I once owned a belt buckle just like this, but I traded it for a see-through guitar. True story.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 20, 1988
By Steve Newton
Blue Öyster Cult is the sort of band you either love or hate. There’s no in-betweens. Nobody every says, “Oh, Blue Öyster Cult, they’re all right, I guess.” It’s either “The Cult rules!” or “No thanks, hand me that Hall & Oates album.”
Me, I love ’em. I’ve loved ’em ever since I saw them wipe the Pacific Coliseum floor with headliners T-Rex in 1974. Then in ’76 I saw Bob Seger open for them at the Gardens, and while old Bob put on a super show, B.O.C. were not to be outdone. Since then Seger has gone on to the Big Time, but for some strange reason Blue Öyster Cult hasn’t. Maybe the name scares people or something.
At any rate, they’re certainly one of the most stimulating hard-rock acts ever to come along, both musically and lyrically. And they can still kick royal butt live, as almost anyone at their sold-out 86 Street show on Wednesday (May 11) will attest.
The core of the band is still intact: lead guitarist Buck Dharma, guitarist/vocalist Eric Bloom, and guitarist/keyboardist Allen Lanier. With a new drummer and bassist backing them up, the three original Cultists headed straight into “R.U. Ready 2 Rock” and the overwhelming response from the 86 Street crowd was “Yup”.
“Dominance and Submission”, a killer tune from ’74, really got things warmed up, even without the blistering guitar solo we used to mimic back in high school. The riff-heavy “E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)” was next, followed by Dharma’s metallic showcase “Buck’s Boogie” and several of the band’s early tunes. Heavy metal–or whatever you want to call it these days–never sounded so good.
After “Joan Crawford”, a nice little ditty about the late actress rising from the grave, Lanier switched from keyboards to guitar and the “New York Guitar Army” gathered at stage-front to rock out on “Golden Age of Leather” and their semi-hit from ’81, “Burnin’ for You”.
Their heavy-metal hymn to the real lizard king, “Godzilla”, featured the obligatory drum solo, but led into a surprise version of the Beatles’ “Birthday”.
Then the band finally got around to playing its biggest hit–and one of the finest rock songs ever–“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. That one’s cascading guitar lick and bittersweet lyric had me in goosebumps, and the rest of the crowd seemed to be getting riled up as well.
On that highest of notes, the band left the stage, but they weren’t going anywhere other than right back on. They took no prisoners (as promised) with a molten encore set that included “The Red and the Black”, “This Ain’t the Summer of Love”, “Cities on Flame with Rock ‘n’ Roll”, and the Doors‘ “Roadhouse Blues” (with a bit of “Love Me Two Times” thrown in for good measure).
Twenty tunes (and over two hours) after starting, Blue Öyster Cult left the 86 Street crowd alone to lick its welcome wounds.
To hear the full audio of the interview I did with Buck Dharma in 1997 subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 300 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
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Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip, 1997
Tommy Emmanuel, 1994
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Eric Johnson, 2001
Stu Hamm, 1991
Gene Simmons of Kiss, 1992
Ace Frehley from Kiss, 2008
David Lee Roth, 1994
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
John Mayall of the Bluesbreakers, 1988
Steve Vai, 1990
Tony Iommi of Heaven and Hell, 2007
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1996
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, 1991
James Hetfield of Metallica, 1986
Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, 1988
Andy McCoy and Sam Yaffa of Hanoi Rocks, 1984
Steve Morse, 1991
Slash of Guns N’ Roses, 1994
Brian May from Queen, 1993
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1991
Jake E. Lee of Badlands, 1992
Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1997
John Fogerty, 1997
Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 1987
Rick Derringer, 1999
Robin Trower, 1990
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, 1994
Mick Ronson, 1988
Geddy Lee of Rush, 2002
Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, 1997
Michael Schenker, 1992
Vince Neil of Motley Crue, 1991
Vinnie Paul of Pantera, 1992
Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, 1988
Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, 1989
Rob Halford of Judas Priest, 1984
Bill Henderson of Chilliwack, 1999
Paul Rodgers, 1997
R.L. Burnside, 1999
Guthrie Govan of the Aristocrats, 2015
Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, 1985
Carlos Santana, 2011
Walter Trout, 2003
Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, 1983
Tommy Aldridge, 2001
Mark Farner of Grand Funk, 1991
Chris Robinson of Black Crowes, 1990
Jennifer Batten, 2002
Mike Fraser, 2014
Leo Kottke, 2002
Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, 2002
David Gogo, 1991
Booker T. Jones, 2016
Link Wray, 1997
James Reyne from Australian Crawl, 1988
Mike Rutherford of Genesis, 1983
Buddy Guy, 1991
Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers, 1990
Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers, 2016
Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1986
Lindsay Mitchell of Prism, 1988
Buddy Miles, 2001
Eddie Money, 1988
Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, 1983
Gaye Delorme, 1990
Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 1984
Graham Bonnet of Alcatrazz, 1984
Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, 2016
Doc Neeson of Angel City, 1985
Rik Emmett of Triumph, 1985
Sonny Landreth, 2016
Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders, 2016
Jeff Beck, 2001
Albert King, 1990
Johnny Ramone of the Ramones, 1992
Peter Frampton, 1987
Otis Rush, 1997
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1989
Leslie West of Mountain, 2002
Steve Howe of Yes, 2017
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, 1983
Uli Jon Roth, 2016
Poison Ivy of the Cramps, 1990
Greg Lake of ELP, 1992
Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC, 1983
Warren Zevon, 1992
Tal Wilkenfeld, 2016
Steve Clark of Def Leppard, 1988
Roy Buchanan, 1986
Gary Moore, 1984
Ronnie Montrose, 1994
Danny Gatton, 1993
Alex Lifeson of Rush, 1992
Ann Wilson of Heart, 1985
J.J. Cale, 1990
Yngwie Malmsteen, 2014
Long John Baldry, 1985
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
Kim Mitchell, 1984
Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers, 1994
Derek Trucks, 1998
Susan Tedeschi, 1998
Joe Satriani, 2018
B.B. King, 1984
Albert Collins, 1985
Ronnie James Dio, 1985
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, 1984
Dick Dale, 2000
Greg Allman, 1998
Dickey Betts, 2001
….with hundreds more to come
Just wondering: was there a support act?
Also: you mentioned “twenty tunes” – these 14 were the only ones listed:
R.U. Ready 2 Rock
Dominance and Submission
E.T.I.
Buck’s Boogie
Joan Crawford
Golden Age of Leather
Burnin’ for You
Godzilla – drum solo
Beatles’ Birthday
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper
The Red and the Black
This Ain’t the Summer of Love
Cities on Flame with Rock ‘n’ Roll
Roadhouse Blues (with Love Me Two Times)
Do you still have your notes from the gig, and if so, do they give the full setlist?
Finally, can you give a bit of background info on the “Birthday” inclusion? I know Meltzer’s birthday is 11 May, but I can’t think how that might be relevant to a 1988 gig in Vancouver….
no, sorry Ralph, I don’t still have my notes from the gig. but thanks for your interest!
The problem with their name and having a song called “Don’t Fear the Reaper” is that many people automatically brand them ‘Satanic.’