Tuesday, December 22: Happy Birthday Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick

Happy Birthday today (Dec. 22) to guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick. He’s 69.

Rick Nielsen is the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for Cheap Trick. He is well known for his custom guitars including his five-neck guitar from Hamer Guitars. Cheap Trick formed out of Rockford, Illinois in 1973. The band is best known for the hits "I Want You to Want Me", "Surrender", "Dream Police", and "The Flame". In edition to Nielsen on lead guitar, the current lineup features singer Robin Zander, bassist Tom Peterson, and Dax Nielsen (replacement for Bun E. Carlos) on drums. It was just recently announced that Cheap Trick will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. The ceremony will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on April 8.

Get into the holiday spirit with a soon to be Christmas classic from Cheap Trick. Check out the video for “I Want You For Christmas”.