Dream Police

Cheap Trick, 1979, from Dream Police. Solo by Rick Nielsen.

Nielsen's frantic lead sits between strings and paranoia, part of Cheap Trick's most lavish single.

Dream Police is Cheap Trick at their most lavish, with strings, dramatic vocals and a paranoid storyline, and Rick Nielsen's lead guitar adds urgency to the mix. His playing is frantic and energetic, with quick runs and aggressive bends that cut through the dense arrangement. The guitar sits between the orchestral elements and the pounding rhythm, adding tension and bite. Nielsen balances his hard rock instincts with the song's theatrical pop style. Listen for how the lead phrases dart around the strings and vocals, and for the way the guitar tone stays crunchy and sharp even as the song's production grows bigger and more ornate around it.

Dream Police by Cheap Trick is featured in our Power Pop (#17) list. The solo is played by Rick Nielsen and the song was released in 1979.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Power Pop Guitar Solos — #17
• The Best Cheap Trick Guitar Solos — #5

Sources