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{{short description|American rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Lead too short|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Blue Cheer | image = Blue Cheer Amstelveen 1968.jpg | image_size = 250 | landscape = | caption = From left to right: [[Dickie Peterson]], [[Randy Holden]], and [[Paul Whaley]] in 1968 | origin = [[San Francisco]], California, U.S. | genre = <!-- Add REFERENCED genres, not genres which they have influenced. -->{{flatlist| * [[Hard rock]]<ref>{{cite book |author=Bob Leszczak |title=Who Did It First?: Great Rock and Roll Cover Songs and Their Original Artists |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4egLBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA208 |date=July 10, 2014 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-3322-5 |page=208}}</ref> * {{nowrap|[[psychedelic rock]]<ref>{{cite book |author1=Michael Goddard |author2=Benjamin Halligan |author3=Nicola Spelman |title=Resonances: Noise and Contemporary Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mILFAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA185 |date=July 18, 2013 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4411-1837-0 |page=185}}</ref>}} * {{nowrap|[[blues rock]]<ref>{{cite book |author=Tim Boomer |title=The Bassist's Bible: How to Play Every Bass Style from Afro-Cuban to Zydeco |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tI3cBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA69-IA26 |date=June 1, 2013 |publisher=See Sharp Press |isbn=978-1-937276-25-6 |page=69}}</ref>}} * [[acid rock]]<ref name="AMG-BlueCheer">{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3713|label=Blue Cheer}}</ref> * [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref>{{cite book |author=Eric v.d. Luft |title=Die at the Right Time!: A Subjective Cultural History of the American Sixties |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ryvnZiTBAAC&pg=PA279 |date=September 21, 2009 |publisher=Gegensatz Press |isbn=978-1-933237-39-8 |page=279}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/where-are-they-now-blue-cheer-44367/ |title=Where Are They Now: Blue Cheer |first=David |last=Fricke |website=Rollingstone.com |date=September 12, 1985|access-date=July 15, 2021}}</ref> * [[proto-punk]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/cult-heroes-blue-cheer-the-band-who-invented-heavy-metal |title=Cult Heroes: Blue Cheer- the band who invented heavy metal |first=Ken |last=McIntyre |website=loudersound.com |date=November 4, 2016|access-date=May 4, 2022}}</ref> }} | associated_acts = {{hlist|Group B|The Oxford Circle|[[The Other Half (band)|The Other Half]]|[[Sopwith Camel (band)|Sopwith Camel]]|Silver Metre|Monsters|[[Raven (band)|Raven]]|[[Pentagram (band)|Pentagram]]|Mother Ocean}} | label = [[Philips]] | past_members = See [[#Personnel|members section]] | years_active = {{hlist|1966β1975|1978β1979|1984β1994|1999β2009}} }} '''Blue Cheer''' was an American [[Rock music|rock]]<!--Heavy metal in the infobox, do not change the genre without discussing--> band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in [[San Francisco]], Blue Cheer played in a [[psychedelic rock|psychedelic]] [[blues rock]] or [[acid rock]] style.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=January 29 |first1=Aidin Vaziri |last2=February 1 |first2=2019Updated |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Paul Whaley, drummer who pioneered heavy metal with Blue Cheer, dies at 72 |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/paul-whaley-drummer-who-invented-heavy-metal-with-blue-cheer-dies-at-72 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425074328/https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/paul-whaley-drummer-who-invented-heavy-metal-with-blue-cheer-dies-at-72 |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |access-date=March 19, 2024 |website=Datebook {{!}} San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide |language=en-US}}</ref> They are also credited as being some of the earliest pioneers of [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]], with their cover of "[[Summertime Blues]]" sometimes cited as the first in the genre.<ref name=RS_bluecheer>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bluecheer/biography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202120229/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bluecheer/biography |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |title=Rolling Stone Music | Top Artists, News, Reviews, Photos and Videos |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref> They have also been noted as influential in the development of genres as disparate as [[punk rock]],<ref name="AMG-VincebusEruptum">{{cite web |last=Deming |first=Mark |url={{AllMusic |class=album |id=r2129|pure_url=yes}} |title=Vincebus Eruptum β Blue Cheer |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref> [[stoner rock]],<ref name="AMG-LiveBootleg">{{cite web |last=Prato |first=Greg |url={{AllMusic |class=album |id=r787619|pure_url=yes}} |title=Live Bootleg: London β Hamburg β Blue Cheer |publisher=AllMusic |date=August 9, 2005 |access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref><ref name=RS_BCatCBGBs>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/06/21/run-for-your-lives-blue-cheer-at-cbgbs/ |title=Music News, Videos, Photos, Artists, Playlists and More |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=21 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508144856/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/06/21/run-for-your-lives-blue-cheer-at-cbgbs/ |archive-date=May 8, 2009}}</ref> [[doom metal]],<ref name=RS_BCatCBGBs/> [[experimental rock]],<ref>[[#refDimery2006|Dimery 2006]] pg 140, "''paving the way for everything from the Stooges to Zeppelin, from heavy metal to experimental rock.''"</ref> and [[grunge]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Phil Alexander |url=http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/03/blue_cheer.html |title=Blue Cheer β Disc of the day |work=Mojo |access-date=21 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206040655/http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/03/blue_cheer.html |archive-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> ==History== ===Main career (1966β1971)=== Blue Cheer were formed in 1966 by [[Dickie Peterson]]. Peterson had previously been with the [[Davis, California|Davis]]-based band [[the Oxford Circle]] along with future Blue Cheer members [[Paul Whaley]] and [[Gary Lee Yoder]]. The original Blue Cheer personnel were singer/bassist Peterson, guitarist [[Leigh Stephens]] and [[Eric Albronda]] as drummer. Albronda was later replaced by Whaley, who was joined by Peterson's brother Jerre (guitar), [[V. Vale|Vale Hamanaka]] (keyboards), and Jere 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.<ref>''Outsideinside'', ''Blue Cheer'', ''The Original Human Being'', ''OH! Pleasant Hope'' and ''The Beast Is Back''. See [http://www.vickibrennerent.com/bluecheer/ericalbronda.htm Profile of Eric Albronda]; Vickibrennerent.com.</ref> The band was managed by Allen "Gut" Terk, a former member of the [[Hells Angels]].<ref name=RS_bluecheer/> Early on, it was decided that the line-up should be trimmed down. It has been said that Blue Cheer decided to adopt a [[power trio]] configuration after seeing [[Jimi Hendrix]] perform at the [[Monterey Pop Festival]].<ref>See [https://www.brautigan.net/chronology1960.html Portrait of Vale Hamanaka/V. Vale] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607223812/https://www.brautigan.net/chronology1960.html |date=June 7, 2016 }}; Brautigan.net.</ref> Hamanaka and Whiting were asked to leave. Jerre Peterson did not want to remain in the group without them, so he departed as well, leaving Peterson, Stephens and Whaley as a trio. Their first hit was a [[cover version]] of [[Eddie Cochran]]'s "[[Summertime Blues]]" from their debut album ''[[Vincebus Eruptum]]'' (1968).<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock]] |editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]] |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |date=1999 |edition=First |isbn=0-7535-0257-7 |pages=70/1}}</ref> The single peaked at No. 14 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart, their only such hit, and the album peaked at No. 11 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart. In Canada, the song peaked at No. 3 on the [[RPM (magazine)|RPM Magazine]] chart. The "Summertime Blues" single was backed with Dickie Peterson's original song "Out Of Focus". Peterson also contributed to the album the eight-minute "Doctor Please" and "Second Time Around", which features Paul Whaley's frantic drum solo. Filling out the record, the band cranked out blues covers "[[Rock Me Baby (song)|Rock Me Baby]]" (by [[B.B. King]]) and "[[Parchman Farm (song)|Parchman Farm]]" ([[Mose Allison]], but retitled "Parchment Farm").<ref name="LarkinHR"/> [[File:Just a Little Bit - ad 1968.jpg|thumb|''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' advertisement, June 15, 1968]] The group underwent several personnel changes, the first occurring after the 1968 release of ''[[Outsideinside]]'' after Leigh Stephens β who never used drugs β was asked to leave the band after criticizing his bandmates' behaviour.<ref>{{cite web |title=Veteran guitarist Leigh Stephens talks about Blue Cheer, Rock n' Roll culture and Haight-Ashbury era |first=Michalis |last=Limnios |date=January 3, 2014 |url= https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/veteran-guitarist-leigh-stephens-talks-about-blue-cheer-rock-n |work=Blues.Gr |access-date=August 28, 2023}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Randy Holden]], formerly of Los Angeles [[garage rock]] band [[The Other Half (band)|the Other Half]].<ref name="LarkinHR"/> On 1969's ''[[New! Improved!]]'' there were different guitarists on side 1 and side 2 (Randy Holden and Bruce Stephens) due to Holden's unanticipated departure from the band. Following Holden's departure the band's line-up initially consisted of Dickie Peterson (bass), Tom Weisser (guitar), and Mitch Mitchell (drums), before Whaley returned and Bruce Stephens joined the band. Later, [[Ethan James (producer)|Ralph Burns Kellogg]] joined the band on keyboards.<ref>Both Stephens and Kellogg had previously worked together in The Emeralds, a well-known northern California backing band in the 1960s. The Emeralds had also toured with The [[The Coasters|Coasters]], [[The Olympics (band)|The Olympics]], [[The Larks]], [[Bob & Earl]], [[Chuck Berry]], [[Junior Walker]], [[Ray Peterson]], and also opened shows for [[The Kinks]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[The Animals]], [[Chad & Jeremy]] and [[Paul Revere & the Raiders]], among others. By the time Stephens and Kellogg were asked to join Blue Cheer, both had co-founded Mint Tattoo, which had recorded one album engineered by [[Phil Ramone]] and produced by [[James William Guercio]]. While in Mint Tattoo, Stephens and Kellogg had opened shows for [[Jeff Beck]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Ten Years After]], [[James Cotton]] and [[Janis Joplin]]. Bruce Stephens later played with Pilot (not the same band that had a hit with "It's Magic"), one of Leigh Stephen's (no relation) post-Blue Cheer projects. One song from this period, "Fillmore Shuffle" was later recorded by [[Sammy Hagar]] on his second solo album, ''[[Sammy Hagar (album)|Sammy Hagar]]'' (1977). See [http://cdbaby.com/cd/brucestephens Profile of Bruce Stephens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205001829/http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brucestephens |date=February 5, 2012 }}; Rearwindowmusic.com, via Cdbaby.com</ref> Blue Cheer's style now changed to a more commercial hard rock sound Γ la [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]] or [[Iron Butterfly]]. By the fourth album, ''[[Blue Cheer (album)|Blue Cheer]]'',<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Paul Whaley had left the band and had been replaced by Norman Mayell, and following the release of the fourth album Bruce Stephens also left the band<ref>Bruce Stephens continued in music, but with a much lower profile. In early 2009, he released ''Saturday Freedom'' (Rear Window Records), being a compilation of his compositions over the past three decades. "Rendezvous", a song co-written by Stephens, was included in ''The Cage'', the 1982 album by [[Tygers of Pan Tang]]. Also in 1982, Stephens had released his first solo album, ''Watch That First Step'', which featured supporting performances by [[Steve Miller Band|Lonnie Turner]], [[Procol Harum|B.J. Wilson]] and [[Norton Buffalo]], among others. Stephens has the distinction of being, at the age of sixteen, the youngest member in the history of the Musicians' Union of Sacramento, California. See [http://cdbaby.com/cd/brucestephens Profile of Bruce Stephens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205001829/http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brucestephens |date=February 5, 2012 }}; Rearwindowmusic.com, via Cdbaby.com.</ref> and was succeeded by Gary Lee Yoder who helped complete the album. According to Peterson, the group's lifestyle during this period caused problems with the music industry and press. Peterson said the group was outraged by the [[Vietnam War]] and society in general.<ref name=Petersondead/> The new line-up of Peterson, Kellogg, Mayell and Yoder in 1970 saw the release of ''[[The Original Human Being]]'', followed by 1971's ''[[Oh! Pleasant Hope]]''.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> When the latter album failed to dent the sales charts, Blue Cheer temporarily split up in 1971.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> ===1974β1975 and 1978β1979 reunions=== In 1974, Blue Cheer reformed under the name βPeterbilt,β with Dickie Peterson and brother Jerre Peterson as founding members and three guitars in the band's lineup. Peterbilt played club appearances in Sacramento January 10β12.<ref name="Sac_Bee_1-9-1974">{{cite journal |author1=<!--not stated--> |title=Rock Group Is To Play Dates |journal=Sacramento Bee |date=9 January 1974 |volume=232 |issue=38343 |page=H19 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/620270058/?terms=%22Blue%20Cheer%22&match=1 |access-date=11 July 2023 |publisher=The McClatchy Company |location=Sacramento, CA|url-access=subscription }}</ref> By May of that year, they had switched the name back to "Blue Cheer" and the Petersons were co-writing new songs and slowly attracting more bookings.<ref name="Sac_Bee_5-5-1974">{{cite journal |last=Leon |first=Vicki |title=Rock Stars Are Rising Again After Bad Trip With Heroin |journal=Sacramento Bee |date=5 May 1974 |volume=233 |issue=38459 |page=A3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/620624198/?terms=%22Blue%20Cheer%22&match=1 |access-date=11 July 2023 |publisher=The McClatchy Company |location=Sacramento, CA|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The band played an outdoor festival in San Juan Capistrano July 5.<ref name="Daily_Sun_Post_7-8-1974">{{cite journal |author1=<!--not stated--> |title=SJC Rock Event Draws Thousands |journal=The Daily Sun-Post |date=8 July 1974 |volume=36 |issue=129 |page=2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/923144853/?terms=Blue%20Cheer&match=1 |access-date=11 July 2023 |publisher=Media News Group |location=San Clemente, CA |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In December 1974, Blue Cheer played a Christmas festival at [[Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)|The Greek Theatre]] in Los Angeles on December 22 alongside [[Van Halen]], [[Judee Sill]], [[The Coasters]] and [[Art Laboe|Art Laboe's]] Band,<ref name="SP_News-Pilot_12-18-1974">{{cite journal |author1=<!--not stated--> |title=It's Greek Festival |journal=San Pedro News-Pilot |date=18 December 1974 |volume=45 |issue=241 |page=C10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/606396047/?terms=Blue%20Cheer&match=1 |access-date=11 July 2023 |publisher=The Copley Press Inc |location=San Pedro, CA |url-access=subscription }}</ref> followed by a three-night run of appearances at [[The Whisky a Go Go]] from December 23 to December 25.<ref name="LA_Times_12-25-1974">{{cite journal |last1=Cromelin |first1=Richard |title=Muted Blast From the Musty Past |journal=Los Angeles Times |date=25 December 1974 |volume=CXIV |page=Part IV, p. 28 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385621692/?terms=Blue%20Cheer&match=1 |access-date=11 July 2023 |location=Los Angeles |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 1975, [[Kim Fowley]] produced an album for Blue Cheer,<ref name="KF_Goldmine_11-26-1993_RBP">{{cite news |last1=Roeser |first1=Steve |title=Kim Fowley: Living and Dying in L.A. |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/kim-fowley-living-and-dying-in-la |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Goldmine |publisher=Project M Media |date=26 November 1993 |location=New York |format=online}}</ref> with sometime [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]] member [[Nick St. Nicholas]] co-producing. The lineup included the Peterson brothers on bass and guitar, along with ex-[[Hollywood Stars (band)|Hollywood Stars]] members Ruben De Fuentes on guitar<ref name="HWS_Hustle_RDF_10-29-2019">{{Cite AV media notes |title=''The Hustle, Episode 234 - Ruben De Fuentes of The Hollywood Stars'' |last=De Fuentes |first=Ruben |author-link=Ruben De Fuentes |others=Jon Lamoreaux |url=https://thehustle.podbean.com/e/episode-234-ruben-de-fuentes-of-the-hollywood-stars/ |date=29 Oct 2019 |access-date=3 October 2023 |at=42:06β42:34 |type=audio podcast |location=Denver, CO }}</ref> and Terry Rae on drums.<ref name="discogs_BC_Live_Unreleased_Quote">{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1247811-Blue-Cheer-Live-Unreleased-6874 |title= Blue Cheer β Live & Unreleased '68/'74|author=Groovetguy (assumed to be Terry Rae) |website=Discogs |at=Reviews section |date= 27 March 2020 |access-date=11 July 2023 |quote= Terry Rae played drums on tracks 4 to 9. Fighting Star & Adventures recorded at Gold Star studios. }}</ref> Although the album was never released,<ref name=KF_Goldmine_11-26-1993_RBP /> six tracks from this period were released on the Captain Trip Records album ''Live and Unreleased '68/'74'' (1996).<ref name="Live_Unreleased_tray_card">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Live and Unreleased '68/'74 |others=Blue Cheer |date=1996 |access-date=11 July 2023 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1247811-Blue-Cheer-Live-Unreleased-6874/image/SW1hZ2U6MjYwOTEwOTE= |at=Tray card |type=compact disc |publisher=Captain Trip Records |id=CTCD-023 |location=Tokyo}}</ref> Dickie Peterson left the band in 1975 with Nick St. Nicholas replacing him on bass/vocals, leaving the band with no original members for some shows.<ref name="NStN_LAMA">{{cite web |title=Nick St. Nickolas. 1997 Performer β 7th annual LA Music Awards |url=http://www.lamusicawards.com/act/nick-st-nicholas/ |website=The New Los Angeles Music Awards |publisher=LA Music Awards |access-date=11 July 2023 |date=2015}}</ref><ref name="UGtr_BC">{{cite web |author1=David SlavkoviΔ |title=Forgotten Pioneers of Heavy Metal: Blue Cheer |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/forgotten_pioneers_of_heavy_metal_blue_cheer-70823 |website=Ultimate-Guitar.com |access-date=11 July 2023 |date=8 Jan 2018}}</ref> The band played Laguna Beach Winter Festival February 15 of that year.<ref name="LA_Times_2-14-1975">{{cite journal |author1=<!--not stated--> |title=What's Doing in Orange County |journal=Los Angeles Times |date=14 February 1975 |volume=CXIV |page=Part IV, p. 15 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385621692/?terms=Blue%20Cheer&match=1 |access-date=11 July 2023 |location=Los Angeles |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 1978, Dickie Peterson began rehearsing with Davis-based guitarist Tony Rainier, a younger brother of Peterson's high school friend (and sometime Blue Cheer soundman and bodyguard) Larry Rainier. Michael Fleck was auditioned as drummer. The reformed Blue Cheer recorded an album with Jim Keylor at Army Street Studios.<ref name="BC_7_notes">{{Cite AV media notes |title =Blue Cheer 7 |last = Albronda |first= Eric |others=Blue Cheer |date=2012 |access-date=11 July 2023 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/19639324-Blue-Cheer-7/image/SW1hZ2U6NjM0OTM2MTU= |at=Inner gatefold |type=Vinyl LP |publisher=ShroomAngel Records |id= SR-LP0002 |location= Houston }}</ref> The album was initially unreleased,<ref name="SoT_RTA_BC">{{cite AV media |people = Pete Pardo |title = Ranking the Studio Albums: Blue Cheer |medium = video |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP3zMbDQMtk&t=873s |access-date = 11 July 2023 |time = 14:33β14:57 |location = Poughkeepsie, NY | publisher = Sea of Tranquility }}</ref> but received an official release in 2012 by ShroomAngel Records as ''Blue Cheer 7.''<ref name=BC_7_notes /> The band embarked on a US tour in 1978β1979 with setlists that featured tracks from the first two Blue Cheer albums, and then returned to a period of inactivity after the tour completed.<ref name= UGtr_BC /> ===Further reconfigurations, relocation to Germany, second and third extended hiatus (1980sβ1998)=== 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]]'', which was released on the New York label [[Megaforce Records]].<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Whaley left again in 1985 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 [[Duck MacDonald|Andrew "Duck" MacDonald]] (guitar) and Dave Salce (drums). From 1989 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 (band)|Mountain]], [[Outlaws (band)|Outlaws]], [[Thunder (band)|Thunder]], [[The Groundhogs]], [[Ten Years After]], [[Mucky Pup]], Biohazard and others. 1989 saw the release of Blue Cheer's first official live album, ''Blitzkrieg over NΓΌremberg''. This album was recorded during Blue Cheer's first European tour in decades. 1990 saw the release of the ''[[Highlights and Lowlives]]'' studio album,<ref name="LarkinHR"/> composed of blues-based [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] and one ballad. The album was co-produced by notable grunge producer [[Jack Endino]] and producer Roland Hofmann. The line-up was Peterson, Whaley on drums and MacDonald on guitars.<ref>[http://www.deaddisc.com/ot/Highlights_And_Low_Lives.htm Credits: ''Highlights and Lowlives'']; Deaddisc.com.</ref> Blue Cheer followed up ''Highlights and Lowlives'' with the much heavier ''Dining with the Sharks''. Duck MacDonald was replaced by German ex-Monsters<ref>A band that continues to remain active. See [http://www.voodoorhythm.com/Monsters.html Monsters website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205011228/http://www.voodoorhythm.com/Monsters.html |date=December 5, 2008 }}.</ref> guitar player Dieter Saller in 1990. Also featured is a special guest appearance by [[The Groundhogs|Groundhogs]] guitarist [[Tony McPhee]]. The album was co-produced by Roland Hofmann and Blue Cheer.<ref>[http://www.deaddisc.com/ot/Dining_With_The_Sharks.htm Credits: ''Dining With The Sharks'']; Deaddisc.com.</ref> [[Gary Holland]] (ex-[[Dokken]]/[[Great White]]/Britton replaced Whaley on drums in 1993. In the early 1990s, Peterson and Whaley re-located to Germany. In 1992, Peterson recorded his first solo album, ''Child of the Darkness'', in Cologne with a band named "The Scrap Yard". The album appeared five years later in Japan on [[Captain Trip Records]]. After Peterson came back to the U.S. in 1994, Blue Cheer was dormant from 1994 to 1999. ===The return of Blue Cheer (1999β2009)=== In 1999, Peterson and 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. In 2000, Blue Cheer was the subject of a tribute album, ''Blue Explosion β A Tribute to Blue Cheer'', featuring such bands as [[Pentagram (band)|Pentagram]], [[Internal Void]], Hogwash and [[Thumlock]]. Peterson and Leigh Stephens were together once again in Blue Cheer with drummer [[Prairie Prince]] at the [[Chet Helms|Chet Helms Memorial Tribal Stomp]] in San Francisco's [[Golden Gate Park]] on October 29, 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 (band)|Raven]] and [[Pentagram (band)|Pentagram]] on drums, due to Paul Whaley choosing to remain in Germany. While Hasselvander played on the entire album, his contribution was reduced to drums on five songs, with Paul Whaley re-recording the drum parts on the balance of the album. This was because Whaley was set to rejoin the band and it was felt that he should contribute to the album, prior to touring. The resulting CD, ''[[What Doesn't Kill You... (Blue Cheer album)|What Doesn't Kill You...]]'', released in 2007, features contributions from both Whaley and Hasselvander as a consequence.<ref>[http://www.bluecheer.us/archive/andrewmacdonald_files/duck/DUCK.htm Duck MacDonald Autobiography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725195648/http://www.bluecheer.us/archive/andrewmacdonald_files/duck/DUCK.htm |date=July 25, 2011 }} at Bluecheer.us.</ref> Blue Cheer's video for "[[Summertime Blues]]" made an appearance in 2005 documentary ''[[Metal: A Headbanger's Journey]]'', where [[Geddy Lee]] of [[Rush (band)|Rush]] referred to the group as one of the first heavy metal bands. ===Death of Peterson and disbandment (2009)=== Peterson died on October 12, 2009, in Germany from [[prostate cancer]].<ref name="inlog.org">[http://inlog.org/2009/10/12/rip-richard-dickie-peterson-1948-2009/ R.I.P. Richard βDickieβ Peterson (Blue Cheer) (1948β2009)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015000042/http://inlog.org/2009/10/12/rip-richard-dickie-peterson-1948-2009/ |date=October 15, 2009 }}; Inlog.org.</ref> Peterson was actually 63 at the time of his death despite some initial confusion, as exemplified here, immediately following the announcement of his death.<ref name = Petersondead>[http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-dickie-peterson17-2009oct17,0,5352275.story Dickie Peterson dies at 63; bassist and lead singer for the power trio Blue Cheer] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', October 17, 2009; ''Los Angeles Times''.</ref> After Peterson's death, long-time 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." Drummer Paul Whaley died of heart failure in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/paul-whaley-drummer-who-invented-heavy-metal-with-blue-cheer-dies-at-72 |title=Paul Whaley, drummer who pioneered heavy metal with Blue Cheer, dies at 72 |last1=January 29 |first1=Aidin Vaziri |last2=February 1 |first2=2019 Updated |website=Datebook {{!}} San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide|access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref> ===Dispute over ownership of band name=== In recent years, a dispute has arisen as to ownership of the Blue Cheer band name. It was reported that, as of the early 2000s (decade), former Blue Cheer guitarist [[Randy Holden]], assisted by Randy Pratt of The Lizards band, had trademarked the Blue Cheer band name. Holden's association with Blue Cheer was quite brief; his only recorded output with the band is three tracks on ''[[New! Improved!]]'' from 1969.<ref>Though Paul Whaley played drums on Holden's 1996 release (recorded in 1993), ''[[Guitar God]]''. The album was originally on [http://www.captaintrip.co.jp/egs.html Captain Trip Records] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014170738/http://www.captaintrip.co.jp/egs.html |date=October 14, 2008 }}, a Japanese label which has also released Dickie Peterson's two solo records.</ref> The matter had upset Dickie Peterson, given his position as a co-founder of the band and the only continuing member since its inception, but does not appear to have been resolved.<ref>[http://rnruniverse.proboards21.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=qas&thread=10844&page=1 Interview with Dickie Peterson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515235118/http://rnruniverse.proboards21.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=qas&thread=10844&page=1 |date=May 15, 2013 }} by Nightwatcher for Rock N Roll Universe, February 2008.</ref> According to Randy Pratt, this report is not entirely accurate. Pratt provides uncited commentary<ref>By way of edits to the Blue Cheer Wikipedia page as "Whistleinthewind".</ref> as follows: {{blockquote|The Blue Cheer band name was trademarked in 2000 by fan and professional musician Randy Pratt. Pratt put the trademark in former Blue Cheer guitarist [[Randy Holden]]'s possession after Dickie Peterson said he was finished with Blue Cheer and wanted nothing to do with it ever again, with his sole future interest in his new band, 'Mother Ocean.<ref>Dickie Peterson and Mother Ocean, which included former Blue Cheer guitarist Tony Rainier, along with Peterson's brother Jerre, were playing in Germany in 2001 and 2002. See [http://klubder40.de/projekte/2001_dickiepeterson.php Notice of 2001 performance] and [http://klubder40.de/projekte/2002_dickiepeterson.php Notice of 2002 performance]; www.klubder40.de. It is unclear whether this was a side project or principal activity of Peterson, particularly since there were no Blue Cheer recordings released during this period and the extent of Blue Cheer's touring activity is uncertain. The 2002 German performances were in March; Jerre Peterson died in August of that same year. See [http://www.bluecheer.us/archive/bluecheernews01.htm Blue Cheer News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725195439/http://www.bluecheer.us/archive/bluecheernews01.htm |date=25 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>Neither Pratt nor Holden has given any public commentary as to reasons or motivations for trademarking the band name. Pratt's views have instead been incorporated as edits to the Blue Cheer Wikipedia page, without separate public sourcing of same. No separately sourced comments of Holden have been incorporated.</ref>}} == Legacy == Blue Cheer is often credited as one of the very earliest pioneers of [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] and their version of "[[Summertime Blues]]" has been cited as the first heavy metal song.<ref name="RS_bluecheer"/> According to Tim Hills in his book, ''The Many Lives of the [[Crystal Ballroom (Portland, Oregon)|Crystal Ballroom]]'',<ref>[[McMenamins]], 1997. McMenamins now owns the Crystal Ballroom.</ref> "Blue Cheer was the epitome of San Francisco psychedelia." [[Jim Morrison]] of [[The Doors]] characterized the group as "the single most powerful band I've ever seen"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanartists.net/roster/bluecheer.php |title=American Artists |publisher=American Artists |access-date=21 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901083953/http://www.americanartists.net/roster/bluecheer.php |archive-date=September 1, 2010}}</ref> and [[Eric Clapton]] defined them as "probably the originators of heavy metal".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/eric-clapton/eric-clapton-on-cream-i-was-in-a-confrontational-situation-24-hours-a-day-feature |title=Eric Clapton on Cream: "I was in a confrontational situation 24 hours a dayβ¦" |work=Uncut |access-date=1 October 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102805/http://www.uncut.co.uk/eric-clapton/eric-clapton-on-cream-i-was-in-a-confrontational-situation-24-hours-a-day-feature |url-status=dead }}</ref> Blue Cheer influenced such late 1970s bands as East-European psychedelic hardcore band [[Galloping Coroners]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eurock.com β Music from around the World: Features and Reviews |url=http://www.eurock.com/Display.aspx?Content=AtillaGrandpierre.aspx |website=eurock.com|access-date = 28 May 2015}}</ref> Blue Cheer was also widely recognized as the loudest band ever at the time when they emerged.<ref name=Peart>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/louder-than-god-rushs-neil-peart-remembers-blue-cheers-dickie-peterson-98540/ |title='Louder Than God': Rush's Neil Peart Remembers Blue Cheer's Dickie Peterson |author=Neil Peart |date=2009 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Nightwatcher>{{cite web |url=https://web.musicaficionado.com/main/article/Blue_Cheer_Were_the_Loudest_Band_Ever |title=Blue Cheer Were the Loudest Band Ever |author=Nightwatcher |date=February 18, 2008 |work=House Of Rock Interviews |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Atkinson>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-08-ca-13296-story.html |url-access=subscription |title=3 Cheers For Blue Cheer |author=Terry Atkinson |date=March 8, 1987 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name=fleming>{{cite web |url=https://www.thesmartset.com/blue-cheer/ |title=Blue Cheer and the world's first heavy metal album |author=Colin Fleming |date=May 24, 2018 |work=The Smart Set |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Altman>{{cite web |url=https://web.musicaficionado.com/main/article/Blue_Cheer_Were_the_Loudest_Band_Ever |title=Blue Cheer Were the Loudest Band Ever |author=Billy Altman |date=<!--not given--> |work=Music Aficionado |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref> Billy Altman reported that at a 1968 concert the band was "So loud, in fact, that within just a few songs, much of the crowd in the front orchestra section was fleeing."<ref name=Altman/> Various artists in the [[grunge]] movement have paid homage to Blue Cheer, including [[Melvins]] vocalist [[Buzz Osborne]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://clture.org/buzz-osborne-melvins/ | title=A conversation with Buzz Osborne of the Melvins | date=August 30, 2016 }}</ref> and [[Mudhoney]] vocalist [[Mark Arm]], who said; "Hearing Blue Cheer [while in college] was almost as important to me as hearing the Stooges for the first time the year before. When Mudhoney started up, Blue Cheer was definitely part of our blueprint.β<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jambase.com/article/blue-cheer-harder-n-louder-than-the-rest | title=Blue Cheer: Harder 'n' Louder Than the Rest }}</ref> "Blue Cheer" was the name of a variety of [[lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] made by chemist and [[Grateful Dead]] patron [[Owsley Stanley]]<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/mar/15/owsley-stanley-obituary |title=Owsley Stanley obituary |work=The Guardian |date=March 15, 2011 |access-date=November 25, 2014 |last1=Carlson |first1=Michael }}</ref> and the band was probably named after that, although the name existed earlier, as the name of a [[Cheer (brand)|laundry detergent]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1950%27s/Blue%20Cheer.htm |title=Blue Detergent Ends Washday Blues |work=Old-Time Radio |access-date=November 25, 2014}}</ref> after which the LSD variety itself was named. ==Personnel== ===Members=== {{div col|colwidth=35em}} *[[Dickie Peterson]] β bass, vocals (1967β1972, 1974β1975, 1978β1979, 1984β1994, 1999β2009; died 2009) *[[Leigh Stephens]] β guitar (1967β1968, 2005) *[[Paul Whaley]] β drums (1967β1969, 1969, 1984β1985, 1990β1993, 1999β2004, 2005β2009; died 2019) *[[Eric Albronda]] β drums (1967) *Jerre Peterson β guitar (1967, 1974β1975; died 2002) *[[V. Vale|Vale Hamanaka]] β keyboards (1967) *Jere Whiting β vocals, harmonica (1967) *[[Randy Holden]] β guitar (1968β1969) *[[Mitch Mitchell]] β drums (1969; died 2008) *Tom Weisser β guitar (1969) *Bruce Stephens β guitar, vocals (1969; died 2012) *[[Ethan James (producer)|Ralph Burns Kellogg]] β keyboards, bass (1969β1972; died 2003) *Norman Mayell β drums, guitar (1969β1972) *[[Gary Lee Yoder]] β guitar, vocals (1969β1972; died 2021) *Troy Spence Jr. β guitar (1972β1974) *James L. Curry β drums (1972β1974) *[[Ruben De Fuentes]] β guitar (1974β1975, 1987β1988) *Terry Rae β drums (1974β1975) *[[Nick St. Nicholas]] β bass, vocals (1975) *Tony Rainier β guitar (1978β1979, 1984β1987; died 2025) *Mike Fleck β drums (1978β1979) *Brent Harknett β drums (1985β1987) *Billy Carmassi β drums (1987) *Eric Davis β drums (1987β1988) *[[Duck MacDonald|Andrew "Duck" MacDonald]] β guitar (1988β1990, 1999β2005, 2005β2009) *David Salce β drums (1988β1990) *Dieter Saller β guitar (1990β1994) *[[Gary Holland]] β drums (1993β1994) *[[Prairie Prince]] β drums (2005) *[[Joe Hasselvander]] β drums (2004β2005, 2009) {{div col end}} ===Lineups=== {| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:width:375px; margin:0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #e2e2e2; width:99%;" |- ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1967 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1967 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1967β1968 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1968β1969 |- | valign=top | *'''[[Eric Albronda]]''' β drums *'''[[Dickie Peterson]]''' β bass, vocals *'''[[Leigh Stephens]]''' β guitar | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Leigh Stephens''' β guitar *'''[[V. Vale|Vale Hamanaka]]''' β keyboards *'''Jerre Peterson''' β guitar *'''[[Paul Whaley]]''' β drums *'''Jere Whiting''' β vocals, harmonica | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Leigh Stephens''' β guitar *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums *'''[[Randy Holden]]''' β guitar |- ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1969 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1969 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1969 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1969β1970 |- | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Mitch Mitchell''' β drums *'''Tom Weisser''' β guitar | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Bruce Stephens''' β guitar, vocals *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Bruce Stephens''' β guitar, vocals *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums *'''[[Ethan James (producer)|Ralph Burns Kellogg]]''' β keyboards, bass | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Bruce Stephens''' β guitar, vocals *'''Ralph Burns Kellogg''' β keyboards, bass *'''Norman Mayell''' β drums, guitar |- ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1970β1972 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1972β1974 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1974β1975 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1975 |- | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Ralph Burns Kellogg''' β keyboards, bass *'''Norman Mayell''' β drums, guitar *'''[[Gary Lee Yoder]]''' β guitar, vocals | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass *'''Jerre Peterson''' β guitar *'''Troy Spence Jr.''' β guitar *'''James L. Curry''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''[[Ruben De Fuentes]]''' β guitar *'''Jerre Peterson''' β guitar *'''Terry Rae''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Ruben De Fuentes''' β guitar *'''Jerre Peterson''' β guitar *'''Terry Rae''' β drums *'''[[Nick St. Nicholas]]''' β bass, vocals |- ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1975β1978 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1978β1979 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1979β1984 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1984β1985 |- | valign=top | '''Disbanded''' | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Mike Fleck''' β drums *'''Tony Rainier''' β guitar | valign=top | '''Disbanded''' | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Tony Rainier''' β guitar *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums |- ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1985β1987 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1987 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1987β1988 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1988β1990 |- | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Tony Rainier''' β guitar *'''Brent Harknett''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Tony Rainier''' β guitar *'''Billy Carmassi''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Eric Davis''' β drums *'''Ruben De Fuentes''' β guitar | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''[[Duck MacDonald|Andrew "Duck" MacDonald]]''' β guitar *'''David Salce''' β drums |- ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1990 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1990β1993 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1993β1994 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1994β1999 |- | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Andrew "Duck" MacDonald''' β guitar *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums *'''Dieter Saller''' β guitar | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Dieter Saller''' β guitar *'''[[Gary Holland]]''' β drums | valign=top | '''Disbanded''' |- ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 1999β2005 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 2005 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 2005 ! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| 2005β2009 |- | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Andrew "Duck" MacDonald''' β guitar *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Leigh Stephens''' β guitar *'''[[Prairie Prince]]''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Andrew "Duck" MacDonald''' β guitar *'''[[Joe Hasselvander]]''' β drums | valign=top | *'''Dickie Peterson''' β bass, vocals *'''Andrew "Duck" MacDonald''' β guitar *'''Paul Whaley''' β drums |} === Timeline === <timeline> ImageSize = width:1000 height:550 PlotArea = left:150 bottom:120 top:05 right:05 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1967 till:12/10/2009 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1967 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1967 Colors = id:voc value:red legend:Vocals id:g value:green legend:Guitars id:key value:purple legend:Keyboards id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:dr value:orange legend:Drums id:harm value:tan2 legend:Harmonica id:alb value:black legend:Studio_releases LineData = at:16/01/1968 layer:back at:01/08/1968 at:01/03/1969 at:01/12/1969 at:01/09/1970 at:01/04/1971 at:01/09/1984 at:01/01/1990 at:01/01/1991 at:21/08/2007 PlotData = width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,β4) bar:Jere Whiting from:01/05/1967 till:01/09/1967 color:voc bar:Jere Whiting from:01/05/1967 till:01/09/1967 color:harm width:3 bar:Leigh Stephens from:start till:01/07/1968 color:g bar:Leigh Stephens from:01/04/2005 till:01/07/2005 color:g bar:Jerre Peterson from:01/05/1967 till:01/09/1967 color:g bar:Jerre Peterson from:01/07/1974 till:01/09/1975 color:g bar:Randy Holden from:01/07/1968 till:01/04/1969 color:g bar:Tom Weisser from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1969 color:g bar:Bruce Stephens from:01/07/1969 till:01/07/1970 color:g bar:Bruce Stephens from:01/07/1969 till:01/07/1970 color:voc width:3 bar:Gary Lee Yoder from:01/07/1970 till:01/07/1972 color:g bar:Gary Lee Yoder from:01/07/1970 till:01/07/1972 color:voc width:3 bar:Ruben De Fuentes from:01/07/1974 till:01/09/1975 color:g bar:Ruben De Fuentes from:01/09/1987 till:01/07/1988 color:g bar:Tony Rainer from:01/07/1978 till:01/07/1979 color:g bar:Tony Rainer from:01/07/1984 till:01/09/1987 color:g bar:Andrew "Duck" McDonald from:01/07/1988 till:01/09/1990 color:g bar:Andrew "Duck" McDonald from:01/07/1999 till:01/04/2005 color:g bar:Andrew "Duck" McDonald from:01/07/2005 till:end color:g bar:Dieter Saller from:01/09/1990 till:01/07/1994 color:g bar:Vale Yamanaka from:01/05/1967 till:01/09/1967 color:key bar:Ralph Burns Kellogg from:01/10/1969 till:01/07/1972 color:key bar:Ralph Burns Kellogg from:01/10/1969 till:01/07/1972 color:b width:3 bar:Dickie Peterson from:start till:01/07/1972 color:b bar:Dickie Peterson from:start till:01/07/1972 color:voc width:3 bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1974 till:01/05/1975 color:b bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1974 till:01/05/1975 color:voc width:3 bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1994 color:b bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1994 color:voc width:3 bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1978 till:01/07/1979 color:b bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1978 till:01/07/1979 color:voc width:3 bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1999 till:end color:b bar:Dickie Peterson from:01/07/1999 till:end color:voc width:3 bar:Nick St.Nicholas from:01/05/1975 till:01/09/1975 color:b bar:Nick St.Nicholas from:01/05/1975 till:01/09/1975 color:voc width:3 bar:Eric Albronda from:start till:01/05/1967 color:dr bar:Paul Whaley from:01/05/1967 till:01/04/1969 color:dr bar:Paul Whaley from:01/07/1969 till:01/11/1969 color:dr bar:Paul Whaley from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1985 color:dr bar:Paul Whaley from:01/05/1990 till:01/07/1993 color:dr bar:Paul Whaley from:01/07/1999 till:01/04/2005 color:dr bar:Paul Whaley from:01/10/2005 till:end color:dr bar:Mitch Mitchell from:01/04/1969 till:01/07/1969 color:dr bar:Norman Mayell from:01/11/1969 till:01/07/1972 color:dr bar:Norman Mayell from:01/11/1969 till:01/07/1972 color:g width:3 bar:Terry Rae from:01/07/1974 till:01/09/1975 color:dr bar:Mike Fleck from:01/07/1978 till:01/07/1979 color:dr bar:Brent Harknett from:01/07/1985 till:01/05/1987 color:dr bar:Billy Carmassi from:01/05/1987 till:01/09/1987 color:dr bar:Eric Davis from:01/09/1987 till:01/07/1988 color:dr bar:David Salce from:01/07/1988 till:01/05/1990 color:dr bar:Gary Holland from:01/07/1993 till:01/07/1994 color:dr bar:Prairie Prince from:01/04/2005 till:01/07/2005 color:dr bar:Joe Hasselvander from:01/07/2005 till:01/10/2005 color:dr </timeline> ==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Year ! style="text-align:center;"|[[Billboard Top 200|US Top 200]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/blue-cheer/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Blue Cheer Chart History: Billboard 200 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''[[Vincebus Eruptum]]'' | rowspan="2"| 1968 | 11 |- ! scope="row"| ''[[Outsideinside]]'' | 90 |- ! scope="row"| ''[[New! Improved!]]'' | rowspan="2"| 1969 | 84 |- ! scope="row"| ''[[Blue Cheer (album)|Blue Cheer]]'' | β |- ! scope="row"| ''[[The Original Human Being]]'' | 1970 | 188 |- ! scope="row"| ''[[Oh! Pleasant Hope]]'' | 1971 | β |- ! scope="row"| ''[[The Beast Is Back]]'' | 1984 | β |- ! scope="row"| ''[[Highlights and Lowlives]]'' | 1990 | β |- ! scope="row"| ''[[Dining with the Sharks]]'' | 1991 | β |- ! scope="row"| ''[[What Doesn't Kill You... (Blue Cheer album)|What Doesn't Kill You...]]'' | 2007 | β |} ===Singles=== {{ Singles discography | all_albums=yes | all_certs=| charts=2 | include_footnote = yes | chartA = [[Canadian Hot 100|CAN]] | chartB = [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/blue-cheer/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Blue Cheer Chart History: Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref> | title1 = [[Summertime Blues]]" b/w "Out of Focus | album1 = Vincebus Eruptum | albumspan1 = 1 | year1 = 1968 | yearspan1 = 3 | peak1A = 3 |peak1B = 14 | title2 =[[Just a Little Bit (Blue Cheer song)|Just a Little Bit]]" b/w "Gypsy Ball" | album2 = Outsideinside | albumspan2 = 3 | peak2A = 69 | peak2B = 92 | title3 = Feathers from Your Tree" b/w "Sun Cycle | title4 = [[The Hunter (Albert King song)|The Hunter]]" b/w "Come and Get It<ref> {{Cite AV media notes |date=1968 |title=''"The Hunter" / "Come and Get It"'' |type=Single notes |others=Blue Cheer |location=Holland |publisher=[[Philips Records|Philips]] |id=304 180 BF |at=Single labels}}</ref> | year4 = 1969 | yearspan4 = 3 | title5 = West Coast Child of Sunshine" b/w "When It All Gets Old | album5 = New! Improved! | title6 = All Night Long" b/w "Fortunes | album6 = {{noitalic|non-album tracks*}} | title8 = Hello L.A., Bye-Bye Birmingham" b/w "Natural Man | album8 = Blue Cheer* | albumspan8 = 2 | title9 = Fool" b/w "Ain't That the Way | album10 = The Original Human Being | albumspan10 = 1 | title10 = Pilot" b/w "Babaji (Twilight Raga) | year8 = 1970 | yearspan8 = 3 }} <nowiki>*</nowiki> The 2007 Japanese mini-LP sleeve reissue of ''[[Blue Cheer (album)|Blue Cheer]]'' contains the mono non-LP single "All Night Long" b/w "Fortunes" along with the single versions of "Fool" and "Ain't That The Way" as bonus tracks. ===Live=== *''[[Blitzkrieg Over NΓΌremberg]]'' (1989; Thunderbolt/Nibelung Records) *''Live & Unreleased, Vol. 1: '68/'74'' (1996; Captain Trip Records) *''Live & Unreleased, Vol. 2: Live at San Jose Civic Centre, 1968 & More'' (1998; Captain Trip Records) *''Hello Tokyo, Bye Bye Osaka β Live in Japan 1999'' (1999) *''Rocks Europe'' CD/DVD, 2009; Rainman/Captain Trip Records) *''Live at Anti Waa Festival 1989'' CD/DVD, (2014; Nibelung Records) *''Party Hard at the Underground Cologne'' (online only, 2017; Nibelung Records) *''Three Giants, One Tour - Live in Germany in 1992'' (online only, 2022; Nibelung Records) *''Live Bootleg: London β Hamburg'' (official bootleg, 2005; Rockview Records) ===Other releases=== *''The Best Of Blue Cheer'' (1970; Philips) *''Motive'' (1982; Philips) *''Louder Than God: The Best Of Blue Cheer'' (1986; Rhino Records) *''The History Of Blue Cheer β Good Times Are So Hard To Find'' (1988; Mercury) *''Summertime Blues'' (compilation, 1990; PolyGram Special Products) *''Vincebus Eruptum + Outsideinside'' (2003; Track Record) *''Records Of Yesteryear'' (online only, 2005; Mercury) *''Blue Cheer Rollin' Dem Bones'' (EP, 2008; Rainman) *''7'' (2012; ShroomAngel Records) *''Beginnings'' (online only, 2017) *''The '67 Demos'' (demo, 2018; BeatRocket) *''Junk'' (2025; Flatiron Recordings) ==See also== *[[List of bands from the San Francisco Bay Area]] *[[Cheer (brand)]] ==Book references== * <cite id=refDimery2006>{{Cite book |last=Hughes |first=Tom |editor-first=Robert |editor-last=Dimery |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |publisher=Quintet Publishing Limited |year=2006 |isbn=0-7893-1371-5}}</cite> * <cite id=refBuckley2003>{{Cite book |last=Buckley |first=Peter |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |publisher=Rough Guides |year=2003 |location=London |isbn=1-85828-201-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rockroughguide00buck}}</cite> ==Other references== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Blue Cheer}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080402031017/http://www.hamptonroadsmusic.tv/UAN/showbc.html 2007 Concert Video] * [http://www.leighstephens.net Leigh Stephens Official Website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080719172657/http://www.serenedominic.com/podcast4.php Video Interview of Blue Cheer by Serene Dominic] {{Blue Cheer}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:1967 establishments in California]] [[Category:2009 disestablishments in California]] [[Category:American acid rock music groups]] [[Category:American blues rock musical groups]] [[Category:American protopunk groups]] [[Category:Hard rock musical groups from California]] [[Category:Heavy metal musical groups from California]] [[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1967]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009]] [[Category:People from Davis, California]] [[Category:Psychedelic rock music groups from California]]
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