt tribute to all the veterans in the audience during her Fan Fest performance at the CrossRoads.
Bassist Jared Gaiser of fusion folk-rock band Nicnos kicks it into high gear for the festival finale on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Chris Westfall of ONE – The Only Tribute to Metallica painstakingly recreates a James Hetfield guitar solo note for note on the Jägermeister Stage to close out the final night of the Buffalo Chip’s Pre-Rally Party.
Singer Brent Smith and guitarist Zach Myers of Shinedown bring the sound of madness to a frenzied Sturgis Buffalo Chip audience.
Every fist in the audience flies in the air as Social Distortion’s set of anti-establishment anthems celebrates the non-conformists.
Stolen Rhodes steals the audience’s heart with its vintage rock ‘n’ roll vibe to kick off the August music festival’s main stage entertainment.
Ryan Williams of Red Sun Rising lets out a scream loud enough to be heard throughout the solar system during the July 24 kickoff of the Pre-Rally Party.
A potent rock potion flows from the fingertips of Sweet Cyanide’s Sal Scocca.
Texas Hippie Coalition frontman Big Dad Ritch fires off two double barrels to fire up the audience.
Keyboardist Leonard Shaw of The Guess Who asks the audience to Clap for the Wolfman.
Mods drummer Gabriel Rhodes leads the band through more rock ‘n’ roll favorites than you can shake a stick at.
Marie and Katy of country-western comedy duo The Reformed Whores innocently deliver details about the dirtier side of life on the Hoyt Axton Stage. See what happens when the whores crash the Buffalo Chip’s Panty Party in this episode of Sturgis Rider TV® All Access.
Lonnie Jordan makes peace with the audience during WAR’s performance on the final night of the August music festival.
BC & The Big Rig brings true-blue Americana to the Patriot Pavilion, packing the house for a midnight show at the Hoyt Axton Stage.
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If these concert photos got you fired up, just wait until you see who the Chip has announced for its upcoming party!
To see more sweet shots from 2015 Sturgis Buffalo Chip concerts, check out the Chip’s Concerts Photo Gallery! And for some of the Chip’s best photos overall, check out the Sturgis Rider® News Blog’s 23 of the Best Sturgis Buffalo Chip Photos from the 75th.
