Richard Alan Nielsen (born December 22, 1948) is the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Cheap Trick. He is well known for his numerous custom-made guitars from Hamer Guitars, including his famous five-neck guitar.\n', '

Nielsen was born into a musical family, with both parents being opera singers. His father, Ralph Nielsen, also directed symphonies, choirs and recorded over forty solo albums. During Rick's teens, the family owned a music store in Rockford, Illinois, and he learned to play a number of instruments. After playing drums for six years, Rick changed direction, learning how to play guitar and keyboards.\n", '

His first school band was The Phaetons, which mutated into The Grim Reapers (which later included Tom Petersson in its line up). The Grim Reapers became Fuse which released one poorly received studio album before disbanding in 1970. Nielsen joined Nazz for a short time (replacing Todd Rundgren), before forming the short-lived Sick Man of Europe in Philadelphia in 1972 with Tom Petersson (drummer Bun E. Carlos joining soon after). In 1973, Nielsen, together with Carlos formed Cheap Trick. Petersson joined later that year, and with Robin Zander joining in the fall of 1974. Nielsen wrote almost all of the songs for Cheap Trick\'s first few albums.\n', '

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