Cheap Trick

Artist Image: Cheap Trick
Attribution
Image Credit: Rob Kennedy (Cheap Trick), CC BY 2.0

Biography

Back in the 60s, rock n roll oddball Rick Nielson began collecting bizarre guitars and studying esoteric British bands like Family and the Move. Tooling around the world, he returned to hometown Rockford, Illinois, and wound up in various outfits with avuncular drummer Bun E. Carlos. With lies of success, Nielson fooled bassist-in-crime Tom Petersson into leaving Europe to join. Soon, young folk singer Robin Zander was on board and Cheap Trick was born. The band played anywhere and everywhere, soon opening for the Kinks, Journey and Kiss. Nielson amassed a huge song portfolio before legendary producer Jack (Aerosmith, John Lennon, Zebra) Douglas finally led the quartet into the studio for their self-titled debut in 77. Cheap Trick showcased the Trick throwaway aesthetics of brilliant stupidity ("Hot Love"), wily irreverence ("Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School") and high-voltage pop genius ("He’s a Whore," "Oh Candy"). Chicago murderer Richard Speck was the topic of "Ballad of TV Violence" while "ELO Kiddies" is the cleverest Japanese toy/nuclear generation/Jeff Lynne song ever. In-house producer Tom Werman cleaned up the follow-up, In Color (77), for the radio and polished their third, Heaven Tonight (78), into a shining AOR gem. Few bands could turn songs about barbiturates ("Downed") and suicide ("Auf Wiedersehen") into chugging arena anthems, so Cheap Trick prepared for world domination. Merging the lines of metal, punk and Top 40, this golden stage is encapsulated by the brilliant "Surrender." Meanwhile, the band was already on top in Japan, documented on the stopgap live release At Budokon (79), which pushed the band to platinum status though it was originally intended for Japanese-only release. Thundering versions of "I Want You to Want Me" and the oldie "Ain’t That a Shame" were actual hits, bolstered by the band’s pioneering visual sense and Live at Leeds propulsion. After the abrupt Budokan, much momentum was lost by the impending release of the studio-intensive Dream Police (79). Though the title track, "Way of the World," and "I Know What I Want" were well-crafted singles, the roaring energy circulated by the live platter seemed to evaporate with the heady 70s. Petersson grew disenchanted, pulling a Yoko move with wife Dagmar, and left after the underrated All Shook Up (80), ironically produced by George Martin. Tick lost its commercial footing, unobtrusively releasing over-looked movie songs (two greats on Heavy Metal) for overlooked USA "Up All Night" movies and even "starred" with Debbie Harry in the animated movie Rock & Rule. Jon Bryant replaced Petersson and Trick dropped three eclectic pop artifacts: the compressed One on One (82) with Queen’s uber-producer Roy Thomas Baker; the quality Next Position Please (83) with kindred spirit Todd Rundgren; and Trick reunited with their first boardman, Jack Douglas, for the guilty pleasure Standing on the Edge (85). But when the clanging and bizarre Doctor (86) also slipped under the pop radar, the ever-encroaching record company took over. Petersson returned for Lap of Luxury (88), a calculated commercial confection with 3D production from Ritchie Zito. Trick scored a number one record with the lighter-ballad "The Flame." And "Don’t Be Cruel" was the first Elvis cover to hit the Top Ten since his death. But outside songwriters distanced Trick from their own records, and the vacuous Busted (90) increased the polarity between the power-party stage band and their adult-contemporary schlock tunes. Still playing wicked shows at state fairs and barbecues, Trick seemed to lose heart. In 94, a fresh start at Warner Brothers resulted in Woke Up with a Monster which accelerated Trick’s descent into obscurity. But Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan, an Illinois native who cut his teeth on vintage Trick, installed a new life force. Trick released another record, reissued their first four classics and began selling out shows again.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1973
Number of Albums 40
Record Label BMG
Website www.cheaptrick.com
Wikipedia Cheap Trick on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did Cheap Trick release their debut album?

1977

...Cheap Trick released their selftitled debut album in 1977 and found success in Japan with the release of their second album, In Color, later that year...
What was the name of the second album released by Cheap Trick?

In Color

...977 and found success in Japan with the release of their second album, In Color , later that year. The band would achieve mainstream popularity in the ...
When did the band reach mainstream popularity in the US?

1979

...ar. The band would achieve mainstream popularity in the United States in 1979 with their breakthrough album Cheap Trick at Budokan. Cheap Trick reache...
What year did Rick Nielsen form Fuse?

1967

... cult following. History edit Origins and early years (19691977) edit In 1967 , Rick Nielsen formed Fuse with Tom Peterson (later known as Tom Petersso...
What was Tom Peterson later known as?

Tom Petersson

... In 1967, Rick Nielsen formed Fuse with Tom Peterson (later known as Tom Petersson ), who had played in another Rockford, Illinois band called The Bo W...
Who joined Fuse on drums?

Bun E. Carlos

...layed in another Rockford, Illinois band called The Bo Weevils. With Bun E. Carlos joining on drums, Fuse moved to Philadelphia in 1971. After a Europ...
On what date did the band adopt the name Cheap Trick?

August 15, 1973

...ording to Rolling Stone, the band adopted the name 'Cheap Trick' on August 15, 1973 . The name was inspired by the band's attendance at a Slade concert...
What was the name of the guitarist that led the band Cheap Trick?

Rick Nielsen

...sary links between '60s pop, heavy metal, and punk. Led by guitarist Rick Nielsen , the band's early albums were filled with highly melodic, wellwritte...
What genre of music did Cheap Trick combine with '60s pop, heavy metal, and punk?

British guitar pop

...Combining a love for British guitar pop songcraft with crunching power chords and a flair for the absurd, Cheap Trick provided the necessary links bet...
What genre of music did Nielsen study?

'60s rock

...eincheek musical eclecticism and humor of the Move. A canny student of '60s rock , Nielsen first worked with bassist Tom Petersson in the band Fuse, wh...
How many albums did Fuse release in 1969?

one

...en first worked with bassist Tom Petersson in the band Fuse, who released one album in 1969 before dissolving. Nielsen and Petersson continued working...
Who was the vocalist in the 1975 Cheap Trick band?

Robin Zander

...al formats until they teamed with drummer Bun E. Carlos and vocalist Robin Zander to form the definitive lineup of Cheap Trick in 1975. Glossier produ...
What sapped the band's spirit on most of their work of the '80s?

Glossier production and fuzzy creative direction

...form the definitive lineup of Cheap Trick in 1975. Glossier production and fuzzy creative direction sapped the band's spirit on most of their work of ...
How many albums did Bang, Zoom, Crazy Hello release within 18 months of being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

three

...Roll Hall of Fame, kicking off a productive streak that saw them release three albums within 18 months. Their sound provided a blueprint for both powe...
What was the name of the late '60s band formed by Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson in Rockford, Illinois?

Fuse

...ombination of loud riffs and catchy melodies. Cheap Trick's roots lie in Fuse , a late'60s band formed by Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson in Roc...
When did Fuse release an album on Epic?

1969

... Petersson in Rockford, Illinois. The group released an album on Epic in 1969 ; after it failed to gain any attention, the band relocated to Philadelph...
Where did the band relocate after Epic failed to gain any attention?

Philadelphia

...ased an album on Epic in 1969; after it failed to gain any attention, the band relocated to Philadelphia and changed their name to Sick Man of Europe....
What was the new name of the band?

Sick Man of Europe

...ased an album on Epic in 1969; after it failed to gain any attention, the band relocated to Philadelphia and changed their name to Sick Man of Europe ....
Where did the event take place in the mid-1960s?

Rockford, Illinois

...ow to submit Cheap Trick lyrics. The event actually took place in Rockford, Illinois , during the mid1960s, when guitarist Rick Nielsen started a band ...
The foursome's music was often compared to that of what band?

the Beatles

... and hummable pop melodies; their music was often compared to that of the Beatles . Cheap Trick played clubs and bars throughout the Midwest, gathering...
What was the name of the band's manager?

Ken Adamany

...edicated groups on the local circuit. At the urging of their manager, Ken Adamany (who'd been a member of rocker Steve Miller's high school group), th...
How many different models did Nielsen often use during performances?

dozens

...n their stage show. Nielsen made use of his vast guitar collection, often switching between dozens of differently designed models during performances....
When did Carlos stop touring as drummer?

2010

...ctly all been great. More recently, Carlos stopped touring as drummer in 2010 , touching off a legal battle about his stake in the bands financial mana...
What is the best thing about being inducted?

your fans finally get something they can grab on to

...t about being inducted, Zander continues, is that your fans finally get something they can grab on to in that record argument in the basement after dr...