Iconic rock band’s secret to 50 years of success: ‘We were never friends’
After five decades of defining America's energetic power-pop, a legendary rock band is opening up about the unconventional secret to its longevity.
Following the November release of their 21st studio album, "All Washed Up," Cheap Trick is preparing to take their high-energy show back to the road.
The band's core trio is singer Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson, and they have all been together non-stop since 1974.
During an interview with Louder , Zander offered an explanation for why the band has remained successful for so many years.
"In my opinion, it's because we were never friends," he said. "We were never close, so we never pissed in each other's backyard. We still don't socialize much outside of touring and recording. It was musical glue that held us together. We have a lot of respect for each other musically."
While performing on stage, the band's aim is to spark spontaneity while balancing classic hits. However, Zander admitted there is healthy tension within the group regarding what their fans want to hear.
"... keeping it fresh can be hard, because some of the guys in the band have an idea that you've got to play the hits and do what the crowd wants to hear," Zander told Louder. "And I've always been the opposite of that. I've always thought: 'Let's turn them on to some Cheap Trick music that they don't know we do, and see what happens.' But we work it out. Every night we try to work out a different setlist."
The "All Washed Up" tour officially kicks off on Jan. 24 in the midwest before heading across the country.
While Cheap Trick does not currently have a date scheduled in Massachusetts, New England fans can catch them just over the border in Connecticut this March.
Upcoming northeast concerts for Cheap Trick are the following:
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March 20: Sayreville, New Jersey at the Starland Ballroom
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March 21: Ledyard, Connecticut at the Premier Theater at Foxwoods
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April 3: Bensalem, Pennsylvania at the Xcite Center at Parx Casino
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April 4: Niagara Falls, New York at the Seneca Niagara Events Center
All tour dates and other concert details for Cheap Trick can be found here .
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