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Green Day, Motley Crue, Guns n’ Roses and Pearl Jam are just a few of the bands inspired by the seminal and influential band who came to be known as Cheap Trick. Back in 1961 teenage music enthusiast Rick Nelson found his passion in playing guitars and began playing locally in his hometown of Illinois, US. In 1967 he met bassist Tom Petersson and together they created the band Fuse who released their debut self-titled album in 1970 through Epic Records. When the album was virtually was ignored by audiences and the media and touring the Midwest, the band moved to Philadelphia, US with every intention of a fresh start.
What’s in a name? Clearly everything as the band took inspiration from Slade lyrics and began calling themselves Cheap Trick and were joined by Robin Zander who took on lead vocal duty in 1973. With Bun E Carlos on drums, the line-up was solidified and the band began recording demos in 1975 using any available space. Between the early formation of this band and their first release and popular hit “I Want You To Want Me” released in 1975, the band not only discovered their sound but developed and perfected their iconic live performances.
Through Epic Records, the band released their debut self-titled album in early 1977 which was highly praised by critics but lacked the financial success in America. However in the meantime, Japan began warming to the band as their fan base overseas was developing. By the time they released their second album “In Color” later that year with a more pop orientated sound, Japan had embraced them with open arms as the singles “Clock Strikes Ten” and “I Want You To Want Me” were smash hits there. With hysteria similar to Beatlesmania, the band toured relentlessly to thousands of adoring Japanese fans during 1979.
Upon their return to US soil, Cheap Trick released their fourth album “Dream Police” in late 1979 and experienced their first successes in their homeland as the album went to number six in the US album charts and went platinum. With their relentless touring schedule, the band won over audiences as they opened for legendary bands such as: Kiss, The Kinks and Santana.
With a career spanning over four decades, amassing a collection of admirable accolades and producing monumental musical masterpieces, Cheap Trick have solidified themselves as an American musical treasure who remain timeless throughout the years.
When one thinks of Rock Music from the 70’s, one normally thinks of Prog, Hard Rock or Punk. There’s nothing wrong with that, they’re iconic genres that have given the world some truly spectacular and influential music. And Prog. But a truly underrated seam of 70’s rock may be just as influential as three listed above with a fraction of the fame, it was harnessed by Weezer on The Blue Album to basically create the last twenty years of American Alt. Rock and it’s called Power-pop. The Knack, The Cars and Elvis Costello all fell under the term but Cheap Trick were the undisputed kings, with their breakthrough record Cheap Trick At Budokan going triple platinum, and tracks like the immortal Surrender and I Want You To Want Me becoming standards of the day. Like any band that were truly built to last they have only got better with time and experience, so a Cheap Trick concert may not be the event it would have been in their heyday, but it might be an even better concert than ever before. Being the cult band they are today means that every show contains their biggest hits as well as deep cuts for the long-time fans, with something truly for everyone in every show. The truly special thing about Cheap Trick however, is that even after a couple of line-up changes in the 80’s, the four founding members of the band are still playing together after forming in 1973. Not only is it all the more special to watch the guys who actually wrote I’ll Be With You Tonight performing it rather than a bunch of hired hands, it also means that after forty-one years of performing together, no-one knows the men onstage musically anywhere near as well as each other. That chemistry, that telepathy, is almost palpable every time they take the stage. They’re a better band than they ever were, and they were already good enough for Alice Cooper, of all people, to call them “America’s House Band”. High praise richly deserved, for four of the true founding fathers of alternative rock, and if you have any time for it whatsoever, you owe it to yourself to pay your respects as soon as possible. You’ll also see lead guitarist Rick Nielsen playing a five necked guitar. Sold yet? Good!
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