Monday, October 12th, 2009...4:53 pm
R.I.P. Richard ‘Dickie’ Peterson (Blue Cheer) (1948 – 2009)
Bassist and singer Dickie Peterson of heavy riffmachine Blue Cheer past away this morning at 5am in Germany. Blue Cheer was one of the first powertrio’s in rock-‘n’-roll and laid a blueprint of heavy metal/stoner with Vincebus Eruptum and Outsideinside in 1968. They were of great influence for bands such as Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu and Alabama Thunderpussy.
The cause of Peterson’s death is still unknown. He was 61 years old.
R.I.P. Dickie Peterson
1948
-
2009
In 2007, Blue Cheer played Roadburn festival. Check out one of the only videos around of this performance here:
27 Comments
October 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I just got into Cheer a month ago i asked for an autograph on myspace and got it 3 days ago then i woke up and found a true ICON in rock and roll pased away ROCK IN PEACE dickie truly is a sad day in rock and roll
October 12th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I grew up on this band. They were a major influence on everything from Guess Who to Black Sabbath to any Heavy Metal band. Best to Dickie’s memory and his family.
October 12th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I’ll never forget the first time I heard Blue Cheer – heavy beyond belief. Another pioneer is gone.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Very sad news! I spent a very good time with him, playing guitar on the “Child of the darkness” – album. He had a great sense of humour and told me funny and interesting stories about the summer of love in San Francisco. I´m very glad that I met him, he was such a nice person – RIP Dickie!!!
October 12th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
[...] about R.I.P. Richard ‘Dickie’ Peterson (Blue Cheer) (1948 – 2009) [...]
October 12th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
[...] Peterson of Blue Cheer has died. R.I.P. Richard ‘Dickie’ Peterson (Blue Cheer) (1948 – 2009) | Incubate Blog RIP… __________________ Music has always been a vehicle to another dimension, a kind of [...]
October 12th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I saw Dickie and the boys perform at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, MI. back in November 2007; it was a great show and I was hoping they would come back real soon because I thought they ROCKED! big time; but sadly, that’s not going to happen now because Dickie was the whole heart and soul of that band. R.I.P. Dickie
October 12th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
R.I.P.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
[...] Nachruf auf Dickie Peterson, den 61jährig verstorbenen Bassisten und Sänger von Blue Cheer: R.I.P. Richard ‘Dickie’ Peterson (Blue Cheer) (1948 – 2009) [...]
October 13th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Aloha. just wanted to correct some factoids and expand a bit.
Dicki (Richard Allan Peterson) was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1946. He was 63 years old on September 12.
Dicki was instrumental in bringing musicians and friends together throughout his life and he will be greatly missed.
Dicki was a gentle soul. We had a beautiful daughter, Corrina Peterson Kaltenrieder, who is age 36. Corrina and has recently retired from her career as a talented ballet dancer. Dicki has a grandson, age 6 who loves music.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Sorry to see a true pioneer leave us. I remember the first time I heard “Summertime Blues” by the Cheer. Blew me away. I remember my drummer at the time saying “God it sounds like everything is cranked to 10 plus”. Yeah it was that heavy. R.I.P brother we loved your music and always will.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Balls-to-the-wall Bassist…I saw Blue Cheer in NYC in 1967-8…what a show!
October 13th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Simply the Best , Dickie Peterson, Blue Cheer .
A large part of me died along with Dickie .
One of earths great soul’s is gone .
I love you Dickie
October 13th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Marilyn,
I live next door to your daughter Corrina and her husband Andre and grandson in Fort Worth, Texas. Your daughter is the one who got me into Blue Cheer. Im so sorry to hear about your loss. A great person and a great rock icon has been lost. He will be dearly missed. RIP Dickie
October 13th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I read the post by Marilyn Peterson Stephens and would like her to contact me, as I am writing an obituary of Dickie Peterson for the New York Times.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
No more cheer,RIP.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:23 am
BC were true innovators from head to toe using Marshall amps and raw power. And who could forget their cover artwork? Shear genius!
October 17th, 2009 at 1:27 am
Would have been nice if the other Petersons had been informed.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:29 am
But that’s cool,finding out about my uncles death via google:a once in a life time experience.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:51 am
i saw blue cheer in toronto in 2007. dickie made a little speech during “roadhouse blues” telling us that in order to keep rockin’ we all must make a serious effort, on a daily basis, to do something to help a brother or sister-after the show i had the privilege of meeting him and told him i liked his speech. he replied “that’s my creed”. i was struck by his kindness to my friends and me. from that day on i have thought about his speech every day and though i can’t always live up to it, i know that dickie peterson made me a better person. R.I.P. Dickie
October 19th, 2009 at 3:42 am
just rented the blue cheer in europe last month and commented to my friends on the good sound quality of the dvd! this kind of blows me away. rip dickie and all the blue cheers! cheers
October 28th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Influential to me and countless other metalheads his passing is very sad. The world is a lesser place without Dickie. RIP
October 29th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
GREAT BAND,GREAT BASS PLAYER,A GOOD MAN IS GONE..BIG LOSS FOR ROCK…HE WAS TRULY A ONE OF A KIND ROCK PIONEER…LOVE YA DICKIE…..JAM WITH JIMI..SEE YA SOON..
October 31st, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Always really loved only ONE metal band and that’s Blue Cheer. They simply invented hard rock. Was lucky to have the chance to tell Dickie in person I always loved his music after a show in Belgium last year, when he came to the bar to have a drink.
What a loss. Love to Marilyn and Corrina, the family and the other fantastic Blue Cheer musicians.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I was crushed today when I got my new Goldmine mag. to find out Dickie had died. I’m 58 and have followed BC through all these years and changes. Truly the only band of their kind. Anything else is just a cheap substitute! I’ve got everything they’ve ever officially released on vinyl & CD…+ Dickie’s 2 solos…Not to mention “MANY” unofficial items.Learned my first drum licks from Paul’s Blue Cheer Licks. What Now! I’ll miss you Dickie…Rock On!!!
November 19th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Dickie Peterson was TRUE GRIT. I am still reeling from the loss. He will never be as appreciated as he should be. This man was an amazing human being and talented individual. I am one of the lucky people that had the awesome opportunity to spend time with him in his last decade of life. I will forever be affected by his advice, outlook, and his love. I can still hear him laughing… he did that lots. He truly was , and IS, bigger than life.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:21 am
someone left me a message today to say that they were looking at graffiti on an alley wall in the mission and someone had written “RIP Dickie Peterson, Blue Cheer forever” and she said, “wow those were the days, weren’t they?” and I thought…Wh-a-a-t?? I last saw Dickie at Chet Helm’s memorial in GGPark 2 years ago? and he looked the same as he did 25 years ago, except maybe a little bit older, but sounded just the same. Really sorry to say goodbye to a sweet, kind soul, and a granddaddy of heavy metal/ clang n bang/ rock. Hope it’s as loud as you like it in the afterlife. Love to you, Marilyn and Corrina….lot of years have passed.
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