Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American blues rock group of the late 1960s and early 197… Read Full Bio ↴Blue Cheer was an American blues rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who helped to pioneer heavy metal music. Based in San Francisco, original personnel were singer/bassist Dickie Peterson, guitarist Leigh Stephens, and drummer Paul Whaley. A power trio, the band was named after a variety of LSD promoted by underground chemist and Grateful Dead backer Owsley Stanley. This variety of LSD took its name from a popular laundry detergent. Their first hit was a cover version of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" from their debut album Vincebus Eruptum (1968). The single peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, their only such hit, and the album peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The group's sound was hard to categorize, but was definitely blues-based, psychedelic, and very loud. The band has been subsequently acclaimed as an influence on garage rock, punk rock, heavy metal, and grunge. Julian Cope has written, "In 1968, nothing but nothing in America and Britain sounded as brutal as Blue Cheer except for The Velvet Underground."
The group underwent several personnel changes after the 1968 release of Outsideinside, and then through yet more changes during and after 1969's New! Improved! Blue Cheer (different guitarists on side 1 and 2). After Leigh Stephens was replaced by Randy Holden, formerly of Los Angeles garage rock band The Other Half, in 1968, Blue Cheer's style changed to a more commercial hard rock sound à la Steppenwolf or Iron Butterfly. For the fourth album Blue Cheer, Holden, who had left during the third album, was subsequently replaced by Bruce Stephens. Stephens later quit and was replaced by Gary Lee Yoder, who helped complete the album.
The new line up of Peterson, Ralph Burns Kellogg, Norman Mayell, and Yoder in 1970 saw the release of The Original Human Being and then 1971's Oh! Pleasant Hope. When Oh! Pleasant Hope failed to dent the sales charts, Blue Cheer temporarily split up.
From 1988 to 1993, Blue Cheer toured mainly in Europe. During this time, they played with classic rock acts as well as then-up-and-coming bands: Mountain, Outlaws, Thunder, Groundhogs, Ten Years After, Yardbirds, Danzig, Mucky Pup, Biohazard and others.
On the Nibelung Records label they released several albums. 1989 saw the release of Blue Cheer's first official live album, Blitzkrieg over Nüremberg. This album was recorded on Blue Cheer's first European tour in decades. The drum chair was then taken by Dave Salce; bass by Dickie Peterson; guitar by Duck McDonald.
1990 saw the release of Highlights & Lowlives studio album, comprised of blues-based hard rock, sometimes reminiscent of Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones, and several ballads. The album was produced by notable grunge producer Jack Endino. The line-up was Peterson on bass and vocals, Paul Whaley on drums, and Duck McDonald on guitars.
Blue Cheer followed up "Highlights" with the much heavier Dining with the Sharks. McDonald was replaced by German ex-Monsters guitar player Dieter Saller. Peterson was on bass and vocals again, and Paul Whaley was again on drums. Also featured is a special guest appearance by Groundhogs guitarist Tony McPhee. The album was produced by Roland Hofmann.
In the early 1990s, Peterson and Whaley re-located to Germany. Whaley still lives there. Guitar work has been handled by Duck MacDonald since that time. Blue Cheer are still active as of 2009. Peterson reunited with Leigh Stephens and performed with drummer Prairie Prince at the Chet Helms Memorial Tribal Stomp in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in Fall of 2005, and their lively performance drew old rockers like Paul Kantner and others from backstage to observe. They did some recordings in Virginia in Winter 2005 with Joe Hasselvander of Raven and Pentagram on drums. Paul Whaley has since returned to the band as drummer. The group's 2007 CD, "What Doesn't Kill You...", features contributions from both Whaley and Hasselvander. In 2009, Peterson died in Germany, leading to the cessation of Blue Cheer.
Blue Cheer's video for Summertime Blues made an appearance in 2005 documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, where Geddy Lee of Rush referred to the group as one of the first heavy metal bands.
The band have also been regarded as the godfathers of stoner rock bands like Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Nebula and Monster Magnet have cited their "heavy-fuzz rock" as a massive influence on them.
The group's sound was hard to categorize, but was definitely blues-based, psychedelic, and very loud. The band has been subsequently acclaimed as an influence on garage rock, punk rock, heavy metal, and grunge. Julian Cope has written, "In 1968, nothing but nothing in America and Britain sounded as brutal as Blue Cheer except for The Velvet Underground."
The group underwent several personnel changes after the 1968 release of Outsideinside, and then through yet more changes during and after 1969's New! Improved! Blue Cheer (different guitarists on side 1 and 2). After Leigh Stephens was replaced by Randy Holden, formerly of Los Angeles garage rock band The Other Half, in 1968, Blue Cheer's style changed to a more commercial hard rock sound à la Steppenwolf or Iron Butterfly. For the fourth album Blue Cheer, Holden, who had left during the third album, was subsequently replaced by Bruce Stephens. Stephens later quit and was replaced by Gary Lee Yoder, who helped complete the album.
The new line up of Peterson, Ralph Burns Kellogg, Norman Mayell, and Yoder in 1970 saw the release of The Original Human Being and then 1971's Oh! Pleasant Hope. When Oh! Pleasant Hope failed to dent the sales charts, Blue Cheer temporarily split up.
From 1988 to 1993, Blue Cheer toured mainly in Europe. During this time, they played with classic rock acts as well as then-up-and-coming bands: Mountain, Outlaws, Thunder, Groundhogs, Ten Years After, Yardbirds, Danzig, Mucky Pup, Biohazard and others.
On the Nibelung Records label they released several albums. 1989 saw the release of Blue Cheer's first official live album, Blitzkrieg over Nüremberg. This album was recorded on Blue Cheer's first European tour in decades. The drum chair was then taken by Dave Salce; bass by Dickie Peterson; guitar by Duck McDonald.
1990 saw the release of Highlights & Lowlives studio album, comprised of blues-based hard rock, sometimes reminiscent of Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones, and several ballads. The album was produced by notable grunge producer Jack Endino. The line-up was Peterson on bass and vocals, Paul Whaley on drums, and Duck McDonald on guitars.
Blue Cheer followed up "Highlights" with the much heavier Dining with the Sharks. McDonald was replaced by German ex-Monsters guitar player Dieter Saller. Peterson was on bass and vocals again, and Paul Whaley was again on drums. Also featured is a special guest appearance by Groundhogs guitarist Tony McPhee. The album was produced by Roland Hofmann.
In the early 1990s, Peterson and Whaley re-located to Germany. Whaley still lives there. Guitar work has been handled by Duck MacDonald since that time. Blue Cheer are still active as of 2009. Peterson reunited with Leigh Stephens and performed with drummer Prairie Prince at the Chet Helms Memorial Tribal Stomp in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in Fall of 2005, and their lively performance drew old rockers like Paul Kantner and others from backstage to observe. They did some recordings in Virginia in Winter 2005 with Joe Hasselvander of Raven and Pentagram on drums. Paul Whaley has since returned to the band as drummer. The group's 2007 CD, "What Doesn't Kill You...", features contributions from both Whaley and Hasselvander. In 2009, Peterson died in Germany, leading to the cessation of Blue Cheer.
Blue Cheer's video for Summertime Blues made an appearance in 2005 documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, where Geddy Lee of Rush referred to the group as one of the first heavy metal bands.
The band have also been regarded as the godfathers of stoner rock bands like Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Nebula and Monster Magnet have cited their "heavy-fuzz rock" as a massive influence on them.
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Blue Cheer Lyrics
01 When It All Gets Old Let's find a darker night Let's find a brighter light Let's …
03. Doctor Please Help me please, Doctor Doctor, won't you please I need you…
Aces 'N Eights Lady luck, lady luck You must have played your cards just…
Ain't That the Way (Dickie Peterson & Ralph Burns Kellogg) I want your lovin' a…
All Night Long (Ralph Burns Kellogg) Ugh! All I want is just a little bit…
As Long As I Live Please don't string me out Don't make me walk the line My…
Audio Whore (Dickie Peterson) See 'em in the late night Underneath the s…
Babaji (Norman Mayall) Instrumental Trippin'…
Babylon Relax your mind Lord let it take An electric explosion I sai…
Believer (Gary Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) You're a young man now and You…
Better When We Try Turn yourself around Stop looking at the ground Things will …
Big Noise (Dickie Peterson, Bruce Stephens, & Rewind) Ooohh! Here it c…
Big Trouble In Paradise (Dickie Peterson & Tony Rainier) The big trouble in Paradise…
Black Sun (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) I heard your many rumors I…
Blue Steel Dues (Dickie Peterson & Andrew "Duck" MacDonald) Stripped of my p…
Blues Cadillac (Dickie Peterson) Why don't you ride in it, babe Why don't…
Born Under a Bad Sign Born under a bad sign. I've been down since I began…
Come And Get It Let me hear, let me hear the way you feel I…
Cut the Costs (Dickie Peterson & Dieter Saller) Ooooh I wanna cut my losse…
Doctor Please Help me please, Doctor Doctor, won't you please I need your …
Down And Dirty (Dickie Peterson & Andrew "Duck" MacDonald) I'm dealing from…
Ecological Blues (Norman Mayall) 1-2, 1-2-3-4 Oh baby, bring my gas mask he…
Feathers From Your Tree (Dickie Peterson, Leigh Stephens, and Peter Wagner) Walking …
Flight Of The Enola Gay (Dickie Peterson & Andrew "Duck" MacDonald) I went down to t…
Fool (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) Yeah! I like the way you…
Fortunes (Dickie Peterson) I had to try the Gypsy I wanna have my…
Fruit & Iceburgs (Randy Holden) It's so nice to feel the colors All days when…
Fruit And Icebergs (Randy Holden) It's so nice to feel the colors All days wh…
Girl From London (Dr. Richard Peddicord) I know this girl from London She own…
Girl Next Door Sit-in' by the TV, sittin' drinkin' my wine My friends all…
Good Times Are So Hard To Find (Norman Mayall & Kent Housman) Some people talk about the bl…
Gunfight I came in bleeding, crying from the pain My woman said,…
Gypsy Ball (Dickie Peterson & Leigh Stephens) The gypsy wizard, he ratt…
Heart Full of Soul C'mon, mm hmm You the kind of person with money in…
Heart Of The City (Dr. Richard Peddicord) My mama told me when I was born She…
Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham I packed everything I own and I put it in…
Hiway Man (Norman Mayall, Gary L. Yoder, & G.R. Grelecki) Yes I am…
Honey Butter Lover (Randy Holden) Once I had a woman She said goodbye to me Now…
Hoochie Coochie Man Gypsy woman told my mama 'while 'fore I was born Got…
Hunter They call me the Hunter and Lord, that's my name A…
Hunter of Love (Dickie Peterson & Andrew "Duck" MacDonald) I am the Hunter …
I It's not the Devil that you conjure When you turn your…
I Can't Get No Can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction. 'Cau…
I Want My Baby Back I want my baby back Hey, give her to me Want my…
I'm The Light It's not the Devil that you conjure When you turn your…
It Takes a Lot to Laugh It Takes a Train to Cry (Bob Dylan) I got on a train I can't buy a thrill Well…
Just A Little Bit I feel a good sensation And I been lifted child by…
Lester the Arrester When Lester was a little bitty baby Mama told him, "Son,…
Love Of A Woman Love of a woman She's 'sposed to be a very special…
Lovin' You's Easy (Bruce Stephens) Lovin' you's easy, this time I want more Ca…
Magnolia Caboose (Dickie Peterson & Leigh Stephens) Instrumental jammin'…
Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger (Dickie Peterson & Leigh Stephens) Instrumental jamm…
Make Me Laugh Why are you the only one That makes me laugh my…
Man of the Sun Well I was born standing up I'm gonna die laying down I…
Man on the Run 1 2 3 4 Well, I was born standing up I'm gonna…
Mke Me Laugh Why are you the only one That makes me laugh my…
Money Troubles (Dr. Richard Peddicord) Here's money troubles and I don't kn…
Natural Man Well, you can buy most anything With money in your hand But…
Nightmares Oh! I have known her and chew me to the bone A…
Oh! Pleasant Hope (Dr. Richard Peddicord) Billy Joe went lookin' round One yel…
Out Of Focus Alright! A cold, cold darkness And past confusion Is quickly…
Outrider (Dickie Peterson) Ooooh, Allright! Outrider on a boulevard…
Parchment Farm I been sitting over here on Parchment Farm I been sitting…
Peace Of Mind (Randy Holden) Peace of mind To find is not easy When the on…
Pilot (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) I'm the pilot of this…
Preacher (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) I don't have to have…
Pull the Trigger (Dieter Saller) A trail of blood behind you Your back's agai…
Red House (Jimi Hendrix) (Well lookit here, baby) Said there's a red h…
Rest At Ease (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) Rest at ease today All my…
Ride With Me (Tony Rainier) Blood runs hot around your neck No matter wha…
Rock and Roll Queens Here they come flyin' down the street Pack in all the…
Rock Me Baby Whew, whoa alright! I just wanna say I love you All night…
Sandwich (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) I got a hole in…
Satisfaction Can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction. 'Cau…
Saturday Freedom All those weekend images tuggin' in the fog Midnight flood y…
Second Time Around Listen here baby 'Cause you outta time I'm so sorry It's the…
Sex Soldier (Dickie Peterson & Dieter Saller) Oooh yeah! Alright! Sex …
Summertime Blues Well Lord I got to raise a fuss, Lord I…
Summertime Blues (Live) Oh Lord, I got to raise a fuss, Lord I…
Sun Cycle The lady folded Her silver hair Behind her back With the str…
Sweet Child of the Reeperbahn (Dickie Peterson & Dieter Saller) Oooh, sweet, sweet child Y…
Tears in My Bead (Ralph Burns Kellogg) Lonely, lonely tears by my bed You kno…
The Hunter They call me the Hunter and Lord, that's my name A…
The Same Old Story (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) I try so hard to…
Traveling Man (Gary L. Yoder & G.R. Grelecki) 1, 2, 1-2-3-4 Oh yes, Am…
Urban Soldiers (Dickie Peterson) Allllright! Out of a gun, You gather rou…
West Coast Child Of Sunshine West coast child of sunshine Every day's a po' man's blues W…
when Turn yourself around Stop looking at the ground Things will …
When It All Gets Old Let's find a darker night Let's find a brighter light Let's …
When Two Spirits Touch (Dickie Peterson) Yaayy-ow! Oooh yeah! When two spirits to…
You're Gonna Need Someone Well, you're gonna need someone Baby, when you're blue Well,…