Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues

[doors21st]

Still My Favorite Version Ever!!!!!!!!

[ultrakool]

i watched these freaks on the hy lit show outta philly when i was ten, and said was' dis shit. lil did i know what dis shit was... da future

[gentlefire100]

Saw them at The Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan

[chickenwretch]

love that guitar, it's so rude, just interrupts everything.

[Rick6315]

LOUDEST band I ever heard.I was surprised that i could still become a dad.

Blue Cheer was it !

[stewgotz1]

...IF SOMEONE HAD A HEART ATTACK,AND NEEDED THEIR HEART STARTED AGAIN, PLAY THIS SONG......VOILA!!!! PURE POWER

[10MPlayer]

Saw these guys play a place called The Warehouse, in Sacramento. Had to be about 1967 or 68. I remember walking up to the front while Blue Cheer was setting up. Dickie Peterson was tuning his bass and I was so close I could feel a breeze coming off his amp every time he plucked a note. If I remember correctly Allman Joy opened for them. Allman Joy later change their name to The Allman Brothers Band. What a concert! My ears were buzzing for a few days afterwards.

[atzenanu]

Best version ever! Been 30 years i last heard this...

[64panhead1]

Saw these guys on American Bandstand in 68 or 69.They came out in black leather and chains. They belted out summertime blues loud and heavy,had the fog machine going and after the song ended they busted up their equipment.The look on the faces of those kids wearing cardigan sweaters and poodle skirts was priceless.When the camera panned the crowd they were in total shock.More like the look of fear.I thought Dick Clark was gonna shit himself!!! It was fucking hilarious

[spacepatrolman]

@64panhead1 when they were smoking hash backstage dick clark said" you know you give rock and roll a bad name "dickie said "thanks man"

[joelceol]

this was the first band I ever saw with really long hair..tripped me out at the time

[ThatKidFromVancouver]

lol, the super chanel :D

[jdwilson99]

SOOO HEAVY FOR THE TIME

[godalful]

@jdwilson99 still sounds pretty heavy 

[hkyoutoob]

It may have been told in an earlier post, but there is a story about the first time these guys shared the bill with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Blue Cheer was going to "Blow them off the stage!" Um, sorry boys...Jimi won by a knockout! No contest....

to jimistreets: feb.3rd 2011 I was there at one show at the Shrine in L.A. where Blue Cheer opened for Jimi, and would have to agree with you, that Jimi "won by a knockout". They had a more simpler formula than Jimi, but were very cool to see.

[menchitty11]

One of the best power trios in rock today!! This band ranks right up there with such great power trios as Rush, Cream, Triumph, to name a few!

[nonotc]

va te faire foutre salope de mort, t'as eu dickie...mais pas sa musique, qui restera gravé dans nos mémoires...

[jimistreets]

It may have been told in an earlier post, but there is a story about the first time these guys shared the bill with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Blue Cheer was going to "Blow them off the stage!" Um, sorry boys...Jimi won by a knockout! No contest....

[Geepsterr]

@jimistreets You were there? Jimi is one of my absolute favs & I don't wish to offend . First these guy WERE much louder (so what ) but at the time had their act very together (more consistent than Jimi) plus a hit song in the charts for 10 weeks, a big advantage taking the stage. Blue Cheer was a breakthrough influential group : No, we both know not as influential as Jimi Hendrix but give Cheer their due. They have a profound place in rock history & are arguably the fathers of heavy metal .

[STRATCAT101]

Those were the days when all the great underground bands of the sixties early seventiescame out like Gong,early UFO,Atomic Rooster,MC5,Ten Years After and Hawkwind to name a few of the greateast bands ever.

[STRATCAT101]

Blue Cheer had the most amazing art work on their albums. who was the artist that did it?

[jdmfonte]

My band Touchstone, a Houston group named Ginger Valley opened the outdoor show for a smoking hole that once was Blue Cheer at Sunken Gardens, San Antonio Tx way back in the Draft Age (1970). I'll not forget it. WE blew THEM offstage that day.

[danfrain1]

@jdmfonte Ginger Valley was a Corpus band. I can't recall who all was in it, but they were all over CCTX, and i went to school with some of their siblings. I knew them all back in the day, but that was a long time ago and I used to (insert intoxicant name here) a LOT.

[witchman67]

This is an edited version.

The unedited features an extended bass and guitar solo.

[graybeard19]

I wish someone would post the video from the Steve Allen show when they played on the show. Steve Allen was tore up. LOUD performance.....funny as hell. top of their game. RIP Dickie Peterson, a buddy visited with him when they played in DEKALB Illinois in Nov of 2008 at OTTO"S, he was ever so nice to him. Sorry I missed it. damn luck.........

[Ixtulu]

I was teen - I still remember to Blue Cheer, my friend had some LPs. Yes, their kind of Sommertime Blues was the most extreme version....my goodness, this is 40 years ago. I became actually old. I growed up in Vienna Austria, sometimes rock bands came to this town too.

[ThePatrickWorld]

this is just EPPIC

[jbdrums1]

Look up The Tyrannicides 

[Miska8713]

cool sound what so ever

[magnusv100]

i think dr. demento would know who could be considered the first metal band he played the craziest tunes. i feel its a mix of influences...could it be robert johnson first...either way, rock forever!!!!

[magnusv100]

blue cheer iron butterfly cream quicksilver big brother airplane,sixties forever!!!

[chinasherry1961]

@magnusv100 dont forget the MC5

[Druggernaut]

damn.. Cousin Itt is a wicked drummer

[ElectricBlueOil]

although a matter of opinion, which band do you guys think is better-blue cheer or iron butterfly?

[mattb1369]

@ElectricBlueOil

Blue Cheer

Not even really comparable to me. Two different things altogether.

Thanks for asking though

[ElectricBlueOil]

@mattb1369 i see!

[BadgerOnLSD]

@ElectricBlueOil Blue Cheer for me.

[ElectricBlueOil]

@BadgerOnLSD oh nice! This is proto-metal at it's finest!

[ivycompton]

These guys were great - very ahead of their time. I wonder if there are any vintage live clips of 'em? (This is the album cut from Vincebus Eruptum.) They were intense!

[bwc3821]

I love The Who, maybe my favorite band, but this is the best version of "Summertime Blues". Blue Cheer was amazing.....

[Greenhornet270]

had just gotten home from Vietnam...life was SOOOOO Good!! lol

[starwarsandmetalgirl]

that drummer is beast....amazing

[MrAdzelf]

Seen those guys in 1967 or 68 in Gouda the Netherlands.

A whole wall of speakers that was unusual in that time, the most groups did it with 2 or 4 marshall speakers.

Good ?? yea, Loudness more than enough

[gbsk12]

Which version came out first? The Who or Blue Cheer?

[robertschelly]

@gbsk12 Who, by a year or so. Both outstanding covers.

[bigguy4570]

@gbsk12 Blue Cheer's cover came first and is the best.

[Cissy2cute]

@agsmablackbelt23 - I would vote for this being the first Heavy Metal Song, of course several years before "Heavy Metal" actually existed as a rock form.

Full of energy and that rolling drum sound is awesome. Precursor of the later metal songs.

[coorsking]

@Cissy2cute 100% agree i was doing a documentary on metal and this song starts it all before sabbath

[nananaalgoodaye]

@Cissy2cute DUDE, SPOT ON! (:

[marrrkeeee]

The singer can sing from A all the way to B.

[twstrchasr]

The drummer is trying his hardest to be Moon/Bonham but he just can't quite keep up.. LOLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[written12]

@twstrchasr

First of all, Blue Cheer came along before Led Zeppelin.

But I agree with you that the drummer can't quite keep up with Moon- but that's only if we're convinced he's going whole hog for a Moon effects. The drumming here has a nice tribal intensity to it, and it doesn't require the speed that Moon could work up.

[attorneyblack]

George Brix is on Drums(paul and steve were not in the band at this time) Check out Orphan Egg !

[sinkinglamb1994]

100 times heavier and better than The Who's version

[Korph88]

@sinkinglamb1994 lol you wish the who's version is still better

[Cissy2cute]

@sinkinglamb1994- I love the Who but have to agree with you on this.

[TheCatsea]

not loud enough

[9847monkees]

I met Dickie and the boys back in 1991 in San Francisco. We bump into each other at a diner. He and the boys sign my album and we talked for about 10mins before they left. They had show at Slims. I was there. They kicked ass. They were way before there time.

[mikedonn71]

This sounds like Jimi Hendrix with way more fuzz and distortion. Love it.

[dejawhogb]

I noticed that is Randy Holden on guitar, not Leigh Stephens!

[catherinae]

I ike Eddie Cochran, and this gets his message. Cool.

[jt123egypte]

An insult to Eddie Cochran. Throw this rubbish in the dustbin!

[kassx1]

Rush does an amazing cover of Summertime Blues on the Feedback album.

[Valh72]

good god!!!!! how to ruin a decent song

[NafeCarver11]

terrible! the who are so much better

[newhotman1001]

Very good remake of the Eddie Cochran classic done in psychedelic style.

[Jimala3]

this song and this version by Blue Cheer set me off on my musical journey.

[7beers]

That drummer is working hard!!!!!!

[LedZeppelin2055]

@7beers His name is Paul Whaley. The bassist/singer is Dickie Peterson. The guitarist is Leigh Stephens.

[7beers]

@LedZeppelin2055 Strange. I've just seen the name Paul Whaley somewhere else, just the other day...

[jamesskb]

Eddi Cochran, Blue Cheer, The Who,...Alan Jackson. They all did their own versions. I like them all. Just proves the staying power of a good song.

[picniconmars]

Right on!

[kungpoofdoofdoof]

eh, doesnt even touch the who

[jack0532]

@kungpoofdoofdoof I agree

[HitMeWithIt]

Yeah ... not bad at all indeed :)

Thanks for posting this, hadn't heard it until today :)

[DiggityDave83]

this song is so great! eddie cochran didn't get to send the message but goddamn blue cheer did!!

[Galestorm10]

These guys made cottage cheese out of the air

[berrygoodstuff]

Man, I didn't think I would find this group on youtube! Thanks for posting. I remember seeing them perform in Griffith Park during my Flower Child days. Talk about memories.

[poprockblues]

I in 1969 with 17 years was listening to music underground, the disc of Blue Cheer, Summertime Blues, rockheavy since(as,like) we enjoy with these three boy of better rock.

Fantastic

[bloodganas]

uuuy estos manes son la puteria.......estan muy bueno...

[strat8383]

they nailed it! the drums absolutely kick it.

[AllKindsaGirls]

SO FUCKING GOOD!

[AllKindsaGirls]

and kind of reminds me of MC5's "american ruse". anybody else get that vibe from the voice?

[drsirlordbigmuffuzz]

This was the first song I could ever play on my bass:p RIP Dickie!!!

[PieceofMindmusic]

HAPPY BLUE CHEER! i mean NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

[KnightSaber2040]

Let's not argue about metal, that's not what Blue Cheer where about. Sabath were definitely metal (@Starvoid7, the fifths prove it :wink:), but Blue Cheer were just rockin' hard. Great band, I wish they had had more recognition during their time.

[OrpheusIsThe1]

Blue Cheer was actually the name of a very high quality acid of the time. They were named after it. So if you want to be pedantic you could say they were an acid rock band. BUT what does it matter they kicked ass THAT'S what mattered!!!!!!!!

[caitlinx54]

RIP Dickie

[Starvoid7]

Black Sabbath is not metal. they inspired metal and influenced it, but black Sabbath's technique was not metal-like.

i would considder them more as the first stoner rock band that influenced metal bands like Iron Maiden and the second generation of brittish bands that actually where metal. and took the sinister and dark lyrics and thematics of black sabbath that's all. for me, Black Sabbath is a stoner rock band.

[MrKUZMA1]

ГДЕ КОМЕНТЫ НА РУССКОМ? МУЗОН КЛАСС! ВРЕМЯ РОССИИ!

[tomosoos]

this and other heavy and intense songs of the time are a bit hard to appreciate if you weren't there and had never heard anything like it before. this tune was radical...

[flamesounds]

You're absolutely correct. This stuff was very radical, revolutionary and had an edge of real danger to it to people that weren't into what was happening

[dcwishing]

Last time I checked Dickie was still alive??? Did I miss something???

[blipper123]

dcwishing, Dickie passed away Oct. 12.

[monkeymagoo47]

The blueprint for all metal. Still, I consider Sabbath to be the first heavy metal band.

[ih8makinusernames]

i just founf out this is the first metal song ever...its not to bad. consideirng this is 1966 its pretty heavy i suppose.

[befuddledman]

Generally agreed by music historians to be the first heavy metal band ever. They were so quickly eclipsed by the commerical success of Deep Purple, Creem and Jimi Hendrix, and Black Sabbath's cult following, that they faded from cultural memory far too soon. Great band, thanks for posting this.

[DYNODRUM]

well said they were Definetly The Power Trio ...

[dmaloyyo]

god

damn

[AfroDisiac1000]

this is apparently the first metal song ever...

[BigBishop1]

paul whaley the raddest lookin drummer in history.

[TDGAND]

The First Heavy Metal Band, The Who, Zeppelin, Rush and other great bands covered them

[spareaxe]

I thought Blue Cheer was a laundry detergent....just kidding.

[mcul2112]

didn't hear about the guy, but man....these guys were fucking GNARLY. heard 'em when i was a kid, never knew who they were.

Zep was awesome and all, but THESE guys were harder and more "fathers" of metal if ya ask me. harder......nastier.

RIP Dickie. Awesome stuff....

[buriedverydeep]

RIP DICKIE....BLUE CHEER RULES

[watchinshadows]

R.I.P. Dickie! awesome version

[pfordsq]

Jerre Peterson , Dickie's Brother , Ralph Burns Kellogg and another original member (Pre -Trio), are all deceased. Dickie told me everyone else from Blue Cheer , that 's still living , is doing fine.

[westgoten]

Ow that hurt. i only just recently discovered this great band.. RIP Dickie!

[crowbarftw]

Rock In Peace man.

[metali10]

R.I.P. DICKIE PETERSON

[PuckettJp2]

i just got word that dickie peterson died 2day :(

[percy336]

descansa en paz maestro de maestros ...

[omarrubio2008]

i just found out this song and one of the band members died already

[tuegy]

RIP Dickie Peterson the father of metal

[JackassHighSchool123]

R.I.P. Dickie!

[fuzzleredmenn]

Dickie Peterson R.I.P. Sadly he passed this morning (October 12th)

[metallian87]

isn't the guitar solo a bit longer?? did they cut it short in the video???

[sariregueira]

yes, guitar solo is longer

[PsychedelicTeen]

That's what I thought. Thanks flamesounds!

[jruddock]

They can't possible see anything with that hair.

[FANTASIACHEZLESPLOUC]

I honestly think that if Eddy Cochran was alive in 1968 , he would be very proud of this cover of his own song.

[countrysinger1952]

Alan Jackson also did a cover of this song. I'm sure he would be proud of him, too.

[PsychedelicTeen]

Oh and my question is about the video not the studio recording. Just wanted to be clear.

[PsychedelicTeen]

Is that Leigh on guitar or Randy Holden?

[flamesounds]

That is Randy trying to look like Leigh

[dorzsboss]

I saw another Blue Cheer Summertime Blues video from Japan 2008.

I saw young guyz on stage except the keyboardist. But in the Blue Cheers there was no keyboardist.

Is it right that the original bassist singer changed to keyboard?

[PieceofMindmusic]

im pretty sure what you saw was a cover band.

[MattHatter]

We're so used to long hair and distortion and all this stuff nowadays, can you imagine the reaction of people back THEN?! It wasn't always a blown mind though. Some people thought Blue Cheer just plain sucked. The problem was, a lot of young concert goers were used to sheer talent, like Jeff Beck or Clapton. Sometimes when a band like Blue Cheer would come along it seemed like talent was traded off for obnoxious volume. But we know better now, and BC is one hell of an influential band.

[triuman]

You're dead on it MH ....

[flamesounds]

I was there. Blue Cheer scared the crap out of the 'squares' back then. There was nothing like it and it sounded very new, wild, free, rebellious and dangerous. You have to put it in perspective. These guys had LOTS of balls to be doing this in the mid 60s.

[MILISA99]

Blue Cheer was a type of LSD that was around in the late '60s. This is Acid Rock. I was there.

[flamesounds]

Yeah, this is Acid Rock/Psychedelic music. And Blue Cheer was a private batch of very powerful Owsley LSD.

This is music designed to be listened to when you trip.

[marvy1118]

This is an upper. Sabbath was a downer. Totally different feel and spirit. Volume and distortion isn't always "heavy metal."

Sabbath was undoubtedly influenced more by the long outro of "I Want You / She's so Heavy" from Abbey Road. Now, THAT has more of the Sabbath feel.

[fuzzleredmenn]

The Beatles were an influence on Sabbath, esp on Ozzy. They were also into blues and jazz, and even stuff like Frank Zappa. Blue Cheer werent an influence on Sabbath, although Lemmy was a fan so they did influence Motorhead somewhat. Either way it doesnt matter, because as much as I love Blue Cheer, in terms of songwriting Sabbath were superior.

[JamesIsMyNamo]

Blue Cheer is also a big influence on Rush. Well, at least Geddy Lee.

Geddy Lee has claimed that Blue Cheer is the first heavy metal band.

[fuzzleredmenn]

They covered Blue Cheers version of Summertime Blues didnt they? Dont know if they are metal, but they were among the heaviest rock bands of the day and they were obviously a huge influence on the scene, especially in the U.S. and Canada.

[FCMelbKnights]

The Greatest song!

[GOTAX66]

If Nirvana came out in the 60's... they would have been Blue Cheer

[RogerMurdock]

This song kicks all forms of ass!

[rockerrealtor]

Check Out. ORPHAN EGG, This Drummer is the same Drummer, George Brix !

[toecutterr6]

That's Paul Whaley drumming.

[raunchboy]

What about the MC5 and the Stooges? Heck, I'd say the Kinks invented it, since "You Really Got Me" is the first song to be built around a distorted riff, as opposed to chord changes or a vocal melody.

[Matildamothers]

The Kinks "You Really Got Me" is an early hard rock song but it's nowhere anywhere near metal. The Beatles "Helter Skelter" IS ANOTHER SONG IT was the first song ever that used drop tuning and it had power chords. Ok this song or the Beatles "Helter Skelter" or my choices.

[grabledl123]

The Who I Can See For Miles

[hardnheavyrock]

The drummer looks like the Muppets cookie monster, In a good way.

[iamtheCLAW]

Blue Cheer was the first band that could be called metal, Black Sabbath is the first that can indisputably be called metal, and the first time the term "heavy metal" was used, it was about Alice Cooper.

[drnrg31]

Cooper was shock Rock as was Kiss, No I say The Kinks, Beatles and Blue Cheer started it all

[fuzzleredmenn]

What about Hendrix? He influenced even Blue Cheer. Also you have Cream and Mountain. The original Alice Cooper group was an influence on everyone from Pentagram to Iron Maiden so they deserve their place. You also have High Tide and early Atomic Rooster, Pretty Things S.F. Sorrow, Groundhogs, The Who, Grand Funk Railroad, so many artists that deserve to be recognised.

[iamyohan]

if it wasnt for tony iommi none of this would exist in this form.blue cheer shreds.

[RockerDude008]

this wuz befor black sabbath wuz famus

[LinkBulletBill]

This was before Black Sabbath...

[crashedsurver]

yes blue cheer is from the 50's =]

[LinkBulletBill]

Black Sabbath joined at 1968, but release their first album much later (2 years)... Blue Cheer came out with this song around 1967 or 1968...

[FANTASIACHEZLESPLOUC]

I can read a bunch of bullshits from below,you're all wrong!

BLUE CHEER created "Heavy Acid-Rock" (with IRON BUTTERFLY).

Don't you know that the guitarist is(still)the great LEIGH STEPHENS ????

"OUT OF FOCUS",AMEN!

[triger81]

this definately isn't metal

[666PeaceSells666]

Sabbath created metal, they were a lot darker and completely different to all the trippy rock. Everyone from Judas Priest to Metallica have said Sabbath created it.

[tenaciousphil31]

dude sabath created metal, Metallica perfected it!

[cedarvalley]

Bands don't get much cooler than this

[canadiancanoe]

Yup, i've always thought it was Blue Cheer, and specifically their take on this rockabilly standard of Eddie Cochrane, Summertime Blues, who invented the genre of Heavy Metal.

[riverduck3]

Best version of all - better than the Who even.

[ur1sab]

nothin' subtle about these dudes.

[selurnewo]

Yeah blue cheer did create Heavy metal

[vonlorasteverachel]

Blue Cheer invented metal, not Sabbath.

[eondubi]

bitch please

[JAYROX1969]

I think Hendrix may have beaten them to it!

[jackscfcfan]

Blue Cheer were the first metal band, but sabbath created the term 'heavy metal'