Cheap Trick on Guitar Center Sessions

[rickboy88]

I am posting this here as Robin Zander would sometimes use an older Ric guitar at concerts (so it qualifies, right?).

I watched the "Guitar Center Sessions" with Cheap Trick last night, and I was pleasantly surprised. Robin didn't play his old Ric, but those guys really rocked and played a handful of the old classics. Throughout the show there was also an interview with Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson. The period from 1981-1987 when Petersson was missing wasn't mentioned, but sort of alluded to by the interviewer. I've always viewed it as one of their "Spinal Tap" moments.

I found out about the program from an ad in a recent "Bass Player" magazine and made sure to put in my smartphone calendar.

Here is the link about the program:
http://sessions.guitarcenter.com/cheap-trick

I really recommend it for Cheap Trick fans. Rick notes how they were really more popular outside of the U.S. at first, and how their big Japan performance was very unique at that time. They had a large Japanese following apparently.

When I was in high school in the Chicago area in the late 70's they were probably my favorite rock band after hearing their 8 track tapes (yes, I am not kidding) of "Heaven Tonight," etc. Being a Chicago area band, they were very popular, as was Styx. My sister was more of a Styx person.

I'd seen some recent Cheap Trick performances at various festivals in the U.K. and had thought that their better days were behind them as a live band, but the Guitar Center Sessions program has brought me back a lot. I still have a VHS tape of them playing on MTV during a spring break in Florida in the 80's where they just killed it.

[Ack8236]

Haven't seen that one yet but I'll have to watch for it. Saw them about 4-5 years ago when they toured with Journey and Heart. They went first and put on a good show. "Heaven Tonight" is probably the song of theirs I like best. When I saw them, Petersson was still using a Rick Transonic amp in his rig.

[halbvier]

And there's the proper guitar:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Vintage-1967-Ric ... 460f321dbb