Rick Nielsen

As a foundational guitarist and primary songwriter for the iconic rock band Cheap Trick, Rick Nielsen developed a distinctive style, gracing stages worldwide for decades. His career progression included early bands like The Phaetons, The Grim Reapers (featuring Tom Petersson), and Fuse, which released one studio album. In 1972, Nielsen formed Sick Man of Europe with Petersson and Bun E. Carlos, evolving into Cheap Trick in 1973, completed by Robin Zander in 1974.

Nielsen’s media presence includes numerous television and documentary appearances, beginning with HGTV’s ‘Homes of Note’ in the early 1990s and Michael Moore’s 1997 documentary ‘The Big One.’ His guitar collection was highlighted in a Rockford Art Museum exhibition in 2002. Recently, he appeared on ‘American Pickers’ and NPR’s ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!’ in 2013. Nielsen contributed to major music documentaries including Dave Grohl’s ‘Sound City’ (2013) and ‘Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways’ (2014), also joining the Foo Fighters on ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ and featured on ‘Live from Daryl’s House’ in 2016.

His lasting impact on rock music was recognized with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 as a member of Cheap Trick. The band continues its legacy, with their album ‘In Another World’ reaching top positions on Billboard’s Rock Charts in 2021. Beyond his musical endeavors, Nielsen actively supports community initiatives, such as the Rockford Icehogs charitable foundation and renovation of the historic Coronado Theater.