I'm Totally Reading This 'Cheap Trick' Book

For our beloved Metalboy!

American Standard: Cheap Trick from the Bars to the Budokan and Beyond by Ross Warner is due next month. The new book promises an in-depth look at how Cheap Trick got famous. Mike McCready of Pearl Jam provides the foreword.

I always love these sorts of books for the stories about other artists, too. Obviously Cheap Trick has played with just about every rocker over the years so you know there must be some tea spilled here! Amazon has the book up now for pre-order.

Comments

[Metalboy!]

Awww!!! … Thank you for this! … Totally all over this! … Saw ‘em at their creative height off “Heaven Tonight in ‘78 at Georgetown University in D.C. then at Towson State University plus some big outdoor stadium in Sacramento, in ‘79 off “Dream Police” and in ‘80 off “All Shook Up” at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

I then saw them numerous times when they wound up playing bars and music venues in NYC, Baltimore and, oddly, a street festival in Naples Florida in ‘07! Without a doubt, one of THE Greatest Rock & Roll bands of all time!

Totally gonna pre-order this tomorrow!

p.s. Watch Cheap Trick Live at Reading Festival ‘78 (I think) on YouTube to see what I’m getting at.

[fletch]

I'll definitely order this book and am looking forward to reading it Though I am not a huge CT fan, I do like them and have seem them in concert many times as they are often ("one of those bands") who seem to be added into the mix of several 80's 'packages'. (i.e. Poison/Tesla/Cheap Trick or Cinderella/Cheap Trick/Great White, etc...) Mind you, I really don't remember if the tour packages I just mentioned actually existed or not, but hopefully you get my point.

Anyway, despite not being a huge fan, I do own, "Live", "Authorized Greatest Hits" (the greatest name for a GH album, imo) and Heaven Tonight. Many a night, I've played AGH as my last album for the evening before calling it a day. Hurry up Xanax and work your magic.

I love books like this and the details they provide. I heard a CT story that's one of my favorites, but it's not even about them, but rather, KISS.

Years ago, CT were on a promotional tour, which included a stop on The Howard Stern show. Howard often talks how CT are one of his favorite bands. Howard was asking his "usual" questions; Touring, groupies, money....(not necessarily in that order.

Anyway, one of the members (Robin Zander or Rick Nielson) started to tell a story about touring with KISS is the 70's when there was a lot of drug activity. On more than one occasion, Peter Criss partied too much before KISS's set and Paul/Gene were worried if he could get on stage and perform. Therefore, a few times during the tour they asked Bun E. Carlos if he'd be willing to put on the Catman make up and outfit and fill in for Peter. It actually never materialized. (I wish it did and today we'd have YouTube vidoes of BEC as the Catman playing with KISS...but...

Howard was in disbelief. He couldn't believe that BEC would be, not only willing, but also able , to perform as Peter Criss. Shell shocked, Howard asked Bun E, "How would you be able to do that? You didn't practice the songs, play with KISS or really know any the setlist. Do you think you'd be able to pull it off if it came down to it?"

Bun E. Carlos quipped, "With one arm tied behind my back".

[fletch]

The best "best" Greatest Hits...name of all time.

The Immaculate Collection by madge