Why Cheap Trick should be the featured artist for Super Bowl 47 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA

First off- longevity. The band (Rick Nielsen-lead guitar, Robin Zander, vocals and rhythm guitar, Tom Petersson, 12-string bass, and Bun E. Carlos, percussion), have been recording and playing with the original lineup for almost 35 years (Bun E. is currently not touring with the band, but as of now is still the drummer for studio recording- Daxx Nielsen (Rick\'s son) is sitting in on drums). Minus a few years and albums in the 80\'s, Petersson came back to play bass in 1988, as is still doing so. These guys still play live relentlessly- over 200 dates a year.

Their live performances are nothing short of spectacular. No gimmicks, no over-the-top stage show (pyrotechnics, etc), just straight ahead rock and roll. This is what put Cheap Trick on the map, and is what has enable them to endure throughout what is their 5th decade of producing music.

The songs: Everybody knows \"I Want You To Want Me\", \"Surrender\", \"Dream Police\", and \"The Flame\" (their 1988 #1 hit)- all huge songs for the band. Those four songs alone could make for a great halftime show. However, after 17 studio albums, 5 live albums (including the 1978 classic \"Live At Budokan\", which put the band on the American music map), and various soundtrack contributions, the band has a plethora of songs to choose from their catalog. Cheap Trick also performed a cover version of Big Star\'s \"In the Street\" as the theme song for That \'70s Show from the second season onward and the theme song \"Baby Muggles\" for The Colbert Report.

On April 4, 2009, it was announced the band would release a new album entitled The Latest. The album was released on June 23 only by preorder, and hit retail stores on July 21. It was also available in both vinyl and 8-track tape versions on the band\'s website. The group also performed the theme song for the film Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. The group released Sgt. Pepper Live, their interpretation of the classic Sgt. Pepper\'s Lonely Hearts Club Band on August 25, 2009. This was released as both a compact disc and a DVD. 

They have often been referred to in the Japanese press as the \"American Beatles\". In October 2007, the Illinois Senate passed a resolution designating April 1 as Cheap Trick Day in the state. The band was also ranked #25 in VH1\'s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.

Cheap Trick are a band that has endured punk-rock, 80\'s synth music, grunge, and any other popular music during their run. They are uncompromising and continue to do their \"own thing\"- just classic, straight-forward, melodic rock & roll, which is sorely missing in popular music today.

This past year has seen the band star on \"Austin City Limits\", \"The Conan O\' Brien Show\" (Conan is apparently a huge fan), and actually played at halftime of the Indianapolis Colts vs. The New York Jets Wild-Card Playoff Game. They are currently doing tour dates to support their certified multi- platinum 1979 release \"Dream Police\", in which they perform the whole album in its entirety, along with many other hits of theirs.

Cheap Trick is a band with a proud and equally-big fan base. Their appeal is worldwide, just like the Super Bowl. It is a match that makes perfect sense- and is a long time overdue.

Cheap Trick and The Super Bowl- two American Classics, and perfect marriage for the masses to enjoy. Please make this a reality- you will not be disappointed!