Newsletter Issue #1 - December 1996
Welcome to the first Cheap Trick - UK newsletter. It
is not an official mouthpiece, but is produced with the kind permission of Cheap Trick and
Trick International. Its aim is to inform British fans of current record/tour news, latest
merchandise, and generally publicise (quickly) whats happening in the world of Cheap
Trick. Its spur is the fact that we get practically no CT news in the British music press.
Trick International is the official Fan Service, based in New York. Its well worth
joining; you will receive an introduction pack containing various goodies. You'll also get
regular information and special offers. Write to Trick International, PO Box 7118, FDR
Station, New York, NY 10150, USA.
A wide range of merchandise can be ordered from Trickstuff, 630 S Whitney Way, Box 150,
Madison, WI 53711, USA. If you join TI first, you'll get 10% off your order(s). For a copy
of the latest merchandise list and order form, please write to Trick International or
Trickstuff, or contact me.
For those of you on the Internet, the official Cheap Trick home site can be found at
http://users.aol.com/melkel/ It contains latest news, merchandise information etc, as well
as a full discography. There are also a number of unofficial CT sites, plus a flourishing
Usenet "newsgroup" at alt.music.cheap_trick. Why not join us!
The band have just finished recording their new LP with producer Ian Taylor, which should
be released in the US early in March. Expect UK release shortly after. They have also
recored some tracks for a limited edition single on Sub Pop Records in the US in Feb.
Produced by Steve Albini, there's a cover of The Move's "Brontosaurus", plus two
new tracks, "Baby Talk" and "I Hear You Knocking".
The band head off to Japan next week, then Australia, before returning home for Christmas.
Then 5 dates in the Midwest, culminating in New Years Eve in Chicago. A US tour is
expected to start around Feb. No UK plans yet, but the band are keen to return here. So
watch this space.
The band held a Fan Day (Trickfest) in Chicago in August 1995. As well as the chance to
meet and be professionally photographed with the band, fans were treated to a 150 minute
concert of mainly rare material, plus questions and answers. A memorable event, and it is
planned to hold another in Chicago sometime in 97 (Trickfest II !), watch this space
again.
You may have seen news in Kerrang recently about the Cheap Trick Tribute album. Titled
"Cheap Shots", it features bands like The Poises, Everclear, The Nixons,
Chainsaw Kittens, Concrete Blonde and Joey Ramone. Expected late January release in the
US, I have no UK release news as yet.
And finally. A new Cheap Trick Zine, "Talk is Cheap" is due to be launched
shortly. Produced by two long time fans, John Candas in Dallas and Mike Hayes in
Liverpool, I'm sure it will be a great read. More details to follow.
I hope you've found this useful. I'll write again when I have more news. Any comments will
be welcomed.