Answer the following question: Facts: - instrument: guitar , vocals , keyboards , mandocello - residence: rockford , illinois , usa - years active: 1965 -- present - caption: nielsen '' show in milwaukee , wi in february 2011 playing at cheap trick 's '' dream police - birth name: richard alan nielsen - occupations: musician , songwriter - genre: rock , hard rock , power pop - spouse: karen r. nielsen -lrb- married 1969 -rrb- - parents: ralph p. nielsen marilyn m. nielsen - children: 4 - birth date: 22 december 1946 - name: rick nielsen - background: non_vocal_instrumentalist - image: file : rick nielsen dream police show.jpg - birth place: elmhurst , illinois , usa - associated acts: cheap trick , fuse , sick man of europe - alma mater: rock valley college -lrb- honorary -rrb- guilford high school Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of rick nielsen .
Answer:
richard alan '' rick '' nielsen -lrb- born december 22 , 1948 -rrb- is the lead guitarist , backing vocalist , and primary songwriter of the rock band cheap trick .he is well known for having many custom-made guitars from hamer guitars , including his famous five-neck guitar .