Exclusive: Cheap Trick to headline Long Beach Grand Prix concert

Cheap Trick, who rocked race fans with its appearance at the Toyota Grand Prix in 2010, will retu to headline the race’s popular Rock-n-Roar concert on April 16.

“We’re delighted to get them back,” said Grand Prix president and CEO Jim Michaelian. “They were a huge hit with the fans six years ago and it’ll be great for the fans to hear them again.”

Grand Prix officials plan to make the formal aouncement of the concert lineup on Thursday.

The power-pop band from Rockford, Illinois released three albums in 1977-78 to no particular acclaim in the U.S. None cracked the Billboard Top 40, In Japan, however, Cheap Trick was incredibly popular and the band’s 1978 tour in that country was greeted in a frenzy reminiscent of the Beatles’ performances in America. The group recorded a performance at the Budokan arena in Tokyo, a venue built for martial arts competition for the 1964 Olympics (the Beatles, in 1966, were the first rock band to play the venue). The album was meant for Japan-only release, but U.S. demand for the import was big enough for Epic Records to release it in America. The album was a huge and surprise hit, going triple-platinum, riding on the popularity of the album’s first stand-out, “I Want You to Want Me.”

The band’s biggest hits, including “Dream Police” and the teen anthem “Surrender,” and the band has enjoyed a four-decade-long career of touring based on those hits and for the charismatic and humorous six-string gymnastics of lead guitarist Rick Nielsen.

Cheap Trick popularity culminates the week before its Grand Prix appearance when it will be inducted, on April 8, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the hall’s ceremony in Brooklyn.

The Grand Prix Rock and Roar concert will begin after day’s race events and is free to all race ticketholders.

The race concerts are typically a huge draw for attendees to the aual race. Past performers at the Grand Prix have included Joan Jett, Peywise, Paul Rodgers and Vince Neill.

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