CHEAP TRICK At Budokan's 35th Anniversary Celebrated On InTheStudio; Robin Zander, Rick Nielson Interviewed
February 4, 2014, 10 years ago
North American syndicated rock radio show and website InTheStudio: The Stories Behind History’s Greatest Rock Bands sits down with singer/songwriter Robin Zander and lead guitarist/songwriter Rick Nielson of CHEAP TRICK to hear the incredible real-life fairy tale behind the multi-platinum selling live album At Budokan.
Cheap Trick’s 1977 debut album didn’t even make the US Billboard album charts. The band’s sophomore effort, In Color, peaked only at #73, so when their third, Heaven Tonight , was released in the fall of 1978 it was do or die time. Thousands of miles away, unbeknownst to the band, Japan had embraced Cheap Trick with three #1 singles including 'I Want You to Want Me' and 'Surrender'. A tour of the country would confirm it with the band receiving an almost Beatlemania-type reception, culminating in a sold-out performance at Tokyo’s huge Budokan arena. Stateside, the decision was made to create a live album for Japan only. Cheap Trick At Budokan arrived at US radio on a white label promo-only LP for the sole purpose to help promote the US album Heaven Tonight. Instead it became the band’s sumo blockbuster. Rick Nielson explains to InTheStudio host Redbeard how unforeseen success was.
“At Budakon was never supposed to be released outside Japan. Our manager said to us, ‘These pictures (which) we had to rush out that were on the cover, it will never see the light of day in the United States'. Famous last words.”
Cheap Trick At Budakon / InTheStudio interview program is available now to stream at this location.
