Summertime Blues

Blue Cheer, 1968, from Vincebus Eruptum. Solo by Leigh Stephens.

Stephens turns Eddie Cochran's rockabilly tune into a wall of overdriven noise and heavy soloing.

Blue Cheer's Summertime Blues takes Eddie Cochran's rockabilly classic and turns it into a wall of overdriven noise. Leigh Stephens' guitar is loud, raw and heavy, with fuzz, feedback and aggressive soloing that pushes the song far beyond its origins. His playing is rough and energetic, prioritising power over precision. The track is often cited as a forerunner of heavy metal and stoner rock. Listen for the crushing distortion and the way Stephens' lead lines explode out of the riff, sometimes sliding into chaotic feedback, and for how the rhythm section pounds along underneath, making the whole track feel like a controlled, thunderous collapse.

Summertime Blues by Blue Cheer is featured in our Psychedelic (#24) list. The solo is played by Leigh Stephens and the song was released in 1968.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Psychedelic Guitar Solos — #24
• The Best Blue Cheer Guitar Solos — #2

Sources