RIP Dickie Peterson

Dickie Peterson, bassist of the legendary rock group Blue Cheer, passed away on October 12th, 2009 in Germany at the age of 63. Peterson had been fighting prostate and liver cancer and developed a fatal infection after a surgical procedure.

Peterson’s relationship to music was intense. “I’ve been married twice, I’ve had numerous girlfriends, and they’ll all tell you that if I’m not playing music I am an animal to live with…” Peterson shared. “Music is a place where I get to deal with a lot of my emotion and displaced energy. I always only wanted to play music, and that’s all I still want to do.”

Blue Cheer was one of the original power trios in the 1960’s and 70’s. Peterson was one of the founding members of the group. Blue Cheer’s debut album Vincebus Eruptum, and their rendition of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” put them on the map as hard-rock icons in the music scene before Led Zeppelin took to the stage. Jim Morrisson once referred to Blue Cheer as “the single most powerful band I’ve ever seen.”

Peterson is survived by wife Ilka Peterson, ex-wife Marilyn (Peterson) Stephens with whom he had a daughter, Corrina Peterson-Kaltenrieder, and a grandson.

Additional details on Blue Cheer and the life of Peterson are available on the band’s web site.