The guys were equally friendly at an after show party I went to following the concert. Robin Zander seemed to take a particular shine to Roxanne, the girl I worked with at my day job at the record store. My memories of that day remain a permanent part of my consciousness growing up.
When the At Budokan album first came out, I paid $20. for the Japanese import. Even though it was released in America about a year later, I never regretted the decision. By this time, the band were nearly as big in America as they were in Japan.
But it wouldn't last.
The band's fourth studio album, Dream Police — delayed by the unexpected smash success of Budokan — continued the creative roll of the first three records. But by the time of the followup album, All Shook Up, you could see that the well was beginning to run dry.
Cheap Trick have showed flashes of that original brilliance from time to time in the years since, but have never quite completely recaptured it. To their credit, they did stay together though, becoming a primary influence for latter day bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Mudhoney. They continue to tour and record to this day.
The four disc Budokan! box features the complete concert, but most importantly it also has this great show captured on DVD for the first time.
Here you can see Cheap Trick performing at their peak, having a great time in the borderline Beatlemania atmosphere of Budokan, and responding with an amazingly high energy show that ended up making the band's career. There is also footage from a 30th anniversary show at Budokan earlier this year, where the band sounds as good as ever, despite showing the wrinkles of age.
Cheap Trick's Budokan! boxed set will be in stores Tuesday November 11.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Must've been Heaven Tonight when Rick Nielsen and crew took a power pop shine to you. (I had similar but more bumbling brushes with greatness with Elvis Costello and Tom Waits, but still...) Nice write-up, and thanks for evoking Trouser Press and the Move, too.
2 - Fasted7
Great post, thanks!
I warmed up to them about the same way you did.
Great to see the promo video- I ordered mine from www.deepdiscount.com for only about $27. I get nothing for endorsing them but they do a good job- and very low cost.
3 - Brad Laidman
Good Stuff - Trouser Press Record Guide rules
Great Band even if Rick was sort of a jerk to me at his pizza joint in Chicago
Long live Bun E
4 - Pico
Great read, your personal recollections made the story all the more interesting. I was never more than a casual fan myself, but there was no question this band was on a serious roll for a while and it is amazing that they didn't get much bigger than they were.
5 - Mark Saleski
great stuff glen. dang, i'm gonna have to get this i think. Budokan and the first three records are just great stuff.
6 - JC Mosquito
The first record is the best of the best, tho'.