Cheap Trick is an American rock band formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1973 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, lead vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Bun E.

[6] After struggling with declining popularity and lineup changes in the 1980s, Cheap Trick experienced a major resurgence toward the end of the decade when they topped the US charts with the power ballad "The Flame".

The band has continued releasing new music into the 21st century and maintains a constant touring schedule, having performed live more than 5,000 times since their formation.

[10][14] With Robin Zander on vocals, the band recorded a demo in 1975 and played in warehouses, bowling alleys, and various other venues around the midwestern United States.

[15] When Cheap Trick toured in Japan for the first time in April 1978, they were received with a frenzy reminiscent of Beatlemania.

Ten tracks taken from both shows were compiled and released as a live album titled Cheap Trick at Budokan,[14] which was intended to be exclusive to Japan.

[14] The lead-off track "Surrender" was Cheap Trick's first single to chart in the United States, peaking at No. 62.

Demand for Cheap Trick at Budokan became so great that Epic Records finally released the album in the U.S. in February 1979.

[citation needed] Cheap Trick at Budokan launched the band into international stardom, and the album went triple platinum in the United States.

Dream Police also found the band taking its style in a more experimental direction by incorporating strings and dabbling in heavy metal on tracks like "Gonna Raise Hell".

On August 26, 1980, Petersson left the group to record a solo album with his wife Dagmar,[14] using the band name Another Language.

Jon Brant became Petersson's steady replacement, after a year of Cheap Trick touring and recording with Pete Comita.

[14] The album's two singles, "Dancing the Night Away" and "I Can't Take It," failed to chart.

[19][21] In the same year, Cheap Trick performed two songs for the soundtrack of the adult animated film Rock & Rule, which became a cult classic.

[22] 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.

[19] In 1986, the band recorded "Mighty Wings", the end-title cut for the film Top Gun.

[citation needed] Petersson rejoined the group in 1987[26] and helped record 1988's Lap of Luxury,[14] produced by Richie Zito.

[29][30][31] Billboard commented: "After a long hitless streak, Cheap Trick brings it all back home.

[14] The group left Epic after the disappointing sales of Busted to sign with Warner Bros.

[14] Eleven weeks after the release, Red Ant's parent company Alliance Entertainment Corporation declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

One of the multi-night stands from this tour resulted in Music for Hangovers, a live album that featured members of the Smashing Pumpkins on two tracks.

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.

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.

[2][1][42] 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.

It fell away from the audience and landed on the band's truck, which was parked alongside the back of the stage.

The remaining three members of Cheap Trick filed a countersuit, seeking a legal affirmation of their removal of Carlos.

[52] In August 2017, the band appeared on Insane Clown Posse's single "Black Blizzard".

[55] The band was announced as part of the 2021 Australian concert series, Under the Southern Stars, alongside Bush and Stone Temple Pilots.

The induction ceremony was held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 8, and the band was introduced by Kid Rock.

[49][50] Cheap Trick have been cited as an influence on several artists in the alternative rock and power pop genre, including Nirvana, Green Day, Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins.