1996: This page is a preliminary document - a placeholder if you like - for some text entries for the BOC history for this year.
I have some more images to add to this page when I get the chance - so if you've sent me stuff for this page and can't see it yet, please be patient - I'll get there in the end.
The reason I'm posting this page before it's even remotely ready to go online properly is that as soon as a new History page goes up, people start sending me stuff for it. So my logic is this - I'll put this up quick and maybe you kind folks will get typing and scanning and start sending me info for this year...
Have you got anything to contribute to this page? Reviews, missing info, ticket stubs, posters etc etc - if so, let me .
Some info regarding the 96 Northwest tour is that we had a terrible flood that year during the tour. The band was driving South after a show in Washington State, (Tacoma I believe) and ran into a major interstate closure in Olympia Washington.
The band had to drive back to Sea-Tac airport and catch a flight to get past the road closure on Interstate 5 to do a show at the Millcamp Saloon in Springfield, Oregon.
Also, I have a set list from one of the Springfield, Oregon shows and will also pass that along when I find it.
02/29/1996 - Blue Oyster Cult
The Evening Star Lounge
Notes: This was the worst BOC show yet. They had a couple of new cracks on bass and drums and the songs seemed to drag.
Billy and I were front row. The sound sucked so bad...we left during Godzilla and didn't see the encore.
Then only good thing was they played a ton of rare goods. In Thee and Lips In The Hills to name a few. Spinning Room was hip though.
Set list(s):
here is complete setlist for SHADES april 13 1996:
complete setlist for 5 July 1996 hoffman estates gig:
show one:
show two:
opening band was a steeley dan tribute band. forget the name.
they played, tore down, boc played, left the stage, opening band set up and played again, tore down, then boc did final set.
very weird show. admission was free. no shit.
Was this one in July? Not sure about that since I drove West in July that year to take the Cal. bar and 7/19 strikes me as pretty damn close to when I left. Maybe it was a great send off.
This one was a hoot. I drove down in my new Saturn from NoVa with Rick D who's now in Boston, and another guy. Rivet and a friend of his, plus Miles?, were on bikes and we hit a major storm for a good stretch of the drive. It was painful for the bikers, but we made it.
This was when Artie was the tour manager and X-Files hadn't jumped the shark. Artie, being a major X-Files fan, exchanged some backstage passes with Rick for his FBI business card.
It was partly cloudy when we arrived and after some checking around, found ourselves in the trailer. Danny and Buck were working out Shooting Shark, and we paeons were just in awe. I asked Artie if I could have some grapes and he laughed, sure. Heck, drink as much beer as you want - certainly plenty.
Outdoor stage. We were stage right, *inside* of the media area and they kept looking at us like "who are they?"
Allen, Buck, Eric, and Danny took turns coming over to our side of the stage and playing at us. :-)
The only song I can recall is "Shooting Shark" since that was the first time I'd heard it live. Sounded awesome. We had a blast.
12-27-1996 - Add Duck Butter as opening band...
Was John Miceli on drums for this show?
Miceli also played the last gig of the year, New Year's Eve in the Union Station in Indianapolis. Rick Downey did the lights and maybe the board for the show.
And for technicalities sake, it was 1996, because the band was out watching the fireworks at Midnight.
Kansas was the Headliner, and the Amish novelty act, The Electric Amish, was the warm up.
Rick Downey on lights? I bet that was a bit weird for him...
Actually, I don't think it was weird. It was kind of a reunion of sorts. All really got along for that evening. We had the party in the Union Station Hotel and broke out the ME262 Floaters.
Everyone came done for the festivities except for Eric Bloom.
After Buck, Sandy, and Allen left, as well as Danny Miranda and George Geranios, Rick Downey and Miceli stuck around for a long time. I spent a lot of time with Rick looking at some websites he was involved in. It was such a pleasure meeting and partying with him. I remember he had a really cool business briefcase and all I could think of was "Wall Street!"