Today we’re telling the story of Cheap Trick, a band who may have invented the phrase “Big in Japan.” These guys really struggled to get off the ground and were flirting with disaster when they discovered they were revered as rock royalty halfway around the world. Capitalizing on this good fortune, things really blew up when they recorded their live album Cheap Trick at Budokan which wasn’t meant for distribution in the US. But it got so popular, they released it here as an import even though they are an American band! But it ended up saving their career. But then after scoring a handful of hits Cheap Trick once again found themselves on the brink of extinction. Looking to make a big-time comeback, they agreed to record someone else’s song… a surefire hit called The Flame. Only their guitarist hated it. In fact, he hated it so much that he crushed the demo tape underneath his boot. Find out what happened next as we get into the story of rock’s most resilient and entertaining bands… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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It’s time for another episode of our series Evolution. On this show we tell the story of a band’s career through 5 defining tracks. These may not be a band’s most popular songs, and they may not even be my personal favorites. But each song will to take you from the beginning to the end of a band’s journey and showcase the evolution of their sound and artistic direction. And in the spotlight today, I’ve got Cheap Trick. And these guys have had some serious crazy twists and turns in their career.
Formed in 1973 in Rockford, Illinois, Cheap Trick started as a hard-working Midwestern band determined to make their mark. Guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson had played together in various groups before teaming up with drummer Bun E. Carlos and original vocalist Randy “Xeno” Hogan. The band’s name was inspired by a Slade concert, where Petersson remarked that the British rockers used “every cheap trick in the book” during their performance. By 1974, Hogan was replaced by Robin Zander, a singer with a powerful, melodic voice that would help define the band’s sound. With the lineup complete, Cheap Trick hit the road, grinding through the bar-band circuit and perfecting their energetic live show.
Their dedication paid off when they secured a recording contract with Epic Records, leading to the release of their self-titled debut album on February 3, 1977. A mix of raw, edgy rock and offbeat humor, the LP Cheap Trick introduced the band’s unique style, but it struggled to find an audience in the US. The album failed to chart on the Billboard 200, selling only about 150,000 copies. The band’s first single Oh Candy, was released in April 1977. It too failed to chart. Despite the album’s commercial failings, Cheap Trick pressed on, determined to break through. Throughout 1977, the band toured relentlessly, opening for Queen, Journey, and KISS. And just months after their debut, the band was already back in the studio recording...