No Cheap Trick

 

In the pantheon of Rock and Roll outfits (they were inducted in the actual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016), Cheap Trick undoubtedly holds a choice position. One of the pivotal 70’s Rock bands effectively responsible for the resurgence of powerful Arena Rock-style performances, they in many ways foreshadowed what the Rock and Metal scene would sound like in the decades to come (all the way to Mr Kurt Cobain!). And, interestingly, core elements of their legend were born in Tokyo, Japan…

To be clear, Rick Nielsen’s Cheap Trick are as US-blooded as they come: formed in Rockford, Illinois, in 1973, the band toured the country extensively for years, gradually making a name for themselves as one of Rock’s new powerhouses. But it wasn’t until 1978 and a stint in Japan that they became bona fide stars, both in Japan and their native United States. As it happens, the band were offered gigs in Tokyo and Osaka as part of their tour following the release of second album In Color, which featured the now classic “I Want You to Want Me“. However, the track and its accompanying LP didn’t become hits right away…

Although the band was already familiar with touring, they were not used to Beatlemania-esque-type situations just yet. It took Tokyo and hordes of fans following them from the airport for that. Their 2 gigs at the Budokan — the city’s martial arts arena that gradually became a haven for international artists — and another one in Osaka in front of thousands of Japanese fans had the band enthralled, although noise coming from the audience sometimes drowned the sound of their instruments, just as the Beatles had once experienced. The record company quickly issued a live album, mixing performances (it is said there was more Osaka than Budokan in this “live at Budokan”) into one glorious piece of US-made, Japanese-hosted Rock music.

The album, released only in Japan, sold out as quickly as it was released. It was then decided that Cheap Trick at Budokan would get a wide — and international — release. And that is how “I Want You To Want Me” finally became a hit, how Cheap Trick as a band became a household name and how it got the biggest selling release of its career — so far. Not bad for a couple of shows in Japan…

For those who want more, In Another World hits the shelves today!