Cheap Trick are an American rock band formed in Rockford, Illinois, in 1973. The band's work bridged elements of 1960s guitar pop, 1970s hard rock, and the emerging punk rock sound, and helped set the template for subsequent power pop artists.
Cheap Trick released its self-titled debut album in 1977. Later that year, the band found success in Japan with the release of its second album, In Color. In 1979, the band released the triple-platinum live album At Budokan and a Top 10 single, a live recording of "I Want You to Want Me". The band followed with its most commercially successful studio album, Dream Police (1979), which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. After experiencing declining popularity in the 1980s, Cheap Trick enjoyed a major resurgence toward the end of the decade, topping the US charts with the power ballad "The Flame" (from 1988's Lap of Luxury). The band's other hits include "Surrender" (1978), "Dream Police" (1979), "Voices" (1979), "She's Tight" (1982), "Tonight It's You" (1985), a cover version of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" (1988), "Ghost Town" (1988), and "Can't Stop Fallin' into Love" (1990).
Cheap Trick has continued releasing new music into the 21st century. The band has performed live more than 5,000 times since its formation and has sold more than 20 million albums. The band's influence has been cited by a diverse range of rock artists. With Bun E. Carlos joining on drums, Fuse moved to Philadelphia in 1971. From 1972 to 1973, they called themselves Sick Man of Europe. The name was inspired by the band's attendance at a Slade concert, where Petersson commented that Slade used "every cheap trick in the book" as part of their act.
When Cheap Trick formed in 1973, the band invited Robin Zander to become their lead singer, but he declined. They instead recruited Randy “Xeno” Hogan, a former high school classmate. Hogan left Cheap Trick shortly thereafter. In the fall of 1974, Zander joined Cheap Trick
thumb|right|Nielsen and Petersson performing in 1977
The band recorded a demo in 1975 and played in warehouses, bowling alleys, and various other venues around the midwestern United States. Cheap Trick was signed to Epic Records in early 1976. The band released its first album, Cheap Trick, in early 1977. While favored by critics, the album did not sell well. Their second album, In Color, was released later that year.
Budokan brings success (1978–1980)
When Cheap Trick toured in Japan for the first time in April 1978, they were received with a frenzy reminiscent of Beatlemania. During the tour, Cheap Trick recorded two concerts at the Nippon Budokan. Ten tracks taken from both shows were compiled and released as a live album titled Cheap Trick at Budokan,
The band's third studio album, Heaven Tonight was released in May 1978. and went on to become one of the band's signature songs.
thumb|left|Zander and Petersson performing in 1978
Demand for Cheap Trick at Budokan became so great that Epic Records finally released the album in the U.S. in February 1979. Cheap Trick at Budokan launched the band into international stardom, and the album went triple platinum in the United States. The first single from the album was the live version of "I Want You to Want Me", which had originally been released on In Color. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became Cheap Trick's best-selling single to date. The second single, "Ain't That a Shame", peaked at No. 35. "Need Your Love" had already been recorded for the forthcoming Dream Police album that had already been finished.
After the unprecedented success of Cheap Trick at Budokan, the release of Dream Police was postponed. The album was released on September 21, 1979. The title track of the album reached no. 26, and "Voices" reached no. 32.
1980s struggles (1981–1986)
In July 1981, CBS Inc. sued Cheap Trick and their manager Ken Adamany for $10 million, alleging they were attempting to coerce CBS into renegotiating their contract and had refused to record any new material for the label since October 1980. The lawsuit was settled in early 1982 and work commenced on the next album: One on One. The album spawned two minor hits with the power ballad "If You Want My Love" (which peaked at no. 45) and the innuendo-laced rocker "She's Tight" (which peaked at no. 65). In the same year, Cheap Trick performed two songs for the soundtrack of the adult animated film Rock & Rule, which became a cult classic.
In 1984, the band recorded the title track to the Tim Matheson comedy Up The Creek, which Nielsen later called "one of the worst" songs he'd ever written.
The band released Standing on the Edge in 1985. The album's first single, "Tonight It's You", reached No. 8 on Billboards Top Rock Tracks chart. They then released The Doctor in the fall. The album's lone single, "It's Only Love", failed to chart. The Doctor turned out to be the band's final album with Jon Brant as bassist.
Popular resurgence (1987–1989)
Petersson rejoined the group in 1987 and helped record 1988's Lap of Luxury,
"The Flame", a power ballad written by British songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham, was issued as the first single from Lap of Luxury. Upon the release of "The Flame", Billboard described the song as an "endearing rock ballad" that "has the potential to put these boys back at the top". The single became the band's first-ever No. 1 hit. The other singles from the album were "Ghost Town", "Never Had a Lot to Lose", and "Let Go"; "Ghost Town" reached no. 33, and "Never Had a Lot to Lose" also charted. Billboard commented: "After a long hitless streak, Cheap Trick brings it all back home. This is the quartet's punchiest effort since its mid-'70s heyday."
Transitions (1990–2015)
thumb|left|Cheap Trick performing in Baltimore, August 4, 2007
Busted was released in 1990. and on the Album Rock Tracks chart. The single "If You Need Me" was not successful, although the track "Back 'n Blue" reached on the U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
In 1991, Cheap Trick's The Greatest Hits was released. The album was critically acclaimed and hailed as a return to form.
thumb|left|220px|Vocalist [[Robin Zander performing at Gulfstream Park in 1999.]]
After spending much of 2001 writing songs and about six weeks in pre-production, Cheap Trick went into Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, in March 2002, where they recorded their first studio album in six years, Special One in May 2003.
Cheap Trick released Rockford on Cheap Trick Unlimited/Big3 Records in 2006. The first single from the album was "Perfect Stranger" (produced by Linda Perry and co-written by Cheap Trick and Perry). The band also appeared in a McDonald's advertising campaign called "This Is Your Wake-Up Call" featuring the band.
thumb|318x318px|Guitarist [[Rick Nielsen in 2007 .]]
In 2007, officials of Rockford, Illinois, honored Cheap Trick by reproducing the Rockford album cover art on that year's city vehicle sticker. On June 19, 2007, the Illinois Senate passed Senate Resolution 255, which designated April 1 of every year as Cheap Trick Day in the State of Illinois. In August of that year, Cheap Trick honored the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by playing the album in its entirety with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Edwin Outwater, along with guest vocalists including Joan Osborne and Aimee Mann.
On April 24, 2008, Cheap Trick performed at Japan's Budokan arena in Chiyoda, Tokyo, for the 30th anniversary of the 1978 album Cheap Trick at Budokan.
Bun E. Carlos stopped touring and recording with the band, and officially left the band in 2010. Rick Nielsen's son Daxx, who had filled in for Bun E. while he was recovering from back surgery in 2001, became the band's touring drummer.
On July 17, 2011, at Canada's Bluesfest in Ottawa, Ontario, a thunderstorm blew through the festival area 20 minutes into the band's set. The band and crew were on the stage when, without warning, the 40-ton roof fell. It fell away from the audience and landed on the band's truck, which was parked alongside the back of the stage. The van broke the fall and allowed everyone about 30 seconds to escape.
Carlos filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates in 2013. He claimed that even though they claimed that he was departed from Cheap Trick, he was not being allowed to participate in band-related activities, including recording. The remaining three members of Cheap Trick filed a countersuit, seeking a legal affirmation of their removal of Carlos. Their lawsuit was dismissed in late 2013. The legal dispute was eventually settled.
Hall of Fame induction and later years (2016–present)
alt=Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick|thumb|Cheap Trick performs live at Rockfest 80's in [[Pembroke Pines, Florida on November 4, 2017.]]
On April 1, 2016, the band released its first album in five years, Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello. They released a single, "No Direction Home", as a teaser for the album. The album was the band's first record on a major label in 22 years.
On April 8, 2016, Cheap Trick was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On June 16, 2017, the band released the album We're All Alright!. Daxx Nielsen played drums on the album. In August 2017, the band appeared on Insane Clown Posse's single "Black Blizzard". On October 20, 2017, the band released a Christmas album, Christmas Christmas.
On January 29, 2021, Cheap Trick released the single "Light Up the Fire" in the run up to their album In Another World which was released on April 9, 2021.
The band was announced as part of the 2021 Australian concert series, Under the Southern Stars, alongside Bush and Stone Temple Pilots. They replaced original headliners Live on the bill. In April 2021, the concert series was postponed to 2022.
When Petersson was sidelined from touring in 2021 due to open-heart surgery. Zander's son, Robin Taylor Zander, filled in for him on tour. X Japan guitarist Pata cited them as the Western band that had the biggest impact on him and as the reason he started playing guitar.
Band members
;Current members
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" border="1"
! width="75" |Image
! width="150" |Name
! width="160" |Years active
! width="170" |Instruments
!Release contributions
|-
|
|Rick Nielsen
|1973–present
|
|All releases
|-
|
|Tom Petersson
|
|
|All releases from Cheap Trick (1977) to All Shook Up (1980), and from Lap of Luxury (1988) onwards
|-
|
|Robin Zander
|1974–present
|
|All releases
|}
;Current touring musicians
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" border="1"
! width="75" |Image
! width="150" |Name
! width="160" |Years active
! width="170" |Instruments
!Release contributions
|-
|
|Daxx Nielsen
|
|
|All releases from Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello (2016) onwards
|-
|
|Robin Taylor Zander
|2016–present
|
|
|}
;Former members
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" border="1"
! width="75" |Image
! width="150" |Name
! width="160" |Years active
! width="170" |Instruments
!Release contributions
|-
|
|Bun E. Carlos
|1973–2010