Logo-Nomics

The story behind Cheap Trick's logo.

Cheap Trick has its bassist Tom Petersson to thank for its six-line type-writer styled logo. No, he didn't design it, but he was the one who did not dismiss it when it was shown to the band more than 35 years ago.

It was designed by mega-Trick fan and future Hollywood writer and producer Christopher Crowe while working in his dad's graphic arts studio in Milwaukee. Crowe says, "Tom was the one guy who responded to it in a big, fast way. But it didn’t take long. A couple of weeks later it was on the drum and then on stickers, these horrible stickers that the good citizens of the whole tri-state area (Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin) wanted to strangle someone for, because they were pasted everywhere...”

Crowe designed the logo just for fun and Petersson says, "It was one of those things that works... It’s one of those things I wish I could take some credit for but I can’t. It was all his thing.”

Guitarist Rick Nielsen says, "Tom immediately thought it was terrific, and the rest of us were like, 'Well, it’s different, and it looks good on a shirt.' And if it looks good on a shirt, that’s good.” As for Crowe, he was never paid for his design, saying, “That would have been an actual sin against nature, though, because this was us against the world. It was not done for money, it was done with great affection and respect and I’d like to think that respect was mutual. Their longevity is so impressive that whenever I feel like I should be getting tired, I look to them and go, ‘Aww, if they can do it, I can load the typewriter.’”

Crowe is not the only member of the Hollywood community to design a band logo. The late comedic actor Phil Hartman designed the Crosby, Stills and Nash logo, as well as album covers for Poco and America.