The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com.
Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history!
DEC 22: Happy birthday to Rick Nielsen! The guitarist, songwriter, and producer best known as the creative engine behind the rock band Cheap Trick was born on December 22, 1948, in Rockford, Illinois. Nielsen grew up in a deeply musical family—both of his parents were opera singers—giving him a broad musical foundation that later shaped his eclectic songwriting style. Before forming Cheap Trick in 1974, he played in several local bands, including the Grim Reapers and Fuse, honing his skills as a sharp guitarist and imaginative composer.
As Cheap Trick’s principal songwriter, Nielsen blended hard rock power with pop melodies, witty lyrics, and a strong sense of classic songcraft. He wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s best-known songs, including “Surrender,” “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and “Hello There.” His ability to fuse heavy riffs with infectious hooks helped Cheap Trick bridge the gap between hard rock, power pop, and mainstream radio success.
Visually, Nielsen became just as iconic as the music. Known for his baseball caps, bow ties, and enormous custom-made guitars—some featuring five necks—he brought a playful, offbeat personality to the stage that set Cheap Trick apart. His humor and self-awareness made him a memorable frontman without overshadowing the band’s musicianship.
In 2016, Rick Nielsen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Cheap Trick, cementing his legacy as a distinctive guitarist and one of rock’s most inventive songwriters.
Photo: Michaelcohnphoto [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en]
DEC 31: Happy birthday to Andy Summers! The English guitarist is best known as a founding member of The Police, one of the most influential bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Born Andrew James Somers on December 31, 1942, in Blackpool, England, Summers showed an early interest in music, first playing piano before switching to guitar. He honed his skills in the vibrant British jazz and rock scenes of the 1960s, performing with artists such as Zoot Money, Soft Machine, and Kevin Ayers, experiences that shaped his adventurous musical approach.
When Summers joined The Police in 1977 alongside Sting and Stewart Copeland, he brought a sophisticated, textured guitar style that became central to the band’s sound. Rather than relying on traditional rock solos, Summers used effects, unconventional chord voicings, and reggae- and jazz-influenced rhythms to create spacious, atmospheric parts. His playing on songs like “Every Breath You Take,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “Roxanne” helped define the band’s sleek, modern edge.
Following The Police’s breakup in 1986, Summers pursued a diverse solo career, releasing experimental albums that blended jazz, ambient music, and world influences. He also collaborated with numerous artists, including Robert Fripp, and developed a parallel career as a respected photographer and author. Continually inventive and curious, Andy Summers remains admired for expanding the role of the guitar in popular music and for his fearless commitment to artistic exploration.
Photo: Rob Bogaerts/Anefo [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en]
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