Blue Cheer

1966

Blue Cheer started out as a 6 member, psychedelic blues-rock band. Based in San Francisco. Jim Morrison said "Blue Cheer was the epitome of San Francisco psychedelia."

BC was co-founded by Eric Albronda and Jerry Russell, with members Dickie Peterson (singer/bassist), Leigh Stephens (guitarist), and Eric Albronda as drummer. Albronda was later replaced by Paul Whaley, who was joined by Dickie's brother Jerre Peterson (guitar), Vale Hamanaka (keyboards), and Jerry Whiting (vocals, harmonica). Albronda continued his association with Blue Cheer as a member of Blue Cheer management, as well as being the producer or co-producer of five Blue Cheer albums.

A member of The Hell's Angels by the name of Gut managed the band. After seeing Leigh Stephens

Jimi Hendrix perform at the Monterey Pop Festival it was decided the lineup should be trimmed down, and adopt a power trio configuration.

Hamanaka and Whiting were asked to leave. Jerre Peterson decided to leave as well, leaving Dickie, Leigh and Paul as a trio. Their first hit was a cover version of Eddie Cochran's Paul Whaley

"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.

Personnel Changes

The group has undergone several personnel changes over the years, the first occurring in 1968. It is believed that Leigh Stephens left the band due to musical differences, however some claim that he left due to deafness. Stephens was then replaced by Randy Holden, formally of "The Other Half".
There has been instances of memebrs leaving for a time then returning, and their replacements then leaving. For the whole member history we suggest you visit the links further down this page.

Break Ups, Reconfigurations, inactivity

Blue Cheer temporarily split up in 1972. There was a temporary resumption in 1974 with Dickie Peterson being joined by brother Jerre, Ruben de Fuentes (guitar)[18] and Terry Rae (drums) for some tour dates. This grouping continued on briefly in 1975 with former Steppenwolf bassist Nick St. Nicholas replacing Dickie. The group was then largely inactive for nearly three years, until 1978.

Dickie returned in 1978-79 with a fresh line-up of Tony Rainier on guitar and Mike Fleck on drums. This version of the group never got out of rehearsal studios.

Blue Cheer was once again inactive in the early 1980s. There was another attempt to reunite in 1983, but that fell through. In 1984, Peterson had better luck when he returned with Whaley and Rainier as Blue Cheer and a brand new album The Beast Is Back.
In 1985 Whaley left again, as drummer Brent Harknett took over, only to be succeeded by Billy Carmassi in 1987. That same year, Dickie led yet another new lineup of the Cheer that had Ruben de Fuentes back on guitar and Eric Davis on drums. In 1988, the line-up changed once again, being now composed of Dickie Peterson (bass), with Andrew "Duck" MacDonald (guitar) and Dave Salce (drums).

1989 - 93

During this time, Blue Cheer toured mainly in Europe. they played with classic rock acts as well as then-up-and-coming bands: Mountain, Outlaws, Thunder, The Groundhogs, Ten Years After, The Yardbirds, Danzig, Mucky Pup and others.

"Blitzkrieg over Nüremberg" Blue Cheer's first official live album wqas released in 1989, during the bands first European tour in decades.

1990 saw the release of the Highlights and Lowlives studio album, composed of blues-based heavy metal and one ballad. The album was co-produced by notable grunge producer Jack Endino and German Neonazi and producer Roland Hofmann. The line-up was Peterson, Whaley on drums and MacDonald on guitars. Peterson often appeared on stage wearing t-shirts showing neofascist slogans and symbols during that period. He soon realised who Hoffmann was though and stopped working with him in the future.

Blue Cheer was dormant from 1994 - 1999.

Blue Cheer Returns

In 1999, Peterson & Whaley got together with guitarist MacDonald, to resume touring as Blue Cheer. This band configuration remained largely constant from 1999 until Peterson's death in 2009.

Death of Dickie Peterson and Blue Cheer

On October 12, 2009, Peterson died in Germany after development and spread of prostate cancer. After Peterson's death, longtime Blue Cheer guitarist Andrew MacDonald wrote on the group's website that "Blue Cheer is done. Out of respect for Dickie, Blue Cheer (will) never become a viable touring band again."

From 1968's Vincibus Eruptum to 2009's Blue Cheer Rocks Europe concert DVD, Blue Cheer has produced some of the hardest rocking music possible, influencing countless musicians and inspiring fans worldwide.

Our Partner rocks !

Blue Cheer Links
Need more information about "Blue Cheer" ? Visit the links here.
Blue Cheer Official Site ♪♫ Wikipedia/Blue Cheer ♪♫ HR Music.TV (featuring hour concert video) ♪♫
Dieter Saller (played guitar on Dining With The Sharks) ♪♫ Metro Lyrics (Blue Cheer lyrics)
♪♫ Perfect Sound Forever (article by Andrew Lau, from Feb. 2007, covering the 2007 tour, and a conversation with Dickie Peterson) ♪♫ Hank Davidson Band (A German biker band that Dickie Petrson used to jam with occasionally) ♪♫ Blue Cheer Fan Site ♪♫

Blue Cheer Discography
Studio albums
*mouse-over album title to view album details
Blue Cheer has also had eight singles and have appeared on many other various artists compilation albums

Released 1968 Vincebus Eruptum	Released 1968 Outsideinside	Released 1969 New! Improved!	Released 1969 Blue Cheer	Released 1970 The Original Human Being	Released 1971 Oh! Pleasant Hope
Released 1984 The Beast is Back	Released 1990 Highlights And Lowlives	Released 1991 Dining With the Sharks