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.
Ride With Me
Blue Cheer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blood runs hot around your neck
No matter what you do
The evening's cold, The nighttime sweats
The strangest colors of blue.
You want it hard
You give it all you got
Make no mistake
The time will last
Just give it your best shot.
They say we're young and we don't know
They say we don't have a clue
The price you pay to live your life
The shit they toss to you!
You want it hard
You want it fast
You give it all you got
Make no mistake
The time will last
Just give it your best shot.
Ride with me to the sun
Ride with me to the dawn
Ride on!
Ride on!
Ride on!
Ride with me to the dawn.
The blood runs hot all down your legs
No matter what you do
The price you pay to live your life
The shit they toss to you!
You want it hard
You want it fast
You give it all you got
Make no mistake
The time will last
Just give it your best shot.
Ride with me to the dawn
Ride with me into the sun
Ride on!
Ride on!
Ride on!
Ride with me for the dawn.
"Ride With Me" by Blue Cheer is a song that encapsulates the reckless abandon of youth and living life on your own terms. The opening lyrics "blood runs hot around your neck, no matter what you do" set the intensity and passion of the song. The use of "strangest colors of blue" hints at the emotional turmoil that can come with such intensity. The chorus "you want it hard, you want it fast, you give it all you've got, the time will last, just give it your best shot" is a call to action, to seize the moment and live life to the fullest.
The second verse is a critique of society's view on youth, that they are clueless and inexperienced. The line "the price you pay to live your life, the shit they toss to you" is a commentary on the unfair expectations and hardships placed upon young people. The third verse returns to the physical and emotional toll of living life with such fervor, "the blood runs hot all down your legs, no matter what you do" further emphasizing the vehement nature of the song.
Overall, "Ride With Me" is a song that celebrates the energetic and impulsive nature of youth, while also acknowledging the challenges and hardships that come with it. The song is a call to action, a reminder to not let life pass you by and to always give it your all.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood runs hot around your neck
You are feeling a strong emotion or desire.
No matter what you do
Despite your efforts or actions, the feeling persists.
The evening's cold, The nighttime sweats
Your surroundings or situation are uncomfortable, even at night.
The strangest colors of blue.
You are experiencing a sense of sadness or depression.
You want it hard
You have a strong desire or ambition.
You want it fast
You want to achieve your goal quickly.
You give it all you got
You put in a lot of effort towards achieving your goal.
Make no mistake
Don't underestimate or doubt yourself.
The time will last
Your experience or moment will endure.
Just give it your best shot.
Do your best and put in all your effort.
They say we're young and we don't know
Others believe you lack experience or understanding.
They say we don't have a clue
Others believe you lack knowledge or understanding.
The price you pay to live your life
The cost or sacrifices that come with living.
The shit they toss to you!
The difficulties or challenges that come your way.
Ride with me to the sun
Join me in a journey towards a brighter future.
Ride with me to the dawn
Join me in a journey towards the start of a new day.
Ride on!
Keep moving forward.
Ride with me into the sun
Join me in a journey towards a brighter future.
Ride with me for the dawn.
Join me in a journey towards the start of a new day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
WytheMan 74
One of the greatest, underrated bands, of the late 60s early 70s....They need, due respect, no doubt....
Lourival Andrade
Quando o ao vivo sai melhor que o estúdio
Big trouble, in little life
oh my god, after whatching Metal, the documentary about Heavy metal origins i could not resist to check out blue cheer, and i lost my though on this, its so good, i cant stop listening, thanks, great song!
Monique A.R.
Great song!! 🤟🏻⚡
safeashouses211
A great live album from Blue Cheer that appears to be OOP. I got it on CD for £4.32 off eBay a few years ago. Bargain!!
Scotty Flamingo
I got this CD! What a gem!
sportster16301
What a badass bass!
will white
amazing song!
Leoswoke bringit
Thanks for posting. Such a great song to rock to.
Annelies Dedobbeleer
amazing song !