Spinner

Cheap Trick, 'Sick Man of Europe' -- Video Premiere

Cheap Trick's new single, 'Sick Man of Europe,' which is taken from the band's just-released album, 'The Latest,' is a lean slice of hard-hitting power pop, bristling with the kind of edgy vitality usually credited to a young band with a reputation to make. But, then, that's exactly what the song is about. Sick Man of Europe was actually the name for a nascent Cheap Trick, formed around 1971, and numbering guitarist Rick Nielsen, drummer Bun E. Carlos, bassist Tom Petersson and singer Stewkey from the Nazz. "It's a bit of our history," Nielsen tells Spinner. "Tom and I were living in Europe, after leaving the American pop scene, of which there was none."

"It was such an intriguing set of words," he says of the band name. "To me, 'Sick Man of Europe' conjures up stuff, but no one else thought so much of it. Every time people asked 'What's the name of your band?' it'd be 'What?' How can you take the world's worst band name and turn it into something?"

Somehow, 37 years later, that's what they did. While the song tells of a young band struggling against the odds to find its place in rock 'n' roll, the video splices retro clips of go-go dancers and swinging London -- including the iconic original Biba clothing store -- with career-spanning Cheap Trick shots.

But how did they come up with that odd sounding name? "We were traveling around Europe and saw the Herald Tribune one day and they were referring to Turkey or Italy, I forget which, as the sick man of Europe, dragging the rest of Europe down," Nielsen says. According to some critics, this young band wasn't so hot either. "We did one show with the Mahavishnu Orchestra," Nielsen recalls, "and someone wrote, 'Wherever they're from, they should go back.'"

Watch the exclusive video premiere of 'Sick Man of Europe' below.

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John Moreno

Couldn't believe when I heard them last ear that Robin sounds just like he does in the studio version. He never ceases to amaze me.

January 29 2010 at 3:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steve Toon

Notice the outdoor concert footage from a concert I went to. Pecatonica illinois from july 1979.Still have my pictures from that show.30 years ago.

August 12 2009 at 9:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cartman

Red Lion in Dekalb 1976, rocked the place all night long, the Egyptian theater a few years later on......Peterson and Nielsen in the band Fuse early 70's, have the album, nothing to play it on though....memories..........

August 12 2009 at 8:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chuck

This band will always rock - I have been a fan since the early days to the current - and it seems to me this band gets better & better with time - Rock On Guys - cheap trick fan club member #1492

August 12 2009 at 7:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jade

Awesome!!! I love it, I love it!!!!

August 12 2009 at 7:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
starrocka

I first got into the Trick when I was in middle school hell. That was when the stellar Bukodan album came out. In 1989 I saw them live for the first time and it was amazing to see them. They were so ALIVE and Rick has a kooky sence of humor! Years later I'm feeling rotten and this local indie paper says that Cheap Trick is playing a free show to commence the opening of a "supermall". I go and once again my spirits soar because in a decade of horrible music (and other things) and Cheap Trick apparently never heard the word that teen crap was the fashion and rock'n'roll was "dead". Now I got "The Latest" and it may be the most butt-kicking album of the year. So many wonderful bands and performers I grew up listening to are biting the dust and the Rockford Rockers are still at it, still rocking the power pop way as if time stood still, still sounding upbeat, alive, and so very GOOD. Thank God they're still around. Cheap Trick FOREVER!

August 12 2009 at 6:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Digby

Great song, great video from America's rock and roll treasure CHEAP TRICK!!

August 12 2009 at 6:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Digby

Great song, great video from an American treasure!
CHEAP TRICK

August 12 2009 at 6:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
courtney singleton

Cool guitar hook and they always manage to sound just like themselves. Love the old footage. Robin is so pretty!

August 12 2009 at 3:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave Willis

That was a frigging TREAT! Those guys have been ruling the stage for, what, 35 years or something? It was awesome to see all the old footage, plus some new stuff stuck in there. Not to mention, the song rules! What, 2 minutes long, like the Ramones? Man, unexpectedly cool surprise.

August 12 2009 at 11:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply