1981 is a black year in the history of Blue Oyster Cult. By August, a simmering mixture of internal band resentment, exasperation and frustration exploded with the net result that drummer/singer/songwriter and general creative pile-driver, Albert Bouchard was fired. In the UK, of all places!!
And yet it all started so promisingly. In June, BOC released the fantastic "Fire Of Unknown Origin" and with Cultosaurus already under their belt, BOC fans were beginning to believe that the Cult were on their way. There was nothing going to stop their relentless march towards dominance now... except maybe... submission.
By losing Albert Bouchard, the creative heart was ripped out of the band and, for a lot of people, a major part of what made Blue Oyster Cult the band it was was now gone.
Lighting man Rick Downey was hastily drafted in to take over the drums and BOC finished off the year with a massive tour with Foghat.
This page, as with a great part of the rest of the site, would not have been possible without the help of ex-BOC roadie, Sam Judd, and it's his notes which inform many of the facts contained herein...
Have you got anything to contribute to this page? Reviews, missing info, ticket stubs, posters etc etc - if so, let me .
What happened in January? If you know, please let me ...
What happened in February? If you know, please let me ...
What happened in March? If you know, please let me ...
Another BOC show and an interesting one, at that. This show took place at Miami Baseball Stadium; not exectly a great place for a rock show. The stage was so unusually high, and the sound was pretty much crap for most of the acts. The opening band was some popular local band that kind of sucked. The next band, however, was a glimpse into my unknown future of thrash metal. MOTORHEAD!! I had never heard these guys before and I was simply stunned by their performance. I had never heard music like this before, played so fast and so loud.
I wasn't quite sure I liked it or hated it. I'm sure the rest of the crowd felt the same. I'm not sure about the songs they played, but I do remember "Overkill" and I actually liked that one a lot. I'm sure a lot of U.K. fans know about the history of Motorhead opening for the Cult and getting treated quite shabbily at the Hammersmith shows in '75 or '76. Well, they probably didn't get much better treatment at this gig either because they played a pretty short set with no encore. In fact, I remember Lemmy saying at the end of the set "... Is their going to be an encore? Doesn't fuckin' look like it!! See ya!!"
Poor Lemmy. However, I would get the full message of Motorhead about 5 years later when I saw them at Santa Monica Civic with Megadeth opening. They just killed that night. Now, I love them to death. I still run into Lemmy at the Rainbow (his 2nd home) in L.A. from time to time. A legend, to be sure.
Finally, after a long day standing, BOC came on. This was right before they released Fire Of Unknown Orgin. Despite the lame sound, they played an energetic set. I'm sure they played "Burnin' For You" and "After Dark" from Fire. They sounded great. BOC's set was rather short however, due to Heart being the headliners. I think they played "Hot Rails To Hell" "The Reaper" "ETI" "Red and the Black" but I'm kind of cloudy on the setlist. They also did the 5 guitars mark III.
Overall, a pretty decent show and a preview of their full-blown "Fire" tour about to be unleashed. It was also the last time I saw Albert on drums for a few years (more on that in a later review).
I stayed to see Heart but left after 3 songs. Just couldn't get into it. Also, I had stupidly taken a bunk hit of acid I bought from a concertgoer. Fucked my stomach up hella bad!! Not a wise move. Not even bunk acid can stop me from seeing my favorite Oysters, though. Good show.
The unknown local band at this show was Freewheel - just thought I'd pass this along. Unfortunately I no longer have the concert T-shirt as proof.
What happened in May? If you know, please let me ...
June saw the release of "Fire Of Unknown Origin" but I don't know the actual official release date. If you know, please let me know...
Great club show, tiny dive in North Jersey. We got there at noon to insure we were in the front row. Partied all day, Met BOC fans from LI that told me of the Spit show.
Met the band again, started to realize Joe and Albert were the friendliest, Eric would blow right by, Lanier and Buck would chat, but never remember you later, but the Brothers would, and even ask about things you had mentioned in past.
David Roter opened, with Manny Caiati standing in for Andy Shernoff, who was fighting with Pearlman over royalties. Albert wore a fake beard during Roter's set, Joe had one too;), and Bloom intro'd the band. Was told later that Albert's insistence on using Roter to open was one of the problems.
I remember going to the Hole in the Wall concert June 13, 1981. I had a belt that said Soft White Underbelly, at the end I handed it to Buck who held it up in front of the audience and then gave me his pick.
Does anybody who went remember this?
This Emerald City venue is sometimes referred to as the Latin Casino...
The Spit Club was later renamed Key Largo by the time BOC played there again, 12/20/84. Unfortunately, it had also become a dinner theater, and the band had to play at a reduced volume. Probably the quietest show I ever saw BOC play, you could hear fans talking over the band, and I was in the front row!!!
Club Spit was called Uncle Sam's during the early hours, then they ran everybody out, changed the decor of the place by adding a bunch of diamond plate flooring and hanging cyclone fence all over and brought everyone in thru the service entrance to make it "grittier"... What a sham...
They also refused to turn off or turn down the DJ music while we packed up and loaded out (the place was open for several more hours).. made for a really god awful loadout with the stagehands totally unable to hear any instructions... one of the worst ever...
Are you sure that it became Key Largo?... seems like that was a different place... I always thought Key Largo was the place that was originally Hammerheads...
I think I'm right on this one, because I lived far away, and only went to the 1984 show because I had such fond memories of the 81 spit show. I even got to say hi to the boys because I remembered the stage door;)
Hammerhead's did change it's name too, I saw the band there 12/29/87, but can't remember what the hell it was called at the time. Kingston Station or something, I think was what Wrax told me. That was the only time I went there.
One of the main reasons I think that is that both Hammerheads and Key Largo were in West Islip and Spit/Uncle Sams was in Levittown... those towns are not THAT close together are they??
Not to mention Key Largo was about 5 times bigger than Spit... I've even found a Zebra site that shows how many time Zebra played Hammerheads/Key Largo W.Islip L.I.
I bow to the man. I really don't remember any opening act, and I was a Jim Carroll fan, so I think I would have remembered them.
The tune up shows for this tour were held in small clubs on Long Island. In many instances the band played under the name Soft White Underbelly.
The kick off show for the tour was at a club called "Spit" the alter ego to the disco "Uncle Sam's"
By the way - Spit did not become Key Largo. It was not a club after it closed. Hammerheads became Key Largo. It was in Islip, we used go there to see Twisted Sister, Zebra, The Good Rats and a host of other Long Island acts. I was once forcibly removed during a Pat Travers show there. That was the first and last time I drank Yukon Jack... oh the good old days.
The Spit show was incredible. It was broadcast on WLIR. My buddy Chris still has the tape. That was the first time the drummer wore the Godzilla mask.
We saw both the MSG and Nassau Collasium shows with Foghat. I miss Lonesome Dave.
I went to the Bonds Intl show - they did Burnin' twice because the tape messed up the first time. Even 12 yr old Lib Monkey was there.
A cool show - I used to have the radio promo albums for the show - it was called "A Night On The Road" with Blue Oyster Cult. I sold it on ebay.
I taped the Spit show off radio. My friend was DJing there at the time - I've never been to that club (It actually had two names at the time I believe).
Have you guys noticed the screwup on Joan Crawford. BTW - That was about a month after I saw the David Roter Connection at Max's Kansas City with the Bouchard's premiering Joan Crawford. I had this memory of Roter and the boys doing a sendup of He's A Rebel called He's A Rabbi. After many years went by I just assumed I dreamt it. When I met Joe B at a Chiller Theatre convention I asked him about it and he confirmed they did it. Yowza-dat vas no dream baby!
I was lucky enough to be at the Bonds' show, and taped it off the radio when it was first broadcast.
A couple memories from that night. It's the only time I've heard the same song played twice in the same set by BOC. They played Burnin'4U two times, I seem to remember something about some mic troubles. It took a loong time for BOC to hit the stage that night. There was no opening act, it was just a SWU show.
The crew spent a long time adjusting lights, and tweaking a bunch of stuff. The crowd was growing fairly impatient, but of course the Boys came out and blew everyone away with the new stuff off of FOUO.
The next week, I called up EB while he was hosting his then weekly radio show on WLIR. I got to ask him about the show, and he told me how The Clash and crew had absolutely trashed the club during their week stay at the club. The resulting Clash On Broadway was from this run of shows.
Wow - a setlist, yet the gig is from an unknown venue in an unknown town - someone wrote down the songs but forgot to mention where they were at the time??!! Actually, the setlist is from the official site but I noticed it's annotated to say it's a "BBC Rock Hour Radio" Broadcast.
Anybody got any info on this, as I'm pretty sure that this date is just a broadcast date of the aforementioned setlist, and not an actual gig date...
I remember this gig being a bit lackluster, Albert was starting to fade. A lot of the crowd didnt know the new Fire of Unknown Origin material and it left the show uneven.
There is one concert in 81 that I failed to keep the ticket of. It was my first BOC concert and unfortunately the last one with the entire band intact. I can find no record of this "phantom concert".
I remember that Fire of Unknown Origin was just released. This was in June. My friend Jerry bought it on a Sunday and I remember getting mine on that following Tuesday. Jerry gave me a call to see if I wanted to see BOC at an outside venue, the Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown PA. It was a rescheduled date because the previous one was rained out - I think it had been originally scheduled for the previous night. I know that it was the week after Fire was released and I'm thinking it was a Wednesday. Don't ask me why.
The opening act was Humble Pie.
All I remember is the opening song which was Heavy Metal Black and Silver and the great bass solo and drum interplay between the brothers Bouchard. I remember Albert's arms and drumsticks appearing from below the stage and drumming on Joe's bass. Then he emerged from under the stage and did their bass and drum act. I think they may have also played Fire of Unknown origin.
For some reason I had some idea that it was the last show in the US before the European Tour. Eric may have said this on stage. Anyway I have not been able to track it down. Too many dead brain cells from that time period. Maybe you know someone who remembers this show. I know I didn't dream it.
If you find anything out about when the Allentown show took place, it would be much appreciated.
Well - does anybody know when it occurred?
The Sunday June 28, 1981, BOC concert, at Pine Knob, in Clarkston, Michigan was a great show. I don't remember the exact set list, but the highlight of the night was Buck playing Born to Rock. The standards were played from Fire of Unknown Origin, and the band sounded great.
Pine Knob is an outdoor pavilion venue, and the sound was always excellent. The picture is a classic shot of BOC playing under the watchful eye of Sam Judd. I remember Alan's keyboards were off center, so Sam walked out before the gig picked-up and moved the entire rack.
Humble Pie rocked too. The drummer played part of the drum solo hitting his head against the symbols.
June 24 81 - Hara Arena Dayton. I'm 100% sure it was Humble Pie opening up. I remember picking up a t-shirt - it was around the time of the Humble Pie album "go for the throat" - I looked up the album and recall my tshirt with the same design as the album...
This gig confirmed on the WLS MusicRadio 89 page.
Another trip backstage for a pint or three, and a quick lig with Albert Bouchard, to find out just how many DOGs the Cult have played. As it turned out this is to be their sixth appearance at this annual bash. Blue Oyster Cult have been around a long time, near 12 years, and not many bands can boast an unchanged line up, which also explains why the Cult are one of the tightest acts on the road at the moment.
Only the suits have changed for this year. Don Roeser was wearing a gold shirt, which gleamed in the sun. Allen Lanier now favours a red and black (geddit) football jersey. Sadly no songs from 'Cultosaurus' were played.
However, the new material came over very well, especially 'Burning for You' with great harmonising. Should be a top twenty hit single. 'Joan Crawford', meanwhile, is too tongue-in-cheek, and the sight of 40,000 mouths agape with disbelief over the lyrics had me in hysterics.
"We ain't played this one in the Bay Area for five years" screamed Manny Bloom. It turned out to be 'Seven Screaming Dizbusters'. This is how all heavy metal should sound, great riffs accompanied by classy guitar solos from Buck Dharma.
The titanic 'Godzilla' followed, complete with synthesized drum solo, one of a few not so boring drum solos left. 'Born to be Wild' as usual was excellent, although, personally I'm becoming a little tired of the song, as is the same for the Cult's mainstay song, 'The Reaper'. The encore on the other hand was fab, 'Roadhouse Blues', the old Doors toon.
Sadly the stadium began to empty when Heart came on as I think BOC had no trouble in blowing the headliners off the stage, a pity coz the gorgeous Wilson sisters turned in a fine show.
We flew 'cross country and drove to make this gig that Sam called a "Biker Gig in the Pasture" - it was held in upstate NY near the childhood home of the Bouchard brothers.
Then we turned around and flew back to California. Chubby was a nice guy, and drove his own tour bus!!
Check out the stub above - Pat Travers is down as headliner!!
My first show - It was BOC/Pat Travers/Johnny Van Zandt.
Set list included but not limited to (not in order, sorry):
Dr. Music (opener)
ETI
Veteran Of The Psychic Wars
Joan Crawford
Cities On Flame
Born To Be Wild
Godzilla
DFTR
Roadhouse Blues
And Ray Manzarek guested on Roadhouse Blues (Lanier played guitar, Manzarek played organ).
This all-day concert was billed as "Rock Cirkus II", sponsored by Edmonton radio station K-97 (97.3).
The venue is a natural grass football stadium that held about 65,000 (when you had people on the field). I don't know what the crowd size was, but it was large, 10,000's (I can recall it took about 1/2 hour to get from the stage area to a washroom and back!!!!!).
I was most excited to see BOC and Ted Nugent and both rocked hard. I enjoy the Hearts older stuff, but after hearing the other bands, their set was more mellow and, I hate to admit it, but I left part way through their closing set.
Loverboy had just put out their 2nd album, and were already huge in Canada, which explains why they came on after BOC, who were also huge internationally at that point.
I was at the first of those German shows in 1981 (while Albert was still drumming). Capt Von Ondine posted a really excellent pic of the Stuttgart show last year. I have it somewhere - I'll try and dig it out. He said he had others but hasn't posted any more since.
The gig. Great gig! My first outdoor festival. Kansas - Blackfoot - Iron Maiden (Killers) - Motorhead - BOC and Foreigner (who were headlining and better than I though they were going to be!) Me an impoverished student, barely scraped the cash together to go the gig and have some beer and train money. I remember the merchandise being stupidly expensive but really wanted that t-shirt. It was going to be either the T-shirt or the train and the train won. Bloody hot day so the beer money was essential. I got a nice sunburn that day and I still had hair so it was hat free.
I was at that show- I was in the US Army, stationed in Wurzburg. It's been so long yet I've never been to a more intense and enjoyable concert experience - all day, all night! I had remembered Foreigner, BOC, 38 Special, and Kansas but couldn't remember any of the other bands, though Iron Maiden had been nagging my brain as a possibility!
I distinctly remember coming in on one of the gazillion buses, and walking forever into the stadium. Being in that stadium - one with so much history to it, was surreal to me.
My memory still retains brief moments throughout the entire day. I remember there being at least two stages side by side - were there three? It was a great summer experience with women in bikinis, everyone caught up in the great music - the sun shining...
Thank you for having posted the info on the BOC web site. I really loved seeing the ticket scan...
This was the first gig Al was late for... we went round the corner for a bite of food (quickly as we were late getting there) and returned to find Rick warming up to go on in place of him... it's still a hoot at that point... Rick's Big Nite as it were (I had mine once when George didn't show up and I got to mix the band...Yeee-Hawww!)
Al showed up a few songs into the show and all had a good laugh... the next time it wasn't as funny...
The ride back to London was interesting as the Van that the crew (and Mr Rock Star Downey) was riding in smacked a curbing and lampost just south of town and did the front windscreen and whacked the alignment silly on the front wheels....
We pressed on (it was luckily summer) till the poxy thing ran out of petrol on the side of the road at the end of the runway of RAF Lakenheath...
Those F-111's eliminated any sleep we might have gotten waiting for someone to get some more... finally a long walk was completed and we were on our way again...
All well until just north of the old North Weald fighter command base (can you tell I'm into military stuff???... I navigate in Europe by military installations..) - at this point both front tires blew and we called Taxis on the emergency phone and left the van by the side of the road......
Ahh the glory of Rock'n'Roll...
I was there. I didn't fancy going to Donington but went to the 3 warm up dates [Dunstable and London, The Venue being the other two].I don't remember much about the gig except of course Albert arrived late.
I do remember before the concert started Buck came out in casual gear and strummed [very quietly] the opening chords to 'ETI', presumably a last minute sound check. After a few seconds a half-hearted cheer went up as fans recognised him.
I hadn't seen the band too many times before West Runton but enjoyed it immensely, particularly as it was a small venue. I can remember the London gig was much poorer in comparison as Buck seemed to be in a bad mood. First and only time!
Yes I went to this one, having persuaded my parents to take a summer holiday in East Anglia so that I could see them. I remember opening 'Sounds' magazine one week and discovering to my delight that that BOC were going to be playing there as a warm-up for their Donnington appearance under their pseudonym Soft White Underbelly. This was intensely exciting as I was 18 at the time and probably at the peak of my BOC-obsession.
I'd seen them for the first time a couple of years previously on the Mirrors tour at Queens Hall, Leeds. I remember that occasion as being absolutely seminal - even though the venue in Leeds was a converted tram-shed the sound was awful.
Anyway I remember arriving in West Runton the day before the gig (I think) and quickly did a recce of the village, which didn't take long. We were staying in a B&B just over the road from the venue. I remember on the big day hanging about in the pub next to the venue chatting to the roadies with a mounting level of excitement. Started queing at about 6pm ish I think - no-one else there seemed to be much older than me (what is it about BOC that seemed to appeal to teenage boys so specifically)?
Anyway the gig itelf I don't remember too many specifics of. I was right at the front and it was seriously loud. The first thing I noticed was that Albert Bouchard appeared to have undergone a dramatic transformation - so much so that it was no longer Albert Bouchard! His stand-in sounded pretty good for about four numbers, after which everything ground to a halt. Eric Bloom & Buck Dharma started chatting to themselves quietly on stage as though it were a practice session - this was surreal. After what seemed like several minutes Albert took his seat and the gig resumed.
Of the songs performed I remember Dr Music, Burnin for You and Roadhouse Blues as being great live - the other numbers have become blurred in my memory. I cherished a couple of BOC plectrums that I managed to grab hold of at the gig. Marvellous stuff.
I saw BOC on a couple of later occasions later in 80s - at Birmingham in '84, and London in '85. By this time I think the band were in decline and the gigs were a relative disappointment.
Postscript: I revisited West Runton a couple of years ago and was saddened to discover that the Pavillion is no more - it is now a car park!
Yes I was there and what a GIG. I had only got into BOC about a year before with a copy of Tyranny I swapped with a mate and nearly wore it up.
We couldn't believe it when eagerly scanning Runtons gig list and there was Soft White Underbelly, the year before we had seen Ozzy with what I believe was his first Blizzard of Oz date and now a chance to see BOC well I still get a buzz from it today.
I was fifteen and mad about bands and gigs I went to School at Wroxham just a short train journey away from the Pavilion and school day gigs were great, we all use to tell our parents that our mates Dad was taking us to the gig and arrange for one of them to pick us up. Then bunk off for the day get the train from Wroxham station and head to the Village Inn at West Runton to get into the spirit etc of things, this usually was followed by a good pratting about on the beach then making sure of staking claim to the position of the head of the cue and dig in for the door opening.
Sometimes we even helped out with humping some gear for the bands, I regret never taking a camera but I think the combination of everything being drunk & smoked leading to many dubious situations I doubt any camera would have survived.
Saying all that I can't remember how I got to the BOC gig, but we were at the head of the cue with all senses in tact, wasn't going miss out on this one.
I was surprised at the set list on the web page thought they did more than fourteen numbers but saying that from what I can remember the songs were all full or extended versions and I wasn't disappointed with the selection.
I remember getting a couple of Buck's personalised plectrums, very impressive, which with much regret I have lost and if my memory serves me well a can of breaker lager Eric drunk from, this last item is also not in my possession (I'm not that sad yet) but sad enough to still have one of the Drums sticks Albert launched into the crowd, I think in Godzilla, always remember the story about it being one of his last gigs.
I have a memory rightly or wrongly of Buck playing a solo and finishing with breaking one by one the strings on his guitar as he finished, or did I imagine it! We were at the front all the way through the gig and to say it was awesome is a understatement.
Funnily enough I had a nostalgic trip the other night after seeing Ozzy on TOTP2 and dug out a few old singles and albums and found tucked in the Crazy Train single sleeve Blizzard of Oz autographs including the departed Randy Rhodes, and you comment about meeting the band made me think, we usually did meet them at great effort but I don't know why we didn't with BOC! there ya go.
I also found an old list of the gigs I made at the time, and by the time I left School in 82 I'd seen getting onto 40 bands some who disappeared without trace some who went onto big things and a few that stood out like this one, it was great to find this web-site and especially this page (the pictures were a bonus) bringing back some great memories of the hallowed places of West Runton Inn and Pavilion.
As the dates grew closer the hints in the press that it really was Blue Oyster Cult playing under the Soft White Underbelly moniker became less subtle. It didn't matter to me - I had booked my tickets as soon as I had seen the dates announced-in fact, the person selling the tickets at the Venue ticket office mentioned that he had never heard of SWU and wondered what they were like. When I mentioned that it was BOC he said that he would be buying tickets too! A friend of mine who lived in Dunstable at the time still tells the story of how he would not believe that one of his favourite bands was playing at his local hall - he's eternally grateful that he let me convince him.
The Venue in London is long gone. As part of Richard Branson's Virgin empire it played host to many showcase and landmark gigs (from the likes of Allen Lanier's friend John Cale, The Cure, Yellow Magic Orchestra and even Tina Turner's comeback to stardom). To put some perspective on the event: BOC's latest album Fire Of Unknown Origin was gaining rave reviews; the last time that the band had played in London was 4 dates at the 4400 capacity Hammersmith Odeon and here they were playing a small venue in the heart of the city. It offered a "hot ticket" excitement and a ticket tout's Christmas. The venue has since been home to a clothing emporium (Dicky Dirts) and now a Fitness Centre.
It was an odd night at the Venue. They always opened the doors on time (I was told that the place, which was notoriously hot, always made a fortune on beer) but that night they kept everyone waiting outside on the pavement. When the doors finally opened there was a sudden surge-nevertheless I still got to where I wanted to be-just by Buck's mic stand.
We waited for what seemed to be an eternity. The stage had long since been fully prepared for the band and there were occasional announcements to apologise for the "technical" delay. I seem to remember my girlfriend being concerned that we would need to leave shortly to get the last bus home (remember when we didn't have night buses?). Hell, I was going to walk home (can't think that she was prepared to do the same!). Midway through one of the "technical" apologies, the lights went down and a deafening roar of approval came from the audience.
Opening with Dr Music, the band came across as angry and by the time they got to Heavy Metal (Black and Silver) with its feedback intro and outro they came across as positively violent. Only when they came to the next number did it become apparent that not all was well with the band. In typical showbiz fashion Eric announced that Albert "is gonna tell you about the next song". Albert in whinny sarcastic voice goes "yeah yeah, Albert's gonna tell you about the next song" and without another word he smashes into Cities On Flame. An amazing version and very intense.
Flaming Telepaths followed. For me the intensity of Eric captivating the audience into almost believing that the song was autobiographical made it all the more powerful. Since then it's pretty much been my fave BOC track.
The merciless rhythm that Albert pounded out during Veteran of the Psychic Wars seemed angry and created an almost hypnotic effect with the audience dancing to every beat similar to the beat that one would experience at a Queen concert during Radio Ga Ga.
I remember feeling slightly conned that I didn't witness the 5 guitars showstopper on this occasion, but despite Buck's spangled gold shirt all the band excelled themselves. This was one of their best gigs despite the fact that there did seem to be a mood onstage that only lifted once they got into the final number, Roadhouse Blues. Buck ending the show with some really athletic high kicks, some scorching solos and sacrificial string breaking.
The feedback from Dunstable the following night was that they were also late onstage and that that show too was very intense. It was only a few days' later at Castle Donnington's Monsters of Rock festival that I learnt of Albert Bouchard's departure from the band. From one of their best ever gigs to one of their worst in the space of a few days.
The Blue Oyster Cult fans were out in force for this 'undercover' warm-up gig for Castle Donington. Some were still wondering whether they'd been conned by a no-publicity stunt until they arrived to see Dunstable plastered with the notorious Kronos symbol.
T-shirt chic was the order of the day with all the fans checking out the hottest designs. Fortunately my 1976 Agents of Fortune pic was not duplicated. Many of the kids had attractively embroidered logos and slogans executed by their loving girlfriends (and mums?).
Dead on nine o'clock the PA announced 'From New York City, Soft White Underbelly', and there was Eric belting out THE RED AND THE BLACK (it's their colour scheme) to the citizens of Dunstable. The main surprise of the night came as Bloom introduced the band: 'Buck Dharma; Alan Lanier; Joe Bouchard; and tonight on drums, Rick Downey(?)'.
The jaws of dozens of aspiring drummers dropped as they realised that their hero hadn't made the gig. But it was OK - after EXTRA TERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE and JOAN CRAWFORD HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE: 'Oh here's Albert' said someone, and the world's top rock drummer wandered sheepishly onstage to batter the skins into submission for the rest of the evening.
The band: Buck warbled his way through BURNIN' FOR YOU looking like a Klingon Empire traffic warden in his silver lame tanktop; Alan (who looked absolutely DREADFUL) hopped from keyboards to impeccable harmony guitar to attempted frontman (but nobody gave him a mike); Joe looked singularly cheerful singing HOT RAILS TO HELL.
The minuses: Someone went into the middle 8 in the wrong place in OD'D ON LIFE ITSELF; Albert never put on a dinosaur head in GODZILLA; Eric didn't shoot firecrackers from his fingers in FLAMING WONDER TELEPATH; Buck was sloppier than usual.
The pluses: Buck's amazing E-bow feedback noise on HEAVY METAL BLACK AND SILVER; Albert hammering the snaredrum stand into something like a CB aerial in a crosswind for a shattering version of Michael Moorcock's answer to 'Apocalypse Now', VETERAN OF THE PSYCHIC WARS; and of course Eric Bloom holding the act in one piece, moving round the stage like a prowling vampire as he slashed blood from his palm in UNKNOWN TONGUE.
All too soon Joe was into his bass feature, presaging the moment when the smoke bombs went off wham into BORN TO BE WILD (good lord, are they still doing that?) and off they trooped. The carefully programmed encores were WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE and (would you believe) (DON'T FEAR) THE REAPER. Dead on 10.30 they were off and it was over; no CITIES ON FLAME, no LAST DAYS OF MAY, no ME262. 'Sorry I was late' said Albert.
POSTSCRIPT (27/8/81): I see from today's weeklies that the day after Dunstable, Albert Bouchard flew back to the States announcing that he had left the band, dooming them to play a duff set at Castle Donington and breaking up what must be by now one of the longest-lived unchanged rock band lineups in rock band history (along with Quo). Don't do it, Albert! Think again! The Stalk Forrest Group needed you! The Soft White Underbelly needed you! Don't quit on BOC just as the band gets its first major chart album!
Mick Godwin, Bath, August 1981.
Note (1995): I am not absolutely sure of the stand-in drummer's name, but Rick Downey is the drummer on the 1982 Extra Terrestrial Live album, so he is the most likely candidate - MG.
Happened to see the advert for this in "Sounds" or some-such, one of the warm-up gigs for Monsters of Rock. In many ways my favourite gig. I'd travelled some distance to get there and had to stop overnight so, as you do, I went to the police station to ask if they knew anywhere to stay (I think I actually wanted them to put me up in the cells overnight!) They recommended some friend or other and I ended up sleeping in some kid's bedroom (dunno where he slept).
Got to the venue about 4-5 hours before the band were due to come on stage, saw some cool SWU posters and, after asking nicely, managed to pinch one. Got chatting to some of the guys in the queue and, when some fancy car pulled up round the back, we took it in turns to go and chat to Allen. Of course I was too awestruck to have a sensible conversation, I was even overwhelmed by the other fans, some of whom had previously travelled to the States to see them. Allen was impressed with my poster, but, when I wouldn't let him have it, was gracious enough to sign it for me.
When the doors finally opened, managed to get a spot right at the front. The stage there was so low that, at 6' 4" I felt I was actually on stage with them. Being a "newbie" to live shows I didn't notice that something was "up" until Eric introduced the band and I realised that Rick Downey was on the drums (and doing a fine job!)
Albert showed up about 3/4 of the way thru' the show, in time to do his "Godzilla" bit anyway. A fine set with a good variety of old and new, no "Astronomy" and still no "Last Days of May", but a blinding version of "Veteran".
At the end of the show I managed to pick up a Buck Plectrum and I actually had hold of one of Albert's last drumsticks. Unfortunately the other end was being held by some large, hairy, greasy biker who threatened to kill me if I didn't Let Go. Oh Well....
Stumbled across your site and thought I would share with you my SWF nite at Dunstable
Went with my brother and a couple of mates, wasn't very well publicised, so only die hard fans were there.
Doors opened and after a mad rush, We were leaning on the stage, dead centre, at the feet of Rock Gods.
It was 26 years ago, so the memory fades, it was a good gig, picked up a discarded Buck Dharma plectrum which I still have.
Albert was very late and after the gig we were walking outside and we came across this tiny guy dressed up in a silver suit. He was well pissed off and we recognised him as Albert.
He had just been fired by the band and was not happy, he grabbed this fence post out of the ground and began hitting this hire car that had let him down, BANG BANG BANG this car was a mess, by the time he had finished, we didn't try to stop him, he was a thing possessed .
So my claim to fame is that I witnessed Albert Bouchard knocking 7 bells out of his car after being fired.
Went on to see the band at Donnington, later that week, just wasn't loud enough on the day and it was a poor show, shame.
May 1978. The Last Days of May in fact, and things were progressing normally for a 15 year old I suppose. Stuck in my bedroom thinking about Caroline Jones and whether we'd ever really get it together, listening to a few sounds, and waiting for Top of the Pops to start. You know the time, end of punk, beginning of Disco and strange hybrid bands. All very interesting but nothing to change your life, nothing to make a stand over. Well not until that night!!!
(Don't Fear) The Reaper on TOTP that night started a fire in me that still burns brightly today. I bought the single, then the Agents of Fortune album. Introduced my brother to the band and we became avid collectors of any BOC stuff. However we seemed to be a fan club of two. In those days AC/DC, Rainbow, Thin Lizzy, UFO Led Zepellin and the like ruled, all great bands but Hey Guys for Christ sake listen to Secret Treaties. I know Stairway to Heavens a fucking great song but listen to Astronomy. Our pleas fell mostly on deaf ears.
Three years went by, and the legend grew. There was so little info on the band. So few interviews, or reviews of their concerts and what was said just made them all the more mysterious. By this time we were desperate to see them live. Cultasaurus Erectus had gone some way to heightening awareness and Buck Dharma was now mentioned in magazine polls. Life was good although it still wasn't quite happening with Caroline.
Anyway in early '81 news broke of the 2nd annual Donnington"Monsters of Rock Festival." AC/DC Whitesnake and wonder of wonders Blue Oyster Cult. Saturday 22nd August 1981 was to be the red letter day. We managed to round up one of my brothers mates who was a big AC/DC fan and two of my mates who I had bombarded over the years with a compilation tape whenever we went out in a car. When I tell you the tape ran RU Ready 2 Rock and Astronomy live, Golden Age, Telepaths, D&Sub, Cities on Flame, Last Days of May, Godzilla, and I Love the Night they should be convinced by now and anyway the one lad was the only one who had a car and could actually drive at that point in time so he had to come. I managed to coax the necessary £10 off each of them and sent for the tickets.
The days leading up to the concert were spent in glorious anticipation. My first outdoor gig, staying overnight on the site and and and Well it's BOC for Christs sake. My denim jacket although sporting a couple of BOC patches and badges along side John Miles(check out the "Zaragon" album) Nazareth and Bad Company did not do the band justice. So I talked nicely to my girlfriend (not Caroline unfortunately) and she embroided the back with the band name and logo. She did a fantastic job and I still have the jacket. It doesn't fit me anymore but as an interesting footnote to this story, my current girlfriend (still not Caroline) wore it to the 2002 Astoria gig.
The eve of the gig arrived and we gathered at Tug's place (the guy with the car). Compilation tapes at the ready we started out, five 17/18 year olds on a great adventure.
We arrived early evening and parked next to a van with the legend "Hendrix Lives" painted on the side. This vans picture subsequently turned up in one of the music papers reviews although we failed to make the photo. There didn't seem a lot else to do so we put up the tent and had an early night in anticipation of tomorrows festivities.
At this point I think I should reiterate that this was our first open air concert and it would be fair to say we were a little naive. We hadn't brought any breakfast thinking we would get something there. No such luck. The day had started badly and would go steadily downhill. We passed through the gates at 10.30 (far too early) and began to look around. Shortly afterwards it started to rain. We wandered round and managed to get a burger or should I say what passed for a burger on this greyest of days. I began to play spot the t-shirt and it has to be said that our boys were not well represented. I bought a programme and apart from their name on the front cover, BOC didn't feature at all. This was not looking so good. By this time we were soaked and we gazed around in awe at the people who had brought groundsheets, umbrellas and picnic hampers crammed with food and beer. We couldn't even sit down. The magic was fading fast!!!
Cold and fairly miserable by now the entertainment started and our spirits lifted and there were a few signs that there were actually some people there who were BOC fans. Anyway first up were a band called More and I'm sorry to say I cannot remember a single thing about them. Blackfoot were next. A band not heard much in the U.K. at that time. I enjoyed them and have since come to like a lot of their stuff. Next up were Slade. This was a band that I'd loved as a kid growing up as I did in the glam rock era but of course it wasn't cool to like them any more and they were hardly heavy rock's finest, were they? Well apparently they were because already on something of a revival they went down a storm and created a real party atmosphere. The only downside of this was that everybody decided to throw anything into the air that they could get their hands on and the sky became a flowing ocean of toilet rolls, chicken legs, paper aeroplanes and mostly plastic bottles and cans full of piss. Testament to the fact that the toilet facilities were poor and already overflowing. Well done Slade great show.
A hush fell over Donnington. Was it a lull before another thunderous storm. Were people settling back to relax before the big event or were they just knackered after throwing bottles of piss around for half an hour. It seemed the latter when sometime later BOC took the stage to muted applause.
Following Slade I went for a walk in an effort to get warm. It had stopped raining but was still overcast. BOC fans were more visable now, a few flags and t-shirts I hadn't seen before. There was even someone in a magnificent hooded robe with a huge logo on the back. This was better and I returned to the stage area full of hope and youthful exuberence. We got as close to the front as we could whilst maintaining a full view of the stage. There came the usual introduction the Amazing Blue Oyster Cult........ and the crowd hardly exploded, but hey there they were, my boys my band(and my brothers) this was the moment I'd waited three years for. The Red and the Black..... Yeah.....Alright......Cool... except it wasn't!!!
Something was clearly wrong, the sound was awful and who the hell is that on drums. Where the Fuck is Albert. The band was ill at ease and Buck, man that golden suit, what were you thinking of. If anything the sound was worse during ETI and Heavy Metal a song that sounds turgid at the best of times. It has been well documented that AC/DC probably sabotaged this show and that Albert was fired the night before so they were on a loser to start. The crowd were starting to get restless and I feared another sky full of piss. Then they did something a bit different. The intro to Joan Crawford was an attention grabber and the sound seemed better. The crowd cheered up......a bit. Buck took over for Burning for you and a storming Hot Rails to Hell helped the cause. The familiar anthems of Godzilla and Reaper made sure the crowd weren't gonna kill them and were enough to get them a grudging encore and the choice of Roadhouse Blues was good because it even got them singing along, however when they left the stage this time there was no clamour for them to return.
My first BOC experience had come and gone. A band on the verge of making it big in the U.K. had well and truely blown it. You can blame Albert you can blame AC/DC but then BOC have not been helpful to other bands in the past. Ask Lemmy!! Like the loser of a cup final, they just weren't good enough on the day. The other lads just turned to us and shrugged their shoulders. Would I ever see them again. The band that is not my mates.
Although Whitesnake were excellent it was all hard work after BOC's departure and the atmosphere wasn't really there for me anymore. AC/DC started brilliantly, big bell and all but after 3 or 4 songs I made my way back to the car and fell asleep. I reached out but Caroline wasn't there, but that's the way it goes at these rock 'n' roll shows...
Castle Donington "Monsters of Rock" was my second chance to see Blue Öyster Cult. My first had been the abortive 1979 tour where the Ingleston (Edinburgh) gig was cancelled the night before due to poor ticket sales and the band were unable to reschedule to the Glasgow Apollo because of a Tammy Wynette gig!!
The local heavy metal joint in Dundee at the time was the Centre Bar and a bus was duly organised to leave at closing time the night before. (a word of advice, if you are faced with an 8 hour coach ride on a bus with no loo's don't have 6 "black and tans" before you set off)
The coach journey was long and uncomfortable and we got into Donington Park around 9.30am, 4 hours before any bands started and at least 8 before BÖC were due on.
This being 1981 Tommy Vance was the logical choice for compere. Unfortunately he thought the logical choice for apparel was a red and white bomber jacket, red baseball cap and white trousers. He lasted (I counted) about 30 seconds before the first salvo of apples, chicken curry and plastic bottles of piss was airborne.
1st band up, Diamond Head, fared no better, Southern boogie merchants Blackfoot got some (undeserved) respect and the food fight became confined to the crowd. Most bikers just put their helmets back on and accepted the inevitable.
Slade fresh from their triumph at the previous years Reading were next up with BÖC to follow. Unfortunately (but predictably) they went down a storm, played Merry Xmas Everybody (in August) and fired tons of loo rolls into the crowd towards the end of their set. My heart sank when they launched into Born to be Wild, knowing it was one of BÖC's sure-fire festival pleasers. Follow that!!
I managed to get down the slope nearer the front in anticipation of my hero's appearance. Looking around there weren't too many other cultophiles there, one noticeable exception being a guy in an all white reaper cloak carrying a scythe.
3 things stuck me instantly about the BÖC set: The sound was the worst it had been all day, Buck had lost all dress sense, and Albert looked a lot different in real life! The crowd response was at best indifferent and BÖC's hearts clearly were not in it. There was no Harley on stage, the Godzilla effects sounded silly and only DFTR made any impact. (to his credit Joe Bouchard did pull off a killer bass solo).
Dejected, I waded back through the hoards of Whitesnake fans that had packed in behind me, watched them play "Ain't no love in the heart of the city" before finding my way back to the bus to sleep my disappointment off during the AC/DC set!
A couple of days later I heard about Albert's departure and growing rumours of sabotage with the sound and lights. Within a week I realised I had an unwanted souvenir from the gig----chickenpox!!
Firstly, you have to know that Blue Oyster Cult are my favourite band.
You have to look at the whole picture. Let me take you back a couple of months before that gig. Most of the bands including the two headliners AC/DC and Whitesnake had been announced. When the British music press (Sounds, NME, Melody Maker, Kerrang et al) announced that BÖC were to play, more was written on them than the two 'main' bands. They talked that the US stage show was to be brought over in its entirety (as it was the only stage in the UK at the time that could take it) with 40 foot Godzilla and Joan Crawford, and Harley Davidson's on stage. The expectation was high and that from some reports the other two bands were less important. After all, a lot of British (xenophobic when it came to rock music at the time) rock fans hadn't heard BÖC, apart from Don't Fear The Reaper.
A couple of weeks before the show, shows were announced that legendary rockers Soft White Underbelly were in the UK to play a couple of gigs, 'a band that had later gone on to cult status'. With pictures of crossed guitars the press lead no misapprehension that these gigs were not to be missed (I did). Again, a lot of space was taken up. The SWU gigs were a success, with reports (the week/issue before Donington) that with nothing but stripped down lighting and good music, these were possibly the best shows that the attendants had been to.
The party that I went down with arrived at Donington around 10 the night before, sleeping in the van/walking around getting that festival atmosphere. It may have been around 12'ish that some people came around selling BÖC merchandise (T-shirts etc). I dismissed these as unofficial items and didn't bother. However, later around a camp fire, chatting to another BÖC fan, I learned that the seller's were BÖC roadies, and that the stuff was official (doh!) but they didn't know why(!).
We got into Donington that morning. Went to the merchandising stalls to buy programme and T-shirt. Opened the programme, second page a list of bands playing, lots of pictures of the other bands except BÖC. The listing on the second page was the only mention of BÖC. T-shirt didn't have BÖC on at all, and if my memory serves me correctly, one of the bands were announced after BÖC(!).
Got to the stage area. The PA consisted of numerous, albeit large, full range cabs. These were relatively a new concept, OK for indoors (first time in the Europe that they were used outdoors), but without the usual HF/MHF long throw horns and lower range cabs/bins, I was concerned that they could cope.
Prior to BÖC, the British band Slade did a ripping set if you were into them (I still considered them a glam rock joke). Their sound was excellent, and dispelled my fears (from where I was standing) concerning the PA.
After a long wait and rain shower, the stage was prepared for BÖC. On they walked (Buck what were you wearing!), Albert looked different! Dominance and Submission rang out, petered out, and fell flat. The sound was horrendous. Feedback and totally indiscernible. There was response to the Eric/Crowd D & S chant but the sound was going worse by the minute. Roadies (remember the really fat one) ran on stage. Eric announced to give them a few minutes (about ten) as there was a broken main amp, Buck's. Opening the back of Bucks (at that time Mesa Boogie if I recall) amp. Proceeded to check it and ended up for the rest of the set, with a screwdriver (yes I was that close) stuck in the back (thought at the time, why only one amp!).
Things didn't get better, Buck's sound was intermittent, and the whole PA sound was dreadful. The band knew and the British crowd responded accordingly. Joan Crawford, Eric said that they had been stopped by the 'power that be' from using the JC effigy for 'safety reasons'. Godzilla, a similar announcement, and Roadhouse Blues, 'sorry we could use the bike either so here's a recording of it. The band played diligently but with the ever deteriorating sound the crowd lost it. Don't Fear the Reaper, sound worse, crowd response (was that the only one they knew!), but a lost cause. The party I went down with (and these knew the songs but were there for AC/DC) turned to me and said 'they were crap'.
A long wait. Evening came, with the sun setting, Whitesnake came on (where did all these women come from!). Sound excellent, as it had been for Slade, but louder. The bell tolled, a huge metal thing suspended over the stage, AC/DC were on. Again sound volume perfect.
The press had a field day with the BÖC fiasco. Yes I saw the picture of Eric jumping the commemorative mirror. He did say they 'sucked'. Also, it was announced that Albert had left the night before, and that Rick had stepped in (as he had, had to do before!) at the last minute as Albert had forgot to mention that he was returning to the US (was this is why there was so much animosity between the band and Al). One press report, stated that it was the their sound engineer's fault as the he had tried to rectify the problems by simply turning up the volume taking out over half of the wet PA cabs.
I have tried to give as (apart from some of the brackets) a true unbiased reflection of the events.
Now here's my biased view:
Quite simply, they were sabotaged!
Here's a few extra comments from "The really fat one":
Donington was a bad situation that just got worse.... Albert had left and this would be RD's first full official gig with the band...
I wrote a somewhat detailed account of this days events (from my perspective) on the J&A board under "OLD Roadies Never Die"...
Click here to see a copy...
Buck Dharma on the BDTE after being asked did he remember Donington:
I vaguely remember it.. : ) Donington was the first show we played without Albert Bouchard, Rick Downey [our Lighting designer] taking over the drum throne, AC/DC's production people sabotaging our sound, [actually not an unusual occurrance, especially for British bands of that era, it was common that the headliner made sure support acts sounded 'worse' than them] it wasn't a great day for us.
Ex-BOC soundman George Geranios has kindly written an informative piece for our site about the Donington disaster from the BOC perspective. Buck Dharma described it on the BDTE as:
A cogent and well written piece by George G. Purposely maladjusted compressors, lost magic smoke, honest system malfunctions, all I know was, we were playing our absolute hearts out, and it was like no one could hear us. No vibe whatsoever. We never expected to do better than the headliners, but we wanted to do as good as we played. Still pisses me off to this day.
It was never BOC's policy to "sandbag" support acts, no matter what Lemmy thinks. The number of acts that went on to greatness after supporting BOC on tour is a testament to that. This was in my experience a primarily British routine, and if it was done at all, it was done as a matter of policy by the sound company's system engineer. Since the headliner was contracting and paying for the sound company, maybe they felt a responsibility to provide the "best" sound for the headliner, but it's a little bit of volume, not screwing the support acts.
I can think of only one instance of sabotage, when a light rig employee, out of misguided loyalty, lifted the ground on the three phase main power, causing havoc with the sound and lights during an Aerosmith support gig in Springfield, MA in the day. This guy then went into the locker room and destroyed a porcelain china toilet. Not our doing, although it was hard to convince Aerosmith of that. BOC has virtually always been on the receiving end of this kind of stuff. I must say, all the acts we're taking about have gotten a lot more mellow over the years. Nice change.
To see George's article, click here.
My first gig was meant to be the infamous Donnington appearance. A bus had been set up from a local record shop in Aberdeen. Departure was 8.00pm on the Friday night. We arrived at the departure point (me with a boc flag which took it's design from Eric's cape on the ST cover). To cut a long story short the bus didn't turn up. Even now my blood boils at the memory. It would be 3 years before I had the chance to see them.
Confirmed by this site: http://www.kfmx.com/rockhistory.htm
Hello, I've been looking at your site for a couple of weeks now. Great job. I wanted to tell you about the concert I saw in Norman, Ok.
I remember some of the show, not all of it. Foghat played before BOC and they were great, but BOC blew the house down.
They opened with "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" as about 2 or 3 dozen men dressed in black monk robes walked out on stage holding big white candles. Really cool.
I vividly recall "Godzilla" because they had their gigantic "Godzilla" monster. It roarded loudly as it came from the back of the stage on some big forklift apparatus. Smoke came out of its mouth and its eyes were red lazers.
Also, a fabulous set piece. They did "Burnin' For You", "Cities On Flame", "Reaper"(of course).
Those are the only other songs I remember, except for the encore which was "Born To Be Wild" as Eric rode out on stage on a beautiful Harley chopper.
Very memorable closing and all in all one of the greatest concerts I have ever seen, with Buck figuring prominantly on every song.
I wish I could recall more, but such is the fate of growing old. I hope this helps you with your site.
I attended the 9/11/81 show at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Foghat was indeed the opener, as noted in your Giglopedia.
However, there was a second opening act: The Outlaws. It was a weird pairing -- what concert promoter came up with that one?!?! More of a triple bill, really, as each act did a full set, with encores.
We were on the floor, about 5 or 6 deep from the barricade in front of Dave Peverett. The bill was a bit like the Crack The Sky/Sanford Townsend Band/BOC show at the Spectrum in 1978 -- Crack The Sky (who truly rocked) and BOC fit, but the Sanford Townsend Band (note: not Sanford & Townsend), while nice enough, was not a rock act.
I attended this show in RI. BOC once again put on an awesome concert.
When they did godzilla they had a huge mechanical godzilla come out on stage with red lasers for eyes blowing fog out of it's mouth - great special effects.
Foghat also did a great set. Whitford St. Holmes was fair.
Hi I love Blue Oyster Cult I can add a missing date sept 13 1981 Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat at the Springfield civic center mass... What an awesome show!!!!! I also still have a t-shirt 3/4 sleeves mint condition... I also saw the Black and Blue tour date which you do have sept 21 1980 at springfield civic center BOC was sooooo great way better than Sabbath and Sabbath was very good anyhow!!!!!
Bummer show for me. We got there early, had no tickets, but would scalp. My friends hooked up with a guy that had 3 tickets, and bought them, leaving me in the cold. Their tickets were yellow section, about 1/2 way up. I was pissed, and promised I'd go one better, and wound up getting a 14th row, for face value from a fan:)
My friends saw me on the floor, and were cheesed off, LOL! Moved up to the 2nd row in front of Joe for the BOC set.
First thought, Hey Albert grew the Fro back. No, who the fuck is that guy? Seems BOC had "forgotten" they had a new drummer, and conveniently didn't mention it in any press before starting this tour.
I was bummed all night, even getting a new style pick from Joe only helped a little. My friends never realized Bouchard wasn't there, until we met up afterwards and I told them.
One funny thing I remembered today about the foghat BOC MSG NYC 81 show... at one point, Bloom started nudging Joe B and indicated he should look down. Well of course I looked too, and there were a bunch of Redcaps scattered on the stage. When Joe started laughing and asking Bloom where they came from, Eric pointed to his vest pocket:)
Don't know if you want to share that one, tho ;)
New Haven -Sept 20 - Whitford StHolmes on the bill also [BOC headline, foghat middle, WS opening]
Bingo! I found the ticket stub for the 1981 BOC show in Syracuse. The ticket reads: Sept. 23, 1981 BOC/Foghat plus special guest. The special guest was Shooting Star. I remember the BOC set began with Dr. Music. The encore was Roadhouse Blues. The set was close to what you find on the Extra Terrestial Live album (I think it was recorded from that tour). Except, Born to be Wild was also performed.
That New Haven setlist above (21 Sept) sounds close to the show I remember. So long ago now! But I remember that was BOC's last large venue appearance in Syracuse. I also recall that Ricky Downy was on drums for that show...
I also remember some of Eric Bloom's stage patter that night when he mentioned something about attending a James Brown concert some years prior in that same arena (Onondaga County War Memorial). Apparently, he had attended Geneva college which is about 40 miles or so from Syracuse. Just thought I'd share. Thanks again for the great page! Bob
Can't tell you much about it other than the fact that it happened;
AND I WAS THERE !! age 15, Sitting in the bleachers stage left with Jack and Bob. Bob said he really came to see Foghat and we laughed at him.
It was a very conventional set list with few or no surprises... similar to the tracks found E.T. Live album.
O yeah... they f8ckn rawked, and I thought Albert was still with them then, and I agree with your estimation of his place in the band. It always baffled me that they didn't have him on vocals more...he blew his bandmates away in that department. All you gotta do is listen to Sinful Love or Dominance and Submission to know that.
Sep. 29, 1981. Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat in Roanoke, Virginia. I have the partial ticket stub plus a xerox of the full ticket. I've seen more shows at this venue than anywhere else. Roanoke Civic Center. The ticket stub lists both groups.
Hampton Rhodes Colleseum 81 (Buck did some of his Flat Out stuff), good show sound was not real good...
I was at this show, and loved it. B.O.C. and Foghat were great, also on the bill was the Whitford/ St. Holmes band ( Brad Whitford of Aerosmith and derek St Holmes of Ted Nugent)
I had a fantastic time, lost my ride home, got wasted, almost arrested - twice - got home at 3:30 in the morning, and dragged myself to school the next day.
Great times.
I was at this show... great bill BOC and Foghat... don't recall the warm up band...
BOC were great... memorable... still have my ticket stub...
I can confirm this show took place on this date and featured Foghat and Whitford-St.Holmes
This BOC show is very special for me. The great thing about it is that I can be transported back in time, anytime I play Extraterrestrial Live. I had no idea that 7 songs from this show would end up on the album. I consider myself quite lucky to have attended this BOC concert. And, I actually got to see it on MTV on their Blue Jean Network series. Someone please tell Buck and Eric to release this on DVD. It's a great show, and I know it's stored in a vault somewhere at MTV. Who has the rights? I'd like to know.
I got to the Hollywood Sportatorium just in time to see the last song from Whitford/St. Holmes. It sounded good. Wish I could have saw their whole show.
Foghat were next, and they put on a good show as well. Played all their hits and they got the crowd going crazy, especially during "Slow Ride". It's a shame Lonesome Dave Pevrett is no longer with us. He was great.
Then, Blue Oyster Cult takes the stage. It sounded great from the very first note. They opened with "The Red and the Black". Great opener. "ETI" had an incredible solo from Buck Dharma which I had to learned note for note on guitar. His playing was so astounding at this show. Blew my shit away!
"Joan Crawford" "Burnin' For You" and "Cities On Flame" all kicked ass. This show was so great, I didn't even miss Albert Bouchard. Rick Downey was stellar on this night.
"Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" was just incredible. I always loved the vibe of that song. And Buck's solo!! My God. Off the scale, man!
"Godzilla" was great and Eric's rap intro was pretty funny. They still had the gigantic Godzilla blowing out smoke. Best drum solo I ever saw from Rick. Well done. "ME-262" was great, as always.
"Hot Rails To Hell" was awesome. The best vocal performance I've ever heard from Joe Bouchard.
I know some BOC fans may disagree with me on this, but I think "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from this show is the best live version EVER. The vocals sound great and the guitar solo at the end sounds absolutely magestic. They closed the show with "Roadhouse Blues".
They always did a great version of that song. Jim Morrison would be proud.
Excellent show and I can relive those moments anytime I play ETL.
Check out my photos from this gig:
http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry/zgists/wre/photo/boc.html
Foghat was the opening act; I took a couple of rolls of film of them as well. The venue was the arena of the Lakeland Civic Center. If I get an actual date, I'll let you know.
I saw BOC at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, FL around that time. Not sure if this is the one because they also played Hollywood, FL around the same time.
Foghat was the second band, A band named Winfred-St.Holmes actually opened the Lakeland show.
I can confirm this show took place on this date and featured Foghat and Whitford-St.Holmes...
The following show is missing from the Giglopaedia:
October 17, 1981 - Rockford Metro Centre - Rockford, IL, USA [ Opening bands: Foghat and Whitford St. Holmes ]
I have attached a scan of the ticket stub and playbill from the show for verification. You may use them anyway you would like on the website.
By the way, Great Site!!! Keep up the good work.
I attended this BOC show. Great show. Foghat opened up for them. I think the ticket was $6.50 or $7.50 (if you can believe it, shows are so outrageous nowadays). Foghat hit the hits. Mostly it was like listening to Foghat Live only right there "Live" in front of you if you know what I mean.
I couldn't tell you an exact setlist from this one even if you promised me as much pot as I smoked that night. I can tell you this though, they did not play any songs off of Cultosaurus Erectus (which was a huge disappointment for me). It was like they had disowned the album or something. Rick Downey was on drums and Eric sang COF which seemed weird to me. Nonetheless it was a good show.
Going to the show saved my bacon too. I got accused of commiting an act of vandalism at a local school. Said event took place while I was at the show. When the police dick brought me downtown for questioning I whipped out my ticket stub as my alibi. He was a younger cop and had been at the show. After a few questions about the concert he seemed satisfied that I had been there and let me go. Phew! Thanks Blue Oyster Cult!
Here is my ticket stub and an ad from the Blue Oyster Cult show October 23, 1981 at Joe Louis. I've also attached an article I had cut out from the Detroit Free Press right before the concert.
Brad Whitford of Aerosmith and Derek St. Holmes of Ted Nugent were the warm up group. Another awesome show.
I remember Joe Bouchard doing a really cool bass solo on "She's as beautiful as a foot".
The Nov. 1 show at the Checkerdome in St.Louis, MO. only had Foghat as an opening band that night.
THis gig was called "Battle of the Rock Titans". There was an opening act - Whitford St. Holmes - not real impressive, then Foghat and BOC at the end.
I'm pretty sure that it was the 5th November, though. It was the best concert I've ever seen! BOC blew me away!
First time I've seen Blue Oyster Cult in ages. Actually seen them. Last time HM's Santa's-little-helpers played in the neighbourhood was one of those monstrous stadium fiascos where, without binoculars, it's a bit like watching the bumps on a page of braille.
But here they are at the intimate Country Club, larger than life, larger than four foot six even, looking and sounding good for all the world (or at least the couple of thousand who got tickets to the event) to see and marvel at.
It's not one of their occasional (and usually well worth the line-up) Soft White Underbelly club shows where they sneak into some sweat-pit and try out the new material for their most rabid fans, unfortunately.
The occasion is a live broadcast on LA's top hard rock station, with all the tickets provided free to listeners by the radio. So the atmosphere's a little more controlled than it could be. There's no support act, just a DJ checking that we'll whoop loud enough to get heard out there in radioland, and giving away a Harley Davidson to some lucky ticketholder.
BOC start out pretty reved up with "Doctor Music". Allen Lanier's out front doing a Stevie Nicks, shaking a heavy metal tambourine, Joseph Bouchard's trying to outdo him on the maracas, and Eric Bloom's going "Hey LA" and rabble rousing quite wonderfully. And bashing away in the background is a new face. A small change in BOC, so to speak - Albert Bouchard's replacement is an able-bodied beast with a moustache and an Afro who looks like an escapee from Zappa's band. Sounds pretty strong.
"Agents of Fortune" is good as ever, [ she must mean ETI. Ed. ] with perfect harmonies, nice balance of melody and thunder, "Joan Crawford", the monster classic from their last album, is a beauty. Starts with Lanier alone at the piano tinkling some pretty, classical notes, building up to melodramatic chords to which are added the rest of the band's thudding riffs and chilling apocalyptic lyrics - the rock equivalent of the Mommie Dearest movie, frightening, compulsive, a bit silly and definitely over-the-top. One of the songs of the show.
The others: "Burning for You", BOC goes Steve Miller, with dippy harmonies and nifty melody. "Veteran of the Psychic Wars", with two percussionists in white-hooded robes tapping out a mesmerising rhythm. And "Godzilla", robbed of the fire-breathing flashing-eyed monster (no room onstage, and why pay the electricity bill when this is basically for radio anyway) but with monster noises on a tape machine and the sounds of little machine-like Japanese voices. And the drummer sticks a Godzilla mask on his head for a drum solo, very chilling (a real Nip in the hair) before Bouchard takes over on bass.
Canned motorbike vroom-vrooms herald a wonderful "Born to be Wild", with Lanier, Bloom and Buck Dharma lined up at the front doing chorus-girl kicks, followed by a nice Eric-Buck guitar duel - a real duel, Errol Flynn stuff, guitar necks clashing, gritted teeth etc - and Allen going ape leaping up and down at the keyboards while Eric's off mounting the drum platform to molest the cymbals.
Enough of a break for a couple of on-the-air ads, then back for the inimitable "Don't Fear the Reaper" which features the best of their bangers and mash blend of toughness and weaving harmonies. A pretty good performance all round. Little things mean a lot.
This date is confirmed by the Capitol Giglist on Moyssi's website.
Check out also Moyssi's concert programme for this gig.
I think also that these date(s) were played in 1981 - if you have any info, please let me know:
| 001 | Unknown Venue | Wichita Falls | Texas |
Gig with Steve Schenck on keys...
| 002 | Unknown Venue | Unknown Town | ?? |
Another mystery gig in an unknown town...
| 003 | Unknown Venue | Salt Lake City | UT |
Gig with UFO...