Origin: San Francisco, California, USA  
Genres: 70's Metal, Hard Rock
DISBANDED
Page online: March 30, 2013
Last update/review: March 30, 2013

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.

Last Lineup

Dickie Peterson

bass/vocals RIP: October 12, 2009, cancer

Duck McDonald

guitars

Paul Whaley

drums

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, ex-Devil Childe, ex-Guardians Of The Flame, ex-Pentagram, ex-Phantom Lord, ex-Raven)



Discography



Vincebus Eruptum  
1968 Polygram
  1. Summertime Blues
  2. Rock Me Baby
  3. Doctor Please
  4. Out of Focus
  5. Parchment Farm
  6. Second Time Around
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Leigh Stephens
  • Paul Whaley



Outsideinside  
1968 Polygram
  1. Feathers from Your Tree
  2. Sun Cycle
  3. Just a Little Bit
  4. Gypsy Ball
  5. Come and Get It
  6. Satisfaction
  7. The Hunter
  8. Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger
  9. Babylon
  10. Fortunes
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Leigh Stephens
  • Paul Whaley



New! Improved!  
1969 Philips
  1. When It All Gets Old
  2. West Coast Child of Sunshine
  3. I Want My Baby Back
  4. Aces 'n' Eights
  5. As Long as I Live
  6. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
  7. Peace of Mind
  8. Fruit & Iceburgs
  9. Honey Butter Lover
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Bruce Stephens
  • Randy Holden
  • Ralph Burns Kellogg
  • Paul Whaley



Blue Cheer  
1969 Philips
  1. Fool
  2. You're Gonna Need Someone
  3. Hello LA, Bye Bye Birmingham
  4. Saturday Freedom
  5. Ain't That the Way (Love's Supposed to Be)
  6. Rock and Roll Queens
  7. Better When We Try
  8. Natural Man
  9. Lovin' You's Easy
  10. The Same Old Story
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Bruce Stephens
  • Ralph Burns Kellogg
  • Norman Mayell



The Original Human Being  
1970 Philips
  1. Good Times Are So Hard to Find
  2. Love of a Woman
  3. Make Me Laugh
  4. Pilot
  5. Babaji (Twilight Raga)
  6. Preacher
  7. Black Sun
  8. Tears in My Bed
  9. Man on the Run
  10. Sandwich
  11. Rest at Ease
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Bruce Stephens
  • Gary Lee Yoder
  • Ralph Burns Kellogg
  • Paul Whaley
  • Norman Mayell



Oh! Pleasant Hope  
1971 Philips
  1. Highway Man
  2. Believer
  3. Money Troubles
  4. Travelling Man
  5. Oh! Pleasant Hope
  6. I'm The Light Buy from Amazon
  7. Ecological Blues
  8. Lester The Arrester
  9. Heart Full Of Soul
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Gary Lee Yoder
  • Ralph Burns Kellogg
  • Norman Mayell



The Beast Is Back  
1984 Megaforce
  1. Nightmares
  2. Summertime Blues
  3. Ride With Me
  4. Girl Next Door
  5. Babylon
  6. Heart Of The City
  7. Out Of Focus
  8. Parchment Farm
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Tony Rainier
  • Paul Whaley



Blitzkrieg Over Nuremberg  LIVE
1989
  1. Babylon
  2. Girl Next Door
  3. Ride With Me
  4. Just A Little Bit
  5. Summertime Blues
  6. Out Of Focus
  7. Doctor Please
  8. The Hunter
  9. Red House
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Duck McDonald
  • Dave Salce



Highlights And Lowlives  
1990
  1. Urban Soldiers
  2. Hunter of Love
  3. Girl from London
  4. Blue Steel Dues
  5. Big Trouble in Paradise
  6. Flight of the Enola Gay
  7. Hoochie Coochie Man
  8. Down and Dirty
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Duck McDonald
  • Paul Whaley



Dining With The Sharks  
1991
  1. Big Noise
  2. Outrider
  3. Sweet Child of the Reeperbahn
  4. Gunfight
  5. Audio Whore
  6. Cut the Costs
  7. Sex Soldier
  8. When Two Spirits Touch
  9. Pull the Trigger
  10. Foxy Lady
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Dieter Saller
  • Paul Whaley



Live And Unreleased '68/'74  LIVE
1996 Captain Trip
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Leigh Stephens
  • Reuben De Fuentes
  • Jerry Peterson
  • Paul Whaley
  • Terry Rae



Live And Unreleased - Live At San Jose ...  LIVE
1998
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Leigh Stephens
  • Paul Whaley



Hello Tokyo, Bye Bye Osaka - Live In Japan 1999  LIVE
1999 Captain Trip
  1. Babylon
  2. Big Trouble In Paradise
  3. The Hunter
  4. Blue Steel Dues
  5. Urban Soldiers
  6. Girl Next Door
  7. Ride With Me
  8. Summertime Blues
  9. Down And Dirty
  10. Out Of Focus
  11. Doctor Please
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Duck McDonald
  • Paul Whaley



Live In Japan  LIVE
2003
  1. Babylon
  2. Big Trouble In Paradise
  3. The Hunter
  4. Blue Steel Dues
  5. Urban Soldiers
  6. Girl Next Door
  7. Ride With Me
  8. Summertime Blues
  9. Down And Dirty
  10. Out Of Focus
  11. Doctor Please
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Duck McDonald
  • Paul Whaley



Live Bootleg - London - Hamburg  LIVE
2005
  1. Out Of Focus
  2. Hoochi Coochi Man
  3. Babylon
  4. The Girl Next Door
  5. Heart of the City
  6. Doctor Please
  7. Roadhouse Blues
  8. Summertime Blues
  9. Parchment Farm
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Duck McDonald
  • Paul Whaley
  • Joe Hasselvander



What Doesn't Kill You ...  
2007 Rainman
  1. Rollin' Dem Bones
  2. Piece O' The Pie
  3. Born Under A Bad Sign
  4. Gypsy Rider
  5. Young Lions in Paradise
  6. I Don't Know About You
  7. I'm Gonna Get You
  8. Maladjusted Child
  9. Just A Little Bit (Redux)
  10. No Relief
  • Dickie Peterson
  • Duck McDonald
  • Paul Whaley
  • Joe Hasselvander




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