A number of press reviews are featured, including those from "Billboard Magazine", "Goldmine", "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" and "Mojo".

PREVIEW

With such classic songs as "Surrender", "I Want You To Want Me", and "Dream Police", Cheap Trick captured the ears of the world with their stunning brand of super-charged melodic rock and electrifying live performances. Written by Mike Hayes with Ken Sharp, "Reputation Is A Fragile Thing" chronicles the colorful career of rock's hardest working band, Cheap Trick. Illustrated with over 175 photos (b&w) - many never previously published - the book contains a comprehensive history of the band, including details of pre-Trick outfits such as The Paegans, Fuse and Sick Man Of Europe. The Foreword has been exclusively penned by legendary rock icon and Cheap Trick fan, Roy Wood. Cheap Trick have paid homage to Roy with their own great versions of three of his songs, "California Man", "Rock'n'Roll Tonight" and "Brontosaurus". A detailed U.S. discography and core set listing spanning 1973 to the present round out this definitive portrait of a rock and roll cartoon come to life. This is the story of Cheap Trick.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Mike Hayes was born in Liverpool, England, in April 1957. Graduating in Business Studies and German from the University Of Aston in Birmingham, Mike entered a career in general management. He currently works for an American owned HR outsourcing company based in Glasgow, where he lives with his girlfriend Mairi.

Mike's musical tastes were shaped by the glam rock movement of the Seventies. Marc Bolan was an early hero. Bolan's premature death in 1977 left a void which was shortly to be filled by a peerless quartet from Rockford, Illinois. A student friend had pointed Mike in the direction of the debut British release from an odd-looking bunch who called themselves Cheap Trick. The album was called In Color, and Mike was very impressed. When the band subsequently appeared on BBC television's Old Grey Whistle Test show, their unique appearance challenged the conventional image of more familiar contemporaries. But their talent was unquestionable. To this day, Mike regrets missing the band's first UK dates in early 1978, but he was to make up for it the following February. Cheap Trick braved arctic conditions to play Birmingham's celebrated Barbarella's club. The performance was stunning, the occasion quite unforgettable. Nielsen and company chatted amiably after the show, willingly signing autographs and sharing their time with the small group of avid disciples.

Mike has remained a huge fan of Cheap Trick for twenty years, attending shows in several American states, including the special Trick Fest events in 1995 and 1998. UK appearances have been few and far between, but Mike kept the flame burning with articles published in magazines such as Record Collector, Music Collector and the now-defunct Cheap Trickzine.

The idea for "Reputation Is A Fragile Thing" first germinated in 1985, at a time when Cheap Trick's fortunes were at their lowest ebb. It was a labor of love, driven by Mike's desire to see what lay beneath the many stones littering the band's path to early fame. Over the subsequent years, the manuscript underwent a radical overhaul and perpetual updates. American musician, writer and publisher Ken Sharp lent his expertise and professionalism to the venture in early 1997, providing significant literary and editorial input, as well as sourcing a host of rare photographs and contributing previously unheard interviews with the members of Cheap Trick.

Graduating with honors from Temple University with a B.A. in Communications, Ken Sharp has authored or co-authored four books, Power Pop!, Meet The Beatles...Again!, Overnight Sensation: The Story Of The Raspberries, and Quite Naturally: The Small Faces. In addition, Ken is a musician whose debut CD 1301 Highland Avenue was issued in Japan. A regular contributor to Goldmine and Record Collector, Ken has also written liner notes for the likes of The Raspberries, John Waite, Rick Springfield, The Rubinoos and The Partridge Family. Upon hearing the Heaven Tonight album in 1978, Ken became an avid Cheap Trick fan and has seen the band more than twenty times. Ken resides with his wife Terri, daughter and beloved basset hound, Herman, in a Philadelphia suburb.

In the special booklet produced to commemorate Trickfest '95, Bun E. Carlos wrote:

"Hey, Mike Hayes, let's write a book!"

Here it is. Hope you enjoy it.

The first draft of "Reputation Is A Fragile Thing" was completed in 1988, and presented to Bun E. at the band's Hammersmith Odeon date in London. It was a very different version which finally emerged last year, thanks in no small part to Bun's corrections and embellishments.

It was great to see so many old friends again in New York, and wonderful to hear the band perform both acoustic and electric sets. A special hello to Maria, Teri, Barbara, Adam, Chris and Frank, and many thanks to Carla for making so much possible. SOME NEW NYC PIX ARE NOW FEATURED IN THE GALLERY!

(MIKE HAYES)

To contact the authors of "REPUTATION IS A FRAGILE THING", write to Mike at: Mike Hayes, 105 (2/2) Buccleuch Street, Garnethill, Glasgow, G3 6QN SCOTLAND Email: mike@riaft.fsnet.co.uk
or write to Ken at: Ken Sharp, P.O.Box 1249, Willow Grove, PA 19090 USA Email: sharpk@aol.com