Cheap Trick

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Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, that gained popularity in the late 1970s. Cheap Trick members are Rick Nielsen (lead guitar, vocals, main songwriter), Bun E. Carlos (born Brad Carlson) (drums, percussion), Robin Zander (vocals, rhythm guitar), and Tom Petersson (bass guitar, vocals). Though they have had only brief flirtations with mainstream success, Cheap Trick has held a substantial following through regular touring and a hard-edged yet blissful pop sound that combines the tunefulness of The Beatles with the speed and energy of punk rock. Cheap Trick's biggest hits over the years include "I Want You to Want Me", "Surrender", "Dream Police", "Don't Be Cruel" (a cover of Elvis' hit), and "The Flame". Cheap Trick most recent release, Rockford, has gained critical acclaim.


Upon Robin Zander's induction to the band in 1974, Sick Man of Europe became Cheap Trick, and Midwest clubs were soon rocking to "The Ballad of Richard Speck", "ELO Kiddies" and "He's a Whore". In its early days Cheap Trick would be seen playing some free admission venues, such as Sinnissippi Park, on Rockford's east side (forshadowing their performances at parks in years to come). With a vivid image, a great singer and more instruments than a music store, Cheap Trick brought arena-scaled flamboyance to the unsigned band circuit, and became the area's biggest local attraction. After being sold on the idea by producer Jack Douglas (who had seen Cheap Trick play at the Sunset Bowl in Waukesha, WI), Epic signed Cheap Trick in 1976, and released its self-titled album the following February. The roaringly wild debut got great reviews but didn't sell; the more pop-conscious follow-ups, In Color and Heaven Tonight, were amazing pop records but it was the unexpected surprise platinum album At Budokan that made Cheap Trick a household name


The Budokan concerts introduced the Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson composition "Need Your Love", which Cheap Trick had already recorded proper for their next studio album, Dream Police, which was released later that year. The success Cheap Trick enjoyed in Japan was enormous, some even describing the band as superstars in that country. This success far exceeded their popularity in the States, at least initially. After their Budokan success Cheap Trick gained in popularity in the U.S. The look and sound of Cheap Trick in these early years was somewhat groundbreaking, if not always catagorizable. The black and white checkerboard motif used by Nielsen seemed to forshadow the large changes in the music and pop culture scene in the early 1980's, as typified by the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High, where the character played by Sean Penn wore Vans sneakers with a similar checkerboard pattern. After the release of All Shook Up in 1980, bassist Tom Petersson left the group to produce other artists and record with his then-wife, Dagmar.
Cheap Trick also performed Mighty Wings in the movie Top Gun.
Bassist Tom Petersson rejoined Cheap Trick in 1987 and helped record 1988's Lap of Luxury, the album from which Cheap Trick's first-ever No. 1 single, "The Flame," came. He has remained with Cheap Trick ever since.

Over the course of the 1990s Cheap Trick experienced several new lows when Sony Music, the successor to the band's CBS Records contract, put Cheap Trick's name on several budget compilations including Voices, I Want You To Want Me, Don't Be Cruel, and several others without their prior knowledge, consent, or agreement. Robin Zander's self titled record produced by Jimmy Iovine was released in 1993 and quickly cut out.

Cheap Trick had left CBS for Warner Brothers, but following the poor performance of the 1994 Warners album release Woke Up with a Monster, Cheap Trick decided it was time to go back to the basics, concentrating on using the strength of their live reputation and leasing new recordings to independent labels, rather than to major companies. Over the next few years several bands who had been influenced by Cheap Trick gave them opportunities to open for them.

In 1998, Cheap Trick signed with indie label/distributor Red Ant/Alliance, and released Cheap Trick.

1998 saw Cheap Trick rebuilding by trying to restore normal relations with Sony and the music retail community, and establishing their own record company, Cheap Trick Unlimited. Cheap Trick toured behind the re-mastered re-releases of Budokan: the Complete Concert, and their first three records. One of the multi-night stands from this tour resulted in Music For Hangovers, a vibrant live effort.

Cheap Trick is known for its use of unusual guitars and basses. Robin Zander plays a Hamer 12-string guitar in addition to a Gibson Firebird, Chandler "Telecaster" and Rickenbacker 450. Rick Nielsen is an avid collector who, despite rationalizing his guitar collection, still has over 250 very desirable collector's piece guitars currently in his possession. He has collaborated with manufacturers, primarily Hamer, for some personalized custom guitars. For example, Nielsen has commissioned guitars based on Cheap Trick albums (including "Rockford" and "The Doctor") and even songs such as "Gonna Raise Hell." In addition, Nielsen is known for his five-necked guitars and electric mandocellos.

Bassist Tom Petersson is generally credited for having the initial idea for a 12-string bass. The first 12-string bass was designed by Jol Dantzig and custom made by Hamer Guitars following a request from Petersson. Petersson had used a Hagstrom 8-string bass, and then asked Hamer Guitars to make him a 12 string bass. The company was doubtful that the neck of a 12-string bass would stay in one piece, due to the massive tension the strings would exert and so they initially made him a 10-string bass. Following the successful trial use of that bass, the prototype 12-string bass (The Hamer 'Quad') was produced. Petersson is a somewhat fanatical bass collector and has also used 12-string basses made by Kids (a Japanese guitar maker), Chandler, and Waterstone, as well as an impressive array of 4, 5 and 8 stringed basses from other manufacturers.

from Wikipedia licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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