Rather Have the Story: RICK NIELSEN - of Cheap Trick!! 

Cheap Trick and Sparks almost became one band in the early days!?! Wowwww.

A truly amazing icon of R&R Thanks for your contributions sir Rick.

Great interview. The very 1st time i saw Cheap Trick was the night Elvis Presley passed away August 16th 1977. They were the opening act for KISS in San Francisco at the Cow Palace. Became a fan for life after that show. Have gone on to see them over 25 times live since that first show with KISS. They always put on a great show whether they are headlinging or the opening act. Deserved the induction into the RRHOF in 2016!!!!! 👍

GREAT first question!!

I got one of his guitar picks he use to fling out to the crowd at concerts... We were way up in the balcony. He could really zing those picks.... 45yrs. ago....😅

Rick never gets the credit he deserves for being one of the best guitar players and songwriters of all time...

My father was born in 1915 was stationed in LA. WW2 Hollywood Canteen frequented huge cowboy fan Grew up next door to Burl Ives Hunt City Illinois. Me Willow Hill Illinois. Jasper County dad and Burl same cemetery. Mounds in Hunt City.Dad was a Cheap Trick fan.

He's 75 yrs old same age as my mom, fk time flies soo fast like a mtfk! We are loosing many of our 80's amazing people really fast these few years and a fkn' hate it! I'm generation X and I will forever be playing this music till my last breath loud in my amazing car's sound system everyday I drive forcing people on the sidewalks and passing by how great this music is and will be after 40yrs and so on! This is what keeps you young and stress free!

Magic day for me. My daughter left a mean boyfriend by sending him and all his friends to Korns family values tour concert. I had recently gained some weight. Wore a long skirt it was August hot as heck. I have seen Cheap Trick about 27 times. The last time Cheaptrick ,Poison and Pop Evil. About 4 years ago with my sister. It was her birthday present for me. I still wear the T shirt a lot still looks new. Has not faded. Cheap Trick has been my favorite band since I was 10. My cousin Kelly in Robinson Illinois. Played the first album blew me away. I really miss Bun E. Still my best band. Love almost every genre music.

I saw Cheap Trick in 1980 when I was 13. Been playing Rock and Roll ever since. Had a big poster of Rick on my wall. I love em still!

My dad was born in 61 and grew up in the Chicago area (Homewood). He used to sneak into CT's shows as a 16 year old and he always loved them. They were his childhood favorite along with Rush, and of course all the other classic bands. Hence, he made them my childhood bands as well. I'm 23 now, and recognize that if it wasn't for these two bands, I don't know if I ever would have started playing drums or writing music. And if it weren't for those two things, I don't know what I would be, and I wouldn't want it any other way. They mean so much to me, and I can't wait to share their work with a kid of my own one day. Thank you Cheap Trick!!

Rick is an American treasure 😊

Love Cheap Trick, seen them in the late 1970s

Nobody hates Rick.

RIck Nielson was the coolest motherfucker on the planet when i was 14 year old. When Kiss takes you out on tour you know that they were special and didn't disappoint. Rick combined punk with Americana with guitar god. Without Cheap Trick my adolescence would have been boring. THANK YOU RICK NIELSON I LOVE YOU

Great interview podcast!! Saw Cheap Trick live a month ago here in Tucson AZ...love them since i was 5 yrs young with their Dream Police album.. They are Truly Iconic!!

Regarding his grandkids.....that's got to be one of COOLEST grandads to have, Id never wanna stop hearing the stories.......

Great chat! I have a Rick pick from '78, my first CT show, in San Luis Obispo. Many excited Japanese summer students were in the crowd. As loud as the band was, I think the crowd out-decibel'd them. Every show I've seen has been so great. The originality of the band and of Rick's approach to all the stuff the band does has always been inspiring. Rick would appreciate another gem in my memory box, which is a candle from Bev Bevan's 30th birthday cake. I was at the party in LA that UA threw for Bev after an ELO show.

what a great and humble guy he is.

Most excellent. Former Chicagoland guy. Shamed say never saw CT in concert but always loved their stuff. RN is a walking talking rock&roll musuem.

Great interview.Allowed RN to vent.Such an interesting musician and man.Thankyou.

Cheap Trick and Sparks! Wow 👌

Rick - You are the best friend I've never met. 🏁

Hmmmmmm . Thank you so much for Rick Nelson for just playing the songs the way you do. You and I are nobody special but I sincerely enjoy your music.

CHEAP TRICK...........ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS OF THE 20th CENTURY !!!!

My son caught 2 Rick Neilson picks in Muncie Indiana. He gave them to me and I keep one in my Rockford CD and one in my Dream police CD.

Rick Neilsen is so cool, still

Rick Nielsen = Rockford royalty!

My favorite band of all time

That was awesome about mentioning of Sparks. My other favorite band.

Fun Fact: A portion of that "TV snow" is actually remnants left over from the Big Bang (expansion of spacetime). A small percentage of that snow is literally the microwave background radiation. Pretty amazing!

Excellent. thanks.

Great interview.

Rick Nielsen is a great musician, with an amazing pop sensibility, similar to Elliot Eastman (The Cars) or the early Van Halen, but still unique in his specific style. From 1978 to 1982, the only new guitarist in his league was Eddie Van Halen. Nielsen's visually bright art and image mirrored his humor and high-energy. Probably he has always played so damn great because whilst other musicians were getting their hair done, colored, bald-spots covered, etc., Rick Nielsen was playing his guitar!

Can tell you how important this man and his band are to me. Thanks for this.

its cool how bargain prices is one of the recurring themes of his gear acquisition. he bought a lot of stuff that was priced lower but still sounded great, and now its worth a fortune

Pulling for Rick to come back - it will happen and then we can cover the REAL dirt! Evidently if you hit the LIKE button above, it makes it much much more likely to happen!

Wonderfully done! A great interview disguised as a casual conversation!

This is fantastic !

When they roll into Cleveland on July 19th this year, this band will have a red carpet welcome. Wow, The Flying Saucer motel. My Dad who I dearly miss worked for a trucking company and I went with him on a long haul once to Illinois and stayed there, what a recall memory for me.

Humbly say that 8 have worked ten years in the music industry. Seen almost a hundred interviews oof different bands and this is one of the best!

Awesome YOU got the real thing no zoom stuff! 2 friends kicking it! Thanks 😊Z

Really great interview. As a major CT fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Rick’s mind as a songwriter, and where those left-field lyrics come from. I feel like I have several new clues after listening to this podcast. It’s great to see Rick so comfortable and forthcoming.

I love this. I caught one of Rick's Cheap Trick picks at a concert way back around 1978 or 1980 or so. Still have it to this day.

I went to that show at the Whisky when Rick broke the neck/"leg" off the "Uncle Dick" guitar, and my friend John Kirkpartrick who went with me got the it when he tossed it out into the audience!

Really great interview ..Interesting I sure hope Rick writes a book. So authentic

Seen the Porcaro interview ,thought it was really good ,now i will be watching all of them . great !!

Brian-I appreciate how you’ve conducted this interview-so enjoyable and informative!

He scared me at 8 years old in '78 staying up late to watch Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. I'm 52 now and think that he's the coolest thing.

An incredible blend: Rick: Creative mastermind rock-and-roll student/artist. Robin: Incredibly talented singer(vocalist) - please note the difference. And Mr. Bun E. Carlos: the heartbeat, cigarette-smoking soul. Plus Tom was pretty, and his girlfriend was dumb.

Super excellent

I've seen Cheap Trick twice in recent years, told the wife "when they come around again were going..." 😄

Brian you are the man”

1974 ish...These guys played at the Ace of Clubs. It's a dark memory. They were so good. I mean, really good. I want to go back and do that again. Flip a pick.

Great Interview! Rick is the man.

Rick for president

Great video

Fantastic, 10/10, UK

Absolutely wonderful interview Brian and Rick!!! Thank you so much

A bunch of great songs but 'She's tight' by several lengths over 'Surrender' both lapping the field.

Fantastic!

BRIANNNNNN I Thoroughly enjoyed this ! ! May you do many more..............!!

Fantastic interview!!!!

INTERESTING BACKSTORIES

Awesome 👍

Congrats on the launch Brian!

More please!! Most enjoyable interview.

I love this guy...

cool i think rick is very underated

He supported my fan girl.

I can remember the Lipton Tea bag safety-pinned to his old fashioned sweaters that he wore on stage. Lol And of course, the ball cap He's pretty tame now But the visual you got of him back then....either love him or hate him, you would definitely remember him. Kind of genius in a way. And Peterson, on the 16 string bass? They have an unmistakable sound for sure

Awesome. Loved every bit of it :)

This is the best interview I’ve seen with Rick. I never knew about the Motley Crue connection!

Great interview! Cheap Trick were the soundtrack kings!! My favorite was" UP THE CREEK"! PLAY LOUD

This is lovely, Brian! Very excited to find out about your show, and what a satisfying thing to watch. Who's lovelier than Rick Nielsen? Looking forward to more and more and more.

I saw Cheap Trick in Anderson In after work my mom was supposed to come too. She liked the Paramount. We just found out she was terminally ill. I got invited to party. At the boat club with Cheap Trick. I watched them load their gear behind the Paramount. But I didn't. Mom was sick and coming to get me. I didn't have a cell phone because my daughter had mine. So I couldn't call. All I could do is wait for mom. I waded through. Picket lines at Navy Peir One on one. A blizzard in Fortwayne to get to the Colleseum. To listen to my friend Rita whine about how long the guitar solos were all shook up.

Top notch and entertaining discussion! Thank you!

I remember back 1998 i believe it was not sure but cheap trick play at ostrich festival in downtown Chandler Arizona anyways I'm not guitar expert but seeing Rick playing with his custom double guitar, as a 12 Year old me it just blew my mind away

Another awesome interview Brian. Thanks!

Love this !

Never did get to see this band, wish I had at least once...

Cheap Chick is the freakin' best! 27:40 mark.

Great stuff man

Sound City amps and cabinets ruled. I did the same as they were 1/2 price of Marshalls so I got them for my whole band. After playing a cover of Interstellar Overdrive during sound check at a club the bartender came up and said here is $500 if you guys will not play tonight. Those amps were loud.

I miss Alan Rogan very much. A really sweet, helpful man.

Rick is a great guy. Met and spoke with him many times since 77. Just have not seen him since Bun E left the band. Maybe this summer in Ottawa, i'll pass a not backstage or something. :) (Rick if you're reading this... DAVID PEEL not ELEPHANTS MEORY :) )

I used to have a 4 track R2R just like that

Id like to ask Rick why "Cheap Trick pulled out of Rock N Roll High School" .The Ramones ended up doing the film...became more of a cult classic..Looking back now would you have changed your mind?

Awesome Brian! Subscribed!

I Used To Call It Ant Races :-)

Blows my mind that Dr Feelgood outsold Double Fantasy and Budokan.

lol I've had the same experience with Bob Gruen. Even he makes mistakes.

All of my guitars have checkerboard straps except for my acoustic :-)

Happy Belated Cheap Trick Day 🍀

If he was buying multiple Marshall stacks and traveling to England and buying the first Orange amp and the first melitron and shipping it to the US and 12 vintage guitars by the time he was 18 somebody had ALLOT of money in his family.

Two issues. Gabby Hayes or was it Haze ? I remember Quaker puffed wheat “ being shot from guns” and the B&W TV would show a canon aimed at the screen,and it would be shooting the puffed wheat out of the barrel. I would duck every time so I didn’t get hit. Two. You’re not going to believe this but there is a book over Ricks right shoulder. It’s the slipcase for a book called “ Recording The Beatles “ now known as RTB. I can’t remember the hacks that wrote it, but these guys did an incredible job. The most detailed technically of anything ever put to print in respect to Abbey Road when the Beatles were recording , mostly studio two. The details are remarkable. You should try to get one of or both the authors of this book on your show. I’m waiting for a revised edition that one of the guys is always claiming “ It’s coming out soon “ Highly doubtful, which is a pity …

I called the after hours television show THE BUG FIGHTS. Sometimes the looking into the fading dot when the screen tube slowly blacks out. Sitting up really close and trying to see into the void.

Rick Nielsen is to guitars what Elton John is to sunglasses.

Thoroughly enjoyed that!! (Could have talked more about songwriting. Maybe next time.) What is the music used on the outro?

Great interview. I seriously want to know why Bun E is not in the band anymore.