Rick Nielsen

Musician And Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee

Growing up in Rockford, Rick Nielsen wasn’t your typical musical prodigy.

“I was kicked out of band in the seventh grade for telling my teacher what I thought of him and banned from the Rockford school music program,” Nielsen chuckled.

That defiant youth went on to play guitar and form the legendary rock band Cheap Trick with Robin Zander, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos. Together, they sold 20 million albums and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Over the years, Neilsen has appeared on recordings with John Lennon, the Yardbirds, the Foo Fighters, and Hall and Oates, just to name a few.

Known for playing with three, four and sometimes five guitars around his neck at one time, Nielsen has a guitar collection that’s the stuff of legend. It’s been featured on programs like American Pickers and Gibson Guitar’s “The Collection” program. Nielsen knows each classic Gibson, Fender and custom-made Hamer inside and out and can recite the serial numbers from memory.

In 2012, the Burpee Museum hosted “Rick’s Picks,” a curated display of guitars from rock icons – the Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Jeff Beck, Slash, Todd Rundgren and many others.

Neilsen commissioned a custom Hamer/Fender guitar for the exhibit called Rick and Jane, bearing his likeness on the front and Jane the Dinosaur on the back.

“I had it made to be raffled off for the Burpee Museum,” Neilsen said. He recently bought back the guitar in an online auction.

Soon, a replica of Nielsen’s signature Gibson Explorer with the checkerboard body will rise above the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, and several guitars from his collection will be on display inside.