Dickie Peterson: 1946-2009

The original lead vocalist and bassist for '60s/'70s rockers Blue Cheer, Dickie Peterson, has died of liver cancer at the age of 63.

Most of Peterson's career was spent with Blue Cheer, whose heavy metal rendition of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" propelled them from San Francisco psychedelic rockers to national prominence in 1968.

More about Peterson's life and career from About.com's resident blues guru, Reverend Keith A. Gordon.