Blue Cheer
The older readers out there certainly know about Blue Cheer.
Among the several late-60's groups that are sometimes labelled the first
heavy metal band, Blue Cheer may have the best credentials, as their
1968 landmark album
Vincebus Eruptum, featuring the massive hit
"Summertime Blues", was quite groundbreaking at the time, even if it's
probably more accurate to label it as loud psychedelic acid rock rather
than real metal.
Regardless, they are rightfully hailed as one of the pioneers of the
genre, even if they never quite matched that early success.
They first broke up in the early 70's after a string of a few albums,
and in the intervening years founder Dickie Peterson and
various lineups would emerge for a time,
sporadically recording, culminating in 2007's
What Doesn't Kill You.
Given that the band hadn't recorded in sixteen years and their biggest
hit was forty years old by this time,
What Doesn't Kill You is arguably
heavier and better than anyone might expect, retaining their bluesy
edge with a bit of grunge and an almost Southern influence at times.
Peterson passed away from cancer in 2009, and the band was officially
laid to rest at that time.
Current Members
Dickie Peterson
bass/vocals
RIP: October 12, 2009, cancer
Duck McDonald
guitars
Paul Whaley
drums
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Former Members/Guests
Leigh Stephens
guitars
Bruce Stephens
guitars
Randy Holden
guitars
Gary Lee Yoder
guitars
Tony Rainier
guitars
Dieter Saller
guitars
Reuben De Fuentes
guitars
Jerry Peterson
guitars
Ralph Burns Kellogg
keyboards
Norman Mayell
drums
Dave Salce
drums
Terry Rae
drums
Joe Hasselvander
drums
(Black Manta, Devil Childe, Guardians Of The Flame, Pentagram, Phantom Lord, Raven)
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Discography
Vincebus Eruptum
1968
Polygram
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- Summertime Blues
- Rock Me Baby
- Doctor Please
- Out of Focus
- Parchment Farm
- Second Time Around
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- Dickie Peterson
- Leigh Stephens
- Paul Whaley
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Outsideinside
1968
Polygram
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- Feathers from Your Tree
- Sun Cycle
- Just a Little Bit
- Gypsy Ball
- Come and Get It
- Satisfaction
- The Hunter
- Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger
- Babylon
- Fortunes
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- Dickie Peterson
- Leigh Stephens
- Paul Whaley
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New! Improved!
1969
Philips
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- When It All Gets Old
- West Coast Child of Sunshine
- I Want My Baby Back
- Aces 'n' Eights
- As Long as I Live
- It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
- Peace of Mind
- Fruit & Iceburgs
- Honey Butter Lover
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- Dickie Peterson
- Bruce Stephens
- Randy Holden
- Ralph Burns Kellogg
- Paul Whaley
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Blue Cheer
1969
Philips
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- Fool
- You're Gonna Need Someone
- Hello LA, Bye Bye Birmingham
- Saturday Freedom
- Ain't That the Way (Love's Supposed to Be)
- Rock and Roll Queens
- Better When We Try
- Natural Man
- Lovin' You's Easy
- The Same Old Story
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- Dickie Peterson
- Bruce Stephens
- Ralph Burns Kellogg
- Norman Mayell
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The Original Human Being
1970
Philips
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- Good Times Are So Hard to Find
- Love of a Woman
- Make Me Laugh
- Pilot
- Babaji (Twilight Raga)
- Preacher
- Black Sun
- Tears in My Bed
- Man on the Run
- Sandwich
- Rest at Ease
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- Dickie Peterson
- Bruce Stephens
- Gary Lee Yoder
- Ralph Burns Kellogg
- Paul Whaley
- Norman Mayell
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Oh! Pleasant Hope
1971
Philips
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- Highway Man
- Believer
- Money Troubles
- Travelling Man
- Oh! Pleasant Hope
- I'm The Light Buy from Amazon
- Ecological Blues
- Lester The Arrester
- Heart Full Of Soul
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- Dickie Peterson
- Gary Lee Yoder
- Ralph Burns Kellogg
- Norman Mayell
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The Beast Is Back
1984
Megaforce
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- Nightmares
- Summertime Blues
- Ride With Me
- Girl Next Door
- Babylon
- Heart Of The City
- Out Of Focus
- Parchment Farm
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- Dickie Peterson
- Tony Rainier
- Paul Whaley
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Blitzkrieg Over Nuremberg
LIVE
1989
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- Babylon
- Girl Next Door
- Ride With Me
- Just A Little Bit
- Summertime Blues
- Out Of Focus
- Doctor Please
- The Hunter
- Red House
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- Dickie Peterson
- Duck McDonald
- Dave Salce
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Highlights And Lowlives
1990
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- Urban Soldiers
- Hunter of Love
- Girl from London
- Blue Steel Dues
- Big Trouble in Paradise
- Flight of the Enola Gay
- Hoochie Coochie Man
- Down and Dirty
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- Dickie Peterson
- Duck McDonald
- Paul Whaley
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Dining With The Sharks
1991
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- Big Noise
- Outrider
- Sweet Child of the Reeperbahn
- Gunfight
- Audio Whore
- Cut the Costs
- Sex Soldier
- When Two Spirits Touch
- Pull the Trigger
- Foxy Lady
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- Dickie Peterson
- Dieter Saller
- Paul Whaley
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Live And Unreleased '68/'74
LIVE
1996
Captain Trip
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- Dickie Peterson
- Leigh Stephens
- Reuben De Fuentes
- Jerry Peterson
- Paul Whaley
- Terry Rae
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Live And Unreleased - Live At San Jose ...
LIVE
1998
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- Dickie Peterson
- Leigh Stephens
- Paul Whaley
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Hello Tokyo, Bye Bye Osaka - Live In Japan 1999
LIVE
1999
Captain Trip
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- Babylon
- Big Trouble In Paradise
- The Hunter
- Blue Steel Dues
- Urban Soldiers
- Girl Next Door
- Ride With Me
- Summertime Blues
- Down And Dirty
- Out Of Focus
- Doctor Please
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- Dickie Peterson
- Duck McDonald
- Paul Whaley
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Live In Japan
LIVE
2003
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- Babylon
- Big Trouble In Paradise
- The Hunter
- Blue Steel Dues
- Urban Soldiers
- Girl Next Door
- Ride With Me
- Summertime Blues
- Down And Dirty
- Out Of Focus
- Doctor Please
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- Dickie Peterson
- Duck McDonald
- Paul Whaley
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Live Bootleg - London - Hamburg
LIVE
2005
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- Out Of Focus
- Hoochi Coochi Man
- Babylon
- The Girl Next Door
- Heart of the City
- Doctor Please
- Roadhouse Blues
- Summertime Blues
- Parchment Farm
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- Dickie Peterson
- Duck McDonald
- Paul Whaley
- Joe Hasselvander
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What Doesn't Kill You ...
2007
Rainman
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- Rollin' Dem Bones
- Piece O' The Pie
- Born Under A Bad Sign
- Gypsy Rider
- Young Lions in Paradise
- I Don't Know About You
- I'm Gonna Get You
- Maladjusted Child
- Just A Little Bit (Redux)
- No Relief
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- Dickie Peterson
- Duck McDonald
- Paul Whaley
- Joe Hasselvander
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