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Cheap Trick

Biography

Combining a like for British guitar pop songcraft with crunching force chords along with a flair for the absurd, Cheap Key provided the required links between ’60s pop, rock, and punk. Led by guitarist Rick Nielsen, the band’s early albums had been filled with extremely melodic, well-written tracks that drew similarly through the crafted pop from the Beatles, the sonic assault from the Who, as well as the tongue-in-cheek musical eclecticism and laughter from the Move. Their audio offered a blueprint for both power pop and market rock; in addition, it got a remarkably long-lived influence on both alternate and rock bands from the ’80s and ’90s, who frequently relied on a single combination of noisy riffs and catchy melodies. Cheap Trick’s origins lay in Fuse, a past due-’60s music group shaped by Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson in Rockford, Illinois. The group released an recording on Epic in 1969; after it didn’t gain any interest, the music group relocated to Philadelphia and transformed their name to Ill Man of European countries. The group toured European countries unsuccessfully in 1972 and came back to Illinois in 1973. Shortly after their go back to Rockford, Nielsen and Petersson transformed their band’s name once again — this time around to Cheap Technique — and added drummer Bun E. Carlos and vocalist Randy “Xeno” Hogan towards the lineup. Hogan was terminated the following calendar year, making area for ex-folksinger Robin Zander to become listed on the group. Between 1975 as well as the band’s first record in 1977, Cheap Technique toured continuously, playing over 200 concerts per year while occasionally starting for famous brands the Kinks, Kiss, Santana, AC/DC, and Queen. During this time period, the music group built up a good catalog of first songs that could ultimately comprise their initial three albums; in addition they perfected their kinetic live present. Cheap Technique agreed upon with Epic in 1976 and released their self-titled debut early the next season. The record marketed well in the us, yet it didn’t graph. Nevertheless, the group became an enormous achievement in Japan, as well as the record went yellow metal upon discharge. Later that season, the music group released their second record, In Color. It supported from the harder-rocking aspect of Cheap Technique, featuring slicker creation and quieter preparations that spotlighted the band’s melodic abilities instead. Because of their continuous touring, the record managed to get in to the U.S. graphs, peaking at amount 73. It became another gold-seller in Japan, nevertheless, where the music artists got become digital superstars. Their Japanese concerts started offering out within two hours, plus they loaded the sizable Budokan Area. Cheap Trick’s concerts at Budokan had been recorded for feasible discharge, even though live record didn’t appear before band’s third record, 1978’s Heaven Tonight, was initially released. That third record captured both noisy, raucous energy of Cheap Trick’s debut as well as the hook-laden songcraft of In Color, resulting in their first Best 100 solitary, “Surrender,” which peaked at quantity 62. Nevertheless, the live shows on At Budokan (1979) captured the band’s dynamic, infectious live display, leading to their industrial breakthrough in the us. The recording stayed around the graphs for over annually, peaking at number 4 and eventually offering over three million copies. In the mean time, a live edition of “I’D LIKE You to definitely Want Me” became their 1st Top Ten strike. Later that 12 months, the group released their 4th studio recording, Dream Law enforcement, which followed exactly the same stylistic strategy as Heaven Tonight. In addition, it adopted At Budokan in to the Top Ten, offering more than a million copies and starting the very best 40 strike singles “Voices” and “Desire Law enforcement.” In the summertime of 1980, the group released an EP of songs documented between 1976-1979 known as Found All of the Parts. Following recording from the George Martin-produced All Shook Up, Petersson still left the group in the summertime of 1980 to create a group along with his wife, Dagmar. He was changed by Jon Brant. Released toward the finish of 1980, All Shook Up performed respectably, peaking at amount 24 and heading gold, the one “Prevent This Video game” didn’t crack the very best 40. Private, the group’s seventh record as well as the initial documented with Brant, made an appearance in 1982. Though it peaked at amount 39, the record was more lucrative than All Shook Up, ultimately going platinum. Even so, the group was getting into a downhill industrial slide, even though its music was becoming more and more polished. Next Placement Please make sure to, released in 1983, didn’t launch popular solitary and spent just 11 weeks around the graphs. Sitting on the Advantage (1985) and THE PHYSICIAN (1986) suffered equivalent fates, because the group was gradually losing its innovative spark. Petersson rejoined the music group in 1988 as well as the group started working on a fresh record by using many professional songwriters. The ensuing record, Lap of High end, was a platinum Best 20 hit, offering the main power ballad “The Fire” and a high Ten edition of Elvis Presley’s “AVOID BEING Cruel.” Busted, released in 1990, wasn’t as effective as Lap of High end, peaking at amount 48 and successfully putting a finish towards the group’s industrial comeback. Cheap Technique soldiered in to the fresh decade by putting your signature on with Warner Bros. in 1994 and liberating Woke Up having a Monster, which peaked at quantity 123 and spent fourteen days around the albums graph. That same 12 months, Epic released a sequel to At Budokan, aptly entitled Budokan II. Put together from your same displays as At Budokan, the record offered as an a highly effective reminder of why the group experienced become so well-known in the past due ’70s. In 1995, Cheap Technique asked to keep Warner’s roster following the label’s main professionals, Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin, departed. The music group then went back to the fundamentals, and many alt rock and roll superstars who was simply influenced by Inexpensive Technique gave the music group opportunities to revive its popularity. The Smashing Pumpkins got the music group open up their tour in 1995, as well as the group performed several dates in the 1996 Lollapalooza Tour. That same season, the box place Sex, America, Cheap Technique appeared to reviews that are positive, as well as the music group signed using the fledgling indie label Crimson Ant-Alliance before placing to focus on a new record. Early in 1997, the group released a Steve Albini-produced one on Sub Pop, that was accompanied by the eponymous Cheap Technique, their acclaimed debut for Crimson Ant-Alliance, within the springtime. Unfortunately, Crimson Ant-Alliance submitted for personal bankruptcy seven weeks following the album’s launch, sadly putting an abrupt halt around the group’s building momentum. On Apr 30, 1998, the group released a four-night home in Chicago, devoting each display to reprising among their 1st four albums in its entirety. Those displays later on yielded a 1999 live LP, Music for Hangovers, that your music artists issued independently Cheap Technique Unlimited label. A band-authorized strikes collection adopted in 2000. From the dawn of the brand new millennium, Cheap Technique were still with out a label, but acquired retained their devoted following by constantly touring the planet. Properly, another live established noticed the light of time in 2001. Entitled Sterling silver, the double-disc record (and companion Dvd movie) noted the band’s star-studded, career-spanning 25th wedding anniversary present on August 28, 1999. The music group also documented another studio record, released in 2003 as Particular One. It had been implemented in 2006 by Rockford, called in tribute towards the band’s hometown, and The Latest in ’09 2009. Cheap Technique also maintained much touring ethic, canvassing America that summer time alongside Def Leppard and liberating their tribute towards the Beatles with Sgt. Pepper Live. In past due 2015, Cheap Technique authorized with powerhouse nation label Big Machine Information, and their 1st recording for their fresh sponsors, Bang, Focus, Crazy… Hello, premiered in Apr 2016. It had been the very first Cheap Technique discharge because the departure of drummer Bun E. Carlos in the music group. Daxx Nielsen, Rick’s kid, became the group’s brand-new percussionist this year 2010.

Quick Facts


Full Name Cheap Trick
Spouse Karen Nielsen
Music Songs I Want You to Want Me, Surrender, The Flame, Dream Police, If you want my love, Ain’t That a Shame, Don't Be Cruel, California Man, Southern Girls, He's a Whore, She’s Tight, Tonight It's You, Mighty Wings, ELO Kiddies, Clock Strikes Ten, Stop This Game, Gonna Raise Hell, Ghost Town, Way of the World, Hello There, I Can't Take It, Auf Wiedersehen, Voices, Stiff Competition, Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love, High Roller, Everything Works If You Let It, Reach Out, Need Your Love, That 70’s Song, Wherever I Would Be, I Want You
Albums Cheap Trick at Budokan, Heaven Tonight, Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello, Lap of Luxury, All Shook Up, Next Position Please, In Color, One on One, Cheap Trick, Rockford, Dream Police, Music for Hangovers, We're All Alright!, Special One, Standing on the Edge, The Latest, Woke Up with a Monster, The Doctor, Busted, Silver, The Greatest Hits, Authorized Greatest Hits, The Essential Cheap Trick, Found All the Parts, Sex, America, Cheap Trick, The Epic Archive, Vol. 1 (1975-1979), Live In Wisconsin, 1994, Sgt. Pepper Live, On Top of the World (Live), In the Joint (Live), Summerfest, Milwaukee 1987 (Live FM Radio Recording Remastered In Superb Fidelity), Live: The Joint, Las Vegas, Nevada 16 Oct '95, Live in the Windy City - International Amphitheater, Chicago, IL – June 16th, 1979, Live - Rockford Armory, Illinois 8th Oct 1977 (Remastered), Auld Lang Syne (Live), Live at the L.A. Forum December 31st 1979 (Live FM Radio Concert Remastered In Superb Fidelity), Transmission Impossible, The Epic Archive, Vol. 2 (1980-1983), The Epic Archive, Vol. 3 (1984-1992), The Complete Epic Albums Collection, Original Album Classics, [email protected] EP, Turn on the Radio: The 1980s
Nominations American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Group, CMT Music Award for CMT Performance of the Year


  • Facts
  • Filmography
  • Awards
  • Salaries
  • Quotes
  • Trademarks
  • Pictures

#Fact
1 Headlined at the formal U.S. Navy retirement ceremony for the last F-14 Tomcat squadron, at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, on September 22, 2006. [September 2006]
2 The band claimed that its name was the answer to a question it asked of a ouija board: "What should we call our new band?"
3 Band members: vocalist/guitarist Robin Zander; vocalist/guitarist Rick Nielsen; vocalist/bassist Tom Petersson and vocalist/drummer Bun E. Carlos.


Music Department

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Colbert Report TV Series composer - 1,263 episodes, 2005 - 2014 performer - 1,263 episodes, 2005 - 2014
That '70s Show 1999-2006 TV Series performer - 159 episodes

Soundtrack

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Joe Dirt 2001 performer: "If You Want My Love"
Freaks and Geeks 1999 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Detroit Rock City 1999 performer: "Surrender"
Second Skin 1998/I Short performer: "Surrender"
That '70s Show 1998 TV Series performer: "That '70s Song In the Street" - uncredited
Small Soldiers 1998 performer: "Surrender"
Private Parts 1997 performer: "I Want You To Want Me"
The Evening Star 1996 performer: "Ghost Town"
The Simpsons 1996 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Beavis and Butt-Head 1994 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Encino Man 1992 performer: "Wild Thing"
Gladiator 1992 performer: "I Will Survive"
Queens Logic 1991 performer: "I Want You to Want Me"
Look Who's Talking Too 1990 performer: "Wherever Would I Be"
Say Anything... 1989 performer: "You Want It"
Caddyshack II 1988 performer: "Money That's What I Want"
Top Gun 1986 performer: "Mighty Wings"
Up the Creek 1984 performer: "Up the Creek"
Rock & Rule 1983 performer: "Born to Raise Hell", "I'm The Man", "Ohm Sweet Ohm"
Spring Break 1983 performer: "Spring Break"
Wu ting 1981 performer: "Gonna Raise Hell"
Heavy Metal 1981 performer: "Reach Out", "I Must Be Dreamin'"
Saturday Night Live 1981 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Roadie 1980 performer: "Everything Works If You Let It", "Gonna Raise Hell"
Up the Academy 1980 performer: "Surrender"
Over the Edge 1979 performer: "Speak Now", "Hello There", "Surrender", "Downed"
Top of the Pops 1979 TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Boss 2016 performer: "I Want You to Want Me"
Everybody Wants Some!! 2016 performer: "I Want You to Want Me Live"
Pixels 2015 performer: "Surrender"
Californication 2014 TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 2013 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sound City 2013 Documentary performer: "Auf Wiedersehen", "Surrender", "Stiff Competition"
How I Met Your Mother 2005-2013 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Thanks for Sharing 2012 performer: "SURRENDER"
New Girl 2012 TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Looney Tunes Show 2011 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Conan 2011 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Super 2010/I performer: "If You Want My Love"
Grown Ups 2010 performer: "Just Got Back"
One Tree Hill 2004-2010 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
American Idol 2010 TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien 2009-2010 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Stealing Time 2009 performer: "Reach Out"
Cheap Trick: Sgt. Pepper Live 2009 Video performer: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "With a Little Help from My Friends", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "Getting Better", "Fixing a Hole", "She's Leaving Home", "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", "Within You Without You", "When I'm Sixty-Four", "Lovely Rita", "Good Morning Good Morning", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Reprise", "A Day in the Life", "Medley: Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End"
20 to 1 2009 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Orphan 2009 performer: "Surrender"
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2009 performer: "Transformers Theme"
United States of Tara 2009 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Lost 2009 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Friday Night Lights 2008 TV Series performer - 1 episode
South Park 2007 TV Series performer - 1 episode
SingStar Amped 2007 Video Game performer: "I Want You To Want Me"
Skate. 2007 Video Game performer: "Surrender"
Supernatural 2006 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Kurt Cobain About a Son 2006 Documentary performer: "Downed"
Veronica Mars 2006 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Air Guitar Nation 2006 Documentary performer: "I Want You To Want Me"
The Colbert Report 2005 TV Series performer: "Baby Mumbles" / writer: "Baby Mumbles"
The Comeback 2005 TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Shield 2005 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Cold Case 2004-2005 TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Cheap Trick: From Tokyo to You 2004 Video performer: "Just Got Back", "Big Eyes", "Best Friend", "Pop Drone", "Words", "If You Want My Love", "My Obsession", "I Want You To Want Me", "Fan Club", "Carnival Game", "Lookout", "Special One", "Dream Police", "Scent Of A Woman", "Surrender", "California Man"
I Love the '80s Strikes Back 2003 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Daddy Day Care 2003 performer: "Surrender" / producer: "Surrender"
Scrubs 2001-2002 TV Series performer - 2 episodes

Actor

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Queer Edge with Jack E. Jett 2005 TV Series

Thanks

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Devil's Rejects 2005 acknowledgment

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Live from Daryl's House 2016 TV Series documentary Themselves
Today 2016 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guests
WGN Morning News 2016 TV Series Themselves
One More for the Fans! Celebrating the Songs & Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd 2015 TV Movie Themselves
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1994-2013 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest
Cheap Trick: The 35th Anniversary of Budokan Live 2013 TV Special Themselves
Conan 2011 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest
One Tree Hill 2010 TV Series Themselves
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien 2009 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest
Cheap Trick: Sgt. Pepper Live 2009 Video Themselves
Late Night with Conan O'Brien 1995-2008 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest / Themselves
Cheap Trick: From Tokyo to You 2004 Video Themselves
100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock 2000 TV Mini-Series documentary Themselves
Hard Rock Live 1997 TV Series
Late Show with David Letterman 1994 TV Series Themselves
The Full Moon Show 1992 TV Series documentary Themselves
Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar 1990 TV Series Themselves - Performer
An All Star Celebration: Vote '88 1988 TV Movie Themselves
Rock 'n' Roll Summer Action 1986 TV Series Themselves
Saturday Night Live 1981 TV Series Themselves - Musical Guest
Rock Concert 1978 TV Series Themselves

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
20 to 1 2009 TV Series documentary Themselves

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