Cheap Trick is a deceptively huge band. They are described by many as a cult act, yet they have notched several crossover singles and platinum albums. To date, Cheap Trick has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. That's no small feat.
A big part of what made the band so successful was the synergy between its core lineup: guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Bun E. Carlos. The former three members are still active, and tour with the band, but Carlos does not. Let's delve into why.
Bun E. Carlos was a founding member of Cheap Trick in 1973. He played drums and percussion on all albums from self-titled in 1977 to Sgt. Pepper Live in 2009. Then, he decided to leave. Carlos has not been a member of Cheap Trick since 2010, when a falling out with Zander led to him quitting.
Bun E. Carlos left Cheap Trick in 2010
Rolling Stone reported that the two band members disagreed over how many performances they should put on in Las Vegas. Carlos was overruled, and decided to split. Nielsen's son, Dax, took over on the drums. Carlos was not done with Cheap Trick, and decided to file a lawsuit against the band in 2013.
The drummer claimed that he was owed $600K in back income and damages. It was settled in 2015. While both parties seemingly came to an agreeable solution. Carlos admits that his relationship with Nielsen, Petersson and Zander has never been the same. The lawsuit permanently soured the bond they once had.
"[A]ny friendship we had went away when I had to file a federal lawsuit," he told Rolling Stone in 2020. "Going after these guys wasn't pleasant. The friendship sort of frittered away there." The one bonding moment Bun E. Carlos and the rest of Cheap Trick had post-lawsuit was in 2016.
Carlos briefly reunited with Cheap Trick in 2016
The drummer agreed to join the other founding band members when Cheap Trick was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The core lineup played together and Nielsen expressed happiness over the chance to rekindle his onstage chemistry with Carlos. "They are inducting the people who made the records way back when and that's good," the guitarist noted. "He deserves it."
Since leaving Cheap Trick, Carlos has continued to release solo music, as well as drum in various bands like First Airborne Rock 'n' Roll Division and Tinted Windows.