I just heard that original Blue Cheer bassist and lead vocalist Dickie Peterson passed away in Germany.
I saw Blue Cheer several times in my youth during the 60s... no doubt my incredibly bad hearing and raging tinnitus has something to do with that. I remember 3 tiny guys with the longest hair I'd ever seen standing in front of a wall of Marshall amps and, as the legend goes, "They hit the first note and the air turned into cottage cheese!" These guys and their records were absolutely crucial to me.
Over the years I've had a chance to meet Dickie a few times and he was as down to earth and cool as you can get. A genuinely sweet, very humble and funny cat. Probably one of the most underrated and solid bass players ever too.
In all my years in rock n roll and all the things I've seen and done one of the very highest hi-lites was getting asked by Rhino Records to pick the tracks and write the liner notes for the very first, vinyl Best Of Blue Cheer compilation, Louder Than God. Shortly after it came out Dickie, who was living in Hollywood at the time, called me to thank me for what I had written and invite me over to hear a rehearsal of the new BC lineup that he was putting together at that time. Needless to say... they sounded fucking great.
The last time I saw Dickie I was in Germany playing a show in Koln and he came to my soundcheck to hang out and chat. He looked great and was excited about a new reunion tour he was getting ready for... bringing the Blue Cheer sound to a new generation.
I just want to say a deep, deep thanks to Dickie and all the guys of Blue Cheer. Without your music I would not be the rock n roll degenerate that I am today... I salute you!