Inside Cheap Trick's rider: 2 oxygen tanks and EMTs, 1 'postcard of your state or your city,' 8 Solo cups and a bottle of Jack Daniels
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A: Unofficially, this Rockford-born band holds the record for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act to play the most local venues over the years, putting on shows at State Farm Center, Grange Grove, The Red Lion, Canopy Club, the old TK Wendl's, Chances R and Rantoul's Soft Tail Lounge.
Q: Who are Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Bun E. Carlos and .
April being the month that the band behind "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me" is celebrated statewide with Cheap Trick Day (every April 1 since 2007, per Senate Resolution 255), they're the focus of Part 47 of 's ongoing series digging into the details of entertainers' tour riders.
Cheap Trick's was obtained via open-records request following a 2023 show at the Peoria Civic Center.
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— The band's three remaining originals being 71, 73 and 75, it's "VERY IMPORTANT" that venues have ", two masks on each side and 1 EMT ON STAGE LEFT STAGE RIGHT."
— No need for a chef to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner onsite. Cheap Trick is that rare act that orders out on the road, so host venues are advised to "please have a in the production office at load-in."
— Also, "one crew member is vegan. . Please have suitable menus with options."
— Must-haves: One "," to be left in the production office; Mexican Coca-Cola (sweetened with white sugar, not the high-fructose corn syrup in the U.S. version) loaded in one of the three stage coolers; 36 white bath towels and 12 black hand towels "LAUNDERED AND STAIN-FREE"; three bars of Tom's of Maine or Dr. Bronner's soap; a bag of cookies (Nutter Butter or Chips Ahoy); and a large bag of chips ("BBQ, Salt, Pepper, Weird, SURPRISE US").
— Must-nots: Folding chairs as substitutes for comfy seating in any of the band's five dressing rooms; ; Dasani or Aquafina brand water; orange juice with pulp; Styrofoam coffee cups; and toilets, showers and restrooms that aren't disinfected, cleaned and odor-free prior to load-in.
— The band is all over the map when it comes to adult beverages. Lead singer Zander's dressing room should be stocked with six local IPAs, and one small bottle, or two shot-sized bottles, of Bailey's Irish Cream.
— If the gig is in or near Wisconsin, drummer Daxx Nielsen (son of guitarist Rick) requests six bottles of the Badger State-brewed Spotted Cow beer. Guitarist Robin Taylor Zander (son of the band frontman) will make do with six cold IPAs. And to be left in a plastic bag near the stage: .
— Rick Nielsen, the bowtie-wearing, five-neck guitar-playing lifelong Rockford resident, is the band's easiest member to shop for, with a dressing room list that includes a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste and Johnson & Johnson baby powder; one roll of toilet paper; ; a pack of cherry juice-infused Craisins; and two organic bananas.