Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CHEAP TRICK

US rock band formed '72--4 by guitarist Rick Nielsen (b '46), bassist Tom Peterson (b '50), both from Rockford IL; first played together in local band Fuse (eponymous LP on Epic '68), previously called Grim Reaper: incl. Craig Meyers, guitar; Joe Sundberg, vocals; Chip Greenman, drums (replaced by Brad Carlson). After short liaison with ex-Nazz vocalist Robert 'Stewkey' Antoni the group split; Nielsen and Peterson worked in Europe. Back in Rockford later, Nielson formed Cheap Trick with Carlson and vocalist Zeno; got Europe-based Peterson to join, claiming band were on the edge of stardom. Zeno was fired '74, replaced with Robert Zander (b 23 Jan. '52, Loves Park IL) with folk background. Toured Midwest as support act; spotted by Aerosmith prod. George Douglas, signed to CBS (Epic) and reinvented image: Carlson became Bun. E. Carlos; Petersson added extra 's' to his name to enhance mystique (too many Americans called Peterson). Cheap Trick '77 prod. by Douglas reflected energetic stage act, but next LP In Color six months later prod. by Tom Werman aimed at radio and made USA top 40, as did Werman-prod. Heaven Tonight '78; the band had became superstars in Japan, where a ten-date tour '78 was greeted with adolescent hysteria captured on Cheap Trick At The Budokan '79. The diminutive, rubber-faced Nielsen in a baseball cap bounced about stage with collection of guitars (sometimes several at once) while swarthy, bespectacled Carlos sweated behind kit, Zander grew into role of teen heart- throb alongside almost-as-pretty Petersson. Budokan was imported and bootlegged, its possession conferring hipness; platinum when officially released, helped by teenpop no. 7 hit 'I Want You To Want Me'.

Studio album Dream Police '79 was held up by the live LP's popularity and disappointed by comparison; after the first LP had flopped due to rough edges, fans now wanted the raunchy live sound instead of the studio pop. Even so three top 40 singles resulted: 'Ain't That A Shame', 'Dream Police', 'Voices'. Nielsen's songs were always infl. by the first British Invasion (especially Yardbirds); he jumped at chance to have All Shook Up '80 prod. by Beatles guru George Martin and the predictably Fab Fourish result upset Petersson, who left to form a group with his wife, replaced by Pete Comita, then Jon Brant. Next album was rejected by the label (Epic), One On One '82 prod. by Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, Cars) was uninspired; on Next Position Please '83 the mix of prod. by Todd Rundgren, Ian Taylor and band, material (incl. cover of Motors song 'Dancing The Night Away') betrayed roadweariness: the fizz in Nielsen's songs had gone. Standing On The Edge '85 reunited them with Douglas and was a partial return to form, moulding power pop with the 'heavy metal disco' of ZZ Top. Back on the road supporting REO Speedwagon the band were hoping to repeat history; The Doctor '86 was poorly received but Lap Of Luxury '88 was back in the top 20 albums. Petersson returned replacing Brant, followed by Busted '90 (top 50) and Woke Up With A Monster '94, which did not make the top 100. Cheap Trick '97 on Red Ant was more comeback.