It's Rick Nielsen's Birthday!
Rick got his start on the scene by forming the band The Phaetons, which mutated into The Grim Reapers, and ultimately became Fuse. Nielsen left fuse to replace Todd Rundgren in the band Nazz, but would leave that band to create the short-lived Sick Man of Europe with Tom Petersson, and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Together they would change the name to Cheap Trick with Robin Zander in the fall of 1974.
Cheap Trick released their self-titled debut in 77 (the year of punk) and, found success in Japan with the release of their second album, "In Color." By 1978 they would release "Heaven Tonight" on the back of the now classic "Surrender," and achieved mainstream success with the triple-platinum "Live At Budokan," which got backed by the Top 10 single, "I Want You to Want Me."
The Dream Police would follow, becoming their most commercially successful album, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard 200. The 80's would not be kind to the band until the end of the decade when they made a major comeback topping the charts with the power ballad "The Flame".
Nielsen has become one of the most iconic guitarists of his time, as he immediately recognized for his use of many different customized guitars including his famous Hamer Quint Neck Guitar.
Happy Birthday Rick, yours is a truly unique legacy.