Cheap Trick
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| Cheap Trick | ||
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 Cheap Trick in the 1970s
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Rockford, Illinois | |
| Genre(s) | Rock Arena rock Hard rock New Wave Power pop |
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| Years active | 1974–present | |
| Label(s) | Epic, Warner, Red Ant, Big3 |
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| Website | cheaptrick.com | |
| Members | ||
| Rick Nielsen Robin Zander Tom Petersson Bun E. Carlos |
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| Former members | ||
| Randy "Xeno" Hogan Pete Comita Jon Brant Daxx Nielsen |
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Cheap Trick is a U.S. rock band from Rockford, Illinois, that gained popularity in the late 1970s. The band members are Rick Nielsen (guitarist and main songwriter), Bun E. Carlos (born Brad Carlson) (drums), Robin Zander (vocals and guitars), and Tom Petersson (bass guitar). 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 arguably is one of the first pop-punk bands. The band'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". Their most recent release, Rockford, has gained critical acclaim.[1] [2]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] (1968-1974) Early years
SICK MAN OF EUROPE - Musical, Band (Rock): Illinois natives Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, and Bun E. Carlos, along with Wisconsin native Robin Zander formed coming of Midwest age band just as the British Invasion hit. Inspired by British rock, these young men did what a lot of other young music fans did, picking up instruments and forming bands. While Bun E Carlos performed in a band known as The Pagans (not the Punk Rock band) and released a single "Good Day Sunshine" and "I Can Only Give You Everything" on the flip side. Rick had a band called The Phaetons and the later with Grim Reaper, which also released a single "Hound Dog" and the flip side "Cruisin' for Burgers" (also released on the FUSE cd). Tom was in a band called The Bo Weevils. Tom and Rick eventually formed and toured as FUSE and made their long-playing debut album on a 1969 self-titled project FUSE. Nielsen and Petersson subsequently launched Sick Man of Europe with Carlos and Robert "Stewkey" Antoni, the former singer of Nazz.
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 the group play in a bowling alley), Epic signed the group 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-up, In Color and In Black and White, and Heaven Tonight were amazing pop records but it was the unexpected surprise platinum album At Budokan that made Cheap Trick a household name.
[edit] (1976-1979) Success in Japan
The Budokan concerts introduced the Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson composition "Need Your Love", which the band had already recorded proper for their next studio album, Dream Police, which was released later that year. The success the band 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 the band 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 motiff 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.
[edit] (1980-1987) Post-Petersson years
For subsequent tours Pete Comita, and shortly thereafter Jon Brant, replaced Petersson. The first album recorded with Brant was One on One, the group's seventh album, which appeared in 1982.
[edit] (1988-1997) Record label problems
Over the course of the 1990s the band 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.
Following the poor performance of Woke Up with a Monster, Cheap Trick decided to go back to the basics. They left Warner Brothers and 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. Seven weeks after the release, Red Ant/Alliance declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, causing a furious music retail community to yank the record from stores and nearly bankrupting the band in the process.
[edit] (1998-2003) Rebuilding
1998 saw the band rebuilding by trying to restore normal relations with Sony and the music retail community, and establishing their own record company, Cheap Trick Unlimited. They 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. Amid much criticism, Cheap Trick Unlimited sold the CD exclusively on Amazon.com for 8 weeks prior to releasing it in stores. To support the record they headlined, co-billed with Guided By Voices, and opened for Pearl Jam. In early 2000, Cheap Trick entered into a license with Musicmaker.com to directly download and create custom CDs for over 50 songs. After spending a good part of 2001 writing songs and about six weeks of pre-production, Cheap Trick went into Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY in March 2002 where the band put together their first studio album in six years, Special One. Zander said, "This time each of us had songs and bits and pieces of songs – like a verse here, a chorus there, or a melody with no lyric. After putting it all together for this album, we'd lost track of who wrote what and just decided to put all of the writers on each song equally." Petersson added, "What I think is great about this record is that it sounds like an entire piece of music rather than a bunch of assorted, unrelated songs."
[edit] (2004-2006) Independence
Cheap Trick have been running their own label, Cheap Trick Unlimited, for 10 years now, controlling a substantial inventory of master recordings, including Cheap Trick 97 (Red Ant), Woke Up with a Monster (Warner Bros. 1994), Silver (a double live CD/DVD), Music for Hangovers (live CD/DVD), various singles including the theme from Fox's That 70's Show, "That 70's Song" and "Cold Turkey", Bun E. in a Box (a drum sample CD), plus various videos and live footage. Nielsen comments, "Running our own label has been a lot of fun. One day Bun E. gets to be President and one day I get to play President." Zander adds, "It's been a little tedious and a little overwhelming at times but we've got more control over our chaos." In May 2003, Cheap Trick decided to bring their record label to Big3 Entertainment. Under the deal, Cheap Trick Unlimited/Big3 Records released Special One. Says Bun E.: "We brought our label to Big3 because we got tired of being record moguls and riding around in limos and making the big bucks. We thought we'd give Big3 a chance."
On June 6, 2006, Cheap Trick released their new studio album Rockford on Cheap Trick Unlimited/Big3 Records. The first single from the album is "Perfect Stranger" (produced by Linda Perry and co-written by Cheap Trick and Perry).
On June 26, 2006, Cheap Trick appeared on the Howard Stern show on Sirius Satellite Radio and they played "I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender". Stern played one pre-recorded song off their new album. Sirius competitor XM Satellite Radio has also aired exclusive recordings from the band, producing a (new) live recording of Live at Budokan in their Washington, DC studios.
On September 23, 2006, Cheap Trick played a free concert at Nomahegan Park in Cranford, NJ to mark the end of an independently free music festival. On November 11, 2006, Cheap Trick played a free concert in Orlando, Florida.
[edit] Trivia
- In 1977, Cheap Trick opened for KISS in California where KISS was to record their KISS Alive II album. Bun E. Carlos said that before the show started KISS's drummer Peter Criss was so intoxicated that Carlos almost had to put on makeup and take his place. 22 years later in 1999, a live version of their song Surrender from the Live At Budokan album was used in the soundtrack to the movie Detroit Rock City.
- The stage music from the Street Fighter II series of games for Ken Masters shares the same opening notes as "Mighty Wings."
- The band has also been referenced several times on The Simpsons: in one episode, Apu was interrupted while singing along to "Dream Police", and another time when Homer Simpson was heard to remark, "I prefer to listen to Cheap Trick."
- In the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High the character of Mike Damone, ticket hustler, tries to get a kid to buy tickets to a Cheap Trick concert, reminding him of Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen's charisma and talents. He even starts out singing "Dream Police".
- 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 were 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.
- According to Bun E. Carlos, Robin Zander plays a Hamer 12-string guitar (as opposed to bass) 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 collectors piece guitars currently in his possession. He has collaborated with manufacturers for some personalized custom designs, including three 5-necked guitars.
- An all-female tribute band impersonates them humorously, Cheap Chick.
- Cheap Trick's song "Surrender" was featured in a Universal Studios commercial performed by the band Less Than Jake.
- Cheap Trick perform "That '70s Song", the theme song to the Fox Network television series That '70s Show. The song is a remake of Chris Bell and Alex Chilton's Big Star composition "In The Street", but with references to Cheap Trick's own "Surrender" included.
- Cheap Trick wrote and performed the theme song for Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, featuring former Daily Show correspondent Stephen Colbert
- MxPx often covers Cheap Trick's song "Surrender" at their live shows.
- On March 7th, 2006, Cheap Trick's "Surrender" became the theme song to the new ABC show, Sons and Daughters.
- The song "Mighty Wings" (from the Top Gun soundtrack) was used excessively in a popular Finnish TV comedy Studio Julmahuvi in late 90's. The song appeared in a recurring gag that parodied films like Karate Kid etc.
- When Bun E. Carlos had emergency back surgery one summer, one of Rick Nielsen's sons (Daxx) substituted for Bun behind the drumkit. Daxx's band, Harmony Riley, had been touring with Cheap Trick at the time, and Daxx knew most of Cheap Trick's drum parts.
- Rick Nielsen throws several hundred plectrums (guitar picks) per night into the audience, each bearing variations on his own personalized design. Despite these being quite common, they are avidly collected via auction sites.
- In 1985, Bun E Carlos's brother Kurt Carlson was held hostage by Hezbollah militants for 17 days before finally being released.
- In 1999, all four members of Cheap Trick, Rick Nielsen, Bun E. Carlos, Tom Petersson and Robin Zander were Commissioned as Kentucky Colonels by Kentucky Governer Paul Patton.
- During a news conference at Rockford City Hall in their hometown, members of Cheap Trick as well as city officials announced that Cheap Trick would be honored with the 2007 City Sticker in the form of the album cover from Rockford.
- A cover version of their song "Surrender" appears on Guitar Hero II for the Playstation 2.
- Multi-Platinum rock band Hootie & The Blowfish have been covering "Surrender" on their 2005-2006 tour.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- (1977) Cheap Trick aka Cheap Trick (1977)
- (1977) In Color
- (1978) Heaven Tonight
- (1979) Dream Police
- (1980) All Shook Up
- (1980) Found All The Parts
- (1982) One on One
- (1983) Next Position Please
- (1985) Standing on the Edge
- (1986) The Doctor
- (1988) Lap of Luxury
- (1990) Busted
- (1994) Woke Up With A Monster
- (1997) Cheap Trick aka Cheap Trick (1997)
- (2003) Special One
- (2006) Rockford
[edit] Live albums
- (1978) At Budokan
- (1998) At Budokan: the Complete Concert
- (1999) Music for Hangovers
- (2001) Silver
[edit] Compilations
- (1991) The Greatest Hits
- (1996) Sex, America, Cheap Trick (box set including unreleased tracks)
- (2000) Authorized Greatest Hits
- (2004) The Essential Cheap Trick
[edit] Movie soundtracks
- Over The Edge (1979)
- Roadie (1980)
- Up The Academy (1980)
- Heavy Metal (1981)
- Rock & Rule (1981)
- Spring Break (1983)
- Up The Creek (1984)
- Top Gun (1986)
- Say Anything (1988)
- Caddyshack 2 (1988)
- Another Way (1988)
- Queens Logic (1990)
- Look Who’s Talking Too (1991)
- Gladiator (1992)
- Encino Man (1992)
- Howard Stern's Private Parts (1997)
- Small Soldiers (1998)
- Detroit Rock City (1999)
- Joe Dirt (2001)
- Daddy Day Care (2003)
- This Thing of Ours (2003)
- Garfield: The Movie (2004)
[edit] Singles
- (1977) "Oh Candy"
- (1978) "Surrender" - #62 US
- (1979) "I Want You To Want Me" - #7 US, #29 UK
- (1979) "Ain't That A Shame" - #35 US
- (1979) "Dream Police" - #26 US
- (1980) "Voices" - #32 US
- (1980) "Way Of The World" - #73 UK
- (1980) "Everything Works If You Let It" - #44 US
- (1980) "Stop This Game" - #48 US
- (1982) "If You Want My Love" - #45 US, #57 UK
- (1982) "She's Tight" - #65 US
- (1985) "Tonight It's You" - #44 US
- (1986) "It's Only Love" - US
- (1988) "The Flame" - #1 US, #77 UK
- (1988) "Don't Be Cruel" - #4 US, #77 UK
- (1988) "Ghost Town" - #33 US
- (1989) "Never Had A Lot To Lose" - #75 US
- (1990) "Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love" - #12 US
- (1990) "Wherever Would I Be?" - #50 US
- (1994) "Woke Up With A Monster" - US
- (1994) "You're All I Wanna Do" - US
- (1996) "Gift" - US
- (1997) "Say Goodbye" - US
- (1999) "That 70's Song" - US
- (2003) "Scent Of A Woman" - US
- (2006) "Perfect Stranger" - US
- (2006) "Come On, Come On, Come On" - US
[edit] External links
- Cheap Trick.com - Official website
| Cheap Trick |
| Robin Zander | Rick Nielsen | Tom Petersson | Bun E. Carlos |
| Randy "Xeno" Hogan | Pete Comita | Jon Brant |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio albums: Cheap Trick | In Color | Heaven Tonight | Dream Police | All Shook Up | Found All The Parts | One on One | Next Position Please | Standing on the Edge | The Doctor | Lap of Luxury | Busted | Woke Up With A Monster | Cheap Trick (1997) | Special One | Rockford |
| Live albums: At Budokan | Music for Hangovers | Silver |
| Compilations/Box Sets: The Greatest Hits | Sex, America, Cheap Trick | Authorized Greatest Hits | The Essential Cheap Trick |
