Phil Cristian aka Magic Cristian is an American keyboardist and singer. He is best known for being 'Magic' Cristian, the touring keyboardist and background singer for the rock band Cheap Trick. Pre Cheap Trick After relocating to Los Angeles from Fresno, Ca in 1973 he was hired by a high-profile cover band Corroboree. After a number of years in the thriving local club scene they disbanded, with Cristian and two other band mates forming the band Fortress. Record labels Chrysalis and MCA showed interest in the band and they recorded a demo paid for by MCA. MCA eventually passed on the band due to the emergence of the 80's Punk and New Wave scene. Fortress went on to be a popular cover band, which shortly before disbanding in 1981 hired Mark Norton (aka Mark St. John) on guitar. Norton and Cristian then went on to form the band Front Page. On one of the bands Orange County club dates, members of the Micki Free band were in the audience and expressed interest in Cristian becoming their keyboard player for an upcoming tour. Cristian auditioned and was chosen to be a member of the Micki Free Band for the tour. They were managed by Diana Ross and produced by Gene Simmons of Kiss. The Micki Free Band, which also featured bassist Jon Brant, toured with Diana Ross as her opening act in late 1981. Norton went on to become the guitarist for Kiss for a short time in 1984 and died April 5, 2007. With Cheap Trick 1982 - 1985 Jon Brant subsequently went on to join Cheap Trick following the departure of bassist Tom Petersson and when the group expressed interest in having a touring keyboardist, Brant submitted Cristian's name. Cristian received a call from the band's manager Ken Adamany in 1982 and flew to Chicago for an audition. After the audition, Cristian and the band flew back to California as Cheap Trick were filming videos for the One On One album in Los Angeles. Weeks later, Cristian received a call from Adamany informing him that he was indeed hired for the tour. He was the first keyboard player to tour nationally with the group between 1982–1985, as mentioned in Cheap Trick's biography. His first recording experience with the band came in 1984, recording demo versions of the song "Love Comes" and the title track for the movie "Teachers". He