80's Fest Duet of the day: Surrender To Me by Ann Wilson & Robin Zander (1988) from the motion picture Tequila Sunrise #AnnWilson #robinzander #heart #cheaptrick #surrendertome #tequilasunrise #80s #80sfest #durandurantulsas6thannual80sfest
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to singer-songwriter Robin Zander, exemplary front man for the legendary Cheap Trick. I can’t imagine life without the first 3 Cheap Trick albums, and I said as much to Robin when I met him in 2011. At the time I was the touring bassist-vocalist with The Monkees. We were wrapping up a show in St. Petersburg, Florida. As I was unloading at our hotel, Robin Zander and his wife pulled up. I introduced myself and he asked if he and his wife could visit with everyone. We chatted and walked to the bar, where Micky Dolenz was waiting—he and Robin knew one another from prior gigs, and I was happy to be listen in on two of the great all-time rock’n’roll tenors talk shop.
Vocally, I always thought of Robin as a noir punk/New Wave update on great rock’n’roll frontmen, with the swagger of Mark Lindsay and the power and range of Roger Daltrey. Years ago I made a list of my Top 12 role models as vocalists, and Robin is on that list. For me, if anyone needs to study “how to front a band,” study Robin! There are obvious Cheap Trick clips I could post (check out their 2016 single “When I Wake Up Tomorrow”), but I’m zeroing in on Robin’s 1993 solo album. HB RZ and thank you for your light.