Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick is an American rock group from Rockford, Illinois, active since 1973. The core line-up includes Rick Nielsen on guitar and main songwriting, Robin Zander on vocals and guitar, Tom Petersson on bass guitar, and Bun E. Carlos on drums, with other members including Pete Comita, Daxx Nielsen, and Chuck Garric appearing in the group’s history.

The band begins as Fuse, formed by Nielsen and Petersson in 1967, with Carlos joining several years later. When Zander joins as vocalist in 1972, the group takes the name Cheap Trick. Their sound combines power pop, rock and roll, hard rock, and a glossy but energetic style that draws on the tunefulness of the Beatles and the pace of punk rock. They develop a large following through regular touring, especially in the Midwest and in Japan.

Cheap Trick is one of the best-known American power pop bands and receives induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Their best-known songs include “I Want You to Want Me,” “Surrender,” “Dream Police,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” a cover of Elvis Presley’s hit, and “The Flame.” They also write and perform theme songs for The Colbert Report and That ’70s Show.

The group’s releases include 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, Special One, Rockford, The Latest, Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello, We’re All Alright!, and In Another World. Their live albums include At Budokan, Budokan II, At Budokan: the Complete Concert, and Music for Hangovers.

Rick Nielsen is known for unusual instruments, including a five-neck solid-body electric guitar seen in the video for “She’s Tight.” Tom Petersson is known for custom basses, including 8-string, 12-string, and an 18-string Modulus bass made for him in 1981. Robin Zander is widely regarded as one of the strongest hard rock vocalists of his era.