As always, all dates are subject to confirmation and change. If you are on the internet, the Cheap Trick home page contains the latest confirmed information (see below).

The Los Angeles show is a "private" one to celebrate the domestic (US) release of "Music for Hangovers". A similar show was held at CBGB's in New York on 20 April and was broadcast live on the Internet. Audio of the show is being archived at http://www.collegemusic.com , under the "CBGB Archive" banner. The show comprised of the complete Music for Hangovers album but minus Mandocello, and also marked the debut of new red "MFH" guitar picks ! If you will be in Los Angeles then and wish to go, tickets are available to TI fan club members only, by a lottery. A ticket can be requested by faxing Trick Intl on (718)-996-4479 by May 28, including your name, address, telephone number and TI number. If successful, TI will contact you soon after that date.

Music for Hangovers was initially released in Japan on the JVC label on 3 March 1999. It was released in the States on 20 April for online ordering only from www.amazon.com . Amazon are happy to accept orders from outside the US, though check mailing costs to destinations outside the USA. The CD will be available retail in the US from 15 June. As yet, I have no details of a release date for Europe. One interesting fact so far is that the Japanese and US versions have different CD covers, and the respective booklets have some differences (eg. the US version features some b/w images from the MFH DVD/video). However, the tracks on each are exactly the same. In my opinion, the recordings are crisp and fully capture the excitement of those 4 nights at Metro a year ago.

Following similar visits earlier in the year, the band returned to the studio for a couple of days around 11 May, to continue working on new material.

Plans for the events, guest(s) and sets for Trickfest 3 are still being finalised, but some very exciting ideas are being considered at present. One thing that will happen is that each band member will be holding an hour long music "clinic". These will be staggered so that people won't have the hard choice to decide who to miss ! I understand that one new song *may* be premiered at the Rockford (25th Anniversary) show, though the set list for that show will be decided nearer the time.

The results of the annual "Record Collector" readers poll in the UK shows Cheap Trick as moving up from last year's #262 to this year's #170, in the readers list of most collectable artists.

Cheap Trick have taken the plunge, and made "Surrender 99" available to download from the internet in the new MP3 format. This "grunged up 90's version" remix by Jack Douglas is still available at http://www.getsigned.com/bub/ctrick.html . I understand it will feature on the soundrack of the forthcoming KISS movie, "Detroit Rock City" later this year. A cover of the classic "I Want You to Want Me" appears on the soundtrack to the movie "Ten Things I Hate About You", performed by Letters to Cleo.

Two fan tribute events took place in the US in April. San Francisco on 18 April saw 5 bands perform covers of CT songs (or songs inspired by CT) during an evening titled "Heaven Tonight". Atlanta GA saw a "Battle of the Bands" on 24 April, with 3 bands performing KISS material "head-to-head" with 3 performing Cheap Trick ! I didn't hear who won the latter, but I understand both evenings provided great entertainment.

The official fan service, Trick International is at 1957 - 86th Street, Suite 149, Brooklyn, NY 11214 USA. Write to this address for membership details. Additionally TI can be contacted via e-mail at TRICKINTL@aol.com. Merchandise is available from Trickstuff. Orders and enquiries should be sent to Trickstuff, PO Box 1911, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. The official Cheap Trick home page on the Internet can be found at http://www.cheaptrick.com. 

I hope you've found this issue informative. I'd be grateful you could send a sae (or more) or IRC for the next issue. If you (or any other Trick fans you know) would prefer to receive this newsletter by e-mail in future, please write to or e-mail me.