***Disclaimer***While this conversation actually happened, knowing that Rick is a joker leads me to believe this is not the TRUE story. It is funny none the less.
I used to run into Rick Neilsen from Cheap Trick at the most random times. This was in the mid-80s in Rockford, Illinois. His parents had a gift shop on 7th Street and he had a studio area above the shop. One night I ran into him at the liquor store on the corner of 2nd Ave and 7th Street, about 3 shops down from his parent's store. I was laughing with him about the fact that the liquor store after midnight was not a place I expected to run into him. 7th Street was known for being the "stroll", the area on the east side of town that the prostitutes frequented. Yes, that is why I was down there. I had a drug addiction from hell and this was an easy way to make money. Looking back, I am glad to be alive. No one I got high with is still alive. Anyway, I asked Rick a question I had always wanted to know. How did Cheap Trick get its name? I am sure he knew why I was on 7th Street at different times and his answer was "well, one night I was leaving the shop and a girl asked if I wanted a date. I asked her how much. She told me $20 and I explained that all I had was $10. She called me a cheap trick, and I decided that should be the band name."
Like I said, it's probably not true. It is funny though!
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