ROCK MOMENT – Cheap Trick ‘The Flame’
By the late 1980s, Cheap Trick were at a crossroads. After massive success in the late ’70s with songs like ‘I Want You to Want Me’ and ‘Surrender,’ the band’s commercial momentum had slowed in the mid-’80s. Looking to reestablish themselves on mainstream radio, they began work on what would become their 1988 album, Lap of Luxury. The result was their biggest hit ever: ‘The Flame.’
Unlike many of Cheap Trick’s classic tracks, ‘The Flame’ was not written by the band. The power ballad was penned by British songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham and was initially offered to other artists. According to band members, bassist Tom Petersson was the most enthusiastic about recording it, while guitarist Rick Nielsen was hesitant at first, preferring the group’s edgier, guitar-driven style. However, with their label pushing for a strong radio single, the band agreed to cut the track.
Produced by Richie Zito, ‘The Flame’ was crafted with late-’80s arena-rock polish. The song opens with a dramatic keyboard introduction before building into a sweeping ballad driven by Nielsen’s restrained guitar work and Robin Zander’s soaring vocal performance. Zander’s delivery—aching, vulnerable, and powerful—helped elevate the song from a standard power ballad into something more emotionally resonant.
Released as the lead single from Lap of Luxury in 1988, ‘The Flame’ became Cheap Trick’s first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked a major comeback for the band, introducing them to a new generation of listeners during the MTV era. The accompanying music video received heavy rotation, further boosting its popularity.
While some longtime fans initially viewed ‘The Flame’ as more polished and commercial than the band’s earlier material, it ultimately became a defining moment in Cheap Trick’s career. The song proved their adaptability and secured their place in late-’80s rock history, showing that even a band known for gritty power pop could deliver a heartfelt, chart-topping ballad.
