Turn On The Video: Cheap Trick On YouTube

By Less Lee Moore

When I initially became a YouTube addict, Cheap Trick was one of the first bands I searched for there. As fellow addicts know all too well by now, it was quite frustrating being unable to find some of the videos I wanted, and it became more frustrating when the ones I did find disappeared the next day.

But Cheap Trick is one smart band.

In January of 2009, they launched their own Official YouTube channel, which features not only several well-known and well-loved promo videos, but also a vast assortment of live performances and other miscellaneous clips I’ve never seen before.

“Are we really the DREAM POLICE?”

It might seem odd that Cheap Trick has a YouTube channel. Most people would not consider them a band who made their mark with videos. Yet, it was a live concert at the Budokan in Japan that made them superstars. They have also toured almost constantly for the last 30-plus years; thus, a big part of their appeal is distinctly visual. In other words, to really experience Cheap Trick’s music, you need to see them.

Sometimes however, you see things you wish you hadn’t. The weirdest and most disturbing videos by far are from the mid-1980s. “It’s Only Love (deaf version)” is distended with bad production values and dated video editing techniques. The MTV Spring Break performance of “Tonight It’s You” is just inexplicable. (Why is Robin Zander wearing a pullover and a polo shirt on the beach?) I don’t even know where to start with “Up The Creek.” It’s not a bad song, but the video is so “zany” and “wacky” and “teen sex comedy” (yes, even the parts with the band members. . . especially the parts with the band members) that it must be seen to be believed. What’s most upsetting is that this video is on the Cheap Trick VHS cassette I bought in the mid-90s and I don’t even remember it being so godawful. I must have blocked it all out.

Thankfully, these aberrations are mostly just embarrassing and do not detract from the overall awesomeness of the other videos. And with new videos being added to the channel almost every week, it’s somewhat overwhelming to tackle them all. (Not that sitting in front of the computer watching Cheap Trick videos on YouTube for hours on end is a bad thing, mind you.) At the time of this issue’s publication, there were more than 130 Official Cheap Trick videos on YouTube (and I watched about half of them). Here are some of the highlights.

“You won’t be coming around no more. . . ”

Night Gallery, 1977

This is not Rod Serling’s TV show (which ended in 1972), but some other animal, likely a precursor to things like Video Jukebox. I am an admitted sucker for the early music video aesthetic, that videotape, Vaseline-on-the-lens quality that disappeared once Duran Duran got huge (no offense, guys). This seems to be the oldest video footage of Cheap Trick on the channel and you can tell: Robin Zander is wearing the same suit and haircut from the photos on their eponymous debut. Despite all the performances being lip synced, they are great fun to watch. There are many unexplained close-ups of Zander’s ass. We also see what is perhaps the first video evidence of The Patented Tom Petersson Hair Toss, which reappears many times throughout the course of Cheap Trick video history. Rick Nielsen kisses his guitar quite frequently during “The Ballad Of T.V. Violence.” There is also a cleverly edited “performance” of “When The Lights Are Out” from their new album, The Latest.

Robin Zander wants you to want him.

Live At Budokan, 1978

This was the aforementioned concert that turned Cheap Trick into superstars and these selected performances prove why. Not having ever seen the original concert film in its entirety (although it is now available on DVD along with tons of unseen footage, interviews, and other goodies), this is a treat indeed!

Dream Police Promos, 1979

I can say with almost 100% certainty that it was on the aforementioned Video Jukebox that I first saw the video for “Dream Police.” Watching it now, I can still catch a whiff of the reaction I had when I saw it back then. It’s a decidedly creepy video, and I mean that in the best possible way. Naturally, one’s mind is drawn to the more obvious creepy weirdness of guitarist Rick Nielsen, but all the members of the band are prominently featured in these clips.

I love so many things about these videos: the Midwestern accents; the “acting”; Bun E. Carlos’s banana-in-pocket and apologies about double cheeseburgers; the ridiculous-yet-awesome Dream Police uniforms. But mostly I love the staged mug shots of Tom and Robin, images that sparked “those feelings” in my pre-pubescent loins. Besides, “Dream Police”—the song—kicks major ass.

The “official” video for “Voices” on YouTube, sadly, is an edited one and does not have my favorite part of the original: Rick and Tom laughing and singing whilst sitting atop the drum riser. (I did manage to find an unofficial version so I could make a couple of screencaps.)

Dream Police At Budokan, 1979

The band seems to be having an amazing time here; you can feel the excitement gushing forth from the tiny YouTube screen. It amuses me to no end to see that Nielsen’s acrobatic antics on stage have only been toned down a little bit over the last thirty years. I could probably write separate reviews of these videos just focusing on his facial expressions and hijinks, which crack me up no matter how many times I have seen them. He’s such a goofball one might think his live skills would suffer for it, but if anything, he plays better than he does on record, solidifying my theory that he’s the greatest living rock and roll guitarist. Soundwise, this is ace and I am particularly fond of the extended bridge during “Clock Strikes Ten.”

“I’d like to thank the Academy.”

Providence RI, 1980

There seems to be some disagreement amongst the YouTube commenters on the exact location of the venue, but everyone seems to be unanimous that it’s an astounding performance. And, in fact, it is nearly perfect, despite a few minor sound problems during “Downed.”

I don’t know if it was tensions amongst the band members (which prompted Petersson’s departure later that year) or what, but they sound amazing. My personal favorite might be the performance of “Can’t Hold On,” one of my favorite Cheap Trick songs ever. (Or as Tom introduces it, “Can’t Hold AHN.”) “Oh Candy” starts with a synth bit from “High Priest Of Rhythmic Noise” which is super cool. The “Dream Police” fakeout at the beginning of “Hello There”/”Clock Strikes Ten” is also great and the instrumental break is mind-blowing, particularly Tom’s bass. But nothing tops his playing during the intro to “Auf Wiedersehen” (and throughout). All this while he’s wearing puffy white cotton pants and some sort of gun holster (yet he still manages to look handsome). To be fair, it was 1980 and he’s not the only one who committed fashion crimes: Robin has some sort of blunt cut and between that and his pink suit and bolo tie, he actually looks like Jodie Foster at an Oscar ceremony. These are superficial quibbles, after all; the band is ON FIRE.

Not the guitarist for The Church,
but an amazing simulacrum!

Live Television, 1981

I think the two performances here might be from a well-known, longstanding television sketch comedy show, but I can’t be sure. Ahem. Regardless, it’s nice to see two live performances from All Shook Up, which is one of those albums that many Cheap Trick fans seem to despise for some bizarre reason. Petersson had recently left the band, so Pete Comita plays bass here. . . and does a good job, particularly during the guitar/bass instrumental parts of “Baby Loves To Rock.” I like Robin’s keyboard playing during “Can’t Stop It” as well.

Hard Rock Acapulco, 1988

With the exception of a slightly sloppy “Surrender,” all these performances are top-notch, proving my long-standing claim that Cheap Trick sounds just as great in a small club as they do in an arena. Tom had just recently rejoined the band, fresh from his stint as Marty Willson-Piper’s understudy. Okay, that was a joke. (Seriously though, watch “California Man” and you’ll see what I mean. He still manages to look good, though; how does he do that?)

Sydney, Australia, 1988

Here are a few more performances from 1988, although I actually prefer the Acapulco clips, with the exception of the always-outstanding “Ain’t That A Shame.”

Tom Petersson is smoking.

Hard Rock Live, 1997

I remember watching this when it aired originally on VH1. Watching it again brings back memories of how excited I was at the time. And I still am! Around this same time period, I saw Cheap Trick play once a year, every year, for six years. A pittance to those fans with dozens of notches on their belts to be sure, but I treasure every single one.

Boston, 1997

It’s unfortunate that the audio recording on most of these songs is glitchy because the band sounds incredible here. Several tracks from their terrific self-titled 1997 release are in this set: “Eight Miles Low,” “Wrong All Along,” and “Any Time,” during which Robin’s vocals just blast away anyone and anything. Bun E. Carlos has a great drum solo during “Clock Strikes Ten,” marred only by the sketchy recording.

Silver DVD, 2005

The Silver DVD is another one that I have never seen, so these three performances are enjoyable, especially the elaborate “Gonna Raise Hell,” which almost sounds better than the original studio version.

Rick Nielsen is gonna raise hell.

Miscellaneous Clips

The interview with Rick circa-early ’80s with Steve and Steve in Australia showcases his typical smartass tomfoolery (and marvelous sweaters). I now think Cheap Trick might be the most branded band in all of rock & roll. There are a few TV performances here as well: a live “I Can’t Take It” from Thicke Of The Night and two outlandish lip synced clips from Laugh Trax, which I likely saw at the time since I watched the show religiously back then. (Yet I don’t recall Robin looking quite so much like Rod Stewart.) It’s good to see any performance of the underrated “Saturday At Midnight,” however.

There are some newer selections too, such as a 1999 video of “Out In The Street” (the theme from That ’70s Show), where the guitar intro to the bridge is so fine, I almost forgot how much I like the Big Star original. A half-animated alternate version of John Lennon’s “I’m Losing You” makes me wish this version was the one on the Double Fantasy album instead (and the original one is a favorite of mine). We also are treated to a neat live rendition of “Don’t Be Cruel” featuring James Burton, who played with both Elvis and Rick Nelson (among others).

The newest clips I watched were from 2008: a over-the-top New Year’s Eve performance (from Louisiana) of “Just Got Back”/”Auld Lang Syne” during which sparkling confetti rains from the ceiling and a couple of lovely acoustic performances at a Tokyo press conference.

“She says I’m home on my own, home all alone.”

It’s probably fairly obvious by now that I have a massive crush on Cheap Trick. Hey, I’m only human; I can only resist their charms for so long (I confess I haven’t really tried to resist them). If you have not yet fallen victim to the power wielded by this tremendous and peerless band, I hope you will watch some of the videos on their YouTube channel, if only to keep me company in my lovestruck state.

To watch more videos, please visit Cheap Trick’s Official YouTube channel.

RELATED LINKS:

Cheap Trick, The Latest, Popshifter July/August 2009 issue

Tinted Windows, S/T, Popshifter July/August 2009 issue