For the Reporter
Long before America realized the hard rock talent of Cheap Trick, Japanese fans adopted the group. The Japanese press started referring to this successful cover band as the “American Beatles,” a moniker they’ve kept since the 1970s.
Cheap Trick – two classic albums performed live with orchestra: At Budokan and Sgt. Pepper Live – comes to the Washington State Fair on Sept. 11, part of the Columbia Bank Concert Series.
Tickets are $55, $45, $35, and $25 with reserved seating, and include fair gate admission, unless noted. Tickets will start selling at 10 a.m. Saturday, on the fair website, www.thefair.com/concerts or by phone at 888-559-FAIR (3247) daily, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets also can be purchased in person at the fair’s box office, 9th Avenue Southwest and Meridian Street on Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
While the term “overnight success” would not be accurate to describe Cheap Trick, they’ve shown that perseverance and commitment has created longevity. When they first started in 1973 in Illinois, Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos could have never imagined that they would tour and perform for four decades.
The band’s second album, In Color, included hit single, “I Want You To Want Me.” The song ended up No 1 on the charts in Japan, starting the country’s four-decade love affair with Cheap Trick. The band’s third album, Heaven Tonight was regarded by fans and critics in the U.S. as their best to date. “Surrender” was their first single to chart in their home country, and became one of the band’s signature songs.
They decided to record two concerts in Japan at Nippon Budokan. A song on that live album, “I Want You to Want Me” reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became their best-selling single.
By the start of the ’80s, Cheap Trick was headlining in arenas around the world. Several years later, when the band’s commercial success declined, a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” reached the Top 10. That album, Lap of Luxury went platinum and became recognized as the band’s comeback album.
Over the years the band bounces back with new popularity and flourish. They have ranked No. 25 in VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
More acts will be announced in the coming months for the State Fair Columbia Bank Concert Series. Visit the Fair website, www.thefair.com/concerts for updates, or sign up at www.thefair.com to receive email or text announcements prior to the concert on-sale dates.
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Concerts and rodeo to date include:
Date, performance, time, tickets
Sept. 6 – Pro rodeo, Justin Boots Playoffs, 1 p.m., $5*, $18
Sept. 6 – Craig Morgan following pro rodeo, playoffs (country), 6:30 p.m., $50, $40, $30, $40 – general admission standing in the dirt for concert (no rodeo)
Sept. 7 – Pro rodeo, Justin Boots Playoffs, 1 p.m., $30, $20, $16
Sept. 7 – Trace Adkins following pro rodeo, playoffs. Plus Dancin’ in the Dirt Party after rodeo (country), 6:30 p.m., $60, $40, $35. $40 – general admission standing in the dirt for concert (no rodeo)
Sept. 8 – Pro rodeo Puyallup finals, playoffs, 1 p.m., $35, $25, $20
Sept. 9 – Little Big Town (country), 7:30 p.m., $60, $50, $30, $20
Sept. 10 – The Celtic Tenors with The Tacoma Symphony , 7:30 p.m., $65, $45, $25
Sept. 11 – Cheap Trick with orchestra, classic rock, 7:30 p.m., $55, $45, $35, $25
Sept. 12 – CeeLo Green (pop), 7:30 p.m., $60, $50, $40, $30, $20
Sept. 13 – Carrie Underwood (country), 7:30 p.m., $95, $85, $65, $45
Sept. 16 – Alabama “Back to the Bowery Tour” (country), 7:30 p.m., $95, $65, $45, $35
Sept. 17 – Jeremy Camp, Tenth Avenue North, Kutless, Jars of Clay (Christian), 7 p.m. $40, $30, $20
Sept. 19 – Larry the Cable Guy, 7:30 p.m., $65, $50, $40, $20
Sept. 20 – Carly Rae Jepsen plus Hot Chelle Rae (pop), 7:30 p.m., $50, $40, $30, $20
Sept. 21 – Austin Mahone/Bridgit Mendler (teen), 7 p.m., $60, $45, $35, $25
Sept. 22 – An Evening with Kid Rock (multi genre), 7:30 p.m., $95, $85, $65, $45
* 1 p.m. Friday rodeo does not include fair gate admission. Gates are open free from 10 a.m.-noon.
