Cheap Trick Official Site
Cheap Trick @ Facebook
Cheap Trick @ Twitter
Go Trickford, a Cheap Trick Fan Site
16 Things We Learned Hanging Out With Cheap Trick
Inside Cheap Trick’s Unlikely Renaissance
Cheap Trick: ‘We got asked to play for the Republicans – we would have got swastika guitars made’
Cheap Trick discography
Cheap Trick is one of the best rock bands ever @ Salon
Cheap Trick Gigography
The Wire: Epiphanies: Cheap Trick
REPUTATION IS A FRAGILE THING: The Story of Cheap Trick
Robin Zander interview
Catching Up With Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen
From Rockford to you: An oral history of Cheap Trick’s early years
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Elo Kiddies (1977)
‘Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, who considers this song one of his favorites, interpreted the song as telling kids to “go out and have fun and go nuts and go completely wild,” but that even deeper is that the kids need to do this fast before they get older and have ulcers and headaches.’
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He’s a Whore (1977, live)
‘According to Rick Nielsen, the song is not just about sex. Nielsen has stated that “Whoring means so many different things, it doesn’t just mean having sex, but someone who does anything for money.” Nielsen further noted that the song encompasses radio stations and people who would do anything for money, and indeed the lyrics include the line “I’m a Whore, I’ll do anything for money,” and this is further emphasized when lead singer Robin Zander sings “I’m a Whore” and Nielsen sings as a reply “He’ll do anything for money.”‘
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Oh Candy (1977)
‘”Oh Candy” is about a photographer friend of the band, Marshall Mintz (a.k.a. “m&m”) who committed suicide.’ It appears on the band’s first self-titled album, known for capturing both their dark side and the fierceness of their early live performances more than any other studio release in their catalog.’
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Hot Love (1977)
from the album Cheap Trick
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Hello There (1977, live)
”Hello There’ is a frantic, energetic, raucous hard rock song. As performed on In Color, the song starts with Nielsen playing a frenzied, fuzzy guitar part for two and a half bars, then Bun E. Carlos’ strong drum beat appears, and finally Tom Petersson’s bass and Robin Zander’s vocal join in. The entire song lasts 1 minute and 41 seconds.’
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Big Eyes (1977, live)
from the album In Color
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Come On, Come On (1977, live)
from the album In Color
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Auf Wiedersehen (1978, live)
‘The subject of the song is suicide. However, different commentators have different views of the Cheap Trick’s attitude towards the subject matter. Mitchell Schneider of Rolling Stone Magazine finds some of the lyrics “compellingly moronic,” making the song an example of Andy Warhol’s philosophy that “We should really stay babies for much longer than we do, now that we’re living so much longer.” Dennis Cooper of SPIN Magazine considers the song as virtually extolling the virtue of suicide. Critic Bryan Wawzenek also remarked that the song makes suicide seem fun. Billboard Magazine considered “Auf Wiedersehen” to be a powerful anti-suicide song. Music critic Robert Christgau described the song as “a sarcastic ditty about suicide.” Ira Robbins of Trouser Press describes it as a “cynical” song that “turns farewells fatal,” Tom Beaujour of Rolling Stone Magazine described it as “a sneering look at those who chose to end their lives prematurely.’
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Heaven Tonight (1978)
”Heaven Tonight’ is a disturbing song that was written by Rick Nielsen and Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson. ‘Heaven Tonight’ was one of two songs on the album of the same name that involved death, ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ being the other. In this song, potential death comes from drug abuse.’
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On Top Of The World (1978, live)
from the album Heaven Tonight
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Surrender (1978, live)
‘I believe that it’s clinically impossible to get tired of this rock and roll funhouse.’
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The Dream Police (1979, live)
‘Entire careers have been built around lesser songs than this monster, which sits proudly alongside “Surrender” as the quintessential Cheap Trick song. Everything about it is perfect, from Zander’s alternately cute and menacing vocal to Carlos’s pounding drums to Nielsen’s cracked spoken-word interlude. Oh, can’t forget the instrumental build up heading back into the final chorus, which is pure genius.’
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Gonna Raise Hell (1979, live)
‘The subject of ‘Gonna Raise Hell’ has been disputed. Some authors, such as Ira Robbins of Trouser Press, have believed that the song was about the Jonestown Massacre. Rolling Stone Magazine critic Dave Marsh sees the song as a “variation on ‘Helter Skelter'” by The Beatles, and believes that the layering of the vocals was inspired by The Beatles’ Abbey Road. Author Mike Hayes claims that with this song, producer Tom Werman achieved “the definitive Cheap Trick sound,” even though the song’s style differs from typical Cheap Trick fare.’
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Stop this Game (1980)
‘All Shook Up was even quirkier than its predecessor, the platinum-selling Dream Police. Many of its songs were less radio friendly and more experimental, and the cover art, influenced by Magritte’s Time Transfixed, led many to question what the band was trying to accomplish. However, at the time, Cheap Trick had severed ties with long-time producer Tom Werman and took the opportunity to take their sound in a different direction. With the assistance of producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, many of the songs have a dimension not found on any other Cheap Trick album. “Stop This Game” was the only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but “Just Got Back” and “World’s Greatest Lover” continue to be fan favorites.’
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Just Got Back (1980)
from All Shook Up
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I Want You (1982)
from the album One on One
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She’s Tight (1982)
”She’s Tight’ appeared on the album One on One, and was written by lead guitarist Rick Nielsen. The single was released in 1982 and peaked at #65 in the US.’
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I Want Be Man (1982)
‘Best song I’ve heard in all my life.’
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You Talk Too Much (1983)
‘The b-side of the single ‘I Can’t Take It’ was featured on the cassette and CD version of the album Next Position Please, written solely by Rick Nielsen. The song had originally been written before the band’s 1977 self-titled debut album. The track was titled ‘Punch Ya’ and a bootleg recording of a live version in 1975 exists. The track was originally supposed to be included on the original vinyl release, but Epic Records, forced the band to include other tracks.’
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I Don’t Love Here Anymore (1983)
Track from the album Next Position Please
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Cover Girl (1985)
‘I HOPE U LIKEZ IT!!!!!!! my daddy said that it would be cool to make this vid soooooo yeah! and he wants to write down my steps into making vids because i do them so fast!!! i wonder if i do???? anyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyway…… save the planet.’
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This Time Around (1985)
‘Cheap Trick’s LP Standing on the Edge, which peaked at number #35 on Billboard’s Hot 100 LP chart in 1985, saw the band return to their standard hard-rocking sound with this album. The album was produced by Jack Douglas, who produced the band’s eponymous debut album as well as the Found All The Parts EP. The original plans for the album called for band to return to the rough sound of their first album. However, Douglas backed out of mixing process due to legal issues he was having with Yoko Ono. Mixer Tony Platt was called in, and as a result, the album’s production featured keyboards and electronic drums more prominently than the band and Douglas had intended.’
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Baby Talk (1997)
Unreleased track from an aborted 1997 attempt to record a new album with producer Steve Albini.
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Eight Miles Low (1997, live)
‘The 1997 album Cheap Trick features a black-and-white themed cover and a stripped-down sound reminiscent of the band’s eponymous debut album 20 years earlier. It was named after the 1977 debut. Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos are represented on the front cover (rather than the back) of a Cheap Trick album for the first and only time, likewise Robin Zander and Tom Petersson are relegated to the back, but their gear appears instead of the band members themselves. Some have suggested that the band chose this approach treating their debut with Red Ant/Alliance as an opportunity to re-introduce themselves as a band to a new era. Red Ant filed for bankruptcy three weeks after the album’s release.’
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Sorry Boy (2003)
from the album Special One
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Sleep Forever (2009)
‘I’m exceedingly happy to say that with The Latest, Cheap Trick has finally fully recaptured that rush. The opening track, ‘Sleep Forever’, should be the first clue that the fountain of youth has been found. Robin Zander’s voice sounds gloriously sweet and strong, as the song lulls the listener in preparation for the surprise of sheer power about to be unleashed.’
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When The Lights Are Out (2009, live)
from the album The Latest
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Heart on the Line (2016)
‘Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello simply cannot match the freshness and pure, unfettered cool of the band’s immortal late ‘70s run. Cheap Trick have always toed an imaginary line between power pop and hard rock, and the clean but wide-angle production on the new album clearly favor the latter at the expense of the former. There’s no question about whether Cheap Trick want to ride off into the Middle-of-the-Road Sunset or keep on rockin’. Here’s what is key, though, and easy to take for granted. Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello is 11 tracks of Cheap Trick doing what nobody can do better than them, and doing it damn well. They are invigorated, vital, and ready for your car stereo just in time for summer. There is the immediate, head-on rush of ‘Heart on the Line’.’
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The Sun Never Sets (2016)
‘Robin Zander still has that voice, voice anyone who has ever wanted to be a famous rock singer has always wished they had. It sounds as perfectly virile as ever. There are times when you want to will a veteran act’s new album to be exceptional, just because their career standing seems to dictate it should be so. Well, Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello requires no act of charity. It really is that good.’
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p.s. Hey. ** Nick Hudson, Hi, Nick. Well, yeah, it’s a very beautiful thing. Thank you for unleashing it. Two months of Xmas, hm, yeah, I like that. I’m here for the holidays’ duration, yes, although no big related plans other than a buche. As far as I know, you correctly species-ed the creatures. Wait’ll you see the ones in the film. Take care, man. ** Dom Lyne, Hi, Dom. Enjoy the north. I generally prefer the north to the south. Oh, yeah, ‘Peeping Tom’ is amazing. I’ve only peeped at Doesn’t Exist so far, but, thanks to your reminder, I’ll go whole hog over there. Pretty exciting: the sound of your novel. And of course about your book re: my list, my nothing but pleasure. Happy Xmas if I don’t see you prior. Love and hugs courtesy of me. ** Dominik, Hi!!! Even more interesting: your dad’s specific comix interest. I didn’t even know Tarantino and Bourdain had comix. I really need to hit up the local comix/manga/etc. venues. When I left LA, the US was still sort of okay-ish politically if you didn’t think too much or look too deeply. But I am very happy that I bailed before it went utterly to hell. Oh, probably, re: what I’d be asking Santa for. How predictable, I know, but … One of these days the film and I will be free! Thanks, I do mourn my pizzeria’s bizarre death. It was called Sette. It was so good and even popular. Strange world. Maintaining my broken record status, love making a certain really great film producer person who saw and says he really likes our film offer us the help we need when he is conferred with supposedly today or tomorrow, G. ** Ferdinand, Well, of course, merci to you. ** Nasir, Hi! Great to see you! How have you been? What’s going on? I’m going to be Zooming on Saturday with some LA friends who are hyper-into the Dodgers and I’m awaiting their judgement on the Ohtani acquisition. But, yes, other than the insane money output, it does seem pretty sparkling to me. I’m still just working and working on the film. Really nothing much else at all. But what about you? Return cheers! ** Audrey, Hi, Audrey. So excited to see them both especially the Korine. He’s much admired in France, so I’m guessing it’ll get here. The way you talk about it is the way I think/daydream about it. Thank you so much about ‘Guide’. I am really right on the cusp of finally restarting my video game habit after procrastinating forever in fears it would eat too much into my time, so hopefully I’ll get to Super Smash Brothers after I get through the stack of unplayed games I have on hand. No, I don’t think I’ve been too exciting or privy to much excitement. Just trying to solve the film/money blockage. Maybe getting closer to doing that. I suppose that’s exciting. Wonderful day today. How did you spend it? ** Okay. I really love Cheap Trick, and apparently I don’t care who knows it. See you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
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“Dont write a song about it, just give me back my cheap trick record!” 🙂
Ugh. I think I have the flu, not just a cold. (I tested negative for COVID.) I woke up after 3 & 1/2 hours of sleep because I was so uncomfortable.
I just turned this list into Gay City News, since I’m not really in a good state to watch films critically in the next few days. Here are my favorite films of 2023:
ALL OF US STRANGERS
BOTTOMS
EARTH MAMA
THE KILLER
KOKOMO CITY
PACIFICTION
THE PLAINS
REWIND AND PLAY
ROTTING IN THE SUN
WHEN EVIL LURKS
(The published version will also include a list of some favorites without US distribution.)
Has anything happened with the film? Fingers crossed that you can make it to the end of the road before Christmas.
Hi Dennis,
I’m sad to say that, despite many attempts, I was unable to get any official members of Cheap Trick in my Sigmund Snopek documentary. They love Snopek and have been friends with him for years, but we were never able to work out the timing. I also have suspicions that their tour manager wanted to avoid having an outsider film the band in their currently meager touring conditions. I made one last-ditch effort a couple months ago, but had to give up the dream.
Snopek did some studio work with the band, but I don’t think he’s on any of their official releases. One of his many near-misses in a career that perpetually flirted with fame.
Dennis, Idk, I feel like you’re gonna be okay, something big or not. You’ve always gotten by all right. I just jinxed you, didn’t I? Sorry.
I had a feeling “Dream Police” might be up there. 😉
Yeah, that’s my biggest phobia. Long story but I’m sure I know why. I spend a lot of my life, particularly online and in watching TV, avoiding those fuckers. People seem to like to paste those fuckers all over the place.
Cheap Trick were never a much of a thing here in the UK. I do know that the sainted DJ John Peel played them in their early days.
Hi!!
Yeah, I’m learning a lot about comics, too. There are a few amazing comic/fan stores here. Of course, none of them has anything by Tarantino or Bourdain at the moment, but I found literally everything else in the world, haha.
If I were you, I’d predictably focus every single wish of mine on the film, too, so it’s completely understandable. How did the meeting/conversation with the producer go? If it indeed happened today. My fingers are crossed so, so, so, so tightly!
Poor Sette. I’m really sorry.
Time traveler love offering to take you to a past Cheap Trick show of your choice, Od. (And thank you for today’s gig! A pleasure.)
Hello, why yes that was a Beaver.
🦫 Oh look! There he is!
He says his name is Donovan and there is his gorgeous partner—🐢what should his/her/their name be?
Friend I was at the library and AHH I was so happy because I just love reading.
I love learning though I haven’t really read a fiction book in a good minute.
I got a booky by Einstein on Relatively and then I got a book on Evolution.
Are you interested in paleontology and fossils etc?
This French protestant guy named Georges Cavier was known for a big head and utilizing “comparative anatomy”
I was looking for a decent book on Borderline personality disorder that wasn’t some stiff psychologist perspective but rather first hand experience.
I have borderline personality disorder.
It’s a really ugly word. Sounds like a psychopath word.
They got a lot of good autobiography books on other stuff but Borderline is like this monster disease that no one likes. Rarely are people open about it.
More than likely the last time someone heard about the disorder is from some news report on some psycho obsessive murderer or a crazy manipulative ex.
But I’m not like that, I’d hope.
Its hard, friend.
Truthfully, diagnosis suck. They diagnosed me with Bipolar 2 (less severe) but it’s so confusing because I read somewhere that Bipolar and Borderline make awful friendships so it’s like, what the fuck? Can I not be my own friend? Hahah.
Personality disorderers are literally the worst because they are so inate in u and they never go awaym
But that’s all really personal stuff so I hope it doesn’t make you uncomfortable. But I feel comfortable to share because tbh most ppl don’t know it.
I disagree about the long hair, truthfully i think it just depends on how well you groom it, despite your age.
Did u have long hair? I would think? Was it hard to keep up with?
There’s a guy here who is in his early 50s with amazing long grey hair and when I first met him I like to pretend he’s some s some long forgotten intelligent folk singer.
He just wrote a book! He is the same guy who gave me sculpting clay and is really quiet but smart. He wrote a book in I think 5 months. That’s like a month less than what u did with Closer right!
For Christmas I think I’ll just be happy to be alive in my room. Because I know that wasn’t the case last year haha.
I hope that Buche is like totally fulfilling.
Also the guys name is Georges Cuvier not Cavier that was a typo.
Ok friend sorry last chain response but listen I have a proposition before I go to bed :
Ok so at work today as I was vomiting into the toilet from a migraine induced sickness I was reminded of you but I was thinking
Would you mind if I added other things to the package?
I think if I’m gonna do something international I want to spice it up.
Nothing superfluous.
Like one of those small cheeky cups from Spencer’s (where I work)
I think maybe I’ll put this clay thing I made into it because I don’t have the heart to throw them out but you could, I won’t mind, but you could also keep him. his name is “Crybaby Ass” or just Solomon.
At least the clay doll would get to travel the seas.
Are u a minimalist? I don’t want to give you something that will just feel very clutter.
Yeah it’s a super exciting acquisition for sure! I hope Ohtani doesn’t have any issues with relocation (Haha).
It’s good that you’re keeping busy, I am also. About to have my first ‘real’ job, and trying to get some writing done, as well as trying to find a place to house the piece I sent you.
Really excited about the film and hope the process has been going as swimmingly as Michael Phelps.
That’s all for now, the song Bad Penny by Big Black is on my mind so maybe I’ll listen to it. Have a good day!
Did Cheap Trick ever work with Roy Wood? It seems that it would be a perfect fit if Wood produced Cheap Trick.
hi dennis! been a lurker on your blog for a hot minute but when i saw a mention of cheap trick i just Had to leave a comment!! have been meaning to get some of their stuff on vinyl but I don’t even know if my record player still works. what are your thoughts on robin zander’s solo discography?
Dennis– The posts of the last few weeks have been amazing, especially Cheap Trick and (from a while ago) Vomit. Only do I spill when I’ve been shouldering a migraine for too long, and then the purge actually purges the headache as well (that vagal-nerve thing going on, I’m guessing). Very glad to hear you’re on the mend w/your cold. You sound DC-version kinda low-key these weeks, though, maybe just a tiny bit, and I’m guessing film stuff weighs. I once saw an interview w/you where you really seemed down; always wondered if my intuition was right but I’m not asking here bc you always completely rock the kindness and positivity. Do something nice for yourself this weekend, yes please?
So, can you bear a long-ish unspooling of thoughts? If not, ignore the following and just take my best vibes and have a lovely weekend. No hurt, no harm in skipping.
So, there’s this panoramic photo of Alfredo Farrar’s which depicts a crowd of Brazilian workers waiting to go down into the mines, and scanning it you can really feel the weight and drag of time through the framing; such a wide-lens, the extended horizon of bodies punctuated by occasional sets of eyes looking back at you, duration and temporality both fixed and released by the ken of the image (fixed by the instantaneous, analytical and animal eye, catching details, and released by the relentless movement of imagination and implied continuity; the invisible self, the abstracted body, like an echo or a memory of looking, is lost [and, maybe, found] in observing the scene– ). I think this might touch upon Merleau-Ponty’s concept of ‘chiasm’, esp. in image and film, as the interpermeability of subject and object, the viewer and art object conflated in the experience of observation. There’s a theory linking schizophrenia to the evolution of language; that schizophrenia represents a kind of neurological ‘snag’ hazarded by the massive demands of abstract thought as it over-taxes the limits of the brain’s energy-regulating capabilities (do squirrels, dogs, zebras, much less chimpanzees, ever experience schizophrenia? I may just ferret-out an answer for you next time… pun intended). It’s all just theory, but obviously we’re quite capable of walking two worlds at once. Positively diegetic. A recursion of art and the observer syncretized in the imaginative state, maybe? Who knows. At any rate–
It seems that
if you look intensely at an image/page, you read it in order to ‘survive’ it, but fall into the story and you’ll find you’ve effectively gone blind. Mind and eye partner up, split off, come together again; it’s all very dynamic and quite nearly simultaneous (maybe this is what makes good art, this kindof miraculous, experiential thing. It almost doesn’t matter what the piece is about, sometimes? What matters is what it does to your head).
Really sorry to go on, but sometimes the threads pull together, and these ones put me in mind of you bc of the kinds of things you reach for as a writer (the Cycle, Marbled Swarm, even My Loose Thread, certain of your poetry, etc.) and, well, bc you’re the only filmmaker I know. Ignore if you want. It was just an interesting experience and everyone else I know just grinds away at grills and floor waxers and cash registers and is too tired to think about anything but cold beer and TV and sex that never seems to happen for them, poor souls.
Anyway, have a really excellent weekend. My week starts, so I go. -G.
Hey Dennis! I’ve been a lurker for a while and fan for even longer . Just wanted to share this video I made as a Christmas card to the gang here:
https://youtu.be/hS2T78Iw2Ok?si=8SfpPk9bxxQP7Nov
And thanks so much for the Cheap Trick post! I can’t remember if you’ve done one before (you probably have), even though you’ve mentioned in several places their god-like status to you (re: “The Dream Police”) etc.
Anyway , happy winter!