| Rick Nielsen | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Born | December 22, 1946 Rockford, Illinois, USA |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, power pop |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, backing vocals |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Associated acts | Cheap Trick |
| Website | Official Cheap Trick website |
Rick Nielsen is the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Cheap Trick. For the band's first few albums, Nielsen wrote the majority of the material himself. He is well known for having many custom-made guitars from Hamer Guitars, including his famous five-neck guitar.
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Nielsen formed Cheap Trick in 1972 with bassist Tom Petersson, another Rockford, Illinois native. Before Cheap Trick, he was in a number of bands, including Grim Reapers and Fuse. The latter recorded a one-off debut album released on Epic Records which sold poorly. After the record failed to gain any attention, the band moved to Philadelphia and the band changed their name to Sick Man Of Europe.
The group toured Europe unsuccessfully in 1972 and returned to Illinois in 1973. Upon their return to Rockford, Nielsen and Petersson renamed the band Cheap Trick after adding drummer Bun E. Carlos and vocalist Randy "Xeno" Hogan. In 1974, Hogan left the band and lead singer Robin Zander joined after his contract with a Wisconsin resort was completed.
The look or appearance of Rick Nielsen on stage and in public venues can be traced to several elements. One source is certainly Huntz Hall, of The Bowery Boys fame; Nielsen wears a flipped up old style ball cap, Nielsen's face resembles Huntz Hall, and some of Nielsen's on-stage antics have been compared to Hall as well.[1]
Nielsen's use of the black and white checkerboard motif on his clothing was in line with (if not inspiring) the use in other parts of pop culture. Checkerboard Vans sneakers, made famous in the 1982 movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High, is an example of such use after Nielsen.
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