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Blue Cheer Founder Dickie Peterson Dies at 61
- Posted on Oct 13th 2009 10:00AM by John D. Luerssen
Dickie Peterson, bassist and frontman for legendary heavy metal pioneers Blue Cheer, died Monday, Oct. 12, at the age of 61. Peterson, who founded the proto-metal outfit in 1967 in the Bay Area, passed away in Germany after battling liver cancer, according to Blabbermouth.Influenced by the era's heavy blues innovators Cream and Jimi Hendrix, Blue Cheer made its first impact in early 1968 when it released its debut album 'Vincebus Eruptum.' A roaring opposite to Haight Ashbury's flower power, Peterson stood in stark contrast to San Francisco based bands like the Grateful Dead.
Named for a potent strain of acid, Blue Cheer's proto metal actually produced a chart hit when its rendition of Eddie Cochran's 'Summertime Blues' made it all the way to No. 11 on the Billboard charts. Jim Morrison once called the power trio "The single most powerful band I've ever seen." Live, they were the first band ever listed in the 'Guinness Book of World Records' as "Loudest Band in the World," establishing a precedent which was eventually eclipsed by Ritchie Blackmore and Deep Purple.
Despite the fact that Blue Cheer, which also initially included drummer Paul Whaley and guitarist Lee Stephens, was the first American band to use Marshall amplifiers, their impact was endured even if the band didn't last. The band called it a day in 1972, however Peterson resuscitated the group 1984 for a 10-year run and reignited it in 1999 for regular touring. In 2007, Blue Cheer recorded its first new studio release in 15 years, 2007's 'What Doesn't Kill You ...,' and continued to tour the globe.
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Russell Carter
i just found out sad......best bassist ever rest in peace dickie.
November 29 2009 at 1:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
chris K.
Cannot underestimate influence Blue Cheer had in the world of "heavy", or dickie on individual musicians to turn it UP, play from soul.Teach your kids, don't let them "think" guns/roses birthed metal, or that MTV deserves ANY respect.Sit them down, turn them on to Blue Cheer,Johnny winter,other early blues interpreters who bled for there art.........paying dues deserves respect from all generations.RIP Dickie, hope you can plug in werever you are..............
November 10 2009 at 10:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Gary
I went to HS,65, in Grand forks, North Dakota with Dickie. His big blonde Elvis hair at the time was truly a memory I savor to this day.
October 24 2009 at 11:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Michael Nagy
They are still a well ket secret for some.
Guy on here I think I've heard of Izzy Stradlin and others saying who are these guys? Do yourself a favor and take in a few tracks.
I remember I was singing and living in Santa Rosa when I was 23 in '86 and a younger teen was doing some work at Prairie Sun studios and met Dickie.This kid was into Quensryche and all the 80's bands.
He had know idea. He told Dickie I was a fan of his and about my band. I never went down and met him. Wish I had especially now I'm hearing what a great guy he was.
Thought about looking him up recently.
Sometimes I think everyones gonna be around for ever. however lots of my musician friends are now on the other side.Pioneers of Hard rock and Metal. I use to discover all the albums one by one at used record stores in the 70's-80's.
God Bless Dickie,See ya in the next world.
Much Love,
Michael
Gary Mayer
1 reply to Gary Mayer's comment
I never hear of Blue Cheer or Dickie Peterson. These entertainers seem to climb out from under a rock.
However, I knew Les Paul because we lived only a few miles away from each other near Waukesha, WI and when he died there was very little fanfare. Paul was a cultural icon. He changed the way music sounded. He made Patti Page a star, as well as others, including his wife, Mary Ford.
Les was revered by the Beatles, Rolling Stones and so many others; Van Halen, Bono, etc, etc, etc.....(Yul Brynner).
Another great star died the same day as Michael Jackson and I don't even recall her name. Anyone know?
James
Do you mean Farrah Fawcett?
October 14 2009 at 3:39 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Rick
Sorry about the timeline guys... damn yall are a tuff act.. I guess it was summer of 68..See wehat drugs will do to your memory. I think it was Led Zeps first tour cuz we were carrying around their first album. Page and Plant surrounded me and my guitar player on the lobby couch. We asked them if they were in a band.. lol..didnt recognize them.. duh. Groupies were cominmg to our door all night looking for Plant.
October 13 2009 at 7:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Crowbar
Goodby little brother, sorry I couldn't be there at your side for this one. I will always remember the great times we had. Peace
October 13 2009 at 7:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
bill
Who???????? What???? WHO? HUH? Who the F are these people?
October 13 2009 at 7:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
lononeo
one of the first songs we played in the early 70's was summertime blues....of course the who made it popular,but it was the dickie and blue cheer that were the true definition of the tem "heavy hard rock"zz top and rush and cream and all the 3 piece jam bands know exactly precisely who they were,the deafeninf volume,how loud can you go?...i think someone did a study and tested thier decible levels at over 160
they took thier instruments to the level of weaponry that no other band not even zappa was able to achieve,and they were true "punk" in thier simplicity
the almighty roar and thunder of blue cheer paved the way for the thousands of bands that followed i agree-they should have a place in the rock n roll hall of fame if any one should
Phil Jack Bruce
I was there. It was 1968 in Fresno California. Me and my buds went to the Selland Arena with 30,000 others to see Cream. Blue Cheer opened with thunder. Our ears bled but we were in rock blues heaven. I was in a band called the "Stoned Henge" back then which was really Stonehenge. Fast forward to 1974 or 75 I met Dickie through a mutual friend. As a bass player and lead singer myself, it was hard to jam with him because he always took over the spot light which was well deserved. I went on to record with the Albatross band and now playing Jack Bruce in a Cream tribute band called "Just Cream" a few years ago I ran into Dickie again in San Francisco and we jammed on stage at the Crowbar birthday party. It was so damn cool! We traded licks and war stories on the road.....I will miss my brother who played the same "love of the hard blues" as I.....Rest in Peace My Friend
Phil Z.
30 Comments