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.
Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham
Blue Cheer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm leaving Birmingham, yes, I am, and I ain't lookin' back
I bought me a guitar and I wrote a song
I played it for the DJ on the telephone
Going out to Hollywood, feeling good, yes, I am
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
Alright
Riding on a Greyhound bus 'cross the Tennessee borderline
Eating from a Po' Boy sandwich, taking drinks from a quart of wine
I got to get off at the very last stop
My ticket's only good to Little Rock
Going out to Hollywood, feeling good, yes, I am
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
I got mixed up with a big city woman in Little Rock
I had to spend a week one time in the county jail
I had to take a two-day job to get my guitar out of hock
That's the way it goes when you got no dough to make bail
I ran out of transportation funds, I had to hitchhike
I caught me a ride with a tattooed dude on a motorbike
People gonna know when I'm in town
Heads are gonna turn when they hear my sound
Going out to Hollywood, feeling good, yes, I am
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
Ow, uh
You know that I'm tired of going down
I believe I'm gonna leave this town
I'm leaving Birmingham, yes, I am
Yes, I am, yes, I am
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
The lyrics to Blue Cheer's "Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham" can be interpreted as an anthem for following one's dreams and leaving the past behind. The singer of the song leaves everything behind in Birmingham and sets out for Hollywood with only a guitar and a dream. However, the road to success is not without obstacles, as he runs into trouble in Little Rock and ends up in jail. Despite setbacks, he remains undeterred and continues his journey, hitchhiking with a tattooed man on a motorbike.
The lyrics could also be seen as a commentary on the societal struggles and limitations of living in a small Southern town. The singer is tired of going down and decides to leave the town to pursue his dreams in L.A. The song could be seen as a representation of the cultural shift of the 1960s, as many young people were leaving their homes in search of a new life and freedoms that were not available in their small towns.
Line by Line Meaning
I packed everything I own and I put it in a knapsack
I gathered all my possessions and put them in a backpack
I'm leaving Birmingham, yes, I am, and I ain't lookin' back
I'm departing from Birmingham and not planning to return
I bought me a guitar and I wrote a song
I purchased a guitar and composed a song
I played it for the DJ on the telephone
I performed my song for the DJ over the phone
Going out to Hollywood, feeling good, yes, I am
I'm heading to Hollywood and feeling content
Hello L.A., bye, bye Birmingham
I'm bidding farewell to Birmingham and greeting Los Angeles
Riding on a Greyhound bus 'cross the Tennessee borderline
I'm travelling via a Greyhound bus across the Tennessee border
Eating from a Po' Boy sandwich, taking drinks from a quart of wine
I'm snacking on a Po' Boy sandwich and drinking wine from a quart-sized bottle
I got to get off at the very last stop
I must disembark at the final destination
My ticket's only good to Little Rock
My ticket permits me to travel solely to Little Rock
I got mixed up with a big city woman in Little Rock
I became involved with a woman from the city in Little Rock
I had to spend a week one time in the county jail
I was once incarcerated in the county jail for a week
I had to take a two-day job to get my guitar out of hock
I had to work for two days to recover my guitar from pawn
That's the way it goes when you got no dough to make bail
That's how it is when you lack cash to post bail
I ran out of transportation funds, I had to hitchhike
I depleted my travel money and had to hitchhike
I caught me a ride with a tattooed dude on a motorbike
I hitched a ride with a tattooed man on a motorbike
People gonna know when I'm in town
Locals will be aware when I'm present
Heads are gonna turn when they hear my sound
My music will catch people's attention
You know that I'm tired of going down
I'm tired of experiencing hardships
I believe I'm gonna leave this town
I trust that I'll depart from this town
Yes, I am, yes, I am
Indeed, I will depart
Bye, bye Birmingham
Farewell Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
Goodbye Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
So long Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
Adieu Birmingham
Bye, bye Birmingham
Sayonara Birmingham
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DELANEY BRAMLETT, MAC DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chiquiti Bumbombita
One of my favorite songs of this great band
musicisbrilliant
Dickie's voice is so good. Definitely an improvement over the original. RIP legend.
musicisbrilliant
Good to see you 3 months later!! Always be back!! :D
rick bozek
This perhaps THEE most best band that has been passed over by radio,,OutsideInside is still one of my favorite albums
Roberto Carrion
That keyboard sound is perfect, stoner rock at its best.
Aaron Cathcart
Such a soulful tune
shadow walker
just an awesome song with the late bass player and founder as well as singer Dickie Peterson
Brian Neal
I bought me a guitar and I wrote a song. I played it for the DJ on the telephone .... Love it
PhiZappaCrappa
Truly a perennial favourite!
Chiquiti Bumbombita
Great sound 👍