Melody Maker

Melody Maker Magazine

The June 9, 1979 issue of Melody Maker, a London, England based weekly music newspaper, includes an article featuring Cheap Trick. The writer was asking if the band was playing along with taped backing tracks as he had heard synthesizers on some songs, and there was no keyboard player onstage. His point was that paying concert ticket prices to see a band faking it was a sham.

The Hamer Quad 12-string bass is peeking out from behind Rick Nielsen.

(Editor’s note: Pay no attention to that Tod Howarth behind the curtain...)

Nick Lowe is shown with his Hamer 8-string bass on both the front cover and in the article.