They have sold more than 20 million albums, have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and are one of Homer Simpson’s favourite bands – but even today, fifty years after their formation, Cheap Trick is still a club band with cult status for many. That’s how they started, anyway, with a carnival-like stage show with four completely dissimilar characters: guitarist Rick Nielsen in bow tie, sweater and baseball cap stood next to blond dream guy Robin Zander, while mysterious bassist Tom Peterson with chestnut brown hair occupied the lower half with drummer Bun E. Carlos, who was never seen without a cigarette or tie.
American Standard: Cheap Trick from the bars to the Budokan and beyond tells the unlikely story of the band’s road to greatness, from their origins in Rockford, Illinois, to their hugely successful live album At Budokan, to the many, many ups and downs that followed. This is a rollicking tale of artistic genius, rock excess, hilarious misbehavior, chance encounters with the biggest names in music, and international fame that gave new meaning to the phrase “big in Japan.” Based on extensive research and interviews, American Standard offers an intimate look at a truly original band – whether you consider them rock icons or a criminally underrated band,
