This Band Has No Past: How Cheap Trick Became Cheap Trick

by Brian J. Kramp, Jeff Ament (Foreword)

‘This band has no past’ was the first line of the farcical biography printed on the inner sleeve of Cheap Trick’s first album, but the band, of course, did have a past—a past that straddles two very different from the tumult of the sixties to the anticlimax of the seventies, from the British Invasion to the record industry renaissance, with the band’s debut album arriving in 1977, the year vinyl sales peaked. This Band Has No Past tells the story of a bar band from the Midwest—the best and weirdest bar band in the Midwest— and how they doggedly pursued a most unlikely career in rock’n’roll. It traces every gnarly limb of the family tree of bands that culminated in Cheap Trick, then details how this unlikely foursome paid their dues—with interest—night after night, slogging it out everywhere from high schools to bars to bowling alleys to fans’ back yards, before signing to Epic Records and releasing two brilliant albums six months apart. Drawing on more than eighty original interviews, This Band Has No Past is packed full of new insights and information that fans of the band will devour. How was the Cheap Trick logo created? How did the checkerboard pattern come to be associated with the band? When did Rick Nielsen start wearing a ballcap 24/7? Who caught their mom and dad rolling on the couch? What kind of beer did David Bowie drink? And when might characters like Chuck Berry, Frank Zappa, Don Johnson, Otis Redding, Eddie Munster, Kim Fowley, John Belushi, Jim Belushi, Elvis Presley, Leslie West, Groucho Marx, Robert F. Kennedy, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, The Coneheads, Tom Petty, Harvey Weinstein, Michael Mann, Linda Blair, Eddie Van Halen, Elvis Costello, Matt Dillon, and Pam Grier turn up? Read on and find out.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

408 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third published history of Cheap Trick. The first, published in 1998, "Reputation Is a Fragile Thing" written by Mike Hayes with Ken Sharp, the second from 2017, by Robert Lawson, titled "Still Competition: The Listeners Guide to Cheap Trick". All are good, and well worth a read. Brian Kramp's is perhaps the most deeply researched and detailed, especially documenting the very early days of each member of Cheap Trick. And, it should be mentioned that Lawson's book is technically not a history, but as the title says, "a listening guide".

My only (perhaps trivial) complaint of this book is, on page 161, a description of a conversation between Rick Nielsen and Scott Krueger (future bassist for The Shivvers, one of Milwaukee's most beloved power pop bands) taking place about how good the first Big Star album is while going through the cutout bins at Dirty Frank's Record Rack.

Ah, no. The name of the record store was Dirty Jack's Record Rack. I know this because I was working at Dirty Jack's Record Rack when this conversation took place, and while I don't remember the discussion specifically, I was likely part of the conversation.

I enjoyed the book a lot, and was part of the scene in Milwaukee at the time, and caught Cheap Trick whenever they came to town from the end of 1974 through 1977. I got to know them, and did some record collector trading with Bunny (Bun E. Carlos). The last time I spoke with Bunny was at the Elvis Costello/Mink DeVille/Rockpile concert in Madison Wisconsin on April 20, 1978. We chatted, and he said, "We're flying to Japan tomorrow. They really like us over there".

[Robert Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new book "This Band Has No Past. How Cheap Trick Became Cheap Trick" (Jawbone Press) is an exhaustive look at the formative years of this highly secretive group. Author Brian J. Kramp has delved deep into each of the guys' pre-CT bands and the early Cheap Trick line-up changes before the classic foursome was finally solidified. Incredibly, apparently even after the line-up was cemented, Rick Nielsen still had thoughts about replacing two of the members! The short-lived 1976 two drummer line-up is given attention (with photographic proof) as is the gradual evolution of Nielsen's stage persona (no, he didn't always wear sweaters and baseball caps).
There's also plenty of information regarding the early club shows with lists of the various cover songs and original material they were playing while honing their craft. Kramp provides valuable facts gleaned from internal management memos which have never been available to the public. The band's longstanding relationship with Hamer Guitars is explained, as is the creation of Nielsen's famous #0000 axe and Tom Petersson's monstrous 12-string bass.
The book is extremely valuable to sort out some long standing myths (like how the band got their name) which of course Cheap Trick have constantly muddied with their rebellious refusal to give straight answers over the years. Additionally, a wealth of previously unpublished photos is a welcomed bonus.
For context, Kramp adds details about the then current political climate, true crime events and the world of pop culture to give an idea of what was happening around the band while they were struggling to get their first record deal.
Is this book for the casual fan who just wants to hear the same old radio hits in concert? Absolutely not. But for those who've always wondered what was really going on in the band's usually tightly shut world, this book certainly does the trick.
Robert Lawson
"Still Competition: The Listener's Guide to Cheap Trick"

[Steve Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, comprehensive history of one of America's best rock bands. Largely an oral history, this is clearly a labor of love for Mr. Kramp, who deftly drops cultural touchstones and raucous anecdotes in chronicling the circuitous path to Cheap Trick, their signing, and the production of perhaps the best debut album ever. Mr. Kramp isn't bashful about including editorial bits--often humorous--and the blurbs from Bun E. Carlos are priceless. I also appreciated the space dedicated to the development of Tom's 12-string bass and the culmination of his trademark sound. The inclusion of early photos are a blast as well. This is a true deep dive best suited for dedicated Trick fans, but then again, what other kind are there?

[Paul Sutter]

One might think this a most interesting title, but it is actual taken from the sort of tongue-in-cheek bio that is found in the liner notes from Cheap Trick’s debut album. The band that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, has had quite the musical history, as Brian Kramp points out in this most interesting look back at them and their beginnings.
The band members were part of a host of previous groups before they came together as Cheap Trick. They were part of Fuse, the Bo Weevils, The Grim Reapers and Sick Man of Europe, before the band members came together and formed Cheap Trick. Apparently how the name did arise was when member Tom Petersson mentioned at a Slade concert that Slade used every cheap trick in the book as part of their act.
The book mentions dozens of bands that were popular back in the day, when the group had not yet formed but were associated with other bands. Cheap Trick in their earliest beginnings mainly relied on cover songs for their acts, and a large inventory of them were cycled during the performances. Soon, the band members began writing their own songs to both positive and mixed reactions. In the beginning the band members were Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander and Bun E. Carlos. While the author talks about a large number of smaller clubs when they were first making music, there is too much making mention of those clubs that were not advancing their career at all. When they did open for bigger names and then of course headline on their own, that is when it mattered most.
And at times there is too much noted about other bands that were around at the time and came and went over the years. When he does focus more on the band members and their blending together with styles and making music, that adds the more personal touch to the story. The band is noted for making great music and among their most popular singles released were I Want You To Want Me, Dream Police and Surrender. There are several pages of reviews from the media about their music and their concerts, often two or three pages of accolades. The book is fine as it goes, for the hardcore music lover or fan of Cheap Trick.
It has lots of interviews with people from the music world, that adds to the mystique of the band, though at times, less might have been more. Still, a work competently researched and interesting.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not being a really big Cheap Trick fan (I come from New England originally) I read this because it seems that if you live in Rockford, IL, as I do now, you need to know something about them. First 10 -12 chapters gave a great history of R&R in the Rockford/ Northern Illinois/Chicago area from the 1960's thru the mid 70's. After that, it got boring and technical.
Stories of Nielson's antics on stage spewing pics, jumping around, and when and where they cut their first 4 albums and the search for producers and mentions of roadies. What saved the first 10 or so chapters was that my husband was a musician in the area back then and knew most of the people mentioned. There was no meat to the story, no backstage stories or personal stories except a few lines about Nielson's marriage. Seems to me that they would have been partially shaped by the things that happened on the road in the dives / bars / venues they played and the people they met and the conversations they had with those people and in those circumstances. Most quotes came from Ken Adamany and Bun E Carlos which explained in a very little more detail, but almost nothing from the other 3. Even Budokan was glossed over in about 5 pages. I guess maybe I appreciate what they went through to 'make it' a little more, but that's about it. Maybe at some point there will be a much better bio that tells more of the back story.

[sid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be advised that this book is true to its subtitle: How Cheap Trick Became Cheap Trick. Much of it focuses on the myriad combinations of bands and band members that preceded the actual formation of Cheap Trick as we know it. (I believe it was well beyond 100 pages that the name Cheap Trick even surfaced, and of course the best-loved lineup was still many pages into the future.)

This work is an amazing exercise in research and includes an astounding amount of detail with regard to early club dates and activities that led to the formation of the band. The book also includes historical quotes from all of the band members, but it would appear that only Bun E. Carlos provided interviews specifically for this book.

[David Dewata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku ini menceritakan sejarah para personel sebelum membentuk Cheap Trick, hingga karir mereka saat merilis Live in Budokan. Mungkin sekitar 70% dari isi buku lebih banyak membahas pra Cheap Trick. Salut dengan fokus sang penulis namun di beberapa hal menjadi membosankan karena porsi cerita yang tidak terlalu terkait dekat dengan Cheap Trick diberi porsi narasi yang detil dan panjang. Seperti potongan ceriota terkait Elvis Presley.

Disarankan bagi penggemar Cheap Trick, namun saya pikir kurang cocok untuk mereka yang baru belajar Cheap Trick. Seperti saya.

[Mark Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and informative read. Tracing the band's roots in the early 70s with myriad bands, it is presented in a very anecdotal way, with interviews of associated parties throughout. If you're a Cheap Trick fan, as I have been since the Live At Budokan timeframe, you will most certainly enjoy this account. It focuses on the formative and early years, up to the late 70s, so is not an exhaustive account of the band's full history; nonetheless it is full of cool facts.

[Armand Rosamilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved Cheap Trick since I was a kid. Bought all the albums, went to quite a few concerts. The insight to their very early lives is interesting, and the trajectories of the various bands all the members were in before forming Cheap Trick is great... I just wish there was more actual Cheap Trick stories in this book, because after the second album's release and their tour of Japan for the eventual live album... the book ends.

[Butch Lazorchak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of those "lots of interview quotes strung together" kind of books, but it's so interesting and enlightening that I have to give it 5 stars. Clearly, Cheap Trick were the hardest working band in show biz.

[Nancy Garman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

The book moves quickly and really puts you in the position of feeling like you can see how it all came together. Instead of bogging down with insignificant details.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrender and give yourself away to this book

[Jason Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars
This book is A LOT!!
But it’s worth it.
How Cheap Trick became Cheap Trick is accurate AF!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The making of one of America's greatest rock bands.

[Chris Goodwin]

Excellent read. You learn a lot about the band and even history of the times and how long the road was to be the band they are now.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great history of Cheap Trick here, but also a lot of non-Cheap Trick stuff that I had to skim through that I would have preferred not to have had to do. Excellently researched though. Hat's off!

[Jan Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only a blast but a very thorough history of CT from their early beginnings