Local Newswire Let’s start guessing who the non-Elton-John headliners will be for Harley’s 110th anniversary

It seems like only yesterday that local company-made-really-really-good Harley-Davidson was celebrating its 100th anniversary. For a good chunk of the summer of 2003, the entire city of Milwaukee was transformed into an extremely loud, extremely sweaty, and extremely loud party that honored all things Harley and chaps-related. For those locals who steadfastly refused to flee town, air-show-style, one question nagged: Who was the super-secret headlining act that Harley had booked for a lakefront blowout concert? The Rolling Stones? Bruce Springsteen? The Stones? Springsteen? A combination of the two? Even if it wasn’t The Rolling Stones or Bruce Springsteen, surely it would be amazing. But yeah, it was probably The Rolling Stones or Bruce Springsteen.

Of course, we all know how that ended. Elton “Born To Be Wild” John was revealed as the secret headlining act, a hilariously milquetoast choice that was met with plenty of guffaws and walkouts. (Kid Rock also played.) Elton-gate would haunt Harley for the next decade, even if the singer of “Benny And The Jets” and “Circle Of Life” was probably a better match for Harley’s new 21st century image, which was less “PCP-smoking-Hell’s-Angel” and more “software-engineering-uncle.”

And now, 10 years later, we’re in for another round of “guess the mystery act.” According to The Business Journal, Harley’s 110th anniversary party will take place over Labor Day weekend in 2013, and will feature not one, but three headliners. Thankfully, the company will announce those headliners in early 2013. See you soon, Kid Rock!