It was the coolest show I've ever seen! Unbelievable. They had those glitter balls you'd see later in discos hung all over the place and they'd shoot a laser into one in the center which was spinning and the laser would ricochet to the other balls that were spinning and you felt like you were in a war zone. They seemed to be coming from all directions. They had rings with lasers, guns with lasers and those strobe light guns.

I was on the floor, 13th row. Municipal Aud Kansas City Missouri. First band was Millionaire At Midnight and then Black Oak Arkansas.

I can't recall which songs they used them in, but they definately did not detract from the show.

To this day I still say that it was the greatest rock concert I have ever seen.

BOC played in Springfield, IL on January 7th. The opening act failed to show, and one of BOC's equipment trucks either failed to show or was robbed of their outfits, so they performed solo in jeans, new tennies, and BOC t shirts, well over a 2 hour show.

This was the last time i saw the fabled laser show.

• Rescheduled gig from a postponed 27 October 1977 date...

This was a rescheduled date from 27 Oct 1977 (check out the stub above dated 27 Oct). I remember that they used a lot of red lasers in the show and then Eric yelled, "More lasers!" and a laser shot from out of a ring he was wearing. This was back in the days when they were still allowed to project lasers into the crowd. What a great show.

This gig is down as an opening night at Nassau Coliseum on boc.com.

However, it's down as Providence Civic Center in Ken Welch's Hall report for this gig, and he backs this up with travel itineries and details of accommodation and travel between Providence and NYC.

One of my favourite live shows was Blue Oyster Cult and Rush on Friday the 13th at Nassau Coliseum, January 78, during an ice storm, no less. It was one of the most enjoyable and memorable shows I had ever seen then or since, with hand-held lasers breaking into hundreds of beams when hitting mirror-balls, and flash boxes exploding when struck with a laser beam, things you just don't see anymore (hand-held lasers were outlawed soon after that show). Rather than identify a specific song or moment, let's just say the band was at their artistic peak in front of their hometown audience in a celebratory mood.

I got seperated from the gang as we were exiting and spend at least an hour walking around the circular parking lot in the pouring, (literally) freezing rain looking for everyone. When I finally found them, all of us soaking wet frozen, we boarded the car (which had no heat or rear windows) and tried to exit the parking lot, which was still jammed with concert-goers.

In our haste to exit the lot, we had the misfortune of sliding on the ice and side-swiping a van, knocking off its side door. Inside the van was a gang of angry men who became more angry as the driver of our car tried to speed away. About 6 of them piled out of the van and chased us on foot. It was not hard for them to catch up, considering the traffic and slippery surface. Reaching in through one of the malfunctioning rear windows, an angry guy unlocked the driver's door and ripped the driver from the car. I slid over from the front passenger seat and took the wheel.

By the time I got to the van, my friend was being pummelled by the angry pack. We stopped and they threw him out. We collected our friend and began the long drive home.

It took close to ten hours to get home, and that was after being nearly electrocuted due to downed power line as well as nearly arrested due to small riot at the Hempstead Jack in the Box (they ran out of food). In the company of seven of my closest friends, all aged about sixteen as I was, it was about as cool as cool could be - I had seen my two favorite bands on the same stage. The night And despite the ordeal that had befallen us that night, I have never enjoyed a concert as much since.

Another BOC ticket I never got to use. I should have known, 13th row, Friday the 13th, 13 inch snow storm = no BOC for 3 kids from Jersey...

I just (re)discovered your site and wanted to add my three cents about this gig that is so full of memories, seemingly not just for me...(and thanks for the opportunity to experience the reverie)...

I grew up on LI, but by the Autumn of '77 I had only recently heard of BOC. I started at a new school and met a bunch of new kids, many much more into rock and roll than those I left behind. Rock was still Classic and a lot of kids were feeding off what their older siblings were handing down. Sabbath, Floyd, and Zeppelin of course were huge. I didn't have any older sibs and not knowing any better, I fell for the Sex Pistols and BOC in the same year.

"...Reaper" got AoF into a lot of households, including mine. I was slowly making new friends. Talk was of BOC and Rush at the Coliseum. Some guys I was getting to know were going, and I was eager to join in. Before I knew it, there was something like 8 or 10 of us. I was so excited I got my dad to drive me to the box office and pick up tickets for everybody. This was going to be my first real rock show.

Of course, my dad did the driving on the night of the gig, too. He dropped us off in the circular lot as noted by Galluccio. Older teens were tailgating, drinking and smoking. Hawkers touted their bootleg T-shirts, keeping a certain distance from the doors. We had relative nose bleed seats at the back of the upper section, almost opposite the stage. What did we know? But, from our vantage we could observe all the cool older kids, even girls and the air was sweet with weed! THAT was very exciting.

Rush opened and though familiar with at least "Fly By Night" we weren't too impressed. I don't think a large portion of the crowd was either. Half of the house sound blew out at some point during their set and there was distinct laughter among the boos. This was a BOC hometown crowd. (Of course, subsequently Rush became probably ten times bigger than BOC ever were and continue at pace to this day. And my wife is a huge acolyte. So there ya' go.)

I don't remember the BOC set-list since I only knew the one record (this was the Spectres tour), but nonetheless a major switch went off in my head. Hearing tunes from the first three records, in all their twisted riffiliciousness and harmonically weird glory, I "saw" the dark light. To this day I have no doubt it was "Harvester of Eyes" more than anything else that sent me down the wayward path that I willingly wander as both a listener and musician.

After the show, all us little guys (I remain a Buck-ish 5'4". Actually, the last time I saw Bloom as he judged a battle of the bands for Little Steven's Underground Garage, at a cheesy bar by my sister's house out on the Island, which featured a set by Adny Shernoff [Dictators] and Keith Streng's [Fleshtones] really good defunct band I can't remember the name of - he could've been shorter than me!)...sorry!...

Anyway, all us little guys teetered dazed and confused out into the literal darkness of a Friday the 13th laid black by the storied Ice Storm of '78

I found this link:

• www.northshorewx.com/19780113.asp

It took us a good hour sloshing thru the sleet to find my dad in our big ol' Olds Vista Cruiser station wagon. He gingerly drove through downed trees and cables dropping off each of my buddies safe and sound to worried parents.

Back home with no power for days, our place stunk of the food rotting in the frig. But, I could never shake the stink of that first BOC show and the rot it fomented in my brain. I was a month shy of 14.

Raised in a quietly fierce atheist home, I was never going to have a bar-mitzvah. But that enchanted evening, in that particularly strange Jimmy Carter time-scape, I guess I became a little bit more of a man. Or at least a consumer. As soon as I possibly could (waiting out the damage of storm) I had my little local record emporium order me up the unholy triumvirate of initial post-SWU vinyl.

I turned on other kids for years to come, dutifully sent my fifty cents and SASE for dot matrix lyric print outs and rued my Boomer cusp birth date which relegated my experience to a post radio hit Cult. The self titled debut, Tyranny and Mutation, and Secret Treaties remain staples to this day.

PS Certainly, this was eons before the advent of cell phone and anti-lock brakes. If my 13 year old daughter (a budding Nirvana and Misfits fan - via her pals, I don't proselytize!) was involved in such an escapade, I'd shit! But of course I'd be the nice daddy driving the kids home.

What was happening in February? If you know, please let me ...

We were most likely on a break. At the time we toured 3 to 3 and a half months and took one month off.

Then started all over again...

The only indication I have that this show occurred is that it appears on one of Ken Welch's tour itineries...

I was at this show. Tickets were $7.50! Set list was similar to the Baltimore gig listed the next night but I can't confirm that. I was waiting for ME262 but honestly don't think they did it.

I also don't remember "Angel" as the opener, but I suppose it's possible. BOC had the whole laser thing going.

Horslips had all of their gear stolen in Baltimore the day of the show. That left the J. Giels band left as opener for BOC. They did a full set and BOC just made the show. They had to come down from NY on the train. Heavy snow.

Another great night of lasers and Quad.

Mar-5-78 -- Fairgrounds Coliseum Columbus Ohio. Opening Act: the Godz.

The set list was very similar/identical to the lansing show or the show on the 3rd - I clearly remember RU Ready 2 Rock, ETI, Harvester of Eyes, ME262, Cities on Flame, Last days of May, Godzilla, 5 guitars, Summer of Love, Hot rails to hell (but that could have been an encore, so maybe it was like the Buffalo show but without Golden Age), Born to be wild, Dont fear the reaper ---- could they have played Astronomy instead of Golden Age ?

I know they didnt play Golden Age of Leather, but cant remember if they played kick out the jams or we got to get out of this place. I'm certain of the other songs.

The lasers were working well that night (hand held laser during ETI, lasers shooting off of 2 largedisco balls. Lots of pyro during Born to be Wild -- Godzilla mask on Albert during the drum solo.

I also recall Eric holding a machine gun with a strobe light during ME 262, which on later tours gave way to him holding his BOC symbol guitar like a gun. Last days of May was a highlight.

This was a general admission concert that was close to a death scene. It was cold outside and the assholes didn't open all the doors on time and finally when people started smashing the windows they just started pulling people in through the doors and didn't worry about tickets....I still have mine entire ticket stub...well not a stub I guess it is a whole ticket. The Godz opened up....a local band who I had seen many times and really got the crowd worked up.. I love BOC and this concert was ORGASMIC!

This show had the laser lights that were shot onto a disco ball that exploded through the hall... that was before they figured out the lasers could screw up peoples vision!

My first BOC show was at Finch Field house on the campus of Central Michigan University in 1978 and we always thought that the Quad speakers were because of the AWFUL acoustics of that room!! I think I have seen three concerts there and this was the only one that sounded good at all!!

I was only 15 or 16 at the time, and VERY STONED!!!! Great show tho... a band called Horse Lips opened. Anybody remember them???

The March 9, 1978 was opened by Teaze alone. I don't have my stub, but I clearly recollect my memories of BOC shows. The ticket stub that is displayed above has the Guess Who and Be Bop Deluxe in handwriting and is clearly wrong. I distinctly remember Joe Bouchard and Buck doing an imitation of Teaze during the show. I am 100% sure.

The only indication I have that this show occurred is that it appears on one of Ken Welch's tour itineries...

I first saw mention of this gig on a 'memorabilia for sale' site. It simply said:
"Ticket Stub: 3/17/78, Utica, NY with BeBop Deluxe Rare! VG+ $8".

Unfortunately, there was no jpeg - just that line of text. Anyway, I had a date - or so I thought - but no venue name, so that's how I posted it. Then I got an email (see below) which confirmed the Utica gig took place, but didn't explicitly confirm the date as the 17th March.

However, I now have a confirmed ticket stub for the 17th March at Syracuse, so I'm now short of a date for this gig.

Anyone got any ideas?

I helped set up for this gig. It was at the Utica Memorial Auditorium - March 15 or 16, 1978.

A little known fact was that Be Bop Deluxe did not play that night as they didn't have their instruments due to a trucking accident - it overturned and they couldn't play the show. I believe they were coming from Michigan.

They had the album Life in the Air Age and it was big on FM. The leader of the band, Bill Nelson, got up in front of approximately 7,000 people to explain his dilemma. He said something I will never forget! I paraphrase;

"We had this truck accident earlier today and our instruments were destroyed in the process. BOC was kind enough to offer a spot in their set; however we would need to teach them more than three chords to play with us!"

Yikes, I about fell over! BOC has written some fairly complex songs and the comment didn't seem appropriate. I am not sure if BOC ever heard what was said.

This gig was at the height of BOC's career here in Central New York. They played here many times, but this was a packed house.

If my recollection is correct, they sold out the venue, approximately 7,700 seats. It was General Admission and the front of the stage area was like a mosh pit.

I think they had crude lasers for that show which was a BIG deal at that time. I never saw as many Marshall Amps as I did that night, until the metal bands of later years. Buck played his faithful white SG for most of the gig.

The Bouchard bros were in the band at that time and the overall performance was very good. They did some great songs, I can't remember them all, but they did Born to be wild, ME 262, Then came the last days of May (my favorite that night), Don't Fear the Reaper, etc.

Eric was fantastic and Alan was his usual eclectic self.

Lots of drinkin' and smokin'. One fun night for a kid who loved BOC. I set up for them about 10 or 11 times via Cedric Kushner concert promotions. I have a set of autographs from them as well.

I originally had this date down as a Utica gig.

I can confirm that this gig took place on this date and Be Bop did play.

As far a memories go, I remember the laser's from the first show from Godzilla as being phenominal and obviously the bike coming out during Born to Be Wild. As far as the opening bands, I don't remember much at all. I know I saw them, but that's it.

It seems like it was only yesterday...

While going through some stuff at my parents house, came across my worn out vinyl copy of On your Feet....There stuffed in one side of the album was all my BOC clippings. Concert stubs and programs, magazine and newspaper articles, and other assorted memoribilia that took me back, to easily to this day the best concert I ever saw...

The Aud in Buffalo was one of those wonderful old hockey arenas built in the 30's. Great for sport, terriblet for acoustics, but great seating and sightlines. After buying the Black BOC baseball cap (yes, I still have it in its raggged state somewhere) we ventured to our seats in the lower golds, kittycorner across from the stage. After sitting through a forgettable set from Be Bop Deluxe, the roadies slowly unveiled "THE SET". Black mesh curtains, the Logo, a slight glimmer from the lasers warming up. The lights dimmed and then...

The roar of flashpots and RU Ready to Rock. Here's the setlist for that night...

RU READY TO ROCK
HARVESTER OF EYES
CITIES ON FLAME
ETI
GOLDEN AGE OF LEATHER
LAST DAYS OF MAY
ME262
GODZILLA
SUMMER OF LOVE
5 GUITARS
BORN TO BE WILD
HOT RAILS TO HELL [ ENCORE ]
DON'T FEAR THE REAPER [ ENCORE ]

I wrote that set list the morning after the show. I wasn't wasted at the show - I was only 17 and too pumped to miss any of the show - so it's the way I remember...

Hi-lites... Too many to recall. Great harmony on Golden Age and Harvester of Eyes. Eric and the wrist laser setting off flashpots on the wings off the stage during ETI. The return of the wrist laser for Buck solo in Last Days, with the mirror ball sending individual beams of light into the crowd. Buck's solo still rings in my ears to this day as the sound echoed back and forth between the suspended speakers across from the stage. ME 262 roared through the arena. Then Godzilla... Ah, the good old days of being bathed in laser light during a 10 minute drum solo.... Where is Al's Godzilla head today ?.....Summer of Love into 5 Guitars with a blistering solo from Joe and then chaos of Born To Be Wild. Smoke, flashpot, lasers, Texas Chainsaw, sparkler fountains...Whoa !!! What an ending.....

The encores... my personal favorite in Hot Rails, and then Don't Fear The Reaper. Buck in white doing his solo with lasers screaming above him...

After this show, saw the Cult another 8 times in the late 70-s to mid 80's betwen Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. They played the Erie County Fair this past August of 2006, but couldn't make the show... Was rated as one of the best shows to play here this summer. But for me at 46, some things are best remembed for their first time...

Looking forward to many more years of BOC...

My first Blue Oyster Cult show changed my life. My very first concert at age 14 was KISS in 1976 and that started it all for me. But this BOC show topped that by a mile.

The one thing I will never forget about this show was how stoned I was. I had smoked some very powerful weed before the show and I barely remember the first act, who happened to be Be Bop Deluxe (I like them a lot now. Bill Nelson was very cool! Great songwriter and guitarist). The crowd seemed kind of quiet, but then again my mind was in a different dimension at this time. I think the crowd got louder towards the end.

At the end of Be Bop's set my high school friends who were with me were laughing and making faces at me because, apparently I was just sitting there in a stoned trance staring at the stage after the house lights went on. It was kind of embarassing but funny too. Ahhh...those stoned high school memories. As I slowly started coming back down to earth, BOC hit the stage all guns blazing. They blew my mind!! Buck Dharma's guitar playing just burned a hole right through me.

I had just started playing guitar 2 years earlier and I just knew this guy was going to be my guitar hero forever (and he still is). And the Laser Show. FUCKING AWESOME!! I had never seen anything like it. I had a seat on the floor about 20 rows back and it was perfect for this amazing "spectrecal". Another highlight was the 5 guitar jam and Albert Bouchard's drum solo in "Godzilla" ( I think he is one of the best and most underrated drummers in rock).

Eric was very cool with his shades, leather and laser ring (way cool!) pointing at the huge mirror ball hanging from the top of that old hockey barn. Joe Bouchard rocked with his solid bass playing and great bass solo. And Allen was in great form switching from keyboards to guitar with ease. And of course, (Don't Fear) The Reaper was just earth-shattering, Buck's guitar notes just flying at me throught the laser light. To me "The Reaper" is the best rock song ever written. I had smoked some more of that dangerous weed (especially to a 15 year old) during BOC's set, but this time it just made me feel those wonderful sounds even more. I would have to say it was the best concert of my life (and I've been to hundreds of concerts).

In the last 29 years of being a mega-BOC fan I have seen them live over 40 times. Rarely have I been disappointed (expect for the time I saw "Two Oyster Cult" at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA back in March of '86 during the dreaded Club Ninja Tour, mainly because I found out Joe Bouchard was no longer in the band). I still think they are the best band on the planet and they (especially Buck Dharma) have been a huge influence on my music since then.

I play B.O.C. almost everyday of my life and I never get tired of them. I will see them this March in Agoura Hills, CA. I can't fucking wait!!!

Long Live BLUE OYSTER CULT ****** On Tour Forever

The only indication I have that this show occurred is that it appears on one of Ken Welch's tour itineries...

The 1978 Cleveland show was my first real concert. Didn't know of the Jam beforehand but was disappointed in the lighting - or lack thereof - for their show. Well, since they were the opening band they had to share space with Be Bop Deluxe's and BOC's equipment, and couldn't take advantage of the huge lighting rigs set up for BOC. So, like they only had one or two spotlights on them and it was hard to see the stage. At that point I'm thinking, "this is how BOC is going to look?"

This, of course, changed in a big way when BOC came on - the lighting was magnificent and totally blew me away. And the lasers were absolutely amazing!

By the way, the setlist was exactly the same as the Glasgow concert the next month - I memorized it and then wrote it down (back in 1978). What made me relate that show to the Glasgow show was Bolle's BOC tapelist. I noticed the Glasgow setlist and was thrilled because that was the same show I saw a few weeks earlier. The #1 highlight for me was "Last Days of May" and Buck's solo.

I remember reading the review of the concert in Scene Magazine the next week, and it made reference to Buck Dharma and his "see if you can follow my fingers" leads. It also frowned on BOC playing so many (3) tunes from other bands - Born to be Wild, We Gotta Get Outta this Place, and Kick Out The Jams - saying that "today's bands should let the dead rest in peace".

The review also made the comment that "BOC and Be Bop Deluxe were not that far apart, musically". Hmmm...

The Richfield Coliseum, 20,000 capacity, which opened in 1974, was demolished in the late '90s. The arena was built 30 miles out of Cleveland to attract both the Cleveland and Akron/Canton market.

Moving out of downtown Cleveland was a big mistake... so a new arena was built downtown and the Coliseum was no longer needed. The area has returned to what it once was...a wilderness reserve (park).

The show was supposed to be 3/29/78 and was first advertised for the "Ocean Ice Palace", then the venue was renamed the "Brick Forum". After driving 2 hours to get there, we find that BOC won't play, because they had only booked the show as a tryout rehearsal for upcoming dates, and since the stage was very high and the only way to set up the lasers would have meant either playing on the floor or pointing the beams straight down, they decided to cancel.

What a bummer, my first BOC show cancelled.

Opening acts were advertised as Randazzo and the Dictators. I remember seeing somebody walking around in a Dictators satin jacket. At least I found out about the Dictators that night, but I was really pissed at BOC for being lame and not playing without the lasers.

Randazzo actually did play that night, and filmed for a video. I know cuz we were stuck in the cold parking lot for hours with roadies chasing us away, since my dad had driven us and dropped us off, continuing south about 20 miles to my grandparent's for dinner. We called right away, before he even got there, but he made us wait while he had dinner!!!

We watched some of the Randazzo deal from the door, they were the only band to play. They wouldn't let us in. The roadies were there with BOC's gear,as were the Dictators who were milling about, I remember seeing their Satin tour jackets on a few guys. I asked the crew why BOC didnt play without the lasers. They told me the gig was specifically set up as a warmup date to test the laser show, and since they couldn't do that they were cancelling.

I believe they may have been concerned also because the date had been cancelled for a couple days when the venue changed hands, then they decided to go on with it, so maybe BOC were afraid to not get paid, and the laser thing was just a cover story.

I did see that the stage was very high, and the alternative of setting up on the floor with no barriers as we suggested wasn't going to fly either.

I know we were there for hours and only a few people ever showed up and turned away, so I think the tickets didnt sell well. I remember it took quite a while to get the promoter to refund the money too, the store where we bought the tickets didn't want to give our money back, and it was a big hassle.

• Show recorded for "Some Enchanted Evening" (not used)

I saw BOC only once in the 70's; 1978, Boston Music Hall, now called the Wang Center. Be Bop Deluxe opened. I'd love a set list from this show... even better a recording! This was my first concert.

When I went to this show, I was only thirteen. It was a big deal... not too many of my friends had attended a concert before.

I didn't really know their music back then... I didn't even own any of their music at the time, but when someone presented me with a ticket to a CONCERT, I had to go!

They still had the lazer show: I remember the lazers shining on the mirrors on the back of the guitar and into the disco ball above the stage, and Eric, who had one in his sleeve.

Put it this way, it was my first concert and I was hooked... even to this day, and whatever how many shows later, the concert experience is one that remains special.

There were two nights with Be-Bop, the first of which Be-Bops set was cut short. Eric announced that they were recording a live album these nights, which would become "Some Enchanted Evening" these nights, although these shows weren't used.

At one of these, I also caught a (supposedly very rare) performance of "Morning Final".

• Show recorded for "Some Enchanted Evening" (not used)

This second show is mentioned in one of Ken Welch's tour itineries...

The only indication I have that this show occurred is that it appears on one of Ken Welch's tour itineries...

Did Angel play second on the bill? - see inscription on stub above...

Actually, one of Ken Welch's tour itineries has this date down as Norfolk VA but the ticket stub above looks pretty conclusive.

Plus - BOC played Norfolk on 13th July 1978, so it looks like it might have been rearranged from this date, and anyway, Ken has Lexington KY down for 7 April...

The only indication I have that this show occurred is that it appears on one of Ken Welch's tour itineries...

I saw BOC on April 8, 1978 at the VBCC in Huntsville, AL. It was a great show, with the crossed guitars, the laser pointer, the 5 guitar lineup, the strobed drum solo where suddenly he's wearing the Godzilla mask, etc.

Ten years later, they played a small club in Birmingham, I think on the heels of Imaginos, where I first heard the reworked version of "Astronomy." I still had the 1978 ticket and both Buck and Eric were good enough to autograph it after the show! I wouldn't sell that for any money on Earth. I still carry the signed ticket around in my wallet to this day.

I was at this concert in huntsville,al. 8th grade/ 14 years old and the opening act was Angel...

i still have my ticket stub and a small concert bill... i think The Godz were also on the bill as the 1st band then Angel and BOC...

Bloom shot a laser off his wrist into a disco ball and we thought it was lift-off!!!

• 1 song recorded for "Some Enchanted Evening"

The Columbus gig was shuffled forward three days to the 14th due to a terrible accident involving a BOC equipment truck crashing into a car and going over a bridge, resulting in two deaths. Full story below.

You may have seen the dedication to JB Fields on the back of Some Enchanted Evening... here's some info on how that came about...

The scans above come courtesy of Brett Johnson, who also provided this quick synopsis of the incident:

The accident occurred at approximately 9:40 AM on the morning of Tuesday, April 11th (not the 10th, as it turns out), which is the day that the performance was originally scheduled. Killed were Joel Barry Fields, age 32, of Cedar, Michigan, and Cora Lee Perry (age 39) of Columbus, Georgia.

Barry was the owner of a small trucking firm that hauled BOC's lighting equipment; he was only a few blocks from his destination (the Columbus Municipal Auditorium) when the wreck occurred, after a 2-day drive from Little Rock, Arkansas, where BOC had performed on Tuesday night of the previous week.

According to eyewitnesses, it seems that Barry, while heading eastbound into Columbus from Alabama across the Oglethorpe Bridge, which spans the Chattahoochee River, encountered a car that just stopped in front of him. In an effort to avoid hitting this vehicle, Barry swerved and lost control of his semi, which crossed the median into the other (westbound) lane, and crushed the car driven by Ms. Perry.

The tractor-trailer continued over the railing and plunged into the river; it seems both victims died pretty quickly. The driver of the car who was, arguably, responsible for the whole tragedy fled the scene, and I haven't seen anything to indicate that he or she was ever identified.

J. B. Fields was the driver of the semi truck that went over a bridge and into a river with our light rig in Columbus Georgia the year before. He perished, as did a woman coming the other way when the rig swung across the road before going off the bridge. The worst thing that ever happened to BOC.

One of the BOC truck drivers quit so a driver named JB Fields was flown down from Detroit to drive the rig by company owner, a guy called Corona, who'd been hired by BOC to haul See-Factor's lighting gear.

Fields had been hauling ass overnight from Little Rock to Columbus, and while crossing the Chattahoochee River Bridge on 10 April 1978, he ran up on stopped rush hour traffic... it had not rained in over 90 days before that morning, the road film was just like driving on ice, so he lost control as soon as he touched the brake - the truck jacknifed at that point, the trailer swinging into the oncoming traffic and killing a 7th grade school teacher on her way to work...

The truck jumped through the guard rail and plunged 300 ft down destroying him and all of the lighting equipment in the river below. The gig was just on the other side of the bridge... he probably had a great view of the arena as he arced out over the river and landed less than 500 yrds from the parking lot at the gig where he would have parked the truck... so close , yet so far away...

In the court case it was determined that the truck was still travelling at least 70 mph when it went off the bridge, determined by the arc to the impact point as witnessed by 2 fishermen in a boat under the bridge (think that woke 'em up?)...

This thing was complicated even further by state line issues... this accident technically happened - so far as the law was concerned - in Phenix City Alabama, as the state line was at the center of the bridge and he never made it that far... so he killed the woman and left the road in Alabama and landed in Georgia...

The effort to fix the blame and set up some entity to be sued by the family of the woman he killed before going over the bridge took years... The old curse of the cult... EVERYBODY got sued... even the Widow Fields... the lawsuits over this deal went into the 90's: See Factor vs BOC, BOC vs Corona, Corona vs the estate of J.B. Fields... and eventually ended the long-standing relationship between BOC and SFI... I think all the lawsuits were finally settled around 91 or 92...

The subsequent diving and salvage operation (required by the Army Corp of Engineers to clear the channel and billed to See Factor) was interesting as well... the very last thing recovered on the very last dive was the Electrosonics 60 ch lighting board... that was Rick Downey's newest design, the "Darth Vader" system custom made for Downey by Electrosonic... there wasn't another one like it in the world... it was later refurbished by E-sonics and we had it out for many many years afterwards... it was always referred to at SFI as "The River Board"...

The TTI 6 pack dimmers in their anvil cases floated really well and were fished out of the river by various folks MILES downstream... some were returned, but some were in regional bands lighting systems for many years after - I used to run across them all the time, still in their cases that said "B.O.C.- N.Y.C." on the side of them as those were actually owned by the band...

J.B. Fields was well thought of by many people. I never saw so many grown men cry as they did for him.

Jackson Brown mentioned him in the roadie song, "A man named Fields takes us down to shaky town".

Another little known fact is that his seat belt did not function correctly and took several minutes to unbuckle.

I have been told by a witness (J.B. knew he could not jump out of the truck on the way down to the water and he had time to), that he was blowing the truck horn all the way and into the river. I believe that to be true. It was a tremendous loss of a good man.

At least, I think it was cancelled, though it appears on one of Ken Welch's tour itineries... Here's what it actually says was originally scheduled:

• 11 April: Columbus GA
• 12 April: Savannah GA
• 13 April: Atlanta GA
• 14 April: Atlanta GA

• 2 songs recorded for "Some Enchanted Evening"

I'd have loved to have done the intro for SEE (which was taken from this gig). Ain't that a bitch??? I was even standing about 6 ft away from Tony Cedrone when he did that one...

ANGEL was the warmup act for this show as well as THE GODZ...

Here is a link to a homemade video of the opening of this show:

• youTube link

• Gig rescheduled from 11 April due to fatal crash - see above
• 2 songs recorded for "Some Enchanted Evening"

ROCK GROUP PLAYS TONIGHT
Blue Oyster Cult, originally scheduled to appear in Columbus Tuesday night, will present a concert at 8 P.M. tonight at Municipal Auditorium.

The show was postponed after a two-fatality wreck Tuesday morning on Oglethorpe Bridge. Killed were Joel Fields of Cedar, Mich., driver of a truck loaded with the band's stage lights, and Cora Lee Perry of Columbus.

The truck collided with the Perry vehicle and crashed into the Chattahoochee River.

Blue Oyster Cult takes the stage of Municipal Auditorium tonight, barring any further tragedies. The rock group was supposed to appear Tuesday night, but a fatal accident involving its equipment truck delayed the concert.

Tickets are $6 at Sodbuster and Billy, Super Shirts, T-Shirt Shack, and Tapes and Things. Blue Oyster Cult still plans to record the concert for an album, and rock groups Angel and Godz will also perform.

I actually attended the columbus georgia show in that was part of the enchanted evening cd....

The driver of the semi lost control coming over the bridge to columbus municipal auditorium and all their equipment went over the bridge into chattahoochee river. (driver was killed unfortunately).

New equipment was sent down from atlanta and they did the show 3 days later. I may be able to get newspaper archives with pictures at local library and send as well.

I sit and talked to Allen briefly about it in atlanta 2006 and he did remember although he looked like he was still not feeling his best....

I can confirm this show took place on this date.

I was at this show. My first BOC concert and I can't confirm a setlist but I can confirm Angel opened the show and BOC kicked so much ass, musically and with their laser show, that I was hooked forever.

This show was the only time in my 45 yrs. I've ever seen lasers pointed at a mirror ball so when they hit they turned into a thousand laser beams all over the Coliseum! Walls, floor, crowd, there were beams everywhere. Of course now we have strict rules so no one gets zapped in the eye, but I don't remember anyone loosing an eye that night, just having the time of their lives watching a 5 guitar assault.

Good Times!

The pics are from the April 1978 show in Biloxi, Mississippi. I was stationed down there in the Air Force.

I shot a whole roll of film with my Kodak pocket camera and those were the only two worth keeping. The main thing I remember about the show is it was a brand new auditorium and if BOC weren't the first event there period, they certainly were the first rock concert. The building was perfect for the show as the wall opposite the stage was flat; no seats; a perfect tapestry for the lasers, which were in full force that night. "I think I hear something big outside the house!"

The April 16, 1978 Blue Oyster Cult concert was opened by Angel. It was the very first rock concert held in the relatively new Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

I attended. I was 17 years old. I do not remember the set list but I vaguely remember they drew heavily from Spectres and Agents of Fortune.

I can remember they opened with, "This Ain't The Summer Of Love" and ended with "Born To Be Wild".

I have a few photos I took with an instamatic camera (110). I got some decent shots of Buck Dharma playing his tobacco sunburst Les Paul while arching his back.

Also, there is a snapshot of him playing his white Gibson SG that was stolen a few years back. If I get a chance to scan them and transfer them I'll eventually send them to you.

I stood front center stage. Maybe that's one reason my hearing has a threshold shift today.

I hope this helps.

Image courtesy of tickets.gogomag.com - it's thanks to them I know about this gig!! Cheers!

From the stub, it can be seen that this gig took place on a Monday - but what date? The only info I was given was that it was BOC/Be Bop. Logically, this pairing were only in Florida around this date - so this gig was either the 17th April or the 24th. As the 24th was a bit too close to them setting off for the Euro tour, I rejected it in favour of the 17th.

As usual, if you can help, please let me know...

The only indication I have that this show occurred is that it appears on one of Ken Welch's tour itineries...

What I remember about the show initially was that Angel had been opening some shows for BOC in the South, and I was hoping to see them. But as I drove into B'ham from Mississippi, the radio spots for the show were announcing Be Bop Deluxe as the opening act. At the show, a guy next to me said he had seen Angel open for BOC in Huntsville, Alabama a couple of weeks earlier. He said Angel were really good and put on a great show.

Shortly, someone from the local rock station announced to the audience that Be Bop Deluxe had not made it to the venue and BOC had agreed to play a little extra than normal.

So, they played a little over 2 and a quarter hours. Back then, most shows were about an hour and a half in length.

I went to see them in Dothan Alabama a few nights before they left for Europe and they put me on standby to do that tour because Sugarbear was having passport problems... they never called me up though...

1978 was the year BOC brought their fabulous travelling laser show to the UK/Europe and finally we got to see what all the fuss was about...

At several of the shows, they also turned up with mobile recording trucks and in September we got to see some of the results when the live "Some Enchanted Evening" was released.

Leicester was supposed to be the opening date of the BOC European tour - however, this show got moved forward about six weeks to 2nd June after the tickets got printed...

Flaming pyrotechnics, lasers, smoke... plus great rock'n'roll, Blue Oyster Cult is the group you always dreamt about. Even though there were sounds problems and the visual effects had to be curtailed somewhat, this first date of their UK tour proved that this is one band who have no trouble living up to their semi-mythical status.

Main vocalist is Eric Bloom, who plays guitar too but takes time out to stalk the stage like a Manson/biker mutation, all leather-coated growls'n'howls. The band's line up has always seemed a bit anonymous on records, but onstage it's easier to enjoy the individual personalities: Allen Lanier doing his guitarings and Phantom of the Opera keyboard-hunch, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser on stripy suit and six-string magic, A. and J. Bouchard on drums and bass respectively (sturdy boys indeed).

They opened with "R.U. Ready 2 Rock" from the recent "Spectres" album and then whomped into "E.T.I." from Agents of Fortune, their previous record. Those two albums are generally considered to be more "poppy" than the previous four they've done, but in a live situation the unity of all their songs comes through: this stuff blends perfectly with the (supposedly) harsher tones of "Harvester of Eyes" and "Cities on Flame" (on which drummer boy Albert takes lead vocals) where Bloom gets to beat a mean cymbal.

The lasers and all that techno-hardware are used sparingly and effectively, not just as gratuitous embellishment. Sometimes they have a single beam trained on one of those revolving ballroom-globe things, splashing stars across the audience; at others interweaving lines dance across the ceiling through the smoke, the full-scale stuff coming in during "Godzilla" (their tribute to Japanese culture) while Albert dons a horses's head (Patti!?) for a synth-treated drum solo on a Doors/"Texas Radio and the Big Beat" level.

They also showed their Animal-istic side by doing "We Gotta Get Outta This Place", which'll be included on a forth-coming live elpee, and the Stones get a nod during Joe's bass solo in "This Ain't the Summer of Love", when he slips in the riff of "Why Don't We Sing This Song All Together" from "Satanic Majesties".

That leads into the famous bit where the whole band plays axes, followed by their famed "Born to be Wild" interpretation (let's hear it for Mars Bonfire!) where Buck and Bloom indulge in some guitar frottage.... wonderful and enriching life experiences every one.

Gawd, and they encored with the hit single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (I refuse to mention the Byrds here), an important late seventies artifact, and that's for sure. I slid out happy, and so did the crowd, the CBS man, our driver, and even our reggae-ised photographer.

And as we left, we saw a normal, healthy-looking girl kissing a discarded plectrum... Let's hear it, girls, for the thinking man's Yardbirds!

Some stuff I recall.

Japan were pre-"Ghosts" era, and to me were just another arty proto-new wave act from the US. Interesting in places though. I recall them slowly using a famous circus riff while DS croaked "welcome to the fairground". But that's about it. Sorry, guys.

BOC's sound WAS dire at first, Japan were EXTREMELY delayed getting on because of techie problems, and it took until half way through ETI before Buck's guitar was audible at all. But from then we were there.

The setlist? you missed out "Last Days Of May", when the solo was very extended, and probably bloody fantastic, but all I recall was standing, mouth agape, watching the lasers interplaying on the underside of the balcony... cannot place where it was in the set though.

...and unfortunately, during ME 262, Albert did fluff his one true solo guitar riff. I totally forgive all, because it is my top 5 best ever gigs attended. Hell yeah :)

Let's get this straight - nothing will ever compare with seeing BOC for the first time. (see my review - my first BOC gig Nov 1975). But now they were my band. I lived and breathed the BOC. I had waited nearly 3 years to see them again and I was going to love every minute of the show - I would even watch the support band, it meant that much to me. As it was such a celebration (and I was nearly the legal age) we went out for a few beers before the show - fortunately not as many as the guy sat next to me in the stalls at the Free Trade Hall. My abiding memory from watching Japan was this bloke from Sheffield looking at the lead singer David Sylvian, and saying " I'd give her one" When I pointed out that it was actually a man, he replied " I don't care, any port in a storm".

The BOC were of course superb, though I have to say, not quite as good as 1975, I think this was partly a result of having to share them with my mate Gary who was never really a fan but pretended he was and went slightly overboard for my liking; and Eric Bloom during " We got to Get Out of Here" tripped slightly over one of the amps, and I was by this stage by the side of the stage watching every second; and it slightly took the gloss off it.

The laser show, I saw as a bit of a gimmick - yes it was cool, yes it was impressive, but I was here for Buck. I wanted the white suit out at the front milking the audience. Single spot light Buck's Boogie and I was happy - but unfortunately it was never to be. Instead we got the tepid " Are you Ready 2 Rock?" which should have been consigned to "Ant & Dec's Greatest hits" and "ETI", which was never one of my favorites.

But then they got into their thing and produced classics like "Last Days of May" and "ME 262" "Godzilla" started well but the drum solo went on slightly too long for my liking - the lizard head just did not work for me - but they returned to the dynamic form with " Born to be Wild" and of course " Don't Fear the Reaper".

I also loved "Summer of Love" as it was a personal favourite. The five guitar medley seemed slightly more orchestrated than in 1975 but this may be me being overly critical- it just appeared as though it was expected and they were playing to the audience - never a bad thing but not so great if you feel that you are being pandered to; I got the impression that it was a burden rather than a pleasure; in a similar way that "Don't Fear the Reaper" has with time labeled the band to a particular image. Of course it is a brilliant song, but they are so so much more; (obviously "OYFOOYK" would testify to this, as does the live 1978 album for those that that have or can get a copy).

Gary predictably went over board after the concert, they were the best thing that he had seen, but who did he have to compare them with? Queen?, Uriah Heep? Pink Floyd? I think not.

My overall impression looking back some 28 years? It was superb, of course it was superb; but they felt constrained by the lasers, which were great but forced them to be in certain places at certain times and this was too regimented for BOC. They needed to be free to roam the stage; they needed to focus on songs such as Buck Boogie, and Harvester of Eyes, and I needed to be there with proper fans and not my mate Gary who really did not appreciate them for what they were. He had not put nearly three years in of hard labour in the bedroom strumming the air guitar to the BOC and could not appreciate the intricacies of "On your Feet or On your Knees" (and I don't care if the band did not like it; it is still one of the (if not the) best live album ever produced"

Of course I enjoyed the show; but it was different to the first time. I came expecting the same as 1975 but they had developed. They had grown and I had not. Unfortunately we had gone in slightly different directions; they wanted the gloss of the light show and I wanted the raw energy of five guitars blistering the audience. We compromised somewhere in between, though I was left wanting more. Less stadium band; more down and dirty...

My first ever proper concert - BOC @ Manchester Free Trade Hall circa '77

Obviously being my first concert I was staggered, and it still rates as one of the best shows I've ever seen...

Lasers were fabulous, including Eric's hand-held one, and another that was fired at a *very* rapidly spinning ballroom mirror-ball - caused small chunks of laser light to fly off like WWII tracer bullets !

Can't remember much of the set list, but I would guess it was promoting Agents Of Fortune ( or would it be Spectres ? )

Saw them again in '81-ish in Leeds - much more low key, but still a great show - no lasers that time.

Incidentally, talking about support acts, the Manchester show opened with Japan, who were at that time in a sort of glam-rock, heavy makeup and spandex phase ( very New York Dolls ) ! Hard to imagine that this was the same Japan who later produced all the new-romantic type stuff a few years later.

Glasgow was the first time I saw BOC. I'd persuaded 6 or 7 mates to come with me, who'd vaguely heard of the BOC - needless to say, they left fully-converted!

Quite bizarrely; the support band were Japan!! Although I didn't like much of their stuff, barring the odd track, I did feel very sorry for them. David Sylvian and his mates, all dressed-up and made-up to the hilt, getting booed and jeered through their entire set!!

I suppose it would be the modern-day equivalent of having Gareth Gates being the support act for Linkin Park!

The band came on in complete darkness and just blazed into life. Most of the tracks were as those featured on the 'On Your Feet' album. As stated previously, this tour introduced their laser show and it was quite superb, especially for the 'neutral'.

The highlights? Buck's superb 'Last Days Of May'and the duelling guitars on 'Born To Be Wild'. Another was seeing the whole band, side by side with guitars!

Let's not beat around the bush here. And let's not have none of you poor suckers besotted by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow or Judas Priest or Starz (or whatever other satin loon-panted collation of behemoths making for your personal cup of meat) penning barbed missives in reference to my next statement, OK., because they'll only be treated with the same 'down the dumper' disrespect they deserve.

See, the facts as I recognize 'em are clean-cut to a fine-boned T - the two kings of heavy metal rock in the world right now are Britain's own Thin Lizzy and the U.S. Blue Öyster Cult.

Not that they're alike, mark you - just that they're the best at what they do.

Ignoring Lizzy's merits (after all this is a BÖC review!) - the Cult's state of grace resides simply in the fact that they are good songwriters, never satisfied with falling into tried-or-true formulas, genuinely creative, write lyrics that are often oblique, yes, but are also thought-provoking, witty and well-constructed as opposed to the usual hard-bitten ream of terrible 'Hand of Doom' variants, self-effacing in regard to their chains-and-leather image and, most of all, as far as the punters are concerned, they deliver with a vengeance.

So, yes of course I was only too happy to trek up to Newcastle to see them live for the first time in two and a half years.

Back then, I'd been reviewing as well and had found them disappointing in the style of those bands who've been working ceaselessly for years and years and had run their inspiration into the ground and were instead just going through the motions.

On that previous showing, I'd figured 'em to be something of a spent force but, shazam, in the following months and seasons came the killer "Agents of Fortune" and later, the slightly less spectacular but still pretty damn impressive "Spectres" and I was hooked once more.

The show I witnessed at Newcastle then, was very, uh, impressive.

Visually for example, there were moments that were nothing short of staggering with lasers flashing and causing gasp-worthy patterns of light so damnably disarming in their effect that I forgot completely that the only sound coming from the stage was a drum solo at one point.

Indeed, it was the lighting that, if anything, was the star of the show because it never ceased to hold one's attention and, as such, it's only in the cold light of retrospective that one can disengage the lighting shenanigans from thee band itself and the music being performed.

In such a light I must note the remnant of a residue of the very aspect of the BÖC show that cased me so much discomfort.

That is, the Cult go all out for presenting a spectacle to the point where their not-inconsiderable repertoire is by no means fully touched upon.

The most obvious skull-crushing, monuments to BÖC firepower are all in there - starting with an effective "R.U. Ready 2 Rock" and moving through "ETI", "This Ain't the Summer of Love", "ME262", the poignant respite of a near-ballad (whose title escapes me) that closes "Secret Treaties" with a particular hell-fire piece-de-resistance work-out on "Godzilla" from "Agents of Fortune".

To say they were performed well would be almost too redundant - these boys have never been anything less than pros and the show is an exercise in split-timing effects matched with guitar army fire-power.

Nothing's been lost or worn away by time in the performing of the show-stoppers is all, really.

However, there were some surprises. BÖC are planning a live album I later learnt, which is why unlikely non-original morsels like The Animals' "We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place" and The MC5's "Kick Out The Jams" were tossed into proceedings - both performed with the typical heavy metal thunder expected of the band (although the latter, though expertly executed, just missed out on the edge engendered by the sheer mania of the MC5's archetype).

So far, so good.

But it was when "Born To Be Wild" was trotted out as the last number (before encore time) that things got just a touch too predictable.

The song should really be dropped for a start, but more to the point it brought home the fact that the BÖC's repertoire is too constructive for their own musical good.

"Don't Fear The Reaper" (with Buck Dharma playing all guitar parts, by the way) and "Hot Rails To Hell" were a great double-headed encore, sure, and I doubt as to whether anyone left the hall dissatisfied that night.

But still the feeling lingers. The Cult have a strong diverse repertoire and I for one would have possibly preferred to see them mining just that (where were any of Alan Lanier's fine songs, or "Death Valley Nights" or "Nosferatu" or "Sinful Love"?) as opposed to working their act around the stunning visuals.

One almost gets the impression that they're too frightened to go out on that particular limb - just them and their music - and hide instead behind the amazing laser flashes.

I had my best ever live BOC moment at the Birmingham Odeon (UK), my 4th ever concert.

The security had kept everyone in their seats all evening, which wasn't too bad as I was in the front row. Well when the band launched into Born to be Wild, everyone just ran forward and flattened the bouncers.

I was pressed up against the stage at Buck's feet. The security men started crawling along the floor at the foot of the stage, Buck (whilst playing a soaring guitar solo) started saying "Get back lads, keep back!", the security stood up, linked arms, put their feet on the front of the stage and pushed back, Buck leapt back, and the whole of the front of the stage exploded into flame! Amazing.

That same concert, they had had Japan as support (who books these shows?!), and they got booed and slow-hand-clapped etc. When it came to Godzilla, Eric introduced it "This song is almost Japanese", which got a huge reaction from the crowd.

One of my best ever gigs, and I've seen a few classics.

Seventeen years old, seventy miles from home and two years of waiting over, I strode the Fulham Palace Road with a heap of expectation and an undercooked burger.

In the three years since their last visit, the sound of music had changed in the UK and I had started shaving. Punk rock had largely stripped Britain's rock landscape of pomp and ceremony and the guitar solo was under serious threat from three simple chords. With five guitars, lasers blazing, and a man in a lizzard mask, could BÖC still cut it?

In the shadow of Hammersmith flyover, touts sold badges the size of dustbin lids. Inside the theatre, a strange mix of punks and headbangers mingled around the tour merchandise not quite sure who may have come to the wrong gig.

As the eighth wonder strolled onto the huge stage to an OYFOOYK type intro and rumbled into RU Ready 2 Rock ('We've come all the way from NYC just to ask you this one question.....') it became abundantly clear that the punks were sadly in the wrong building.

The band unveilled a pretty standard set for the period as I recall (ETI, Cities, Buck's Boogie, Kick out the Jams, Harvester, Reaper, Hot Rails and Godzilla), but somehow failed to really lift the roof and move it up into top gear.

For most part the much-hyped lasers simply bathed Buck's white suit in pretty colours. They worked best when spewing out from the end of Eric Bloom's guitar during ME262, but more often than not seemed to be an unneccesary distraction for Eric and Buck who were either chasing beams to bounce onto the mirror ball overhead, or activate a wrist laser whilst playing an E minor chord. Allen stuck manfully to the task of reducing the European tobacco mountain single handedly.

The lights got their full showcase during Albert's interminable solo. Sadly, neither were worth the wait and I suspect that the audience not using halluciegenics took the opportunity to drain their bladder (some even used the toilets provided).

I have tremendous respect for Joe's contribution to BÖC on and off stage, but it has to be said that no song on the planet has yet been enhanced by a protracted bass solo. The mighty (This Ain't) The Summer of Love is no exception.

Five Guitars was a bizarre notion in any language. With Albert out front and with the collective tongue firmly in cheek, it had the potential to be a great comical moment in rock and roll. Look like you mean it, or let them see your tongue out front for just a moment and you sew the seed for a thousand spoof documentary makers.

The finale of Born to be Wild compounded the feeling that this was a band who saw their future wooing the old school rock/headbanger fan base, rather than majoring on the more 'leftfield' elements of their catalogue that had attracted them to many critics. Such is life, they have made a fair fist of it ever since.

Much was riding on this second UK visit. Although they never seemed to relax and allow this particular show to rip, there's no doubt that they made many new fans during this tour and raised their profile from overseas cult to over-here contenders.

As Worner, my brother and I headed out on the highway in my mum's Metro we caught sight of the neon sign over the theatre entrance which read 'Blue Oyster Cult, On Tour Forever'. Any flagging spirits were immediately bouyed knowing we were already one day closer to their next show.

Ralph, the first time I saw BOC was in May 1978 at the Hammersmith Odeon (as it then was) in London. I had been the only BOC fan in my school for the previous couple of years, pretty much since Agents of Fortune. I saw it as my responsibility to spread the word of "The Cult" to my fellow school mates, who were a fairly mixed bag of greasy headbangers and disco heads. (No girls, I went to a Boys school for my sins!) I managed to persuade, cajole several of my school chums that we should all pay the £3.50 or whatever it cost and catch the mighty BOC at the Hammy.

When we all arrived at Hammersmith, there were a few people hanging around outside flying BOC balloons which I thought was both cool and odd as I didn't recognise the logo. I later found out the BOC was in fact the British Oxygen Company rather than the world's greatest Rock'n'Roll band.

Japan were the opening act and were pretty badly received. They had just won some award (Arista New Band of the Year) and they managed to get the opening slot for BOC. Anyway, the BOC audience were not receptive to Japan and I seem to recall items being thrown on the stage, fruit and vegetables. (Why do people bring their grocery shopping to gigs?)

Now the only question mark is the date. I thought my first BOC gig was 3 May 1978 because they didn't play Hot Rails to Hell that night and apparently did the following evening. (One of my school chums managed to persuade his folks that he should go two nights in a row - I could barely get the cash together to do one!!) He told me they played Hot Rails and knew that would wind me up as it was my fave BOC song at the time (that and Dizbusters!) My doubt on the date though is the fact that the Hot Rails site has them listed as playing Golden Age of Leather and I could have sworn that I have never heard this song played live. (Someone somewhere must have a tape!)

Anyway, highlight of the gig (apart from the amazing laser show) was Astronomy. They could have left out the two covers (We Gotta...and Kick Out The Jams) and played a few more originals but as it was my first show I wasn't complaining. Back in the midsts of time, I even had a photo from this show but I was so far back and my camera was so crappy you couldn't see whether it was Blue Oyster Cult on the stage or The Smurfs. The photos have long since disappeared.

I remember going to this concert. I was seventeen, and rabid about the Cult in the way that only seventeen year-old boys can be. I was so excited about going (and worried about being disappointed) that I couldn't keep out of the toilet for the whole day before the gig. Here's some of my strongest memories of the gig:

Buying the programme (which seemed expensive at the time) and being disappointed that it was very nearly all pictures. Also bought badges and a t-shirt (sadly, the design - black on silver - faded away after a few washes). I enjoyed Japan, who were not the smooth sophisticates of later years but kind of kicked ass. Their opening song was 'Love Is Infectious'. I also remember 'Communist China' and 'Suburban Berlin' (which had an accappella intro that really wound up the audinece) from their set. They were heckled and jeered, but I liked them and their attitude. I was pleased that they went on to achieve success.

BOC - I remember them hitting the stage with 'R.U. Ready 2 Rock' and being struck with how short Buck was. As the other reviewer noted, he was wearing his white suit, with outrageously huge flares, and had very long hair. Eric in leather trousers (of course), red t-shirt and black waistcoat.

The intro to 'Harvester of Eyes' (which I think was the second song) - Buck's head bobbing along with the riff.

'Cities on Flame' - Buck doing the widdly-twiddly solo guitar bit and milking it for every last bit of feedback and applause. Eric doing his drum-majorette impersonation and bashing one of Albert's cymbals during the coda to the song.

Joe's bass solo during 'Summer of Love' and Albert's drum solo during 'Godzilla' - I remember that neither solo really impressed me, and I wished we could have had another song or two instead. Same goes for the five-guitar bit - kind of cool but just a gimmick really, and seemed to go on and on and on.

'ETI' was excellent - great riffing from Allen and much better than the studio version.

They played 'Last Days of May', not 'Astronomy'. I remember because it was my absolute fave Cult song and Buck gave a spoken intro over the opening chord sequence explaining the true story behind the song. It featured an extended guitar solo, just like 'Astronomy' on the same tour, with very similar laser effects.

'Golden Age of Leather' - great barbershop-style vocal intro, killer song. Shame they didn't perform this one more often after the 78 tour.

'Me 262' was lot tighter than on OYFOOYK, good sound FX.

'Born to be Wild' was kind of wild indeed, with the sawing guitar schtick and all. Eric's Harley didn't appear on stage in the UK until the 1981 visit (Donington etc....).

Encore was of course 'Reaper'. Beautiful song but not the best suited for live performance. I remember Buck's voice was rather weak on this, and Eric doubled up the vocals on some lines.

Other songs I remember - 'Hot Rails to Hell' and maybe (though I'm not totally sure) 'Kick Out the Jams'. Definitely not 'We Gotta Get Outta This Place'.

As I recall, Buck played a sunburst Les Paul, his white SG, and the natural wood SG (custom-built, I seem to remember reading somewhere) on 'Reaper'. His guitar tone was much more piercing and treble-heavy than on record. Joe played a big, heavy-looking Alembic bass. Eric used mainly a black SG, but did use his BOC logo shaped guitar on one or two songs. Allen flitted between guitar and keyboards all night. As I recall, he used a Les Paul for his rhythm parts.

This was about the third or fourth gig I went to, and it still stands in my memory, 26 years and hundreds of bands later, as one of the very best. I saw the Cult again on the last date of the 78 tour, two nights in 79, 81 at the Venue and Donington and 84/5? on the 'Revolution by Night' tour, and this one was outstanding. The band were at a commercial peak, were confident and awesomely tight, and Buck's playing blew my little mind. The laser show was beautiful, but I didn't miss it at all when they came back in 79 without it.

This review is from the 24 year memory of a 14 year old short-arse (the ones that can be Soooo annoying now at gigs running around your knees !!). I hold no responsibility in it's accuracy (or others that I submit) for reasons that I will explain.

Firstly, this gig was the first that I had ever attended - unless I count seeing 'Mud' mime to few songs once with my dad. Etched firmly in my memory until I came across the BOC web-site was that BOC played 5 nights at Hammersmith in May & returned triumphantly for a further 2 nights in June '78. How accurate is that !!.

Without having my ticket stub ( £ 3.00 or £ 3.50) to refer to, I believe that I went to the second London show, because of one of our crowd commenting that one of his mates went the night before (& said that Japan went down quite well - more in a bit !)

Anyway 5 or 6 of us made our way by Tube from Upminster to Hammersmith (30 odd stops) & made our way to the Odeon. We bought posters (£1.00), programmes (£1.50) badges (50 p) etc. but unfortunately, in my case, no T-shirt. We were in the Circle about row G or H - a bit to the left of the stage. Great view for 'men' of our height.

For our first concert attended, we didn't know the protocol about hanging in the bar & stayed to watch the support act. Well on this night, Japan went down like the proverbial Lead Balloon. Song titles I remembered were 'Communist China' & 'Adolescent Sex'. They were more guitar oriented than in their later years, but the singer (Dave Sylvian) already had very distinct bleached blond hair. Anyway the crowd booed & heckled every song & the set finished (early - I think) with Dave Sylvian just unclipping his Sunburst Les Paul, letting it drop to the floor & walking off. If this happened at the first London show, then that was the one I was at & not the second.

We stayed in the circle throughout the break except for the necessary pee excursions due to the vast quantities of cider (alright, coke) drunk. We gasped in awe when the safety curtain came down, what could be going on behind that? Awesome & that's just the break.

The auditorium started to fill, the lights went down & yes, on strode the Cult. I can't remember the set-list. Up to this point I had only heard OYFOOYK, DFTR (single) & some of Spectres.

I'm sure that Buck wore his legendary white.

Definitely played in no particular order were:

R U Ready to Rock as the opener and we were off into ecstasy
Godzilla - Lizard Mask, drum solo et al.
DFTR, Born To Be Wild - Crossed guitars & did Eric ride a Harley onto the stage?,
Cities - with Buck's pause to take in the adulation of the crowd.
ETI
5 guitars and bass solo
Golden Age of Leather - raising our imaginary beer
ME 262
I can't remember if Astronomy or LDOM were played or even both, just that with the lasers we were into our umpteenth orgasm. The lasers pointed at the mirror-ball scattering like stars - which makes me think it was Astronomy.
Harvester of Eyes, which I remember had a different ending (to the OYF. Version) & probably very soon after discovered was the slower Secret Treaties ending after buying the LP (with Red label & coloured inner sleeve).

During the concert a vivid memory was of an apparent madman in a white lab-coat, looking a bit like 'Jesus', racing around at the front & to the right of the stage. He was, as legend goes, an absolute BOC fanatic. Does anyone know of this man - or is it a distorted myth?

When the concert ended, as you can imagine, we were riding on adrenaline. We probably didn't stop talking all the way back to Upminster & when the return date was announced, eagerly got hold of our tickets.

After this show we went to Colmar France. I remember it well because it was my birthday. For me it was almost 24 and no more.

I drank too much that night after the show in celebration, and almost drowned in my on vomit. The subconscious would not let me puke in my sleep, scared it might spew onto someone else on the tour bus.

I don't drink much anymore after that.

PS. Most of all the shows outside of England, on that tour, were opened by Johnny Cougar, who got my attention with "I need a lover who won't drive me crazy". I liked it so much I wanted to get to know them and remain friends to this day.

• 1 song recorded for "Some Enchanted Evening"

The early summer of 78 was the hottest I can remember. An exciting time for me - I'd just left school, got my first job and Scotland about to play in the soccer World Cup. Expectations were high for that one. And to top it all BOC were coming to town due to public demand for an extension of their Euro tour.

I suppose 31st May that year was a turning point in my life. Although I was a big fan and had all BOC's records up till then, this was my first chance of seeing them in the flesh. This night launched "My Big Interest" that will continue 'til the band retires and probably well beyond.

Two schoolmates and myself wangled tickets for the front row of the balcony in Edinburgh Odeon - we wanted a great view of the lasers as well as the band- and we weren't to be disappointed! After cadging a lift on the local school bus (most high schools were taking busloads of kids due to BOC's popularity) we arrived very early to see a huge queue into the venue. Obviously a sell out show! The merchandise stand did a roaring trade that night - £3.00 for a T shirt, £1.00 for a poster. I bought one of everything!

Japan gave a fairly good performance as openers but were duly booed off stage by those who thought it was hip to do so.

A little later, and with the road crew providing the entertainment (have you ever seen a roadie climb a rope to such a precarious position, 30ft up, to slightly adjust a light?) The opening music started up. Something by Wagner I think, maybe Das Rheingold? Stirring stuff! BOC were prowling the stage in the dark and doing the last minute tuning etc. Buck in white suit and black shirt, Eric in mirror shades, black leathers and wearing a BOC 78 World Tour shirt. Can't recall the others.

Opening song was RUR2Rock (much better than the studio version) followed by great use of Eric's wrist laser in ETI. Both were given a rapturous response by the fans. Harvester and Cities on Flame followed - Albert always brought this song alive! Eric then told us that the show was being recorded for a Live album, which lifted the crowd's spirits even further.

Highlights for me were Golden Age (good sing along by the fans) and Astronomy (with mirrorball laser antics from Eric). Great versions! AND two surprises in We Gotta and Kick out the jams. Strangely, they didn't play Last Days on that last day of May. Great drum solo from Albert complete with Lizard Head and strobe lighting and synth drum. Joe's bass solo led into Summer of Love and the 5 guitars - incredible. Born to be Wild ended the show with the amazing vision of crossed guitars and smoke / lasers in overdrive. Yep, pretty wild.

Encore- well, despite calls for more, we only got the one. Reaper was riding high in the UK charts at the time and the crowd wouldn't have left without hearing it. They went down a storm! Eric and Buck said their goodnights and Buck added "we hope you win the world cup". Well, we Scots know what happened then....out in the first round.

This was the first Live Concert I'd been to by any band and it was a lucky start. This remains as my favourite rock show of all time as it was a great visual and sonic experience, one I'll remember forever. On the other hand, it has to be said that BOC are much better performers on a personal level now than they were then. Long Live BOC!

Addendum: To close with a minor controversial point. I don't believe that the Some Enchanted Evening version of We Gotta Get Out was recorded in Newcastle the next night as is claimed on the sleeve notes. After hearing a story about Murray Krugman mixing up the labelling of the different shows, I listened to live audience tapes of both shows and it seems the version used was the one from Edinburgh.

I note there is some controversy about the origin of "We Gotta Get Outa This Place" from "Some Enchanted Evening": Newcastle or Edinburgh?

My vinyl copy from 1978 claims Newcastle, and I'm pretty sure that at the end Eric says "Thank you Newcastle goodnight." However, 5 years ago I bought the CD and listened to it on a brand new, very good hifi system. As I was using the disc to test the speakers in the store, I listened very carefully. I realised that the CD version was slightly different to my old vinyl version. The guitar runout was just not the same. But the audience noise after, and the cry "thank you Newcastle gooodnight" was the same - like a different version had been dropped in to replace the other.

I later read (on the internet) that the CD contained a version from Edinburgh - perhaps later pressings of the vinyl did too. But my vinyl from 1979 is definitely a differnt version form my cd bought in the 90's.

Having said that, I have a vinyl of club ninja (very early release, Nov 1985) which is different to the CD I bought in the mid 90's. (Vinyl has different intro to wtwc) So old BOC vinyl clearly is open to change when it comes to laying down a cd. Probably when CBS replaced the Newcastle gig with the Edinburgh one, they couldn't feel justified in the expenxe of running up a new set of liner notes.

• 1 song recorded for "Some Enchanted Evening"

A year or two before this concert I started getting into music and going to concerts. By the time word of mouth spread about BOC tickets, there was some excitement if only because of the laser show (Tangerine Dream were the other band with lasers that came to Newcastle around this time - a very different show).

The City Hall, as the name suggests, is an old municipal hall, more suited for orchestral concerts, complete with a stepped stage for a choir and a magnificent old organ (which I've heard played a few times). It holds roughly 2500 people and used to be a regular venue on the UK tour circuit.

I wasn't able to get into an earlier show (30 April) but three of us managed to get tickets for the second show, a few weeks later. By then I had the Reaper single, which was issued to coincide with the tour, and had borrowed "On Your Feet" so that the music wasn't completely unfamiliar.

I think Japan were the support band and, although they went on to greater things, they weren't well matched to the City Hall audience. We were too young to get served in the bar so we probably hung around the merchandise stall out front until the support (and the heckling) had ended. We returned to our seats, two thirds of the way back and over to the far stage right, to wait for the lights to go down.

Darkness. Cheers. "Newcastle, are you ready to rock?" (or something similar - the memory isn't as sharp as it used to be), more cheers and off we go. Looking at the setlist from the web site, it looks like a pretty good show. Oh for a time machine to go back and see it again, or a box set of all the Some Enchanted Evening concerts from Sony/Columbia.

The highlights that I remember were R U Ready 2 Rock, just because good opening songs always got the City Hall crowd going, and the announcement that we were being recorded (which also used to happen a lot in Newcastle). And Eric and the Kronos guitar looked particularly cool.

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place was great, not least because of its existing association with Newcastle (the Animals were from Newcastle and did probably the best known version, though I'm sure you knew that already).

Godzilla was stunning, especially as the curtain of laser light descended into the crowd, and Albert's lizard mask (we came out of the hall thinking that record buyers would wonder why we were all cheering at odd points during the drum solo but, of course, it's edited out from Some Enchanted Evening).

Five Guitars. Well, we knew about it in advance but it was always a sight to see and a real rock and roll moment to boot. Brilliant. Then Born To Be Wild and the crossed guitars. Finish with Reaper for the encore and it's time to go home. I went in curious and came out a convert.

I was there, age 18, god it was great. I still swear my mate Keith can be heard shouting at the start of Reaper.

Keith sadly died very young and this e-mail is in his honour.

Great site.

what a strange website ! Came across it by accident, YES, I was there, cant remember too much apart from Japan supporting, I think they wore dresses over their pants, at least David Sylvian did, they were a rock band then, they jumped onto the new romantic band wagon in the eighties. I went to the bar after 2 songs (or less).

BOC were good, I remember the light show (I also remember Tangerine dreams at Hammersmith Odeon same era).

I can remember all the band playing guitars for one of the last songs, but not much else

Note the originally-scheduled date of 26 April on these stubs and note also how it's crossed out on the first one and the true date of 2 June written in...

OK, first ever sighting of BOC in the flesh. What sticks in the mind? Japan were awful, noone quite understood what they were on about! Eric's laser ring at the vital moment of an awesome version of Astronomy, it was working well that night I havent seen anything as good on any of the footage from that tour.

All in all BOC cemented their place in our hearts with a truly stunning set, I can only apologise for not being able to remember exactly what they played! And then to top it all my mates mini ran out of fuel on the way back to college in Weymouth!

My memories are similar for this gig as they were for 4.5.78 at Hammersmith, so check that (above) for a more over-the-top review.

Since the first London gigs (all 5 of them !) DFTR had climbed the UK single charts (No#16 I think) & the band appeared for about 2 minutes on Top of the Pops - the definitive (only) UK chart music show. Unfortunately, this appearance was a grainy live video with poor sound of the song with Buck playing a light 'wooden' (I think) SG. In later years this was the Live '76 footage! Anyway, any appearance of my favourite band on TOTP was earth moving.

About 4 of us made our way to Hammersmith for the return. We all wore our tour badges with pride on the way & our new patches sown to our denims. Again we were in the circle, but this time near the front and to the right.

I can't recall seeing Japan as the support act, had they been replaced or did we just hang in the bar?

BOC came on to R U Ready to Rock & others played included DFTR, Godzilla, Cities, Harvester, Golden Age, ME262, Born To Be Wild and LDOM or Astronomy (with orgasmic use of lasers).

I'm sure that the man in the white lab coat was also there at the front of the stage.

As with the first gig, we were blown away & confirmed our conversion to the bands No#1 fans in Upminster. No classroom was left without the Kronos symbol or BÖC identity etched or written on desks or walls. I think we - sorry, they - were in competition with the 'Yes' fans for leaving advertising marks promoting their favourite band. For legal reasons, I did not partake in this particular activity personally & cannot recall the names of those that may be held responsible.

We all went out and bought the entire back catalogue, patches, badges, posters & whatever else had a BÖC stamp on it. We could not wait for the hopefully inevitable return.

This gig was never part of the original published UK Tour schedules and I'd heard rumours that it had taken place (Hi Pete!!) but it wasn't until I got sent this stub that I had to start finally believing that it actually took place!!

I'm gutted I didn't know about this show - as if I'd known, I would have popped along!!

I was there and it definitely took place! I've still got the "IS Ludwig USA" drum stick (log!) that Albert threw into the audience after his Godzilla-head drum solo and the autographed programme that I got signed after jumping onto the stage (left) to the side of the stack, and following the band backstage immediately after the gig had finished. (As I remember, Sounds had reviewed an earlier gig at De Montford, I think, and the set was exactly the same so I knew when the encore was over. As the final echoes of Reaper died away, my 3 mates and I moved from the middle/front across to my right and just jumped up on stage past a roadie...)

The memories of that night are still very, very powerful - Astronomy, the mirrored ball and those laser fx... the UK 12" Reaper single to commemorate the Tour (I've still got the advertising poster too). I even recall Eric wearing a silver necklace with the inverted "?" symbol on it...

BTW for me Japan were outstanding, although I remember half the audience loved their set and the other half just couldn't figure out this band of make-up touting new romantics (as we subsequently came to call them).

Nevertheless, go back and check out Adolescent Sex at volume - that set was the perfect warm up for the Cult. Don't rain on my parade!

The back of the above first T-shirt is interesting in that it gives a list of the shows scheduled for this tour - many with British Lions and UFO. Wisely, the shirt doesn't actually give any dates - just a list of towns.

The opening show of the tour would seem to have originally been "Asbury Park", a date which ended up being the 5th show on 20th July, so the shirt can't be taken as Gospel.

As the shirt seems to think the 3rd gig was at "Jones Beack", that seems reasonable advice.

Still, all in all, it's generally pretty accurate...

One show (1978) was the kickoff of one of their tours. I remember reading that in the paper, thinking Johnstown must be important if they started the tour there. British Lions opened the show and BOC closed. It was BL first American tour so the newspaper said. About 5,300 attended.

This was the first time I ever saw lasers. I was blown away by the light show. Back in those days, the mid 70's, a strobe light and a flashpod was considered a good stage show. I can't tell you which albums the band was promoting since I wasn't a fan. I went to any show that came to town which weren't really all that many.

Billboard listed Norfolk, VA concert at The Scope attendance at 2,400 or 2,600. I remember the date being 1 day after the Johnstown show.

Your gig list has Norfolk, Landover, etc with the BL's supporting. The odd thing about this is that arenas' listed for that tour are large and Johnstown's War Memorial had a capacity of 7,800.

I found your site today, and wanted to throw a correction your way. I saw the Cult at the Cape Cod Coliseum on July 17th, 1978. It was a good time all around, because in addition to BOC, Cheap Trick opened that show.

It stands out for me, because I had never heard them before, but as soon as I heard Surrender, which came out really shortly after, I KNEW that this band was going to be huge.

this was one show i didn't want to miss. i had seen the cult previously on long island at nassau coliseum for the infamous friday, january 13th ice storm show with rush (barely made it out of there and remember saying we thought j.p.'s ponytail would freeze and snap off as he wandered the parking lot looking for our car).

i had made my own custom Cult t-shirt for this show by copying the picture of the band that had appeared in the ad in newsday, the long island newspaper. got a lot of compliments on it at the pre-game tailgate party in the parking lot.

i remember eric bloom asking the audience if anyone arrived by way of the blue oyster cult expressway. the weather was awful. it was raining so hard that it seemed it would be impossible for them to play the outdoor show which was advertised as rain or shine.

the band was on a barge on the water with the atlantic ocean as a backdrop. the wind driven rain was blowing right through the stage and directly at the crowd. the sell-out crowd stayed despite the torrent for the entire show. eric commented, "you guys really have gutz."

the lazers were incredible in all the fog and rainwater. the most incredible cult lazer show ever as the rain and fog diffused the lazers creating a surreal electric ether like atmosphere. the wind was howling and it seemed like the canopy over the band would shred and blow apart like the sails on a tempest-tossed ghostship.

there was a barricade directly in front of the front row and moored to it were several barges that extended out about 15' to make a kind of no mans land between the front row and about 30' of water separating the audience from the floating stage. sometime during the encore people started climbing over the barricade onto the barges secured directly in front of the first row which i was in throughout.

during the final portion of the concert, we all found our way to the front of the barges to be as close to the floating stage as possible even though this area was supposed to be off-limits to the audience. so many people were crowded there right on the edge (there was no railing), it wasn't long before people were dropping into the water. if they weren't pushed forward by the crowd before dropping in, people actually started leaping in like lemmings and swimming to the stage.

i managed to stay on the barge to observe the final part of the show. the roadies had a hell of a time fishing people out of the water and pulling them onto the stage. despite the pandimonium, the cult played on. the musicians themselves appeared drenched. i know we were all soaked completely like drowned rats whether we took the plunge or not.

it was the best visual concert i had ever seen (although the kampuchea benefit (16 Feb 1979) at the palladium in n.y.c. with cult, utopia, rick derringer and patti smith was probably the best concert i ever attended. meat loaf was not billed for that show but was listed as 'special guest.' he appeared with his female singer as the final act and performed the bulk of bat out of hell with utopia backing him as musicians. i understand todd rundgron and utopia were the studio musicians who recorded that album with meat).

the cult played an extra long set in spite of the danger of electrocution in the downpour as a tribute to the hardy crowd of hometown fans. the rain didn't finally let up until after we were in our car and driving on the blue oyster cult parkway home to eastern long island.

of course we listened to classic cult on the 8-track during the entire drive. fortunately i wasn't too buzzed to drive as it was impossible to get lit with that much wind and water drenching you during practically the whole show. my only regret was the stencil on my homemade t-shirt was almost washed out in the deluge.

it was truly some enchanted evening for all those who stuck it out. kudos to the band and crew for an incredible performance despite abominable weather conditions. thanks eric, buck, al, joe and albert. didn't see them again until the concerts at hammerhead's bar in west babylon and at my father's place in roslyn which were both billed as the soft white underbelly.
EDP, L.I., N.Y.C.

My older brother who blessed me with rock & roll (he's now 41, I'm 37) saw BOC in 1978 at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY (still a major amphitheater on Long Island) and recalls Albert Bouchard throwing his leather jacket in the moat that used to separate band from audience - and that my brother's friend dove in to the water to get the jacket.

I was a freshman in HIGH school and can say with authority that I was utterly and completely out of it at this show. It was my first BOC show and really turned me on to the band. See my stub above.

British Lions opened. Sorry I don't have a set list, but I think I have a concert program somewhere around here.

Finally! After 2 tries, 3rd time's the charm. Really good tickets, about 10th row, I took pics with my grandfather's 35MM with a really tiny lens. Great laser show, RU Ready to Rock, Goin Thru the Motions, tons more.

This venue was an echobox, but BOC would play much louder than most other acts and sounded fine. Highlights definitely included ME 262 with the logo guitar. One of the best stage shows at the time, tons of smoke, explosives, and of course the lasers.

I think the protests later on actually made the show better with the Godzilla and UFO effects they used months later at the Palladium, in Asbury it was still just fanning them overhead and catching them off the disco ball. Eric did have the finger laser too. Still one of the best concerts I have ever seen.

PS: The British Lions were actually Ex Mott The Hoople, Morgan, Overend and Buffin, with a new singer.

Check out Moyssi's concert programme for this gig.

A very good show. The Godzilla drum solo had Albert wearing the Godzilla head with a very strong strobe light giving a bizarre effect...

Gozilla playing the drums! On ETI, Eric had the hand laser raising the light slowly as he sang: "All hail....we found the..."

The British Lions were not well received by the the crowd.

Originally scheduled for the Coliseum (see ticket stub above), this gig was moved to the Hec Edmundsson Pavilion...

Hi there, I enjoyed your website very much.

One small bit of info: The Aug. 4, 1978, Blue Oyster Cult concert was switched from the Seattle Center Coliseum to Hec Edmundsson Pavilion on the University of Washington campus. The reason? The Seattle Seahawks of the NFL were playing a home exhibition game in the Kingdome and the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade was held on the city streets of Seattle. Thus the Seattle Police Department simply didn't have the manpower to also staff a major concert downtown, and that's why the concert was moved to the University, which has its own police force.

P.S. -- UFO also appeared as a preliminary along with British Lions.

The original lineup for this show was BOC/UFO/British Lions. I'm not sure where the Derringer and Alvin Lee information came from, but they most definitely did not play at this concert. [I originally had them down as support for this gig - now corrected. Ralph].

Shortly before the concert began, an announcement came over the PA that UFO would not be playing that evening. The reason given was that one of their trucks broke down (enroute from Seattle presumably), and that the other two bands would therefore get to play a longer set.

BOC were excellent. I don't recall the exact setlist after all these years, but they blew my mind and it was the last chance I would get to see the band with their full laser spectacular.

Regarding the 1978 San Diego gig. I was at this show about 12th row center.It was amazing to say