Psychedelic Cover: "Summertime Blues" Blue Cheer (1968)

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Psychedelic was the forerunner of heavy metal as the roots of heavy metal can be heard in those 60s psychedelic bands. Blue Cheer’s cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” is considered the first heavy metal hit and the group the first heavy metal band according to many including Rush’s Geddy Lee. The psychedelic blues band was founded in San Francisco (where else) by bassist and lead vocalist Dickie Peterson in 1967 and adopted the name Blue Cheer from a particular variety of LSD. “Summertime Blues” is a classic 1958 hit for Cochran and much covered including by the Who. Blue Cheer’s version appeared on their debut album “Vincebus Eruptum” and would be their only hit charting at Billboard #14. The cover is a trip as you listen to heavy guitar and psychedelic sound turning the familiar Cochran inside out. With numerous personnel changes and several hiatuses, Blue Cheer continued touring until Peterson’s 2009 death.