"To me Blue Oyster Cult is one of the great American rock bands. I think they're flawless, and I like all their stuff."
Tag: Blue Oyster Cult
That time Blue Öyster Cult’s Buck Dharma told me where the famous cowbell really came from on “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”
I did my third interview with Blue Öyster Cult guitarist Donald Roeser back in January of 2002, two years after SNL's "more cowbell" skit.
That time I called up Blue Öyster Cult guitarist Buck Dharma at a rehearsal and you could hear Allen Lanier tuning up
I did my second interview with one of my favourite rock guitarists from the '70s, Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma, back on January 27 of 2000.
Newt’s top 10 rock albums of 1974
By Steve Newton I reckon it’s time for me to head back five decades and reminisce about what was truly rockin’ in the Year of Our Lord, 1974. I’ve listed my top ten studio albums alphabetically by title, and included three choice tracks from each disc to help you remember how wicked they really were. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 rock albums of 1974
Martin Birch’s finest moments with Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Blue Öyster Cult
By Steve Newton If you're fan of hard rock and metal you've no doubt already heard that Martin Birch, the preeminent producer of loud rock, passed away recently at the age of 71. I've interviewed my fair share of hard-rock producers, including the formerly Vancouver-based triumvirate of Bruce Fairbairn, Bob Rock, and Mike Fraser, but … Continue reading Martin Birch’s finest moments with Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Blue Öyster Cult
Martin Birch, producer of unforgettable hard-rock/metal albums, dies at 71
By Steve Newton It's a sad day for fans of '70s and '80s hard-rock and heavy-metal. Martin Birch, who produced and/or engineered more popular metal albums than most anyone, died earlier today at the age of 71. Birch produced such monumental loud-rock albums as Rainbow's Rising, Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell, Blue Oyster Cult's Fire … Continue reading Martin Birch, producer of unforgettable hard-rock/metal albums, dies at 71
That time I asked Buck Dharma how he came up with the classic riff for Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”
By Steve Newton "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" might be my favourite song of all time. Or maybe it's tied with John Lennon's "Imagine". Either way, I freakin' love that song. Several times over the years I've felt a tweak of pleasure along the top of my skull when I hear that song, coinciding with the … Continue reading That time I asked Buck Dharma how he came up with the classic riff for Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”
God bless Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser’s guitar solo on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ For You”
By Steve Newton Back in June of 1981 Blue Öyster Cult released it's eight studio album, Fire of Unknown Origin, and I immediately snapped it up, just like I'd done with their previous nine discs (including the two live albums). I'd been absolutely crazy about B.O.C. ever since I'd bought Tyranny and Mutation because of … Continue reading God bless Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser’s guitar solo on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ For You”
The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s
By Steve Newton Remember how you'd set the needle down on the opening track of a new rock album and the first tune would just blow you the funk away? Me too. "(Ain't Nothin' But a) House Party" (Bloodshot, J. Geils Band, 1973) "All the Way From Memphis" (Mott, Mott the Hoople, 1973) "Already Gone" … Continue reading The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s
Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Imaginos (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 9, 1988 By Steve Newton Few rock 'n' roll bands can fuse raunchy guitars and menacing vocals and still come up with really beautiful music. But New York's Blue Öyster Cult has done that on more than a dozen albums since 1972. The latest boasts the same hard-hitting, … Continue reading Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Imaginos (1988)
Album review: Various Artists, Axe Masters–Legends of Rock Guitar
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 19, 1985 By Steve Newton Now this is more like it--heavy metal with class. But then any album that features the playing of metal martyr Randy Rhoads can't lose. Rhoads is included via Ozzy Osbourne's first solo hit "Crazy Train". And he's in good company. "Axe masters" K.K Downing … Continue reading Album review: Various Artists, Axe Masters–Legends of Rock Guitar
Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Extraterrestrial Live (1982)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 11, 1982 By Steve Newton Extraterrestrial Live is Blue Öyster Cult's third, and best, live album. The weak production and muddled performances on 1975's On Your Feet Or on Your Knees and the rush job "this will keep them going till our next studio album" impression of 1978's … Continue reading Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Extraterrestrial Live (1982)
Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Heaven Forbid (1998)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 9, 1998 By Steve Newton Don’t let the cheapjack horror-movie cover fool ya, ’cause Heaven Forbid—Blue Öyster Cult’s first new recording since 1988’s substandard Imaginos—is one classy slab of hard rock. It’s not a masterwork in the league of Tyranny and Mutation or Agents of Fortune, but … Continue reading Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Heaven Forbid (1998)