Read Cheap Trick’s Joyful Rock Hall Induction Speeches
Cheap Trick are in the midst of a late-career renaissance, culminating in their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on Friday night. The band will play 150 live dates this year in support of its new LP, Bang, Zoom, Crazy … Hello – some as part of a co-headlining tour with Joan Jett – and is already looking forward to a huge 2017.
At Friday night’s Rock Hall ceremony, Kid Rock offered an induction speech for the band, best known for their hits “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender.” Cheap Trick accepted their entry into the legendary Hall with their classic lineup of singer/guitarist Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Here’s what they had to say at the event.
Robin Zander: Thank you. This was such a surprise for us, and it’s a real honor for us. We’ve never won anything before. Well, there was a few albums … gold and platinum records – that’s the only thing. But Steve Miller and Chicago, Deep Purple, Bert Berns and N.W.A. Congratulations. It’s about time.
You’re much older than us, so you should have been in a long time ago. And for those of you who don’t know, I’m Robin. I’m the one who sings those Cheap Trick songs. Thank you. Who knew that “I want you to want me” would become such a defining phrase for a rock band from Rockford, Illinois. Seems like such a stupid phrase, but it works, I guess. Music has always been my savior. It found me at an early age. It’s all I’ve ever done for my living. You can write “retirement” on my tombstone. Of course, along with this business of ours come corruption and jealousy, stealing, backstabbing, resentment, lawsuits, etc. And that’s just the road crew. I think you know what I mean. My father liked the boogie-woogie and that swing music, and he played the ivories for anyone who would listen. My mother, she read to me a lot when I was young. She bought me my first set of drums from Sears when I was seven. Um. Yeah. Poor. But five kids had a great life. I’m grateful. I miss them. May they both rest in peace, along with my brothers. …
Holland and Ian, I know I wasn’t the best father, nor was I the worst. But I was gone a lot, yes. I know I love you very much. In 1974, we rehearsed three times in Rick’s dad’s garage, never stopped touring since and here we are being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Who knew? We didn’t know. Thanks to Jack Douglas that’s here with my other two kids. … Thanks to Jack, we were given the chance to prove what we thought we were all along in this world: that we were the best fucking rock band your town has ever seen. And in music recording studios around the world, that’s where we wanted to hang. To our managers, record companies, agencies and their staffs throughout our career, we owe you a debt of gratitude. Working with … Scott Borchetta and Julia Raymond from Big Machine, we now have a tour this summer and a record out called Bang, Zoom, Crazy … Hello.