Podcast Summary: Tom Petersson: Cheap Trick's Bass Legacy, Music History Stories and Life on the Road

Podcast: Takin' a Walk
Host: Buzz Knight (iHeartPodcasts)
Guest: Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick bassist, co-founder)
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the legacy and ongoing story of Cheap Trick with legendary bassist Tom Petersson. The conversation explores Tom's innovative approach to bass playing, the band's journey from Rockford to global fame, reflections on their musical process, the changing industry landscape, and insights behind Cheap Trick's new album All Washed Up. The tone is irreverent, down-to-earth, and laced with Tom's trademark humor and candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Days in Rockford and Band Origins

• Rockford Roots: Tom describes the formation of Cheap Trick out of the local Rockford, IL music scene, with all but Robin Zander attending the same high school.
  • "We knew about each other because we were all in bands ... but we didn't really know each other. I really just started hanging out with Rick after I got out of high school." (Tom, 05:28)
• Persistence Before Success: Tom recalls years of relentless gigging with little money or mainstream exposure.
  • "We're a friggin bar band. And we played thousands of gigs, five, four, five sets a night, six nights a week ... no money, no nothing. But we kept going." (Tom, 10:11)

2. Innovations in Bass Playing

• 12-String Bass: Tom pioneered the use of 12-string bass in rock, seeking a fuller, more "orchestrated" sound to fill out the band's lineup.
  • "It was just to make the sound ... more really orchestrated without adding extra people in. We didn’t have a keyboard player ... so it'd be great if it would just fill up the sound when the guitar player's soloing." (Tom, 06:34)
• Studio vs. Live Philosophy: Tom explains the different gear and approaches for live vs. studio settings.
  • "Live, I only use the 12-string ... In the studio, I use whatever works for the song ... You don’t need to take up all the space on a record." (Tom, 11:59)

3. Breakthrough Abroad: Japan Before the U.S.

• Early Overseas Fame: Cheap Trick's first major following erupted in Japan, particularly after their second album, In Color, aided by touring with Kiss.
  • "In Color struck a chord with the Japanese and we had a bunch of hit singles off that second album, which we had no success [with] anywhere else. None." (Tom, 07:33)
• Budokan Recording and Accidental Hits:
  • "We didn’t even have 'I Want You To Want Me' in the set list in Japan. The promoter freaked, so we played it ... That turned out to be our biggest hit. What do we know?" (Tom, 09:39)

4. Keeping Performances Fresh

• "It's not that it's fresh every time. As long as it seems like it's fresh, that's what counts." (Tom, 09:57)

5. Musical Influences and Heroes

• Tom started as a rhythm guitar player, referencing The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, The Who and others as early influences.
• On bass influences:
  • "Jack Casady with the Airplane ... Ronnie Wood was one of my all-time favorites with the Jeff Beck Group ... His bass playing is terrific. It's taken from a guitar player's point of view, which is where I came from." (Tom, 13:24)

6. Life on the Road & Live Venues

• Favorite Venues: Tom prefers theaters for their power and intimacy, expressing dislike for large outdoor arenas.
  • "The worst venues are outdoor, the big arenas ... The power you get in a club or theater is no comparison." (Tom, 12:52)
• Worcester & Boston Anecdotes: Humorous exchange about the challenge of getting to Worcester and the city's underdog spirit.

7. Songwriting & Studio Process for New Album (All Washed Up)

• Recording mostly in Nashville with some vocals in LA.
• "This is pretty much how great music is put together. Yes. The way we do it, if we do it, it's going to be great." (Tom, 17:18)
• Song Collaboration:
  • "'12 Gates' was a track I had come up with, but I didn't have any vocal idea ... Robin immediately just jumped on like, 'Oh, I love that, got some great ideas.'" (Tom, 17:54)

8. Navigating the Modern Industry

• Tom is blithely unconcerned with streaming or marketing trends.
  • "Anything that we've actually planned never worked out so just let the chips fall where they may." (Tom, 23:33)
• Regional Success in the U.S.: First broke out in Buffalo, NY and Los Angeles, not their Midwest home base.

9. Playlist Surprises & Musical Discoveries

• Tom likes discovering new music via Instagram and NPR, dislikes mainstream radio repetition.
  • "I like stuff that’s got a good sense of humor ... I don’t listen to regular radio ... the joke is if it’s not played on NPR, I don’t hear it." (Tom, 26:07)

10. Cultural Moments and the Beatles’ Influence

• Recalls the seismic cultural impact of seeing The Beatles on TV and how it reshaped American youth.
  • "It’s hard to even describe it. The whole society changed ... it was this battle against kind of the establishment." (Tom, 30:35)

11. Live Shows: Then & Now

• Describes the evolution to multi-generational audiences and a sense of family at shows.
  • "It seems like a bit of a family reunion ... Now it's to the point where we've got people bringing their kids ... the young people are singing along with deep cuts now." (Tom, 32:31)

12. Cheap Trick’s 'Hit' Legacy

• Only a few major hits: "The Flame," "I Want You to Want Me", "Don't Be Cruel", "Ain't That a Shame"—most of their set and catalog are beloved "deep cuts."
  • "People think, oh, 'Dream Police' ... Surrender ... those were deeper tracks ... They're all deep cuts." (Tom, 34:00)

13. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Thoughts

• Tom is modest about the Hall and skeptical of its criteria.
  • "Why should we be in there instead of somebody else? I have no idea ... We didn’t think about it ... But it’s the kind of thing where ... we got in. It didn't really hit us until we actually got there." (Tom, 35:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Risk and Luck: "We kept going. It doesn't seem like a good idea, but it worked out for us. I wouldn't advise anyone else to try it." (Tom, 10:11)
• On Live Performance Philosophy: "All subtlety is gone [live]. We're not out there making the record sound exactly like the records ... What matters is the recorded version." (Tom, 11:59)
• On Songwriting Doubt: "Usually the person that's idea it is is not sure ... You're too close to it ... That's for the rest of us to decide." (Tom, 17:54)
• On the Music Industry: "To me, most music already was AI. It all sounds like elevator music to me anyway, so what's the damn difference?" (Tom, 37:01)
• On All Washed Up: "The new Cheap Trick music is unbeatable." (Tom, 15:08)
• On Friend & Family Support: "Friends and family liking your stuff is way more important than them hating it and you're embarrassed. ... We just know what we might want to hear." (Tom, 37:01)
• On Being in Boston: "We're always in Boston, for God's sake ... every time I'm there I'm sending him a picture of the expressway ... Like hey, I'm back in Boston." (Tom, 38:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Event | |-----------|-------------| | 05:28 | Cheap Trick's early days and Rockford origins | | 06:34 | Tom discusses the motivation behind the 12-string bass | | 07:33 | Breakthrough in Japan, the Budokan story, and "I Want You to Want Me" | | 10:11 | On their bar band work ethic and early struggles | | 11:59 | Live vs. studio approach; 12-string vs. 4-string bass | | 12:52 | Best and worst venues for live music | | 17:18 | Cheap Trick's songwriting and recording process | | 23:33 | Navigating changes in the music industry | | 26:07 | Tom’s current music tastes and how he finds new artists | | 30:35 | Tom recounts the impact of seeing The Beatles on TV | | 32:31 | How Cheap Trick's audiences have evolved over time | | 35:56 | Thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |

Tone & Final Thoughts

Tom Petersson is dryly funny, self-effacing, and full of perspective earned from decades on the road and in the studio. He offers insight into band chemistry, the randomness of success, and the joy of musical discovery, always with an undercurrent of “just do what you love, the rest will sort itself out.”

This episode is essential listening for Cheap Trick fans, musicians, and anyone who appreciates the grit, luck, and accidental brilliance behind rock and roll longevity.