POV: date=September 2008

Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, that gained popularity in the late 1970s. The band consists of Robin Zander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick Nielsen (lead guitar, backing vocals), Tom Petersson (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Bun E. Carlos (drums, percussion).

Cheap Trick created a substantial fan base through a hard-edged yet melodic pop sound that combines the tunefulness of The Beatles with the speed and energy of punk rock. Their biggest hits include "Surrender", "I Want You to Want Me", "Dream Police", "Voices", "Stop This Game", "If You Want My Love", "Don't Be Cruel" (a cover of Elvis Presley's hit), "Ghost Town", and "The Flame." Cheap Trick also performed the theme song "In The Street" for That '70s Show from the second season onward and the theme song "Baby Muggles" for the Colbert Report.

Cheap Trick continues to tour with the original lineup, and their most recent release, Rockford, has gained critical acclaim. They were honored in October 2007 by the Chicago Chapter of NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) for their contributions to the music industry, including 20 million records sold, 29 movie soundtracks, and 40 gold and platinum recording awards. Cheap Trick was ranked #25 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock program. The band is most popular in Japan, where they have remained popular superstars since their first album. They have been often referred to in the Japanese press as the "American Beatles".

The Early Years (Pre-Cheap Trick) : 1968–1974

In 1961, Nielsen began playing locally in Rockford, utilizing an ever-increasing collection of rare and valuable guitars. He formed several local bands with names like The Phaetons, The Boyz, and The Grim Reapers. Finally, Nielsen formed Fuse in 1967 with Petersson, who had played in another local band called The Bo Weevils.

Fuse released a self-titled album for Epic Records in 1968, which was generally ignored. Frustrated by their lack of success, Fuse, which by then included Bun E. Carlos on drums, moved to Philadelphia in 1971. After spending a year in Europe, Nielsen and Petersson returned to Rockford and reunited with Carlos.

Cheap Trick 1975-1978

In 1975 Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, and Bun E. Carlos replaced lead singer Randy "Xeno" Hogan with Robin Zander. The band was renamed, and Cheap Trick was born.

Cheap Trick performed around Rockford, southern Wisconsin, and the Chicago area while they developed a unique stage show. They then opened shows for The Kinks, Boston, Santana, Kiss, and other headliners as they toured constantly, playing as many as 250 shows a year. At the same time, the band began to develop a large fan base in Japan. Producer Jack Douglas signed the group to Epic Records in 1976 after seeing the band at a live performance in 1976, and released their eponymous self-titled debut album in February 1977, and featured such tracks as "Elo Kiddies," "Taxman, Mr. Thief," "He's a Whore," and the ballad "Mandocello." While the album received great reviews, it did not sell many copies. One single was issued, "Oh, Candy," but did not chart.