Vicnibus Eruptum is 47 This Year

To describe Blue Cheer, the first word that comes to mind is... LOUD!  It was said by the bands manager Gut, (a one time Hells Angel) that the bands sonic blast could "turn the air into cottage cheese." The classic power trio lineup of guitar, bass, and drums is more than capable of knocking down a house, as we easily find out on their debut L.P. "Vincibus Eruptum" released in 1968.

Blue Cheer have been cited by many as the worlds first heavy metal band. That's true to some extent, perhaps. Iron Butterfly were already on the scene, with Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk right around the corner, but none of them were as single (or simple) minded as the bludgeoning attack that was Blue Cheer. In a blur of Roger Corman films, amphetamines, LSD, long hair, loud guitars and teen lust, the roots of metal, grunge, and stoner rock can all be found on the same album.

Though the shared a home base (San Francisco) and pharmacist (Owsley Stanley) with the Greatful Dead, their musical approach was quite different. Singer/bassist Dickie Peterson, drummer Paul Whaley, and guitar player Leigh Stephens made one HELL of a noise, while producer Abe 'Voco'

Kesh found the groups deafeningly definitive sound. The album is split between three cover songs and three originals written by Dickie Peterson. Of those originals, 'Out of Focus' is a classic. With a funky guitar riff leading the way, the song rides a heavy groove. The tone of the guitar alone defines the Blue Cheer sound -- a Big Muff fuzz box plugged into a Marshal amp and cranked up loud. The circular riff of the song is hypnotic and ranks as one of the bands finest efforts.

Their classic 'Parchment Farm' (a cover of Mose Allison's 'Parchment Farm') is a glorious case of them taking simple blues and transforming it into their own monster. It's a driving rocker that holds the pedal to the metal. 'Doctor Please' is a rollicking number about Petersons first time delving into the world of LSD. As Owsley states on the back of the cover: "subtle color of the mind -- BLUE, call the figure a soul -- CHEER."

The band managed to have a hit single amidst all the fuzz going on. Their cover of Eddie Cochran's classic 'Summertime Blues' lit up AM radio in 1968 and climbed the Billboard charts to number 14. It would be the bands sole hit single. It is the definitive Blue Cheer song in so many ways. They capture the angst and raw teen emotion of the Cochran original, but, like some crazy Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth vehicle it's all souped up and driving way out of control, It certaily didn't sound like anythin topping the charts, but in those times, it really was a stylistic free for all that somehow made sense.

Check out this whacky radio promo for the album!!!