Cheap Trick certainly didn’t look like any other big rock band in the ‘70’s. But their sound was unmistakable. They combined influences from ‘60’s power pop bands like The Move and The Who with ‘70’s arena-rock grand style and showmanship. Their live show was an explosion of rock energy, and when united with their penchant with writing catchy pop songs, they became one of the most influential bands in the world.

 

When the got together in 1974, the members of Cheap Trick were already seasoned musicians on the Midwest music scene. The band played non-stop – often performing 200 dates a year. As their music developed, so did their visual style. Robin Zander and Tom Petersson were the two teen-idol rock star types, and Rick Neilsen and Bun E. Carlos were the two gawky weirdos. Carlos dressed like a nerd, and Neilsen always wore a pin-covered sweater and signature baseball cap – which didn’t disguise the fact that the guy could shred on the guitar. The original look, combined with the powerful songs, made them instantly appealing.

 

They released two albums in 1977, Cheap Trick and In Color. The latter featured a song that would become a rock anthem – “I Want You to Want Me” – but not yet. Instead, their first hit came the following year with “Surrender,” from the album Heaven Tonight. Kids loved the lyrical content dealing with the pressures of being young in an adult world.

 

In the ‘70’s, a lot of bands reached their pinnacle of commercial success with the live album – and Cheap Trick was no exception. It was the album Live At Budokan that put them over the edge. Capturing the band at its finest before a crowd of screaming fans in Japan, the record was originally planned for a Japanese-only release. But when the import sales started skyrocketing, the album became available worldwide.  It was on this live album that the scorching version of "I Want You To Want Me" appeared. Featuring a red-hot performance and thousands of fans singing along, the single became a Top-10 hit, and the full-length album went multi-platinum, staying on the charts for a year.

 

Cheap Trick followed that up with Dream Police, whose title single featured ELO-style orchestration and became a hit both on radio and on MTV. Another single off the album, “Voices,” was a beautifully produced ballad, and was featured in the Meat Loaf film, Roadie. Their next album, All Shook Up, was released in 1980, and produced by the Beatles’ George Martin.

 

The band continued releasing hit singles throughout the ‘80’s. Their One On One album, released in 1982, contained the single "If You Want My Love." Their song "Mighty Wings" was featured in the 1986 blockbuster film, Top Gun. But their first #1 hit didn’t come until the end of the decade with the power-ballad, “The Flame.” They also covered Elvis Presley’s hit “Don’t Be Cruel” that year.

 

The ‘90’s saw the band continuing to go full throttle. They had a hit with the song "Can't Stop Falling Into Love." Robin Zander also embarked on a solo career that resulted in the single "Surrender To Me," a duet with Heart's Ann Wilson that was featured on the soundtrack of Tequila Sunrise. Their live shows were just as popular as ever, and they shared the stage with Cheap Trick fans The Smashing Pumpkins on their 1995 tour. The following year they headlined at Lollapalooza and released a new album, the critically-acclaimed Cheap Trick in 1997. In 1999, they put out a new live album, Music For Hangovers.

 

Cheap Trick remain a rock powerhouse to this day. Performing alongside everyone from ZZ Top to Pearl Jam, the band is as vital as ever. They have helped shape the modern rock songwriting and performance we see today, and continue to influence emerging bands.