Let's talk about one of rock's greatest injustices: Cheap Trick should be as famous as The Beatles, but instead, they're the band your cool uncle won't shut up about at Thanksgiving. And you know what? Your uncle is absolutely right.
The Band That Invented Power Pop (And Got Zero Credit)
Formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1973, Cheap Trick basically wrote the blueprint for power pop, arena rock, and that perfect sweet spot between catchy hooks and face-melting guitar solos. Robin Zander's vocals could make angels weep, Rick Nielsen's guitar work is criminally underrated, Tom Petersson invented the 12-string bass (yes, TWELVE strings), and Bun E. Carlos kept it all together with drumming tighter than your jeans after Thanksgiving dinner.
But did they get the recognition they deserved? Nope. Instead, they got filed under "oh yeah, those guys who did 'I Want You to Want Me.'"
Budokan: The Live Album That Changed Everything (Almost)
Here's the thing about Cheap Trick at Budokan – it's one of the greatest live albums ever recorded. Period. The energy, the performance, the screaming Japanese fans who actually understood what they had in front of them... it's perfection. "I Want You to Want Me" became a massive hit, and for a brief moment, it looked like Cheap Trick was going to take over the world.
Spoiler alert: they didn't. But not because they weren't good enough – because the music industry is weird and sometimes the best bands don't get their due.
The Hits You Know (And the Deep Cuts You're Missing)
Sure, everyone knows "I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender" (if you don't know "Surrender," we need to have a serious conversation). But have you heard "Dream Police"? "The Flame"? "Ain't That a Shame"? This band has been churning out bangers for five decades, and most people couldn't name more than two songs.
It's like having a Ferrari in your garage and only driving it to the grocery store once a year.
Still Rocking After All These Years
The best part? Cheap Trick is still out there, still touring, still releasing albums, and still proving that real rock and roll doesn't have an expiration date. While other bands from their era are doing nostalgia tours and phoning it in, Cheap Trick is writing new music and playing like they've got something to prove.
Because they do. They're still underrated, still underappreciated, and still one of the best live rock bands on the planet.
The Verdict
Cheap Trick deserved to be stadium-filling, generation-defining rock gods. Instead, they're the band that influenced everyone from Nirvana to Smashing Pumpkins to Weezer, but never got the same level of fame. They're the ultimate musician's band – respected by everyone who knows, ignored by everyone who doesn't.
So do yourself a favor: dive into their catalog. Start with Budokan, work your way through their studio albums, and prepare to wonder why you slept on them for so long.
Your cool uncle was right all along.
Want to Learn More?
If you want to check out their latest work and see what Cheap Trick is up to now, watch this video about their newest album: