Blue Cheer Newsletter . . . send mail to lonewolf_555@hotmail.com |
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. . . . Dickie Peterson (14.3.2005)
Hello my friends,
I know I don’t usually start my letters to you with that opening greeting but it seemed appropriate today. When Cheer started there were four people who were the prime movers at that time. Roy Buel, Eric Albronda, Jerry Russell, and myself Dickie Peterson. Well, Roy killed himself down in Mexico because he could not come to grips with his gayness although we told him time and again this was not an issue with us but it obviously was for him and now I am sorry to tell you that Jerry passed on this morning March 8, 2005 at 1:30 in the morning.
It most definitely grieves me but at the same time I am glad his suffering has come to an end and he has moved on to whatever reward that lies in store for a person of Jerry’s stature. He had a great deal of heart and brought me through more times of personal trouble and professional disappointment than I could ever remember. When I was a young man Jerry helped me to have the confidence to do as we were doing in face of all the adversity and put-downs and harassment by other musicians and anybody else in this business. Jerry, Eric and Gut propped us up and helped us gain the courage to carry on in the face of adversity and for that I can never be thankful enough. He was my friend and he was my brother and I will miss him deeply.
Only a month ago when I decided to return to the U.S.A. I talked to Jerry about the move and got his take on it and as always he was there for good sound advice, telling me for fuck sake Dickie it’s about time, yes get your skinny little ass over here, come home you been gone long enough we miss you. And so here I am and in part Jerry once again helped me find the courage and determination to act. He always did. Don’t get me wrong Jerry and I would sometimes fight like a couple of junkyard dogs but we always cared about one another. He will always live in my heart and I look forward to seeing him again when its my turn to hit the sky tour and I am sure Jerry will be there to make sure they let me bring my S.V.T.’s in and that we’ll have plenty of room on the guestlist for chicks and close friends and of course all of you 1%ers are on the list. Be as late as you want because that gig will never end.
Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (25.2.2005)
Hey oners this is I, is that you ?
I got something that I want to share with you because, well just because. Goes something like this, on Feb 3, 2005 with the help of the Chaos Angel I arrived home in good old SF. Thanks to her I was here to meet with a guy named Royce Seader that was doing some ground work for BC and our efforts to tour and record a new LP. Well as it worked out I found Royce to be a young cat with rock and roll written all over him. The more we talked the more we found we had a lot of the same concepts about not only BC but about many Rock 'n' Roll concepts in general. So about a week later Royce takes me to see a band he thought I would like to hear and he was right. The band Parchment Farm put out some straight from the shoulder R 'n' R no bull shit no smoke or mirrors, put simply they play honest R 'n' R and no one can ask for any thing better than that. Later after the show I met Carson the bass player and Eric the singer and told them both how I dug their shit. Actually Carson, I and about 4 or 5 other bass players wound up outside on the sidewalk smokin' some dube and talkin' bullshit, it was a real gas. Poor Royce, he plays drums and we gave him a bit of ribbing but he was cool and we had some good laughs.
Later I asked Royce if there was any chance of me maybe sitting in with these cats some time ? 2 days later he’s set up a meet with the band and we played a little bit and I played with them at a gig of theirs in SF. This band, Chris, Allison, Carson, and Eric were really good to me as people and as players. I knew by the time we were finished with the intro to the one song (Babylon) that these cats were covering me and were strong support. As a singer this is really important you got to know you can depend on what’s going to happen, well they did it in spades.
Because it was the first time in over thirteen yrs. That I stood on stage and performed in SF the only real home I ever had, it was a special moment for me and I said so from the stage that night and the crowed response let me know I was very much welcomed home.
So I wanted to thank the Chaos Angel for hooking us up to Royce and to Parchment Farm for giving me an opportunity and the musical support to do what I do at home after such a long absence and of course would thank the people that gave the warm welcome I received.
So ya all carebeful
dp
. . . . Dickie Peterson (26.10.2004)
Ya Well,
Kids today, i fear are about to learn if gwb keeps drivin’ the car that within the next four years we will be seeing the draft once more. Unless our corporate government can figure out a way to outsource the American GI.
I find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that our leaders are the best educated people in the world, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford and in the end they resorted to alley-oop tactics. Get me a big stick and kill goat herders. I mean what the fuck most of the dead in Afghanistan and Iraq think the World Trade Center is something like a larger version of the Kabul Central Market place.
Our fearless leaders haven’t read any history about Islam or Christians. I mean, Islam is about 1400 years old. When the Christians were the same age in their development they were burning people at furious rate. Hacking Jews to pieces and beheading pagans like myself day and night. I don’t think these boys in DC have a clue as to how to deal with the situation. If for no other reason than you can’t buy these people off. They believe in their mullah and that’s the end of any pay-off. So Mr. God-is-on-my-side Bush is up shit creek without a paddle and if god is on his side I wish he would ask god to please stop killing our children.
I know we have never met but I find this topic irresistible. You see I live in Germany in a primarily Arabic ghetto. I have friends that are Islamist and they aren’t much different than us. Yes, there are right wing radicals just as we have right wing radicals in the US.
They see gwb much the same way we see Saddam. I mean who is coming into their houses and being the 900 lb. gorilla ? It ain’t Saddam no more it’s - "hey we are gonna win this war and give you democracy if it kills you".
Expect democracy as we see it or we will stay here and blow things up so Dick and his friends don’t become unemployed.
Ya well I rant all night about this fool we have for a President. Personally I think we should elect the Dalai Lama as President.
Wake up George before you kill more innocent people, your collateral damage hurts.
dp
. . . . Dickie Peterson (26.10.2004)
hey ya all,
Sorry for the abstinence ? did i say that ? I meant absence.
As I told you in my last mail I am going to tell you about my relationship with my bass Bess. Now some people consider a bass to be an inanimate object with no feelings or opinions or attitudes. I how ever have wound up with one of those basses that has attitudes and opinions and god knows as well as anyone else in the vicinity, feelings. when she and I first got to gather about 20 years ago she had to talk about that first gig like a virgin after her first sexual encounter. Here’s the thing though, not only does she talk but I hear her and answer her and we fight like cats and dogs sometimes. I know you say basses can’t talk and I am crazy in that I hear or answer them. Well, all I can say is in my situation Bess and I do talk and I do answer. even though the rest of the band as well as the road crew consider this amusing but nonetheless nuts.
I am going to recount the night of Nov, 2003 at the Borderline in London where Bess decided to act out. It went something like this.
The dressing room at the Borderline is small as a matter of fact small is an understatement; it’s tiny. Paul was out scoping the club and Duck had decided to go to the bar for a beer as the stage hand appeared in the door way and said “ten minutes, you’re on”. Duck left for a beer and I took a seat between Bess and my back up bass Irene. I must tell you Irene is Japanese and a real trooper although I very seldom call on her. She says she loves her job but does get a little bored with nothing to do.
I turn to Bess and say “hey baby there are a lot of people out there, the place is packed, lots of press and a lot of players from other bands and just like all kinds of really cool people. So you going to give it to them good, Bessy ?” This question was answered with a loud and resounding No. I said what ? No, she said, I don’t feel like it. “Bess, what do you mean you don’t feel like it ? It’s you job, that’s why your here.
I don’t care, she said, I am not going on tonite or any other night. You don’t appreciate me.
Listen Bess I do things for you no one does for their bass and I insist you do what you are here to do.
Ain’t gonna do it, she says, you give me no respect, Just look at me I scratches on my ass, on my neck, and my G-string needs changing. You’re a cruel bastard, dragging me all over the world and beating me in front of people and twisting and turning me every which way and quite frankly if want no more of it.
Hey Bess I didn’t know you felt that way, I thought you were tougher than that. but if that’s how you feel I guess I use Irene tonight. At this point I leaned over to pick up Irene and Bess roars at me, “Don’t you touch her, she can’t do the job. She’s just another wanna be. I am your main bitch, do we have that clear ?
But bess you just said …
I don’t care what I just said she is not qualified and you know she could never take your treatment for very long. What she gonna do when you rub her against the amps or the mike stand and dish her out the abuse you give me. No, no she will never do.
I pick Bess up and I hold her in my arms and caress her, she begins to purr and her low e starts to vibrate as she lets out a sigh. Twist my volume knob a little honey, she says, harder baby all the way to ten, yes baby that’s it. When you do that I will do anything, except play second fiddle to that bitch. Take me out there and really do me baby, treat me like you know I am.
Look Bess haven’t I always made sure you were in good shape ? I mean I got you a new neck.
Yah, after you twisted my old one off, that hurt baby.
Yea. I know but it couldn’t be helped and admit it you like it a little ruff.
Well are you gonna sit here all night or are you gonna take me out there and do me in front of god and the rest of the world ?
With that I grabbed her by the neck and headed for the stage making sure and i passed the dressing room door that her bridge and tone knobs received a brutal scrape against the door knob and the door jam.
I heard a passionate sigh and a bit of panting. as we hit the stage i heard her say to me, give it to me baby give it to me rough and tough.
dp
. . . . Dickie Peterson (14.10.2004)
Hey ya all,
Ok, here we go, Ivy, bless her heart is getting the Dickie Peterson page going and we are working out it contents. It will be different than the Blue Cheer site, Frank does an excellent job and I would not dream of stepping on his toes. He's has been a real asset to this band for some time now. I hope he's around for a long time to come and continues his interest in Cheer.
No the DP page will be a different sort of thing. There will be photos many of which will have little to nothing to do with Blue Cheer. Also some of my own art work which are drawings and caricatures of people, objects and environments.
There will also be music available that is not Blue Cheer but music that I have written over the years that didn't fit in the Blue Cheer concepts, a side of me musically few people now of or if they do they are not aware of the extent this has been explored.
Now there will also bee a cartoon strip I have been working on. Here's an out-line of what the strip will be about.
It follows the life and time of a Fender P bass named Bess and her friend, love and co-conspirator Guido who happens to be a Fender Strat that's a little full of himself but very well intentioned. It documents the relationships they have with other instruments in the band as well as their relationship with "the hands". The hands are the musicians, singers, roadies and anything else dealing with human, instrument relations.
These instruments talk to each other and they can also travel to anywhere they choose simply by stepping through one of the spaces in the music. Doing this transcends time and space so they can wind up any place at any time.
Also stories about them and myself which are of course absurd. I will in my next newsletter review with you my argument with my bass Bess the night of the Borderline gig in London last year. Her and I really had it out that night with her refusing to go on because I was simply too demanding and haranguing her about being an uncooperative stubborn bitch. It did all work out and will tell you the detail next time.
Adios Amigos
Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (13.10.2004)
Hey ya all
The Cheer has always lived by a code called the Code of the Road and it goes something like this:
I ain't going to tell what you did on the road. That's something you do if you choose to. We could all write personal stuff that might be embarrassing to each other; I could write things about Randy, Paul, Duck, Tony, Bruce, Gary, Ralph and any number of people who have been involved with Blue Cheer but you know what ? I won't. Things these people did would probably stay unsaid, plus they have nothing to do with music and everything to do with their private lives and should stay private.
During our drinking years Paul and I did things I am not especially proud of now. Every rock band does this at one time or another. It's all going to be in my book one day but I don't want to get into it now. You might wonder why I bring this up now ? I heard some people have been talking and I would rather bring it to your attention myself than have another rumor get started. I hope everyone will respect that if I don't bring it up I don't want to talk about it. Like I said, that shit ain't got nothing to do with music.
Someone was talking about one of our long past tours, this is what set me off. So I want to know what they heard . . . was it the drunken womanizing or the drug consumption or the arguments with a shit manager ? You couldn't embarrass Paul and I any more than we already have ourselves. It's a part of our nature. On that tour, we wrecked a motorcycle almost burned down another club and almost stole some chicks from the old East Germany.
On a different note I will say it one more time and then not again. I think Randy is a very good guitarist and one hell of a song writer as well as a strong band leader but he's not Cheer no matter how much we would like that to be it just ain't end of story.
Hang loose ya all, i will write again . . .
Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (04.10.2004)
Hey gang, The Angel thought I might write a little bit about this subject that's been jumping around the HomePage, Internet, Chat Room and so on. I will do my best to give you some insight into my take on this Randy / BC thing.
First off let me say here and now that I have always considered Randy a friend and still do. He has never given me reason to think otherwise. I have a great deal of respect for his abilities as a player, writer and bandleader. I wanted to say these personal things to help you understand that there is nothing personal between the two of us that keeps us from playing together. It’s more of a fundamental approach to music that makes it an incompatible situation.
Randy has an ability to write a song in a conceptual manner that has every note, word and movement pre-arranged in his head and the development of that song depends totally on Randy’s concept. This is a skill that I admire and envy to a degree. However, it is not nor has it ever been a BC trait except on the 3 songs we recorded for Randy. I say for Randy because it is a demonstration of how we felt working with him on songs, we didn't feel a part of our own band or our own music because we play different music in a different way than he plays.
In the beginning, Paul and I loved Randy's playing and thought he could add a great deal to the over-all concept of what we were doing. And as long as we were playing the already recorded songs it was fine. We rehearsed for the Shake-Down Tour with Randy and things were a little strange to us because we kept going over the same solos and such when in fact that is not the Cheer concept. I read an interview with Randy where he said we didn't rehearse enough and by normal band standards he's probably right, but BC ain't normal and never has been and never will be. Sorry 'bout that but we have always been renegades and it's been too long to be expected in any other manner for us. Paul and I passed the point of no return long ago. Unfortunately for all concerned when we started to work on the recording of the 3rd LP shit just fell apart because there was no longer room for Paul and I in the songs written by Randy. And we did not work up to that point to have some guy come in and totally turn our concept around because it was his song. It might be your song but in this band you do it BC style. Well, Randy couldn't live with that and we couldn't live with his style. There never was anything on any other level that broke up that line up.
Paul and I have had a few guitarists most of which never did pick up on what we were doing. Tony Rainier did so, Duck does and so does Randy - he just don't like it and that's fair enough cause I don't like his style (for me) either.
When I present a song to my band I give them some chords and some words and some rhythm. I jam around with Paul on the main riff and let him sort out his own approach to the riff. I may have to change what I am doing a bit, in BC you got to have lateral movement or you're dead, solos, intros, exits, modulation, time changes and every thing else involved with a song is talked about: like, "Hey Duck, where you want the solo ? Before the bridge or after ?"
You see, i won't tell my band what to play, it defeats the whole purpose for us. Hell, if i have to tell a guitarist what to play i don't need him. As far as Paul goes the main rule is to let him roam free through the early stages of a songs development. That’s when he is his best. He’s a very undisciplined drummer and has developed in that way. Some people would say ". . . developed some bad habits", and i guess in some ways that would be true for both he and i. But to be sure Paul will go places most drummers wouldn't even dream of. He’s not afraid to take the risks to create the unusual.
If you box him in too early all you're going to get is a back beat in the drums. You'll lose the real savage animal that beats his drums into submission. We developed this style by trial and error, that tells you why we won't change it to suit Randy or Hendrix or any other person anywhere no matter who they are. First and foremost reason for our style is that every one of the players has a personal investment in the music. It becomes a part of him; it has his attitude, his essence, it makes the relationship of the song and the player intimate and even sexual.
No, we are not guys that have sex with each other at rehearsals, that’s not what I am talking about. It is the erotic edge that is not spoken that is in the song or the rage or fear or what ever emotion it is that that player is experiencing that matters in the music to us. I don't care what note you hit just hit the right one. I once had a guitarist that asked me "What do you want me to play during my solo ?" I said "I don't care what you play as long as you make it good". "Ya, but . . .", "Look kid, your job then is to blow my mind with that guitar, I can't tell you how. Only you know that because it's in you not me. I give you solid bass with lots of room to blow, what you do with it is on you. Play like a team and we will blow everybody's mind, Kid. Just play, stop thinking about it so much". Kid was good that night and did blow my mind.
So, there you have it, basic fundamental musical styles that are in conflict with one another. No one is no better or worse than the other they are just different like red and blue, both are good colors but blue will not be red and red will not be blue.
Would I ever record with Randy ? I can't say for sure because nobody can predict the future. I don't know what I will say or do until the time gets here just like you don't know what would happen if you were crossing the street and a car loses control and comes right at you. Maybe you would run. Maybe you would freeze. Maybe you would jump right over it.
Right now I think: "Ya, I would do that", but - for the reasons I already mentioned about our style differences - I can't see that Randy would be willing to play in the Blue Cheer style so I have to say not in a Blue Cheer line-up, like I won't play with he and I and Paul on the same record because Blue Cheer has a guitarist in Duck and he is able to work with our concepts and now really has a good time because the musical doors are not just open they have been kicked off the hinges.
Well, I hope that cleared some things up, hope I didn't piss anyone off, and to Randy I say - respect brother.
And to you 1% I loves ya and will be yeelin' back at you soon.
Dickie
. . . forgot: Here's one for the 1%ers
Three mice (Dickie, Duck & Paul ? . . . Frank) sitting in a bar at closing time just finishing their last beer.
First mouse: When i am done with this beer i am going home and i am going to snatch that cheese out that trap, grab the trap bar, do 100 bench presses and then i will go to bed.
Second mouse: Ain't nothin' dude, when i am finished i am headin' home to eat rat poison, cyinide and wash it all down with a little gun powder and light a cigarette. Then off to bed with me. Is that bad or what ?
Third mouse: Eases off the bar stool and heads for the door not saying a word.
The two other mice are perplexed and ask where the fuck did he think he was going ?
The third mice turned and replied: "I am going home to fuck the cat".
Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (28.09.2004)
Hey 1% ers !
Hey folks - I heard a young man tell me last night that he hated Rock 'n' Roll. I said: "What did you say ?" and he repeated himself while i was busy controlling my temper.
Rather than just pound the shit out of this little shit head i decided to see what he was all about. Well, he told me he was into Metal & Gangsta Rap. I said "hum".
I asked him if he realized that Metal was simply light-in-the-ass-heavy-rock played too fast and Gangsta Rap for the most part was sung, or whatever you call it, by guys that don't know that gangstas don't rap or they die.
I mean, come on man if those rappers are being real about the rape, murder, child molestation, robbery, drive-by shooting what makes you think these guys would be walking around free ? I mean for these crimes there is no statue of limitations. It's bullshit if you think it's real. It's a comedy for you look at for what it is. And I think comedy is great but too many people are being polarized musically and the attitude that if you listen to music that's different than the music I listen to you are less of a human than I am is really stupid.
This polarized attitude is, I think, such a rip off for the younger people that are listening and buying music. They close themselves off to the world of sound and limit it to only what they perceive to be cool. And no matter how much I talked to this kid I could not get him to understand that trying to be cool was the most uncool thing you could possibly do. That limiting your tastes in music to that which other people deem cool is not only uncool it's stupid. The world of blues, jazz, country, classical and on and on are all wonderful forms of music, and to deny them is nothing less than stealing from yourself and making yourself just one more mindless consumer of pop music spin.
I am not saying listen to Blue Cheer or you're uncool, no no no, maybe you don't like my band, hell, sometimes i don't like my band but i am saying to younger listeners to open up your head and let the unknown in. It's only music and it won't hurt you. It could possibly help you grow in to a person that becomes more aware of what his options are and that they are limitless.
Ok ya all, the end result was that I sent this kid away scratching his head trying to figure out what just happened. As he left the dressing room I said "hang loose kid and learn to duck, it will help". He just looked at me one more time and walked. Did i reach him ? Hell, I don't know, but I am pretty sure I made him think about some things that apply both to music and life.
Who knows maybe this kid will find his cool.
Hey easy, ya all, and tune in next week same BS station same BS time.
Hang loose and carebeful . . . DP
. . . . Dickie Peterson (14.09.2004)
OK you guys, the chaos angel has put a real large foot (i didn't know she had such big feet) in my little ass and i figure the best thing for me to do to avoid being threatened with any more extreme or rather harsh language cascading through my telephone and into my ear is to get on it. So why not hang up ? Can't do that she's right.
Let me explain myself, you see, i really need her to do what she's doing because i am shit at the PC and i am even more shit at being able to discipline myself to answer my mail promptly and sanely. I ain't making excuses i am just explainin' this to you.
I as always live in the right now, the now is not a catch phrase with me it's just the way it is. It's the way cheer approached every thing from music to drugs to play time. I guess i must have caught the now virus then because i act and respond to what is around me. It's where my music comes from and actually my whole life style is sort of erected around the concept of now. I am analog not digital, a bit dated i guess but that's what i am.
Having said that please let me try to somewhat redeem myself by committing to write you all (1%) once a week.
What will i write about ? Not too much about the current things going on in the band in much detail because sometimes things don't work out and it's a real disappointment to us and to know that we also have disappointed you guys just make the now real fucked up for us. Because believe it or not we really care about you guys. You give us the power to carry on, you always have and to disappoint you is a form of failure to us.
But you will hear a lot of my bullshit, what ever you do don't take me too serious because i can be pretty crazy. That is unless i speak of the war old 'W' got us into. The dumb fuck, old ben is still out there raising hell and the goat herder is still burying his dead as are we Americans. That's what i mean i know that will piss some people off, it's not a politically correct opinion, whereas 4 years ago it was perfectly ok for me to have a different opinion. These days, don't agree with 'W' and you are unAmerican. I don't usually get political and now i remember why. They are all hustling our bucks and are bullshit.
Hey ! I was in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago with slide player Ron Hacker and man did we have a good time. We did however uncover a conspiracy involving the coffee shops and restaurants. They are placed right next to each other so you the munchies in one and go next door to eat. The get you coming and going, although i personally consider it a very sweet hustle. Chicks ? My god man you would not believe it. Penthouse stuff beautiful but not my taste so we mostly just cruised around got stoned and ate. Raised hell at the hotel cause Ron and i did some blues playing at odd hours. Hope he and i get to do some recording in the near future.
OK you guys i run out of gas, got small tank, and got to pull off the trail for a while. You will be hearing from me again in a week latest, until then Happy Trails and don't sqwat with your spurs on.
Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (22.01.2002)
Hi All,
I have just finished spending two weeks in Amsterdam with my friend George Michalski. We played around, visited clubs etc . . . George as you may know or not was with Blue Cheer when he was 12 years old, he and Adam Russell - Jerry's younger brother - would come over to our apartment on Fillmore Street In San Francisco and steel our "Candy". Of possible and hopeful importance is that George and me talked long and hard about recording together and under what circumstances. George as gifted as he his, would supply the musical technical knowledge, and I would supply the "HEAVY" - that is what I do best and I believe the combination would be great musically.
George apparently has access to the Record Plant Studio in Sausalito, California, and we thought perhaps we could do something in that studio after the details, songs, and all are worked out. Will keep you posted !!!
I have been rehearsing and playing live gigs with my band Mother Ocean. I find this a pleasant change from a lifetime of playing as Blue Cheer. So, I plan to continue to play with Mother Ocean and develop this band as best as I can.
I had some offers to do another Blue Cheer project, however, two main problems keep arising: I will not do another Blue Cheer Project unless the music does not sacrifice, and that, my friends, translates into someone, company or alien, providing a budget that will allow proper recording, time and personal to give me and most importantly you, "the Fans" the music I deserve and the music you deserve to hear. I do not want a "slam, bang, hurry-up" Blue Cheer project. I am sure you will agree.
We all know that money can change minds. If the money is there the people will be there and another Blue Cheer reincarnation will take place. Trust me, Blue Cheer, is my Life and will always be part of me.
Creative inspiration visits me from time to time to time and I am sure that with the propper monetary inspiration Blue Cheer will rise again. In the meantime I hope you know how much I appreciate all the attention from the Fans and as usual I am too stupid to answer all the fan messages by myself.
Please keep the filth !!!
. . . . Dickie Peterson (09.03.2001)
Hello All,
- well changes again !!! - there is nothing constant but change, in my life, anyway.
I have decided to quit the Hank Davison Band. I played several gigs with them over the past several months and I enjoyed this experience very much as i was able to help with the songs and arrangements and truthfully needed a break from Blue Cheer and all that means. So for now that's all with the Hank Davison Band.
What is exciting to me is that my solo band Dickie Peterson & Mother Ocean is sounding great and I am very pleased with the musicians and the progress we have made. We have several upcoming gigs and with guest artists this will give me a chance to stretch out with some new and experimental music and I feel comfortable working with some new and refreshing material from us and the good Dr. Peddicord and also most probably some songs of my friend Kevin Westlake from England. Where we practice is a recording studio and even though the studio is available to us we want to do a proper CD and with sufficient financing to offer up a superior product so now we are hunting for resources both in Europe and America - and hopefully soon we will have some new and exciting music.
Blue Cheer has again entered the picture and recently I have been offered an idea to consider to do another Blue Cheer CD with Duck and Paul the financing would be from New York yet the project, if I consider it worthwhile would be put together in Germany with Duck and Paul. Also, Randy Holden has asked me to do some work with him and probably the most interesting is that recently Leigh has considered doing another Blue Cheer recording with me and Paul if all the songs and business arrangements can be agreed upon. Maybe a few songs with Duck, a few songs with Randy, a few songs with Leigh and maybe a few with Gary Yoder would be one of my ideas - sort of a true Blue Cheer Reunion CD.
Anyway so lots of ideas and thank you all for your continued support . . . Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (06.09.2000)
My friends,
i have currently joined the Hank Davison band as the bass player and will also share the vocal responsibilities with Hank. Why did i make this move? Because it puts the fun and joy back to the music for me. It's a no bullshit biker band and i love playing with these guys. It's funny but i have come to the conclusion that the only people that have ever done right with me, in as far as the music stuff goes, have been bikers. They deliver and always have. So i can only come to the conclusion that the only honest people i have worked for are renegades, outlaws and bikers. The real criminals are wearing the three piece suits and never honestly look you in the eye.
I really do enjoy playing with these guys. I mean sometimes the music gets so good we all can do anything but start laughing because we get so happy. It's been a long long time music gave me that feeling. I think a lot of it is the chemistry because no one guy in the band is the whole show and we all dig what each one of us has to offer. Even the harp player, he reminds me of Jerry Whiting, although he is a black cat from S.F., you still never know what he is going to play and there always has to be a sound guy around who is hip on how to deal with Louis from a mixing standpoint. It's really a family and the most important component in the band is the feeling between people, we call it "no bullshit", i often have to smile to myself because of the similarities in this band and Blue Cheer.
I have not been involved in a recording project with the band up to now mostly because Hank really wants to record only live. The philosophy being the only "real" music is "live" music and live recordings are as close as you can get. His CD's say: no gimicks, tricks, effects or bullshit. His market, the bikers, love it. His plan is to record every concert next summer and then make a new LP from the results, do whatever mixing and editing after the concert season and in the winter do the same thing with the unplugged version of the band. These latest gigs have been mostly to pull Hank together and working at full throttle after his brain surgery last year. He's running great and sounding great. Early march rehearsals for the live Hank Davison Band electric start. I am really looking forward to this as the Hank Davison Band show is not simply a 1 and a half hour set. It's a show and usually lasts for 3 to 4 hours.
I am still doing my solo band and hope to have some recorded results within the next 2 months. I called the band Dickie Peterson & Mother Ocean. We are starting to record a CD in Cologne this month. It's a really solid rhythm & blues rock band. Everybody that hears it says it's great and there is absolutely no one doing what we do. The reason is, it's too simple for most of these over-sophisticated trendy players to figure it out. I am finding a great many people out there that jump for joy at the sounds we make because, and i quote, real music is not dead. Some young guy said this to me the other night after the set. Felt real good to know there are people around that feel the same way about the state music is in and the need for some "real" bands to surface.
I really hope people don't feel i have deserted Blue Cheer, because i haven't. We are only taking a rest. Blue Cheer is always near me and will stay that way, so if someone comes up with a way to make things happen it will happen.
Until then, take care and i will be in touch . . . . DP
. . . . Dickie Peterson (27.07.2000)
Hey Frank,
I have been so busy that i haven't really had a chance to even check my e-mail. I have managed to scrape up enough money for Duck and i to go into preproduction for the new Blue Cheer LP to be recorded in Florida before the new year. We have most definitely written some very good songs and are doing some good arrangements to them. Duck will be leaving for Florida and home next Wednesday. He will take bass and vocal tracks with him so he can work on the guitar parts before we start recording. These tracks will be only scratch tracks and will be of no use to anyone but us, mostly because there is very little on them and are unmixable.
The Open Air was strange but we pulled it off even though we had equipment problems and our spot in the show was not very good, but the people loved us and we made a good time of the whole affair. No more gigs at this point due to song writing and recording but maybe in the Fall we will go out.
The solo project/recording should be started as soon as possible. I have the band, i have the songs, all we need is a deal. Of course this must be planned and can be up to a point but we must know what kind of budget we have to work with and that can only happen with a deal, which will take time, which we have, whether Blue Cheer records or not make little if any difference.
Hey man, i really can't find the time to do the newsletter and manage, play, sing and write songs for the band and myself, so, if it's ok with you, i will depend on you to get the word out to people about what's going on and that it is not a matter of neglect or that i don't care. I am really jammed, of course i love it, it's when i do my best work. I love the pressure, i love making music at the very edge of desaster but not going all the way over the edge. The more risky it is, the more i like it.
Frank, i have to sing off (as usual) for now, as i am to meet the Duck at the studio and do some more work. I will get back to you in a couple of days.
Your friend . . . . DP
. . . . Dickie Peterson (25.05.2000)
High Frank,
sorry about the delay in writing but i have been very busy trying to get this band in the studio and on tour. I think i am on the trail to doing just that. We should be recording and gigging this summer in Europe. We are for sure playing the Burg Herzberg Open Air and will be doing some shows before and after. I don't at this time have a schedule but should have one by the end of next week.
Maybe you can post this info for the surfers and the fans, so they will know i am not neglecting them. I am trying to get the band out there and performing for them.
I will also be doing the tour with a laptop and was thinking about doing something like a daily log of the tour, you know, funny, strange and unusual happenings on the road.
Also i have some interest showing in the publication of my book, so things are happening and i am being kept very busy at keeping it that way, it's the only way for us to get to the people. So please people hang in and keep letting us knowing you are backing us up, we need all the help we can get. Especially Whaley.
Hang loose and keep on rockin'
Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (29.02.2000)
High ya all . . . .
All is well i trust. Let me first apologize for the lack of a newsletter sooner than now and present some sort of an explanation for my behaviour. The flu had something to do with it. I mean this year that shit was hard. I was ill for over a week and so was Ilka, although she got it worse than i did. Anyway, all is ok now.
The other things that i have been working on are probably of more interest to you than the complaints of a rocker's health. Hell, no one should have to listen to us complain after the way we treated our bodies. First off, the european tour, starting in late June or early July looks like a go and i am very excited about it. I mean we did some touring in Europe in the 80's and early 90's, but they were done halfassed by our then german manager, who had his head so far up his own ass, that he made the whole thing a bummer. At one point Duck was forced out of the band, although we knew we would get back together, Whaley even left for a while, but i stayed and for only one reason, to complete the contract, so this guy could not come back on our asses somewhere down the line. Anyway, we three are hyped about this summer. I don't know quite how to express it, but i got a real good feeling about the Cheer and this year and this summer in particular. I will keep Frank updated for the dates, as soon as any deals are sealed. That won't be for a while, as the gigs are a good 4 months down the line, but they will be posted and i hope to god you guys show up, cause i bragg about you guys to the promo companies. As far as the States go, well, i got all kinds of feelers out, but no responses yet. I have been hoping that we could join up on some sort of tour that comprises several bands. We did a tour in the States in the 80's with Leslie West, Foghat and The Outlaws and it was a gas, man, lots of really good rock and roll and not much room for any primadonna bullshit. I mean people became friends and the bullshit just fell away. It has to or you can't make a friendship with anyone. Sure, there are always asses around, but we refer to them as amps and who wants to hang out with his amp for a whole tour. So we give the amps and the asses to the roadies to deal with. It will either straighten an asshole out or drive it right over the deep end. Sort of Blue Cheer road entertainment.
As far as recordings go, Captain Trip is doing a new release of the Live In Japan CD. I also have a couple of record companies showing real interest. I can't at this time mention any names, as they don't like that sort of thing and it's a great way to drive them off forever. I think they will wait and see how the band does on tour this summer and i am very confident that we will do more than good.
I have been preparing songs in a small studio for the recording i know we will do. Duck will be coming here in a few months and we will then start putting the Cheer wack on them and we will be prepared when the right deal comes down.
Well sisters and brothers, my fingers are getting sore as is my ass, my mind is fast approching blankness, maybe it's that dutch tobacco? Hang loose and carebeful.
Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (25.01.2000)
High ya all . . . .
Hope the new year is starting out with a blast for you. Sorry i haven't written sooner, but i have been very busy setting up a tour for the summer and hopefully the fall. Things are looking good for the festivals in Europe. Which ones and where is still on the drawing board, but i am pretty sure that a tour will happen, so keep your eyes out for us and of course all progress will be on the Blue Cheer HomePage.
I have also spit the word out to a few people in the US about doing a tour there, but have not made a connection as of yet. But fear not, i am on the job boss.
Ya all should also keep your eyes peeled for the Hank Davison Band shows coming up in the fall. Some of them i will for sure be at and will perform and there is a possibility Cheer might even make a showing. There is a lot going on right know and it's hard to predict what's going to happen, but one thing i know from experience is, that when this much energy is in the wind, shit happens. I can feel it all the way to my toes and it feels good
I am very much looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the tours. We always have a place at the gigs, where after the shows, we can hang out with the people that choose to do so. We feel, we owe it to you guys to be available, just give us a chance to catch our breaths and you'll see us, 'cause we'll be looking for you.
Talk to you soon and i will keep you all posted as to what's going on, thanks for the letters and i really mean that, 'cause sometimes they are the thing that give me the energy when i get down and out about why i do this shit. You guys are sort of like a member of the band and you keep a foot in my ass. Thank you.
Keep on rockin' . . . . Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (05.01.2000)
Hey, Happy New Year to one and all . . . .
I hope this year brings the love and caring that this world needs. I truly hope you make yourself a part of it.
Paul Whaley and our ladies spent Xmas in Regensburg, Germany, a 2000 year old town in southern Germany, where Whaley lives. Well, to say the least, it was a very unique Xmas. He even had a tree which he insisted on dancing with over the 3 day period we were there. He also was keeping his eyes out for U F O s. I told him, "you will probably spot them cruising behind the 8 reindeers and the fat guy in the sleigh". He looked at me and then nodded his head and said "ya, probably" and moved on to the next point of interest. That's Paul and that's why we love him so much. Maybe he went as crazy as the rest of us wanted to, i don't know. He plays like an animal and has a heart as big as the sky and i loved being with him at Xmas time.
We left Paul's town and headed for Augsburg, where my lady and i spent New Year's with the Hank Davison crew. Hank and i made a promise to each other 2 years ago, to rock into the year 2000 and man, did we ever. We started at 10 minutes to 12 and didn't stop until 3 am. So have no fear, we kickstarted the year 2000 and it came roaring in like a full dressed Harley. I met a guitar player while i was there, named Mirek, who comes from Poland, man, can he play. It was a little strange at first, because he speaks no word of english and i no polish, but it became obvious that we all spoke Rock 'n' Roll, because once we started, it was an unstoppable force. I loved it, i guess i was sort of like a pig rolling around in the muddy grease, couldn't have been more contented. I am pretty sure Hank and i will do something together as the chemistry between us is too unique and special, not to. We are kicking around what that project will be and i will let you know as soon as we do.
As i understand it, from Japan, there will be a new issue of the Live In Japan CD and should be available through Captain Trip's link or the Blue Cheer HomePage. I am still working on the merchandising aspects of Blue Cheer, so don't think i forgot, it just takes time to make this shit happen, just hang with me, 'cause i make shit happen, and this will happen.
Hank and i are thinking of starting our own record company and calling it F T R C (Fuck The Record Companies) and do our own music our own way. The companies and advertisers have things so screwed up, that to sign with them, is to give up your soul. As far as i am concerned, these companies are a real threat to R 'n' R and i really don't want to deal with them or at least i know, they would not want to deal with me. That's why we went with Captain Trip, because we had complete and total control of what we wanted to do and that is the way it has to stay, no matter who we sign with. We will not compromise Rock 'n' Roll for the sake of money that the lawyers and the companies are going to steal from us anyway. So i don't really see a major recording company picking us up, although stranger things have happened. They would have to have a lot of nerves, because the laws are meaningless to me, they are not to my advantage and i would take any act against the band very personal when it comes to these people and i don't think they are prepared to deal with that.
Well, ya all, i am heading out for Holland after i finish this letter. For those of you, who do not know, Holland has very liberal smoking laws and very little drug crime and the like. I plan on smoking the new year in and because i am a little late, i guess i should probably smoke a lot.
You all take care of each other, because we are all we got. Keep the mail coming and keep your eyes open, because when we come, it will be hard and heavy . . . . DP
. . . . Dickie Peterson (23.12.1999)
Hey everybody, what's shakin'?
Guess i'll just start with what's on my mind. I have a problem with addressing all of you as fans, it seems so trite and inadequate. Maybe someone out there has a suggestion or two as to what we can call all you Blue Cheer supporters. I thought about pilots, mostly because we look at this thing like it's your plane and you are flying it. We're sort of the flight crew, we keep up in the air, but when it gets down to the real nitty gritty, you guys are the ones that give the flight instructions. Am i making any sense? Well, let me know one way or the other.
I am meeting with Frank about merchandising on the Blue Cheer HomePage this week and hopefully will be able to supply you all with cds and such in the very near future. So hang in, 'cause we are working on it.
Paul and i, along with our ladies, will be spending Xmas together in southern Germany, at Paul's house. Should be interesting, Paul is one crazy dude. Hell i didn't know he even knew about Xmas. And then, on New Year's, we'll be in Augsburg, Germany, with the Hank Davison Band, celebrating with the Broncos M.C. and basically kick starting 2000. I really enjoy my time with Hank, he has become my very best german friend and hanking with him and the band is always great fun and the Broncos are a bunch of very rowdy good guys. Maybe i can swing some photos for the homepage.
As far as the progress on the Blue Cheer projects, i spoke of in my last letter, well they are all still in the works. I could say the Millennium and Xmas were to blame, but that would be a lie, the truth is that these things take time and a great deal of hustling. But rest assured, the flight crew is ready for take off in an instant.
Well, my friends, i hope this letter keeps you focused on Blue Cheer and i will be writing next week.
Over and out . . . . DP
. . . . Dickie Peterson (11.12.1999)
Hey and hello to all . . . .
First let me introduce myself. I am Dickie Peterson, bass, vocals and songwriter with Blue Cheer.
You may ask why this letter is being written? Well it's because of a phone call with Frank and him saying there has been a lot of mail, coming from people that want to know what's happening with the band. So, after a little kicking things around, we thought a monthly newsletter would help answer a few questions, that you may have.
First off, let me tell you all how we feel about you, because i get many gratifying letters and can't answer them all and i begin to feel guilty, but i along with the other members of the band value you guys above all else. We know, without the support of the Blue Cheer people, we would not be able to make the kind of music we do.
I have basically taken over the management position on the band, at least until i can find someone that can help to put Blue Cheer in the best possible position in as far as recording and touring. Both of the issues are in discussion with people in the record industry, i do have reservations as to how the band will be marketed and to whom . . . .
People have tried to classify us as heavy metal, when really we were not and if they aim at something like this, then i don't want it. Blue Cheer is a rock and roll power trio, nothing more and certainly nothing less. What you see is what you get. No mirrors, no tricks, no samples, no hidden players, just raw, powerful, raging rock.
Hopefully we will be able to make available merchandising through the web site. CD's, T-shirts, caps, photos, contests and whatever other shit we can think of. Right now, i am working on releasing Highlights And Lowlives and Dinning With The Sharks, along with Hello Tokyo, Bye Bye Osaka. These things take time because of legalities. It's a real piss off, but there is little choice.
We have plans of recording a new studio LP this summer, probably at Duck's studio in Orlando, Fla. I have been working on the new songs for the project and i am sure we will have some really good stuff when the smoke settles. It looks like we will produce it ourselves, at least that's what we are hoping. A producer can be difficult for us and themselves because of our studio style and our dislike of too many effects and over-production. Blue Cheer is a live band and that's what we always have been. We prefer our sessions to be live as possible and taking over a month to record is pushing the limits of patience for this band. Plus, i can never tell a producer exactly what lyrics i will sing, because it changes as i sing it. We know what we are doing and if they just get out of the way a little, we deliver.
Well, i hope this letter is of some interest to you and will encourage you to visit the site more often and check out our progress. Until then hang loose.
. . . . Dickie
P.S.
Let me know if you interested in hearing some of my rants and raves about music and/or life in general. I am a real sync with a romantic streak.
. . . . Dickie
. . . . Dickie Peterson (24.9.1999)
First, i feel absolutely horrible that i have not been able to respond to Blue Cheer fans that have sent me mail.
At present, i am working on the new songs for the up and coming studio lp, to be recorded in Orlando, Florida, during the winter of 1999/2000. Could be called: ReEruptum, Chaos Pilots or In A Pigs Eye. Maybe we should hold a little contest on the net and see if any Blue Cheer freaks come up with a title that is fitting for this particular lp, year 2000 and all. Its also the first studio lp in a number of years, just an idea. Let me know what you all think.
The Japan cd ? I didn't like the reference to Leigh at all and neither did anybody else in the band. Leigh is a very good musician and i have a great deal of respect for him and to use the cd liner notes to degrade someone is in my opinion inexcusable. For this and the insult to Leigh and any of his fans i sincerely apologize.
. . . . Dickie Peterson