Cheap Trick Biography

Cheap Trick first came together back in the mid-'70s in Chicago when oddball guitar collector Rick Nielson, drummer Bun E. Carlos. Bassist Tom Peterson and young folk singer Robin Zander joined forces.

Early on, Cheap Trick played whenever they could and were soon opening for the Kinks, Journey and Kiss. Cheap Trick's self-titled debut hit record store shelves in 1977.

Cheap Trick youthful anthems like "Hot Love," "Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School," "He's a Whore," and "Oh Candy"). The surprised critics later by tackling more cerebral terrain.

Chicago murderer Richard Speck was the topic of Cheap Trick's "Ballad of TV Violence" and "ELO Kiddies" . ICheap Trick followed their debut with In Color .

A year later, Cheap Trick returned with Heaven Tonight , which turned into a shining AOR gem. Cheap Trick tackled songs about barbiturates ("Downed") and suicide ("Auf Wiedersehen") and transformed them into chugging arena anthems.

Amazingly, Cheap Trick blurred the lines of metal, new wave and Top 40, and this incredible ability is encapsulated by the brilliant "Surrender."

Next came the live album that caught Cheap Trick in action in Japan, called At Budokon. The album becames Cheap Trick's first to attain platinum status. Thundering versions of "I Want You to Want Me" and the oldie "Ain't That a Shame" became big radio hits.

After the release of the studio-intensive Dream Police , Cheap Trick started to coast on past acheivements. The title track, "Way of the World," and "I Know What I Want" were well-crafted, stand-out singles

All Shook Up, produced by George Martin was Cheap Trick's release of 1980.

Cheap Trick continued to roll through the '80s with One on One in 1982, Next Position Please in '83, Standing on the Edge in '85, Doctor came in 1986 and Lap of Luxury in '88. Lap of Luxury was a calculated commercial confection, with a lighter-ballad in "The Flame." "Don't Be Cruel" was the first Elvis cover to hit the Top Ten since his death. Learly Cheap Trick had something that others didn't.

Cheap Trick rolled into the '90s with Busted in 1990 and Woke Up with a Monster In '94.

In 2006, Cheap Trick released Rockford on their own label - Cheap Trick Unlimited/Big3 Records. The first single from the album was "Perfect Stranger".