Rick Nielsen to announce shock retirement from music?

Cheap Trick guitarist created a stir on Friday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

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Sad news for Nielsen fans. Speculation had been rife that Cheap Trick guitarist will announce his retirement from music, at age 77, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 13/06/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a guitarist isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a guitarist-songwriter just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouRick

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouRick was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouRick.”
— @DesireePlum, 12 Jun 2026

“Didn't Rick Nielsen retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 12 Jun 2026

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