The band wanted more autonomy on the choice of recording studio for their fourth studio record, Agents of Fortune, and chose to work at Record Plant New York City. During this time, the band became famous for their live shows - even sharing the stage with Black Sabbath on the notorious “Black and Blue” tour - but they had yet to score a hit single. The next two albums, which achieved Gold Record status, were recorded in Columbia/CBS Studios. BÖC’s Columbia debut was based on the demos recorded at Lucas’ studio. Krugman arranged an audition with Clive Davis, who signed them to a record deal in 1971. Pearlman brought those demos to his friend Murray Krugman, who was a product manager at Columbia Records. The band recorded their first demos in a New York City 8-track jingle studio owned by David Lucas. He also came up with stage names for the bandmembers only Buck Dharma kept his nickname. Pearlman created the band’s name and signature icon (a cross merged with an upside-down question mark). They met up with Sandy Pearlman, who was a contributor to the rock magazine Crawdaddy, and he became the band’s manager, producer, lyricist and mentor. when guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and drummer/vocalist/songwriter Albert Bouchard started a band. The vocals speak of bravely facing one’s mortality.īlue Öyster Cult got their start in 1967 in upstate N.Y. It’s built around an immediately compelling guitar riff. But like a velvet hammer, “Reaper” is paradoxically soft and powerful. And who can forget Saturday Night Live‘s “more cowbell” skit, which parodied a behind-the-scenes look at the track’s production.Īppearing on BÖC’s Agents of Fortune album, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” peaked at Number 12 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in October 1976 - surprising for a hard-rock band known for its literate lyrics. It is still heard on classic-rock stations, in movies ( Halloween and others) and even in videogames ( Rock Band). Released more than 30 years ago, Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” has become a touchstone. Blue Öyster Cult, circa 1976, from left: Allen Lanier, Eric Bloom, Albert Bouchard, Joe Bouchard and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser

The reaper