Dick Peterson
Encyclopedia
Dickie Peterson was the bassist and lead singer for Blue Cheer
. He also recorded two solo albums: Child of the Darkness and Tramp.
Peterson played bass since the age of thirteen, and knew at the age of eight that he wanted to become a professional musician. He came from a musical family: his father played trombone, his mother played piano and his brother, Jerre Peterson, initially played flute. Drums were Peterson's first instrument.
Peterson spent much of his youth in East Grand Forks, Minnesota
, the twin city to Grand Forks, North Dakota
, where he was born. He attended Grand Forks Central High School from Grade 10 to Grade 12. His parents died when he was young, resulting in him living with his aunt and uncle on a farm in North Dakota, for part of his youth.
Peterson cited Otis Redding
as a significant influence. He credited his brother, the late Jerre Peterson, as being his lifelong musical influence. Jerre Peterson was one of the lead guitarists in the initial lineup of Blue Cheer (the other being Leigh Stephens
) and played with various formations of the band in later years.
Peterson spent much of the past two decades based in Germany, playing with Blue Cheer and other groups on occasion. In 1998 and 1999, he played various dates in Germany with the Hank Davison Band and as an acoustic duo with Hank Davison under the name "Dos Hombres". He appeared on the album, Hank Davison and Friends - Real Live. In 2001 and 2002, Peterson played, principally in Germany, with Mother Ocean, a group he formed that included former Blue Cheer guitarist Tony Rainier, as well as brother Jerre Peterson. There has been no public issue of recordings by this group.
Throughout his life, Peterson's relationship to music had been all-consuming. Peterson provided the following self-description: "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. ...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."
In his early life Peterson was a user of various drugs and was a heroin addict for a number of years. In 2007, Peterson said he believed LSD
and other similar drugs can have a positive effects, but that he and other members of Blue Cheer "took it over the top". He had ceased much of his drug use by the mid-1970s, and stopped drinking ten years before his death.
Blue Cheer has been considered a pioneering band in many genres. Peterson did not consider that the band belonged to any particular genre: "People keep trying to say that we’re heavy metal
or grunge
or punk
, or we’re this or that. The reality is, we’re just a power trio
, and we play ultra blues, and it’s rock ‘n roll. It’s really simple what we do."
On October 12, 2009, Peterson died in Germany, at the age of 63 from liver cancer
, after prostate cancer
spread throughout his body. He is survived by his second wife, his former wife, a daughter from his first marriage, and a six year old grandson.
Peterson was cremated and his ashes given to his daughter, Corrina. Peterson wished his ashes to be spread in the Rhine River in Germany and in the Redwoods of Northern California, at a site to be determined by his daughter.
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...
. He also recorded two solo albums: Child of the Darkness and Tramp.
Biography
- Dickie Peterson was present at the creation — stood at the roaring heart of the creation, a primal scream through wild hair, bass hung low, in an aural apocalypse of defiant energy. His music left deafening echoes in a thousand other bands in the following decades, thrilling some, angering others, and disturbing everything — like art is supposed to do.
-
- Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
, drummer for RushRush (band)Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
; Tribute to Dickie Peterson
- Neil Peart
Peterson played bass since the age of thirteen, and knew at the age of eight that he wanted to become a professional musician. He came from a musical family: his father played trombone, his mother played piano and his brother, Jerre Peterson, initially played flute. Drums were Peterson's first instrument.
Peterson spent much of his youth in East Grand Forks, Minnesota
East Grand Forks, Minnesota
-K-12:The East Grand Forks School District enrolls over 1,000 students and operates two elementary schools , Central Middle School, and East Grand Forks Senior High School. There are also two private Christian schools. Sacred Heart School is a Roman Catholic elementary, middle, and high school...
, the twin city to Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, where he was born. He attended Grand Forks Central High School from Grade 10 to Grade 12. His parents died when he was young, resulting in him living with his aunt and uncle on a farm in North Dakota, for part of his youth.
Peterson cited Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
as a significant influence. He credited his brother, the late Jerre Peterson, as being his lifelong musical influence. Jerre Peterson was one of the lead guitarists in the initial lineup of Blue Cheer (the other being Leigh Stephens
Leigh Stephens
Leigh Stephens is an American guitarist and songwriter.Stephens became famous as the former lead guitarist of the San Francisco psychedelic rock group Blue Cheer. He was ranked number 98 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. He has claimed to have been the...
) and played with various formations of the band in later years.
Peterson spent much of the past two decades based in Germany, playing with Blue Cheer and other groups on occasion. In 1998 and 1999, he played various dates in Germany with the Hank Davison Band and as an acoustic duo with Hank Davison under the name "Dos Hombres". He appeared on the album, Hank Davison and Friends - Real Live. In 2001 and 2002, Peterson played, principally in Germany, with Mother Ocean, a group he formed that included former Blue Cheer guitarist Tony Rainier, as well as brother Jerre Peterson. There has been no public issue of recordings by this group.
Throughout his life, Peterson's relationship to music had been all-consuming. Peterson provided the following self-description: "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. ...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."
In his early life Peterson was a user of various drugs and was a heroin addict for a number of years. In 2007, Peterson said he believed LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
and other similar drugs can have a positive effects, but that he and other members of Blue Cheer "took it over the top". He had ceased much of his drug use by the mid-1970s, and stopped drinking ten years before his death.
Blue Cheer has been considered a pioneering band in many genres. Peterson did not consider that the band belonged to any particular genre: "People keep trying to say that we’re heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
or grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
or punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, or we’re this or that. The reality is, we’re just a power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
, and we play ultra blues, and it’s rock ‘n roll. It’s really simple what we do."
On October 12, 2009, Peterson died in Germany, at the age of 63 from liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
, after prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
spread throughout his body. He is survived by his second wife, his former wife, a daughter from his first marriage, and a six year old grandson.
Peterson was cremated and his ashes given to his daughter, Corrina. Peterson wished his ashes to be spread in the Rhine River in Germany and in the Redwoods of Northern California, at a site to be determined by his daughter.
Discography
- 1998: Child of the Darkness Captain Trip Records; released only in Japan
- 1999: Tramp Captain Trip Records; released only in Japan