TCB
By Christopher Gray, Fri., Nov. 14, 2003
Trick or Treat
Countless guitarists have honed their chops by copying Rick Nielsen's technique on seminal Cheap Trick albums like Live at Budokan and In Color. Nielsen, in turn, learned by copying the themes to such Sixties TV shows as Have Gun Will Travel, Rawhide, and Peter Gunn. "On Top of the World," from 1978's Heaven Tonight, is even a variation of Henry Mancini's popular Gunn riff. "I never got sued, either," marvels Nielsen from New Orleans. The Rockford, Ill., quartet pulls into Stubb's on Saturday, supporting its 19th album, Special One (Big 3).
TCB: What was going through your mind when you took the stage at Budokan?
Rick Nielsen: "This is pretty cool. Holy cow, people actually like us."
TCB: How much per year do you spend on guitar picks?
RN: Jeez ... you're making me do some math here. I don't know, maybe 80 or 100,000 picks [500 per show]. The other guys in the band complain about it, because it comes out of all our pockets.
TCB: Are any of your guitars too valuable to take on the road?
RN: No, I've brought 'em all. Not every show. I own two Gibson Explorers from 1958, and they only made 19 of those. I own 5 percent of the total in the whole world.
TCB: What's your favorite riff you've written?
RN: I haven't written it yet.
Cheap Trick plays Saturday at Stubb's outside with Wayne Kramer and the Damnwells. Tia Carrera plays inside after the show.
