A “Trick” Well Deserved

We all remember important dates and events in our lives…High School Graduation, our first jobs, getting married, etc…Looking back at this month of July in 1979 (July 19th to be exact) one of my most memorable life changing experiences took place at the Duluth Arena and Auditorium along with the many thousands that attended a show featuring Rockford Illinois’ Favorite Sons…Cheap Trick! Riding high from their “Budokan” album, Cheap Trick finally reached the top of their game by FINALLY getting to headline arenas and other major venues…instead of being billed as the “Greatest Opening Act” in the world. We packed seven die -hard Trick fans in my dad’s bubble cruiser station wagon and made the pilgrimage seventy-five miles south to witness a show that we still talk about today (And putting down $7.50 for advanced tickets!) After the opening act The Romantics finished, it was so loud before Cheap Trick came on that we knew this was a show for the ages. They didn’t disappoint! They reeled off lots of standards and played new material from their soon-to be-released “Dream Police” album (held back because of the success of “Budokan”) The only surprise the night of the show was trying to find our friend Gunnar who we finally saw right in front of the stage…(couldn’t miss him…he stood out in a crowd being six foot nine!) With that mystery solved and thinking about that night, I can listen to vintage Cheap Trick right up to their recent album “In Another World” and they never skipped a beat! Arguably by far one of the hardest working live bands in rock and roll! If you haven’t witnessed Cheap Trick, check them out…we want you to see them…