Here is possibly the original heavy metal band, BLUE CHEER (as stated by Geddy Lee of Rush). Blue Cheer started in San Francisco in 1966, that’s how far this band goes back. Between 1966 and 1972 they released a few of the noisiest psychedelic and heavy rock records of the time. A lot of people hated them and thought they were unlistenable (so I’ve read), but they’ve certainly stood the test of time. During the next few decades, the band would bounce between being on hiatus and being active, and in the mid 2000′s they really came back in force with a tour around the U.S. And we’re not talking a big spectacle theatre tour, but a stripped down bare bones club tour. I even saw them at a warehouse show in Oakland! The band sounded just as heavy and loud as any other bands around, and I would have loved to have seen them with modern heavies like High On Fire or Saviours. Sadly, vocalist, bass player, and founding member Dickie Peterson died in 2009 of prostate cancer. After that, the band was over for good. I’m glad I saw them. Here’s a video of them from the 2006 US tour, doing their cover of the Mose Allison song, “Parchman Farm”. They retitled it “Parchment Farm” and released it on their 1968 debut album, Vincebus Eruptum. Get high as fuck, smoke out for Dickie, and turn the damned volume all the way up!
- Dan HASHTHRASH
in the player control bar.
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