Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1967. The band consisted of members Dickie Peterson (bass, vocals), Paul Whaley (drums), and Leigh Stephens (guitar), and they are considered one of the pioneers of heavy metal music.
Blue Cheer's music was characterized by their incredibly loud, distorted sound, which was a major influence on the development of heavy metal. They were also known for their high-energy live shows, which often featured extended jams and improvisation.
The band's debut album, "Vincebus Eruptum," was released in 1968 and is widely regarded as a classic of the genre. The album featured their hit cover of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues," which became a staple of their live performances.
Blue Cheer released several more albums over the years, but they never achieved the same level of commercial success as their early work. Despite this, they remained a beloved and influential band, inspiring countless musicians in the heavy metal and hard rock genres.
Sadly, Dickie Peterson passed away in 2009, but the band's legacy lives on as a pioneering force in heavy metal music.
Blue Cheer I (1967)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Leigh Stephens - guitar
- Eric Albronda - drums
Blue Cheer II (1967)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Leigh Stephens - guitar
- Jerre Peterson - guitar
- Vale Hamanaka - (keyboards
- Jere Whiting - vocals, harmonica
- Paul Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer III (1967 - 1968)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Leigh Stephens - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer IV (1968 - 1969)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Randy Holden - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer V (1969)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Bruce Stephens - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer VI (1969)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Bruce Stephens - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
- Ralph Burns Kellogg - Keyboards, bass
Blue Cheer VII (1969 - 1970)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Bruce Stephens - guitar
- Norman Mayell - drums
- Ralph Burns Kellogg - Keyboards, bass
Blue Cheer VIII (1970 - 1972)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Gary Lee Yoder - guitar
- Norman Mayell - drums
- Ralph Burns Kellogg - Keyboards, bass
Blue Cheer IX (1972 - 1974)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Jerre Peterson - guitar
- Troy Spence, Jr - guitar
- James Curry - drums
Blue Cheer X (1974 - 1975)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Ruben De Fuentes - guitar
- Jerre Peterson - guitar
- Terry Rae - drums
Blue Cheer XI (1975)
- Nick St. Nicholas - vocals, bass
- Ruben De Fuentes - guitar
- Jerre Peterson - guitar
- Terry Rae - drums
Group disbanded 1975 - 1978.
Blue Cheer XII (1978 - 1979)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Tony Rainier - guitar
- Mike Fleck - drums
Group disbanded 1979 - 1984.
Blue Cheer XIII (1984 - 1985)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Tony Rainier - guitar
- Pal Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer XIV (1985 - 1987)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Tony Rainier - guitar
- Brent Harknett - drums
Blue Cheer XV (1987)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Tony Rainier - guitar
- Billy Carmassi - drums
Blue Cheer XVI (1987 - 1988)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Ruben DeFuentes - guitar
- Eric Davis - drums
Blue Cheer XVII (1988 - 1990)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Andrew "Duck" MacDonald - guitar
- David Salce - drums
Blue Cheer XVIII (1990)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Andrew "Duck" MacDonald - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer XIX (1990 - 1993)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Dieter Saller - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer XX (1993 - 1994)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Dieter Saller - guitar
- Gary Holland - drums
Group disbanded 1994 - 1999.
Blue Cheer XXI (1999 - 2005)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Andrew "Duck" MacDonald - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
Blue Cheer XXII (2005)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Leigh Stephens - guitar
- Prairie Prince - drums
Blue Cheer XXIII (2005)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Andrew "Duck" MacDonald - guitar
- Joe Hasselvander - drums
Blue Cheer XXIV (2005 - 2009)
- Dickie Peterson - vocals, bass
- Andrew "Duck" MacDonald - guitar
- Paul Whaley - drums
Albums:
- Vincebus Eruptum (1968)
- Outsideinside (1968)
- New! Improved! (1969)
- Blue Cheer (1969)
- The Original Human Being (1970)
- Oh! Pleasant Hope (1971)
- The Beast Is Back (1984)
- Highlights and Lowlives (1990)
- Dining with the Sharks (1991)
- What Doesn't Kill You... (2007)
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Last Revised: April 26, 2023 |
