1968 to 1977

CHEAP TRICK are probably the sole successful example of a band that have made their careers based on a quirky blend of Rock suffused with an uncontrollable urge to experiment. The band are accomplished songsmiths blending pop melodies with powerful hard rock and have punctuated their twenty year run with a succession of major hit singles most notably 'I Want You To Want Me' and 'The Flame'.

CHEAP TRICK evolved from a late 60s outfit created by guitarist Rick Neilsen and bassist Tom Petersson named GRIM REAPERS. Nielsen's first act having been THE PHAETONS while Petersson had been with THE BOLL WEEVILS.

The GRIM REAPERS comprised of Nielsen, Petersson, vocalist Joe Sundberg, second guitarist Craig Myers and drummer Chip Greenman. The group is said to have been the opening act at the last show performed by OTIS REDDING before he perished in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin on December 10, 1967. A single 'Hound Dog'/ 'Cruisin' For Burger' was released in 1968 on the Smack label. However, before long a name change saw the band now titled FUSE and the single was re-released under the new band name.

FUSE recorded a self-titled album for Epic records which surfaced in 1972 but the band went into a period of flux. The group fragmented with Sundberg and Myers creating a side act with Nielsen titled NIELSEN, MYERS, SUNDBERG & CARLSON. The latter member being drummer Brad Carlson who would later join CHEAP TRICK under the pseudonym of Bun E. Carlos.

As FUSE Nielsen and Petersson were joined by NAZZ II vocalist Robert 'Stewkey' Antoni and drummer Thom Mooney.

This outfit found it tough going in their native Rockford and relocating to Philadelphia adopted the new title of of SICK MAN OF EUROPE (later a name to be adopted by a CHEAP TRICK cover band).

A tour was undertaken in 1972 which failed to make any headway and the band returned dejected to Illinois the following year. A further name change ensued as the band, now known as CHEAP TRICK, added bassist Rick Szeluga, ex PAEGANS drummer Bun. E Carlos, replacing Mooney who was later to work with RITA COOLIDGE, and vocalist Randy 'Xeno' Hogan.

had worked with Nielsen prior to allying himself with CHEAP TRICK and with the PAEGANS had released one single in 1967 on Rampro Records 'Good Day Sunshine'/ 'I Can Only Give You Everything'.

Hogan was to leave to create the Minneapolis based STRAIGHT UP within the year and his position was taken by ex TOONS frontman ROBIN ZANDER as Petersson also returned to the fold.

This new line up toured constantly opening for the likes of BOSTON, KISS, JOURNEY, SANTANA and THE KINKS and somewhat inevitably scored a major deal with Epic Records. This liaison was to instigate CHEAP TRICK's ascendancy into chart success.

The band's 1977 eponymous debut, produced by Jack Douglas of AEROSMITH fame, sold well even going gold in Japan, an indicator of future superstar status in that territory. Douglas was reported to have become interested in working with the group after catching a show and being rather impressed with a theatrical number entitled 'The Ballad Of Richard Speck'. Zander seemingly played the title role as Nielsen played a judge and a psychiatrist. The song would evolve into 'The Ballad Of TV Violence (I'm Not The Only Boy)'.

CHEAP TRICK's sophomore outing 'In Color' dented the American charts and solidified support in Japan with another gold award but saw CHEAP TRICK toning down the hard rock element to their sound in favour of well crafted songs.

1978 to 1979

In 1978 CHEAP TRICK toured Japan to an ecstatic response. A series of sold out arena shows were captured on the seminal live album 'At Budokan' released after their third studio effort 'Heaven Tonight' after it had become the biggest selling Japanese import in the history of American Rock music prior to gaining a domestic release. CHEAP TRICKwere now well and truly entrenched in the American charts as the 'Surrender' single broke the singles charts for them reaching number 62 paving the way for the monster hit 'I Want You To Want Me', one of the few live cuts ever to gain hit status. This one song gave the band worldwide exposure and became a massive radio hit globally. The accompanying album went on to sell over three million copies in America.

1979 also gave the band a further top ten album with the Tom Werman produced 'Dream Police', CHEAP TRICK's fourth studio effort. Further hit singles followed and a 10" EP of rare early material 'Found All The Parts' also found it's way into the charts.

The band also contributed two tracks to the soundtrack of the animated movie 'Heavy Metal'; namely 'Reach Out' and 'I Must Be Dreamin'.

1980 to 1987

In mid 1980 Petersson departed in order to form a band with his wife Dagmar and in his stead came Pete Comita (once a member of the L.A club band EMPIRE using the alias of Pete Valentino). This union was shortlived though and Comita's presence onstage during dates in Japan was severely affected by a depressing medical problem (Comita would briefly link up with ENUFF Z' NUFF a few years later). Before long CHEAP TRICK's bass position was filled by Jon Brandt, who had been working with ex-ANGEL vocalist Frank Dimino and former UFO keyboard player Paul Raymond in RUFFIANS before accepting his new post. The band had discovered Brandt as he often used to drive Comita to rehearsals.

This revised line up debuted with the 'All Shook Up' album ably produced by George Martin, most notably associated with THE BEATLES, a band CHEAP TRICK's had often been compared to. 1982's 'One On One' was to give the band another platinum award for a million sales. A tour the same year, opening for R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON saw the band drafting in KANSAS and STREETS vocalist STEVE WALSH for live keyboard work.

Overall sales however were on a steady downward slide despite consistent quality material for 1983's Todd Rundgren produced 'Next Position Please', 1985's 'Standing On The Edge' and 1986's 'The Doctor'.

During this period British Rock act UFO had split. Minus vocalist PHIL MOGG the core of the band rehearsed for a planned revival including plans to include Zander at the helm but this proposed liaison never got off the ground.

Keyboard player Kasim Sultan, previously with UTOPIA, added his touch to CHEAP TRICK briefly during this period. Sultan later forged a union with BILLY IDOL drummer Thommy Price to create PRICE-SULTAN issuing the 1987 album 'Lights On'.

In events of a more leftfield nature producer Steve Albini's eclectic BIG BLACK would issue a radicalized version of CHEAP TRICK's 'He's A Whore', from the 1977 debut album, as a single.

1988 to 1995

Following the inclusion of a CHEAP TRICK track 'Mighty Wings'; on the soundtrack to the blockbuster movie 'Top Gun', released as a single in Japan backed up with a HARALD FALTERMEYER song, Petersson returned. Brandt meanwhile turned up in harness with former TAMI SHOW member Kristin Massey in the Miami, Florida based SIREN, with whom he recorded the 'All Is Forgiven' album in 1989.

The resulting 1988 CHEAP TRICK album 'Lap Of Luxury' featured the musicians writing for the first time with professional songwriters. The move rekindled CHEAP TRICK's vigour and took the band to platinum status once more powered along by a sensational power ballad 'The Flame' which saw CHEAP TRICK at number 1 in the singles charts. Zander and Nielsen also found time out to make a guest showing on the 'Cocked And Loaded' album by L.A. GUNS.

The follow up single, a cover of ELVIS PRESLEY's 'Don't Be Cruel' was another big hit but strangely the momentum ebbed as the 1990 album Richie Zito produced 'Busted' found it difficult going peaking at number 48.

CHEAP TRICK signed to Warner Bros releasing 1994's 'Woke Up With A Monster'. Although a fine album it failed to sell and the band found themselves without a record label for the first time. The marketing of the album had suffered greatly as the team that had signed CHEAP TRICK departed Warner Bros prior to it's release and dissatisfied with the record company's commitment to the band CHEAP TRICK opted to break away at the same time completely re-organising their business affairs. CHEAP TRICK's old management team was let go and Larry Mazer, responsible for previous success stories such as CINDERELLA and NELSON, was brought in.

Fortunately in this period out of the public eye their old label Epic put out a 'Greatest Hits' package and a second installment of live material from the 1978 Japanese shows 'At Budokan II' which were to remind the public of the sheer quality of the band.

1996 to 2007

In 1996 Epic Records, in association with their newly established back catalogue label Legacy, released a four CD boxed set of classic, live, rare and unreleased CHEAP TRICK recordings under the banner of 'Sex, America, Cheap Trick'. Containing 64 tracks in all, including around 32 previously unreleased songs. Radio stations were given a precursor to the set with the 12 track promotional sampler 'You Can Still Have Sex In America'.

By now veterans of twenty years CHEAP TRICK bounced back into the limelight during 1997 with aid from an unlikely ally. The 'Baby Talk' single was released on the Sub Pop label, the record company whose success was responsible for many of the newer acts that had buried many fading hard rockers careers, and production credits were afforded to none other than Steve Albini, most noted for his work with NIRVANA. The B side of this release, issued only on 7" vinyl format, was a cover version of THE MOVE track 'Brontosaurus'.

The tracks from the single were released in CD form as a bonus incentive to purchasers of the American release of the 1997 comeback album 'Cheap Trick'. Touring was undertaken in America to back up the new record including dates with ZZ TOP.

With a British tour scheduled for September of that year CHEAP TRICK were forced to cancel and regroup as their new label Red Ant suffered severe business problems. The band set out in 1998 to promote the launch of the reissued classic 'Live At Budokan' album (restored to it's full length for the first time on CD) with a series of American concerts recreating the entire album onstage. The group was booked to play two shows in the United Kingdom during July 1998, playing the Astoria in London and Rock City in Nottingham. Rumour had it the shows were booked to coincide with a wedding the group had been invited to attend in Birmingham during the period in question.

A notable CHEAP TRICK tribute album, 'Stiff Competition' released through Rock Dream Records, that same year would feature contributors such as ENUFF Z'NUFF, ARCARA, FUNNY MONEY, GLEN BURTNICK, ANGEL's Frank Dimino and TYKETTO vocalist Danny Vaughn. Even ROBIN ZANDER himself figured on the track 'I Can't Go On'. In 1999 a Japanese issued live album 'Music For Hangovers' excited fans when it was learned the recordings had been made at a hometown Illinois show and featured the guesting duo of Billy Corgan and D'Arcy of the SMASHING PUMPKINS.

CHEAP TRICK's public profile was raised to renewed heights again in America courtesy of the hit TV comedy 'That 70s Show'. The band performing the title theme music, actually a re-work of a BIG STAR original. Neilson and Carlos would also contribute to the track 'Zig Zag' on JIM PETERIK's 2000 solo album 'World Stage'.

Another CHEAP TRICK tribute album surfaced in 2000 wittily titled 'Cheap Dream'. Featured were members of WARRANT, L.A. GUNS, FASTER PUSSYCAT and LOVE/HATE. The band themselves released the double live album set 'Silver', a nostalgic run through of hits performed in August of 1999 in Rockford complete with a guesting Billy Corgan of the SMASHING PUMPKINS, Slash of GUNS N' ROSES and erstwhile bassist Jon Brant. The Rockford Symphony Orchestra would also be in evidence backing the band on 'The Flame'.

Touring in America during 2001 saw CHEAP TRICK keeping it in the family with HARMONY RILEY as opening act, two of the band members Miles and Daxx are the sons of Rick Nielsen. This family bond would come in useful for a New York show as Bun E. Carlos had to bow out to undergo surgery and Daxx Nielsen duly filled in for the night.

CHEAP TRICK would return to the UK for a three night stand at the London Garage venue. The event was to prove a unique event for fans as each night would see renditions of tracks from individual classic albums 'Cheap Trick', 'In Color' and 'Heaven Tonight'. CHEAP TRICK would also pay homage to Joey Ramone, the late lead singer of THE RAMONES, performing at the 'Life's A Gas' event at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on what would have been Ramone's 50th Birthday.

The omens for CHEAP TRICK's 2003 album 'Special One' looked good as 'Scent Of A Woman', the first single lifted from the album, was the most added mainstream Rock track in America the week of its release to radio. The band united with AEROSMITH for a gargantuan US tour commencing in Lubbock, Texas on 11th March of 2004. Former member Jon Brant stepped back in for these shows on a temporary basis. In a scare for Bum E. Carlos the drummer collapsed following a show in Seattle. A hospital diagnosis cited exhaustion, dehydration and low potassium levels although the drummer was quickly given a clean bill of health. Rick Nielsen's son Daxx played drums once again for the band at the 25th May show in Boise, Idaho.

CHEAP TRICK saw valuable homage afforded by VELVET REVOLVER later that year. The band, led by high profile figures SCOTT WEILAND of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and Slash and DUFF McKAGAN of GUNS N' ROSES promoted their no. 1 US album with live work seeing CHEAP TRICK's 'Surrender' used an encore tune. VELVET REVOLVER would then record 'Surrender' during August. Another notable event came on 12th October, when Industrialists MINISTRY were joined onstage by Rick Nielsen for a rendition of the BLACK SABBATH classic 'Supernaut' at the Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Both Zander and Nielsen featured as guest performers for an appearance at ALICE COOPER's Arizona 'Christmas Pudding' December concert to raise funds for the non-profit, Christian based Solid Rock Foundation. The pair's appearance at a February 2005 Orlando, Florida show for the 'Musicians 4 Disaster Relief' fund, organized by RICK DERRINGER and seeing the duo sharing the stage with LOVERBOY, MARK FARNER, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS' Dickey Betts and TWISTED SISTER, would be recorded live and sold just after the gig as numbered collector's set for $25 each. CHEAP TRICK partnered with ALICE COOPER for US co-headline dates throughout August and September. Into 2006 the group allied itself with AEROSMITH for a run of shows in March.

A brand new CHEAP TRICK album, 'Rockford' issued ominously on 6/6/06, was preceded by the single 'Perfect Stranger'. 'Rockford' debuted just outside the US top 100. The group's classic 'I Want You To Want Me' was given another lift into the mainstream when actress LINDSAY LOHAN issued the track as her latest single. During July high profile all star act CAMP FREDDY donated their rendition of CHEAP TRICK's 'Surender' to the soundtrack of the movie 'Employee Of The Month'. On October 5th CAMP FREDDY performed the same song on NBC-TV's 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', this session including guests Slash of VELVET REVOLVER and CHEAP TRICK's own Rick Nielsen.

CHEAP TRICK united with THIN LIZZY for Australian dates in December, but these shows, although announced, would be cancelled. Solo gigs were also conducted in New Zealand.

A surprise came for CHEAP TRICK fans in early 2009 when it was learned Bun E. Carlos had forged a brand new eclectic grouping of musicians entitled TINTED WINDOWS, this quartet comprising HANSON singer Taylor Hanson, former SMASHING PUMPKINS guitarist James Iha and FOUNTAINS OF YOUTH bassist Adam Schlesinger.

Summer 2009 US shows had the group packaged with POISON and DEF LEPPARD. To coincide the band launched it's next album set, 'The Latest' produced in Los Angeles with Julian Raymond, in quite a novel fashion by handling all distribution through the band itself, with ticket buyers for the tour getting a discount. 'The Latest' was made available on CD, vinyl and, surprisingly, 8 track format.