Staff Pick: Cheap Trick - At Budokan

By:

Posted: 1/29/08

Have you ever seen that episode of Full House where Jessie and the Rippers become hugely popular in Japan, and then go there to play a concert? The one where, I think, Uncle Jessie gets all hot-headed and ego-driven only to find that his fame is short lived and he must return to this humble life in the Tanner household?
Well, Cheap Trick's At Budokan is most likely the inspiration for that episode - albeit, without the family drama and gorgeous hair. And it rocks harder. It's hard to believe, but in 1978 Cheap Trick were about as popular as The Beatles were in 1964 … in Japan. Exactly why, however, is unknown.
During a tour of Japan at the height of this success, Cheap Trick played an arena in Central Tokyo. Japanese fans screamed and hollered like teenage girls did when The Beatles played Ed Sullivan in '64. The resulting record, At Budokan, went on to be immensely popular in Japan and, once released in North America, it went triple platinum.
Yes. Cheap Trick. A band that actually can, probably, be adequately compared to Jessie and the Rippers. The band you always thought were kind of a joke, or the one you are reading about right now and are completely clueless about. You might be slightly confused as to why I am suggesting that you check out a live recording from a mediocre band from the '70s, and that's perfectly legit, but can you take my word for it that this album friggin' rocks?
To the screams and hollers of adoring fans, Robin Zander, Rick Neilson and company tear through some of the most mediocre hits of the '70s with a frantic head of steam.
There is a certain novelty in a live recording that has the singer talking as slowly as he can so that if anyone in the Japanese audience speaks English, they might understand what he's saying. After getting that out of the way throughout most of Side A, Side B really kicks into gear with an extended "Ain't That a Shame", followed by "I Want You To Want Me" and an enthusiastically introduced "Surrender".
It's amazing to hear just how much Cheap Trick feed off the stupid energy of the screaming, manic Japanese fans. As Zander jumps back into the song after a long instrumental on "Surrender" - "Whatever happened to all this season's losers of the year?" - the crowd screams and Neilsen's custom 5-neck Hamer guitar explodes and murmurs. The same raw energy is found in "Goodnight Now" and ending with "Clock Strikes Ten," Cheap Trick reached the pinnacle of their career.
Besides, there is a certain appeal of a band with a lead guitarist that plays two guitars at once. Or maybe that's just me.
- Travis Nicholson