# Dickie Peterson

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American musician (1946–2009)

Dickie Peterson Peterson in 2008 Background information Born (1946-09-12)September 12, 1946 Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S. Died October 12, 2009(2009-10-12) (aged 63) Erkelenz, Germany Genres Blues rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal Occupations Musician, songwriter Instruments Bass, vocals, guitar, drums Years active 1966–2009

Musical artist

**Richard Allan Peterson**[1] (September 12, 1946 – October 12, 2009)[2] known as **Dickie Peterson** was an American musician, best known as the bassist, lead singer and only constant member of [Blue Cheer](/source/Blue_Cheer). He also recorded two solo albums: *Child of the Darkness* and *Tramp*.

## Biography

Born in [Grand Forks, North Dakota](/source/Grand_Forks%2C_North_Dakota), Peterson played bass from the age of thirteen onward, 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 initially played flute. Drums were Peterson's first instrument.

Peterson spent much of his youth in [East Grand Forks, Minnesota](/source/East_Grand_Forks%2C_Minnesota), the [twin city](/source/Twin_cities_(geographical_proximity)) to [Grand Forks, North Dakota](/source/Grand_Forks%2C_North_Dakota), where he was born.[3][4] He attended [Grand Forks Central High School](/source/Grand_Forks_Central_High_School) from grade 10 through grade 12.[5] His parents died when he was young, resulting in his living with his aunt and uncle on a farm in North Dakota, for part of his youth.[4]

Peterson cited [Otis Redding](/source/Otis_Redding) as a significant influence.[6] He credited his brother, the late Jerre Peterson,[7] as being his lifelong musical influence.[8] Jerre was one of the lead guitarists in the initial lineup of Blue Cheer (the other being [Leigh Stephens](/source/Leigh_Stephens)) and played with various formations of the band in later years.[9]

Peterson spent much of the past two decades preceding his death 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hank_Davison&action=edit&redlink=1) Band and as an acoustic duo with Hank Davison under the name "Dos Hombres."[10] 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.[11]

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."[8]

In his early life, Peterson was a user of various drugs and was a [heroin addict](/source/Heroin_addiction) for a number of years. In 2007, Peterson said he believed [LSD](/source/LSD) and other similar drugs can have positive effects, but that he and other members of Blue Cheer "took it over the top."[12] He had ceased much of his drug use by the mid-1970s, and stopped drinking 10 years before his death.[13]

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](/source/Heavy_metal_music) or [grunge](/source/Grunge) or [punk](/source/Punk_rock), or we’re this or that. The reality is, we’re just a [power trio](/source/Power_trio), and we play ultra blues, and it’s rock ‘n roll. It’s really simple what we do."[8]

On October 12, 2009, Peterson died[2] in [Erkelenz](/source/Erkelenz), Germany, at the age of 63 from [liver cancer](/source/Liver_cancer), after [prostate cancer](/source/Prostate_cancer) spread throughout his body.[12][14] He was survived by his second wife,[15] his former wife,[16] a daughter from his first marriage,[17] and a six-year-old grandson.[1][14][18][19]

Peterson was cremated and his ashes given to his daughter, Corrina. Peterson wished his ashes to be spread in the [Rhine River](/source/Rhine_River) in Germany and in the [Redwoods](/source/Coast_Redwood) of Northern California, at a site to be determined by his daughter.[20]

[Neil Peart](/source/Neil_Peart), the drummer for [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)), said in tribute to Peterson:

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.[21]

## Discography

- 1998: *Child of the Darkness* [Captain Trip Records](/source/Captain_Trip_Records); released only in [Japan](/source/Japan)

- 1999: *Tramp* Captain Trip Records; released only in Japan

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Marilyn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Marilyn_1-1) [Comments of Marilyn (Peterson) Stephens](http://inlog.org/2009/10/12/rip-richard-dickie-peterson-1948-2009/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20091016113605/http://inlog.org/2009/10/12/rip-richard-dickie-peterson-1948-2009/) 2009-10-16 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), first wife of Dickie Peterson, October 13, 2009. Tribute blog to Dickie Peterson; www.inlog.org. Peterson's first wife asserts that his year of birth was 1946, rather than 1948.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-inlog.org_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-inlog.org_2-1) [R.I.P. Richard ‘Dickie’ Peterson (Blue Cheer) (1948 – 2009)](http://inlog.org/2009/10/12/rip-richard-dickie-peterson-1948-2009/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20091016113605/http://inlog.org/2009/10/12/rip-richard-dickie-peterson-1948-2009/) 2009-10-16 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine); www.inlog.org.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Peterson remained a resident of Grand Forks; his time in East Grand Forks was primarily to listen to emerging local bands. See [Comments on background of Dickie Peterson](http://www.areavoices.com/valleysound/?page=comments&blog=62520)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]; www.areavoices.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-haga_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-haga_4-1) Chuck Haga, "Final cheer for a Blue Cheer". *[Grand Forks Herald](/source/Grand_Forks_Herald)*, October 22, 2009; www.grandforksherald.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Online comment by former schoolmate in response to Chuck Haga, "Final cheer for a Blue Cheer". *Grand Forks Herald*, October 22, 2009; www.grandforksherald.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Interview with Dickie Peterson](http://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars/dickie_peterson.htm) by Jason Ritchie, 2003; www.getreadytorock.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Died August 9, 2002; see ["Blue Cheer News"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070920062727/http://gamma.sitelutions.com/~peterson/bluecheernews01.htm). Archived from the original on September 20, 2007. Retrieved 2013-08-18.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-schneiderint_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-schneiderint_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-schneiderint_8-2) [Interview with Dickie Peterson](http://www.stonerrock.com/interviews/index.asp?InterviewID=143) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110928045655/http://www.stonerrock.com/interviews/index.asp?InterviewID=143) 2011-09-28 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) by Ken Schneider, 2005; www.stonerock.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Interview with Dickie Peterson](http://www.roctober.com/roctober/greatness/bluecheer.html) by John Battles, 2007; www.roctober.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Blue Cheer News](http://www.bluecheer.us/archive/bluecheernews01.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725195439/http://www.bluecheer.us/archive/bluecheernews01.htm) 2011-07-25 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), "Dickie Peterson-Hank Davison Band-Dos Hombres"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** See [Notice of 2001 performance](http://klubder40.de/projekte/2001_dickiepeterson.php) and [Notice of 2002 performance](http://klubder40.de/projekte/2002_dickiepeterson.php); www.klubder40.de

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Petersondead_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Petersondead_12-1) [Dickie Peterson dies at 63; bassist and lead singer for the power trio Blue Cheer](http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-dickie-peterson17-2009oct17,0,5352275.story) [Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times), October 16, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** As recounted by Blue Cheer bandmate [Andrew "Duck" MacDonald](/source/Duck_MacDonald) in interview with Chuck Haga,"Final cheer for a Blue Cheer". [Grand Forks Herald](/source/Grand_Forks_Herald), October 22, 2009; www.grandforksherald.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nyt_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nyt_14-1) William Grimes, [Dickie Peterson, Singer for Rock Band Blue Cheer, Dies at 63](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/arts/music/14peterson.html). Obituary, *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, October 13, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Ilka Diener

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Marilyn (Peterson) Stephens

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Corrina Peterson-Kaltenrieder, age 36, a former professional ballerina, previously associated with the Texas Ballet Theatre; see [Performance announcement and bio](https://archive.today/20030104015638/http://www.rpcb.net/events.html), 2006; www.rpcb.net.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-blabber_18-0)** [Blue Cheer's Dickie Peterson Remembered](https://archive.today/20130208174153/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128671); www.roadrunnerrecords.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Vincent; see [Performance announcement and bio of Corrina Peterson](https://archive.today/20030104015638/http://www.rpcb.net/events.html); www.rpcb.net.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Comments of Blue Cheer co-founder, producer and former manager [Eric Albronda](/source/Eric_Albronda), October 28, 2009 at [Blue Cheer Message Board](http://bluecheer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=371) (Thread: "Death of Dickie"); www.bluecheer.proboards.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Louder Than God": Rush's Neil Peart Remembers Blue Cheer's Dickie Peterson.](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/louder-than-god-rushs-neil-peart-remembers-blue-cheers-dickie-peterson-20091021) [Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone) Rock & Roll Daily, October 21, 2009; www.rollingstone.com.

## External links

- [Dickie Peterson Video Interview with Serene Dominic](https://web.archive.org/web/20080719172657/http://www.serenedominic.com/podcast4.php)

v t e Blue Cheer Dickie Peterson Leigh Stephens Eric Albronda Paul Whaley Vale Hamanaka Randy Holden Ralph Burns Kellogg Gary Lee Yoder Nick St. Nicholas Andrew "Duck" MacDonald Prairie Prince Joe Hasselvander Studio albums Vincebus Eruptum Outsideinside New! Improved! Blue Cheer The Original Human Being Oh! Pleasant Hope The Beast Is Back Highlights and Lowlives Dining with the Sharks What Doesn't Kill You... Live albums Blitzkrieg Over Nüremberg Singles "Summertime Blues" "Just a Little Bit" "The Hunter"

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND National Spain Artists MusicBrainz People Deutsche Biographie

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dickie Peterson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickie_Peterson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickie_Peterson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.