1989: As usual, 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 .
Here's a review of this gig from the 05 Jan 1989 edition of the "Hartford Courant":
Blue Oyster Cult is solid in two-hour concert at Toad's
By Roger Catlin
Courant Rock Critic
The link between the heavy metal originators in the bruise-colored hues of Blue Cheer, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple - and the multifaceted, dominating metal of today, was carried, in the mid-1970s, by Long Island's Blue Oyster Cult.
The band's guitar-dominant songs, using the unlikely themes of submission, science-fiction and sardonic doom, made the group standard-bearers in a disco age.
Today, the Cult's star has fallen sufficiently to have it playing night clubs rather than the arenas it once ruled. But so much the better for BOC fans, able once more to see the band in the electric immediacy of close quarters.
Legions of hardy fans jammed Toad's Place in New Haven Tuesday night for a solid two-hour show that was also broadcast live on WPLR-FM.
The quintet's longstanding lineup has changed for the first time in 20 years, but the strong front line of Eric Bloom, Allen Lanier and Donald Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser remains intact (missing bassist Joe Bouchard surfaced with his brother, drummer Albert Bouchard, recently in the region as the Cult Brothers).
Compared with the hollow metal topping today's charts, Blue Oyster Cult's musicianship and pop sense make it stand out not only in performing classic works from the Cult catalog, but also the newer material from its recent "Imaginos" album.
What's more, the frequently changing time signatures of the band's anthems foretold the frantically shifting pace of the long, thrashing suites by today's leading speed metal bands.
While inebriated fans called for nothing more than "Godzilla" from the farthest reaches of the club, the Cult treated the crowd to works from various stages of its career, from its earliest albums to its 1976 crowning achievement, "Agents of Fortune," from an era when the band's reknown even attracted punk poetess Patti Smith.
The basic approach of the Cult hasn't changed: roaring guitar backing and sweet lead parts with harmony vocals on lyrics that were sometimes parody and sometimes paranormal.
While the band's arena shows were sometimes crashing bores, lasers, smoke bombs and all, the intimacy of the surroundings made for a compelling performance all night.
Bloom, looking much the same as always with his frizzed hair and shades, made for a fine front man; Dharma, minus the mustache, looked younger than before, although although his guitar suffered from a too-soft mix.
Lanier, his hair tumbling from a pony tail, often stopped to give classical-styled classical-styled classical-styled classical-styled keyboard intros to some songs.
It helped that the new members provided a strong, energetic backing, but there was no reason to trot out their solos during the band's best song, "Don't Fear the Reaper".
It, along with "Burnin' With You," is the kind of well-wrought hard rock that endures and shines bright no matter where it is played.
I found a listing for this gig in the Thursday 29 Dec 1988 edition of the "The Boston Globe":
The Channel 25 Necco St. (near South Station). Telephone 451-1050 or 451-1905 concert line. Doors open 8 p.m., shows at 9 unless noted.
Dec 29, 8 p.m. Channel All Stars featuring Attic Boys, Eediles, Thunder House, Moving Pieces, $3.50.
Dec 30, Max Creek, $6.50 advance, $7.50 at door.
Dec 31, Tribe, The Slaves with Delusions of Grandeur, $7.50.
Jan 1, Rick Berlin Band, $3.50 advance, $4.50 day of show.
Jan 4, Blue Oyster Cult, Circus of Power, $6.50 advance, $7.50 day of show.
Jan 6, Extreme, $5 advance, $6 day of show.
The Bostons Best Live Rock site gives a fuller listing of the support band info:
January 4, 1989
Blue Oyster Cult
Circus Of Power
Bacchus
Lazarus
There was a blizzard that night, so the crowd was sparse. As a treat for the faithful, they did "The Last Days Of May".
GREAT!!!
I actually witnessed the stunning performance by The Jack Secret Band when they opened for BOC at the Ritz in NYC on 6 Jan 1989... with former BOC roadie and current Meatloaf guitar player Paul Crook on savage guitar (the first and only time I ever met Paul)...
Did Jack's Band play at the Stoned Pony too??... I only remember them from the Ritz show... I even still have one of his Jack Secret guitar picks from that night!!
Jack was quite the wizard in the early days of interfacing keyboards and MIDI stuff...
... and was the first guy I ever knew of to carry a computer on the road with him... for personal use...
When you worked with him, what were his specific responsibilities in the BOC crew?
Well being a player, he's always been way ahead of my curve taking care of guitar players... so he'd do stage left and take care of Buck... but he would also do drums...
Sometimes he would come out just to drive our truck from point A to B when we had to fly somewhere for a one-off...
He's really a go-to guy... he does it all...
07/01/1989: Stone Pony, Asbury Park, N.J.
Support: Circus Of Power
Setlist:
I have memories of a show in Trenton at City Gardens during the Imaginos tour. I was psyched thinking all the boys were back together. The club was lets say,a hole in the wall. Circus of Power( or Pain) warmed up for them.
When BOC came on, I was bummed that Joe and Albert weren't there but happy to see that Allen was on keyboards. I can definately say that I lost partial hearing from that concert. I still hear some of those sustained high notes as I write this.
We were standing right in front of Buck and the guitar was extremely loud. We had no earplugs and it was LOUD! We kept giving Dave, Bucks guitar guy the sign to turn down the guitar. So what does he do... he cranks it up to 11!
The other vivid memory after the show was Allen leaping off of the stage and running to the bar for a drink. He almost knocked me over on the way. A very memorable show!
I found a listing for this gig in the Friday 06 January 1989 edition of the "The Ottawa Citizen":
Thurs Jan 12
Chez 106 Power Chords Presents
Blue Oyster Cult
s/g Leanne Haze
$16 advance
Presumably, "s/g" stands for "special guest"...?
Dallas in Hamilton 14/1/89 - Kinda' snowy that night but we made it there and back. As the name suggests, it was a country western bar complete with mechnical bull.
Weird place to see the Imaginos tour, to paraphrase the Blues Brothers, "The Good Old Blue Oyster Cult Boys Band!"
Did BOC play behind a cage? I hope they encored with Rawhide for the locals... by the way - I presume there was no support at this gig? - unless you count the mechanical bull...
Funny you should mention it, there was chicken wire around the DJ booth in the corner but not by the stage. Actually, for all the trappings of a country bar it was pretty cool because the stage came out from the wall toward the center of the club so people were actually seated (well standing by gig time!) on 3 sides of the stage so it wasn't your typical band in front type secenario.
I'm sure that was because it doubled as the dance floor since it was quite low but made for good site angles from all over the club, too, since they had space around the stage then elevated levels beyond that and an even higher bar area.
No rawhide, though... ;-)
The set list was:
I was there, at this neverlasting show (19 songs). Like if they did their last concert.
I remember Eric Bloom opening at the end of the show a bottle of Champagne, shaking it and watering the audience. Like if he had won a car race (with a Maserati GT, maybe ?).
A great, great show... In the presence of another world, fantastic, and very rare !!! And beautiful harvester of eyes and Golden Age of leather!
How lucky we were...
The greatest BOC show I ever saw. Look at the setlist !!! First I was happy because Allen Lanier, my hero, had come back. I was happy to may hear songs as "Flaming Telepaths", "(This Ain't) The Summer Of Love", "Golden Age Of Leather"... I was happy because I was just in front of Eric in the first rows during the whole gig. I was happy because the Palais des Sports is a very good theatre for rock concerts that always sound great.
Patrick Rondat is a french guitar player who plays in the manner of Satriani. The BOC called him back to play Roadhouse Blues with them. I think he was very intimidated.
It's the return of the louts - the umlauts, that is. As Buck Dharma (not his real name) is oft heard to say, there's only one Cult, and Ian Astbury, though undeniably a brazen thief of other coves' ideas, has yet to wrestle those sacred, magical two dots from the possession of BOC.
To welcome back the original smart heavy rock band was also to tremble with a smidgen of apprehension: would they be absolutely obsolete in their somewhat traditional forays into interstellar leather-clad walking nightmare?
Would what seemed like unparalleled coolness in '75 (or even '79) slither under the sticky veneer of the passing of time, '89 style?
For shame, for shame. They're wonderful. Lets not concern ourselves with exactly who wrote which bits of 'Imaginos' and instead reiterate that it is the best BOC album since the monumental 'Agents of Fortune'. In between times, of course, came 'Spectres' among others. And it's that album's 'RU Ready 2 Rock' (listening, Prince?) that points this show in the direction of the big rock candy mountain.
Laying into 'ETI' as a chaser, they whip you with their classically clean sound. Buck Dharma's solos swirm out from behind the snazzy laser display, punch the choruses home and explain in volumes exactly why Sandy 'That Sucks' Pearlman came back from the fold to renew their acquaintance.
This is a band with too much history to want to blow it all by living in the past.
But old songs, inevitably, is what Manchester craves. 'Last Days of May' is lovely, 'The Golden Age of Leather' outrageous and contagious, and even the drum solo in the midst of an otherwise fluent 'Godzilla' can't hurt the flow. The BOC anchor, hoisted on canvas at the back, flickers under laser attack, and turns into a winking snowball head a la Raymond Briggs.
When they play '(Don't Fear) The Reaper' what could have been a messy reunion becomes an utterly flawless, triumph-precise fusion of past glories and future intentions. Thank Christ for these intelligent kickers of asses.
And when it's over, nobody knows - or cares - what time it is. The present-past-future's so bright you gotta wear shades...
1989 and it was back to Edinburgh... This show coincided with Scotland beating France in a World cup qualifier.
Eric made the announcement during the show although he wound up the audience but saying he had some bad news concerning the result.
Another great show and just when we thought we had them sussed with an opening number they threw in the golden age of leather.
During this show, Eric mentions at one point (before Astronomy, I think) that the gig is being recorded (by Radio Clyde?) that night. Does anyone have any knowledge whether this show is avvailable complete or otherwise, from any broadcast? I used to listen to Tom Russel's Rock Show on Radio Clyde, but at the time of this gig, I did not live in the broadcast area for this station.
Yes, I too have wondered for many years what happened to the Radio Clyde tape. I was at the gig and remember Eric mentioning about the taping. Cracking gig, Jon Rodgers vocals were a real standout!
I also remember that that was the night of a Scotland v France match with Eric kindly keeping us up to date with the score.
(2-0 Scotland if I remember, with that little wanker Mo Johnstone scoring both!)
Thats right Steve. Eric took great delight in giving us the footie score. If I remember rightly he said I have some bad news for all you Scotland supporters...long pause...Scotland won 2-0!! Mighty cheers erupted around the hall. Undoubtably one of the best of the 30 odd BOC gigs I have seen. I am sure that show lasted nearly 2 hours. Must admit, at the time, I thought it was a farewell gig from the band. How wrong can a person be!!
That gig was always one of the worst in the world for Taxi (Radio Car) traffic coming into the wireless guitar rigs... you could have it all sussed & dialed in so there's no aggro in the afternoon, then smack in the middle of the show here comes some cabbie arguing with his dispatcher waay louder than the guitar signal... happened every damn time....
good Haggis there though... blood pudding as well....
Radio Clyde sent the tapes of the show to somewhere in London for mixing and after the delay in returning them, interest dwindled. I was told by a friend that the tapes are complete but Radio Clyde have no intention of airing them unless BOC's popularity increases.
This was the best show of the six i saw on that tour but i was dissapointed they didn't play Jailbreak which they had rehearsed earlier.
Once again we find ourselves in sunny Newcastle... after a great round of shopping and an afternoon cuppa... a couple of the local cops turned up in the backstage asking if it's true that we have a Paul Mandel working with our tour?
On our confirming this fact they informed us that he was in HOSPITAL having stepped off the curb into the path of an oncoming BUS!!(It's a special little problem us sceptics have after growing up all our lives looking to the LEFT before crossing)... Paul had several broken ribs and strains and bruises everywhere but he was able to stay on the tour... although getting into and out of his bus bunk was a very painful thing for him....
So I always mind my P's and Q's when in Newcastle as we have a history there that ain't pretty... is the fine City Hall still there?It's a small stage really but a solid gig if I ever saw one... (when it's not on fire... see Nov 20 1975)
My name is Andrew and I come from Northern England. I'm a long time (since 1976) Boc fan - when I heard OYFOOYK and AOF in the mid seventies it was like a door to the future being opened. Bocs imagery and weird titles and lyrics were something totally fresh, and not since equalled.
Although Boc have visited uk many times (all praise!), I didn't see them till the Revolution by Night tour. On the Imaginos tour, I managed to see them twice - Newcastle and Nottingham. You won't believe it but they were better than they had been previously!
The support was an American-Italian band - I forget their name - but they finished with a track like "pizza house massacre" and then the Cult came on - they were superb. The energy of the past was rekindled.
For a start they kicked off with a meaty version of RUR2R, which I hadnt expected, and which I particularly liked as I admired the song from Some Enchanted Evening. I thought they might have opened with DAS (as they did when I saw them in late 85) but no - anyway, they always second with ETI, so I expected that. But no ! Out came DAS, absolutely melting, and then ETI - by this stage I was in seventh heaven. Three good old classics - bang bang bang!
They also satisfied by playing cof, tratb, flaming telepaths, reaper, godz, jc, bfy AND a storming votpw, where buck nearly set the amps aflame.
Take me away, and three tracks from Imaginos - Astronomy, IATOYWMO and ITPOAW were superb. (At Nottingham they dropped Joan Crawford but put in Black Blade! This was the first time I saw a song from CE, so it made that trip well worthwhile). These are the best gigs I ever experienced.
Amazingly, after the gigs we hung around the stage door - Buck and Eric chatted and posed for photos, gave autographs and were extremely pleasant and appreciative of our appreciation - Eric said that he thought that the current band was "a better band " than the Club Ninja band.
I was well impressed by their professionalism, both on and off-stage, and by their readiness, despite a biting cold March wind (it's bloody cold in Newcastle) to chat to us... Indeed, they remarked on Allen's absence at the stage door - "he always gets colds in Europe"...
This gig, I'm afraid to say, was a sorry affair.
I drove down on a wet night on my own from West Yorkshire and having got there found there were only a few people there (maximum of fifty), and with Sheffield City Hall being a seated venue (cinema type seats) it wasn't conducive to getting the scattered audience together.
I'd come out to see my number one band, but it seemed even among the other visitors, some had only come along as a matter of interest.
I was doing my best to enjoy myself, but this almost seemed to be frowned upon by some others in the audience (maybe I was singing along out of tune again). I nonetheless bought the tour T-Shirt (see above).
The band did their best under the circumstances, but I drove back home pretty sad...
There was a poor crowd but most certainly not 50 people. It's very hazy now but i'd have guessed anywhere from 400 to 600.
Still pretty empty for a medium sized hall...
I have seen BOC on several occasions, and I can honestly say that this, the third time that I had seen them, was the best of all of them.
It is true the the audiance was very small - perhaps 300 (certainly much more than 50) people in a venue that would hold approximately 2000. However, this did have its advantages as almost the entire audience was crammed into the space between the stage and the first row of seats. Sheffied City Hall was an entirely seated venue, and normally you would be stuck in your seat some distance from the stage.
In the circumstances, it was remarkable that the band appeared to be enthused and greatly enjoying their performance; and the atmosphere was friendly and intimate, helped along by more than the usual amount of humerous banter from Eric; I certainly don't recall the audience being disinterested, just small and a little overwhelmed by the large empty space behind it.
One of the main reasons this gig was so enjoyable for me was, that from where I was standing, the sound quality was almost perfect, with a stereo effect created due to the fact that we were so close to the backline amps, with an excellent PA filling in the sound creating an awsome 3D effect. Of the hundreds of rock gigs I have attended, this was one of the best in respect of sound quality.
It also has to be said that this line up of the band was certainly very good, and the Imaginos material (particularly Astronomy and In the Presence of Another World) was truly stunning. Flaming Telepaths was another highlight.
I think that, far from detracting from the experience, is was the small audiance, and the fact that the band gave it their all regardless, that made this one of the best live performance experiences of my life.
Last time I saw Blue Oyster Cult was five years ago, in a packed out show in Newcastle. The contrast between then and now only served to make Saturday night's show an even sorrier sight.
Don't get me wrong - the band themselves were great. Far better than I remember them, in fact. Eric Bloom's still striding about with his sunglasses on looking dark and mysterious and as for the rest of the band, you couldn't find a dodgy note or a missed cue if you tried.
And personally, I enjoyed the choice of material. The new material from the Imaginos album came over well, with several of the old classics, like Godzilla and Don't Fear the Reaper thrown in for good measure.
So what was wrong? Simply, there was hardly anybody there!
Maybe it was the ticket price (at £7 each I thought they were pushing it a bit) or maybe Hull's rockers just aren't into Blue Oyster Cult.
As it was, I don't think the place was even half full, which was a great shame. It could have been a brilliant gig, instead of the average affair I ended up at. Originally printed in "Hull Daily Mail" 11 March 1989
I was at the Hull gig and sure the BOC played a blinding set. I can understand Gill Dummigan's lack of enthusiasm as it was a very sorry site as there was hardly anybody there as she said. Me and my mate could have had a five-a-side game of football and still have room to spare. A very sorry state as I felt that people were missing out on seeing on a most important band.
I remember Eric looking quite sinister and effective, Buck being quite casual and Alan Lanier coming over quite arrogant as though he was the star of the group. I didn't know all the song but had a good sing-a-long with the ones I did and was pleased that they played "Dominance & Submission". The funniest thing on the night was my mate was going to the toilet when the opening bars of "Don't Fear The Reaper" were being played and you never saw anybody run back so quick as this was the only song he knew by them.
A great gig by the Cult who gave their whole which was very suprising due to the low numbers in attendance.
Hull 1989 I was there, and I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than the reporter! The set list is wrong, they definitely played Magna of Illusion from Imaginos, and possibly Del Rio's song?
Also I believe the support were a Spanish metal band, Baron Rojo or similar. Had a great T-shirt with the Imaginos castle front and "A bedtime story for the children of the damned!" on the back.
Regarding "Magna of Illusion" and "Del Rio", The setlist given comes straight off a tape of the show, so can be considered accurate - actually, despite touring in support of Imaginos, BOC only rehearsed and played 3 songs off that record, which was odd - No Magna or Del Rio, unfortunately....
Support for the whole 89 tour was Miss Daisy, an American-Italian band...
Eric commented about the small crowd, we spoke to a staff member who said there was 300 at that one.
Outside the hall in the afternoon, we could hear the band rehersing Jailbreak maybe 4 or 5 times. I ran back to the car to get my recorder and sneaked in the side door to capture this for posterity and watched the band finishing the soundcheck.
Caught a few seconds of Jailbreak before being kicked out by Sam Judd!
I was at that gig aged 18 having been a BOC fan for years. For an American group playing in Hull I was quite impressed with the turnout and the atmosphere!
The band where Brilliant and played flawless music which is no wonder for a group who play as many shows as they do.
Highlights for me where "Take me away", "Last days of may" and of course "Don't fear the reaper". I remember the guitar playing of both Buck and Eric and Allan Fabulous keyboards!
The Hummingbird venue has long since closed, probably ten years now.
But during the late eighties/early nineties it was buzzing with activity, though this hadn't always been the case. It had been closed previously for quite a while.
BOC had played the Odeon in Birmingham on their two previous tours but this venue had closed too - to be converted into a multi screen cinema. So this was a definite down-sizing for the band, but this was true for other acts as well (Jimmy Page played at the 'Bird). At that point in time, Birmingham didn't have a decent, medium-sized venue so I guess that promoters really had no choice. It reminded me of the old Top Rank type venues that most cities had, you know, a little down at heel, mirror ball above the dance floor type of place.
This was my third BOC gig and I was quite nervous about attending, as I'll explain. My two previous BOC gigs had been disasters (not the fault of the band).
First gig was Donnington Monsters of Rock (the less said about this the better) and the second was Birmingham Odeon on the Club Ninja Tour. Which was a great gig but I had to leave before the end due to a train timetable mix up!!! The worst moment of my concert going life.
So you can perhaps understand my apprehension, anyway back to the Hummingbird.
BOC make good albums on the whole and now and again they turn out a real gem such as Imaginos. I know that some fans think of the album as a compilation but it has so many interesting facets - its very dramatic, it has some great performances, great production, superb songs, and is sonically very rich.
This is my second favourite BOC album behind Secret Treaties, which I consider to be a masterpiece. I had been listening to Imaginos intensively leading up to the gig and I was hoping that the show would match the albums sonic intensity.
I needn't have worried - These were my personal highlights:
RU Ready to Rock - My favourite opener, very solid, rock and rollllll! Eric really looked the part in his biker leather and denim jacket
ETI - Those chords, that delay - Buck was in total control
I Am The One You Warned Me Of - This is what I'd come for, something from Imaginos!
The boys in the band were enjoying the new material too
Astronomy 2 - on a par with the original? Almost
In The Presence Of Another World - For me The highlight of the show. The eerie opening arpeggios gave me the shivers - then thunderous drums, intense strobe lighting, and the maniac voice overs from the album built to a dramatic, chaotic climax. I've been to hundreds of gigs over the years but believe me, this was something special, it felt like an 'out of body' experience.
Maybe it was the strobes, I don't know but I know I'll never forget that song
Last Days Of May - What a thrill, I wasn't expecting this (it was as if I had wrote the set list).
Not everyone knew this song, just the hardcore fans (I don't consider myself a 'hardcore' fan but I know virtually everything the band has ever done). Buck was great on this
The Red And The Black - Again the hardcore fans lapped this up, one guy near me went ballistic.
I have to say that this was my best BOC gig and that includes the recent years as well (I was at the Robin Bilston gigs).
Just having a bit of a browse and I thought I'd send you the set list for the Victoria Hall gig (Hanley - Stoke on Trent) on the 13 March '89 (Imaginos Tour).
Been meaning to forward it for ages, only thing is I cannot be absolutely sure of the order - In fact I'm sure it is the wrong order. For your own peace of mind, I wrote down all the songs of BOC gigs on a scrap of paper at the gig (or a mate did) then we just did a neater version back at home so I am confident as I can be that it is the correct set of songs. Sorry. Hope this is helpful...
I guess it is quite possible they dropped Red And The Black and Cities On Flame from the previous night and Summer and ME262 were encores (but I cannot recall).
Just reading through your page at my home in the Northern Territory, Australia.
I've been a lifelong BOC fan and was at the 1989 Victoria Hall show in Hanley. On the 13 March. I honestly don't remember the setlist, but am sure the one listed is probably right.
I went to this show with a good friend from out of town who was also a fan, and my Australian girlfriend who had never heard of the band. I recall she told me she really enjoyed the show - and after the gig starting listening to my BOC album collection.
The show itself was really intimate. There was probably only a couple of hundred people at the venue as BOC was not a big band in Stoke on Trent back then. We stood about three rows back from the stage and were directly in front of Buck. I think he had cleaned up his image a bit and was wearing a t shirt, white linen jacket and slacks, which made him incongruous with his band mates in their hard rock regalia.
It was the also the first time I saw him play his white cheeseburger guitar and at first I thought it looked a bit odd (no tuning stock). But to their credit the band really rocked and were a marked improvement on the previous club ninja show I saw them on. I was just a couple of metres from Buck as he sang and soloed through some of the bands greatest compositions. It was inspirational and cemented the band as my favourite metal band.
BOC: 'On Tour Forever'.
Flying Music were the promoters according to my ticket, £7.50 a ticket with a 7.30pm start.
I can’t really tell you that much about the gig as I wasn’t really a fan, a mate dragged me along but I did enjoy it.
I can remember being most impressed by getting the towel from the singer of the support act, buxom lass that she was!
Still got the t-shirt though not for much longer as that’s how I found your site; looking for a bit of detail for the E-Bay ad. It might seem like sacrilege to you but I haven’t worn the thing in ten years!
Check out the stub above - it says Monday 20th March!! The advertised date was Sunday 19th.
Can anyone shed any light on this mystery?
Just having a look at the giglopaedia and notice you've got the issue re: the 1989 Nottingham gig.
I can confirm it did happen on the 19th - I have a diary entry to confirm this. My ticket is for the 19th too.
Thanks Marc. Then the ticket stub dated 20 March leaves four possibilities:
Does anyone know which option is correct?
Nottingham 89 was definately scheduled for 20th March then changed to 19th.
We were notified by letter about the change.
Just come across a clipping from the 20 Mar 1989 edition of The Guardian's Arts and Entertainment Guide listings which featured this somewhat sniffy mention:
NOTTINGHAM
BLUE OYSTER CULT
Once the sole self-parodists working in the heavy metal genre, the Cult have been grievously lumpen and humourless of late, and their twelve-years-in-the-coming Imaginos LP is a baffling farrago of riffs and Illuminatus allusions. Live, however, they may still cut it with their absurdist panache.
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Royal Centre, South Sherwood Street
(0602-482626) 8.00, £6-£7.
So, the day after the gig, the London-based Guardian is trying to send people send Cult fans northwards to attend it. Well done, Guardian!! That might be OK for someone like Dr. Who, but most folk don't have access to a Tardis...
BOC played in San Antonio Texas on April 22, 1989 at an outdoor festival called La Semana Alegre at Hemisfair Park.
Here's the setlist:
I think Mark Farner was on the bill at La Semana Alegre in San Antonio as well but I don't remember for sure.
Here's the setlist to BOC - April 28, 1989 - Night Moves - Memphis, TN
Setlist:
I was there and recorded the show (audio only). Hope I helped fill a tiny gap...
The opening Act was the Artimus Pyle Band (original drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd)
The floor at Nashville Center Stage was setup with restaurant tables, and we were served dinner before the show started. Strange setup. Sound quality was awesome.
I remember that the stage was about a foot high and the place was packed. "Imaginos" had just come out and they played "I am the One You Warned me Of" and the new version of "Astronomy".
I was on the front row. I got Eric's and Buck's guitar pick that night.
Of course they played Reaper, Godzilla, Burnin' 4U, ME262, Buck's Boogie. I believe the encore was I Want You by the Beatles. They played almost 2 hours.
It was my 20th BOC concert and the first in a Nightclub. My first time was in the early '70s at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, NC. Tickets were 50 cents for students and $1 for general public. This was 2 blocks from my house whereas the Myrtle Beach gig was a 3 1/2 hour drive, but well worth the trip.
This gig was confirmed by BOC-fan Chuck Padgett who posted that he saw it on his now offline myspace blog.
Like the above show, this gig was also confirmed by Chuck Padgett on the same blog page.
I found a listing for this gig in the 25 May 1989 edition of the "Quad-City Times" [Davenport IA]:
Heartland Jam Concentrates on Hard Drivin' Rock'n'roll at the Levee
by Jim Renkes
Quad-City Times
The Davenport levee has never seen a show like it is going to see this weekend.
It's pure rock'n'roll - hard, heavy, fast and loud.
Behind the power of such bands as Ratt, Great White, Blue Oyster Cult, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Warrant, the three-day Mississippi River Heartland Jam will give Memorial Day Weekend and LeClaire Park a blast of excitement on Friday and Saturday.
There also will be a day of top notch blues playing on Sunday with Albert Collins and The Icebreakers, Lonnie Mack, and John Mayall and the Blue Breakers.
And those will be a secondary "Barn Burner Stage", with regional and local acts, including Lynn Allen, Nikki Fox, Harlequin, Neil Henderson, Legend, Runaways, Mean Street and The Hell Horns, Allison.Chastain Band and Mojo Stew.
Plans also include a water ski show and a hydrojet demonstration Sunday.
Organizers have requested that no one bring lawn chairs Friday.
WHAT: Mississippi River Heartland Jam
WHERE: LeClaire Park, Davenport
WHEN: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Schedule:
Friday:
Feature Stage: Warrant, 7 p.m.; Great White, 7:50 p.m.; and Ratt, 9 p.m.
Saturday:
Feature Stage: Neil Henderson, 5:30 p.m.; Lynn Allen, 6:30 p.m.; Bachman Turner Overdrive, 7:45 p.m.; and Blue Oyster Cult, 9:30 p.m.;
Sunday:
Feature Stage: Riverains 2:30 p.m.; water ski show 3:15 p.m.;Hydrojet demonstration, 3:45 p.m.; Ernie Peniston, 4 p.m.; Lonnie Mack, 5:30 p.m.; John Mayall, 7 p.m.; and Albert Collins, 9 p.m.
Blimey - that's a fast turnaround for the bands on the Friday...
I was at the show, There are railroad tracks that run right next to Leclaire park, just as Eric started to introduce Godzilla, in the distance, growing closer as he introduced the song (perfect timing) a train sounding like Godzilla, blowing its horn rumbled by on the tracks...
Eric commented on it from the stage and the crowd got an unplanned special effect complementing the song.
BOC, @ Beethoven's in raleigh, north carolina, May 28 1989(last days of may).
Beethoven's was a small club that had just opened. BOC packed the house, limo's and everything.
I stood against the stage for whole show not even moving to get a drink. It was incredible, sounded just like "on your feet or on your knees", a classic set list.
Alan lanier had blood dripping from fresh stabs in his arms, just smokin' and jammin' away. Buck and Eric were in good moods.
They had the new rhythm section they were good too.
Been a BOC fan since '74. My wife took me to a BOC concert on our honeymoon in'89 (Beethoven's in Raleigh, NC).
The band autographed one, and kept one, of my car's license plates... I had BOC ROX on my Wisconsin plates. My wife was home in Gulfport, MS and took the plates off the car for the concert so they wouldn't get stolen.
She held them up during the show and they autographed one for her, but asked if they could keep one. I ended up calling the DMV to order replacement plates.
It was a club with a small dance floor. We were first in the door and grabbed a table just off the dance floor. I have a ticket stub somewhere... it was blue and white. Kept it because it was as our honeymoon...
I think they played a few songs from Imaginos and some classics...
I was only lucky enough to have seen them live one time, many years after I first got into them in 1980 or so, and so I checked your list to see if it was there. I knew the year was 1989, and where it was, but not the exact date. You have the exact date: May 31, 1989.
How do I know this is the date? Because apparently, according to your list, it's the only date they played in Maryland that year, and so that has to be it. I also definitely remember it was in Pasadena, MD... but I have one other bit of info you might want for your site -- the opener was Circus of Power...
I remember because they were actually the band the guys I was going to the show with were there to see (I was in a thrash metal/hardcore band at the time, and my bandmates were more punks, but my background was bands like Sabbath and BOC, so even though I hadn't loved BOC's last album at the time (Club Ninja), it was incredible to finally see them live, especially in a club environment like that.
Wish I could remember more about the show. They are one of those bands I get back into every once in awhile, and I've been digging them a lot again lately, playing Fire of Unknown Origin and Agents of Fortune a lot. I hope I have chance to see them again someday, they came around Baltimore recently but I missed it...
I was there. Stood right in front of the PA system for the first part of the show. The sound was making my shirt bounce around,
Then I moved right in front of Eric Bloom the rest of the show.
I was hollering for them to play Last Days of May or Astronomy
But they didn't.
I remember Alan Lanier looked old.
I was at the Hammerjacks show in Baltimore 11.10.85 when they played as Soft White Underbelly. Real good show. Nice and loud yet clear.
I knew a bouncer there named Louie W. and he showed me where they would come out and OK'd it for me to stay by that door.
I had a program from the show they did with J Geils at the Baltimore Civic Center back in March of 78 I believe.
I got Buck and Eric to autograph it for me. Eric even asked if I knew where the Lord Baltimore Hotel was and I gave him directions.
Eric, Buck, and two others got into a green K car and Eric drove them there.
I couldn't get over how short Buck and Eric are, on stage they look bigger than life.
I had just finished my second year at college and came home to southern NH for the summer. My friends and I were extremely psyched that BOC was announced as one of the first shows for the Casino that summer. Getting a ticket to this show was a no brainer!
It was yet another boys night out at the beach! We arrived at the venue and got our seats at one of the tables up close. After that, some adult beverages were consumed as we sat thru the Farrenneit's opening set. I didn't hate their set but didn't love it either. Anyways, once they were done, it wasn't too long before BOC took the stage. The energy there was really high that Friday evening!
I don't have a set list on the back of my ticket stub so I can only remember certain songs from a vague memory. I do remember a killer RU Ready 2 Rock opened the set. After the show we stepped out of the Casino and got the first breath of ocean air and I was incredibly satisfied with the evening.
One of my favorite albums of all time is "Some Enchanted Evening" and I remember thinking after the show that the band played really great versions the songs from Side A of that album. RU Ready and ETI were so much fun and Astronomy was sooooooo out there! Just one of those jaw dropping experiences. An experience that puts a smile on your face and you can't do anything to wipe it off! Just great versions of all 3 songs!
Plus, I also remember a killer version of Veterans that show also. I think they also played Joan Crawford and of course Burning For You, Godzilla, and Reaper. All in all a great show.
The boys can play this venue anytime and I'll make an effect to be there.
Currently, I've seen BOC three times:
... and I'll be seeing them for the fourth time in July (2010).
I found a confirmation listing for this gig's band line-up in the 01 Jun 1989 edition of the "Hartford Courant":
The Paramount Performing Arts Center in Springfield, which has no air conditioning, will close for the season after Friday's show featuring Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat and Toy Caldwell.
I saw this show - the venue used to be called "The Final Exam"...
I don't remember any supports act(s) but BOC were great... :-)
I attended this BOC show - it still seemed relatively novel to see them in a club then. I remember having good fun at the show, being thrilled they played "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" and I think "Black Blade", drinking many ales, and then going back to SUNY Albany, the college I attended at the time and doing my college radio heavy metal show all night, and spinning many old BOC classics.
I don't remember the exact set list, but it was pretty close to the Boston gig set list listed for the next night, although I do seem to remember "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" and "Black Blade".
The Bostons Best Live Rock site gives the following support band info:
June 8, 1989
Blue Oyster Cult
Kid Crash
Johnny & The Jumper Cables
DJ Mod Todd
I found a confirmation listing for this gig's band line-up in the 7 Jun 1989 edition of the "Taconic Newspaper":
Taking a short step back, June 9 will find Blue Oyster Cult at The Chance, fresh off the group's 14th album, Imaginos. Perhaps describing the gist of BOC's new album is better left to the band's biography.
"Once again. Blue Oyster Cult, a band of rock's premiere scientists, finds itself at the edge of the aural cataclysm, withstanding the elements in a nightly ritual of metallic force."
Yikes. And they once said don't fear the reaper.
I noticed in your gig list for the year 1989, you do not have the Summerfest set list for 7/1/89. Here it is.
This was taken off the setlist that Jon Rogers was writing down that I got after the show. I also have a pic of him writing it down.
Not included on Jon's list are the encores, which were E1 Summer of Love and E2 Roadhouse Blues.
I found a line-up for this gig in the 1 July 1989 edition of the "The Post-Crescent" [Appleton WI]:
Rock Stage
Today
Neer, House Boys, Megaton Blonde, London USA, Ruby Star and, at 10 p.m., Blue Oyster Cult.
I found a listing for this gig in the 7 July 1989 edition of the "The Ottawa Citizen":
Barrymore's, 323 Bank St, Blue Oyster Cult, with Wild Child, 9 p.m.
July 12, 1989 show at Cleveland's Peabody's Down Under... This was near the end of my 'going to live concerts' career and this show helped to put a nail in that coffin.
Cleveland's Flats was resurgent at that time, just having gotten rid of some of the sleazy peep shows and strip clubs in favor of sleazy yuppie fern bars. Peabody's wasn't all that big, but it seemed like BOC had brought the 'stadium sound set' along for this small club concert.
It was blisteringly loud, even by my standards, and I'd seen The Who in 1971 when they were still the loudest rock band in the world. My ears rang for literally days afterward. In addition to the extreme blaring sound, the club was overcrowded so you couldn't see worth a damn.
To top it all off, someone had clogged one of the women's toilets and it flooded the whole place. Yech! I seem to recall that Godzilla was a really tight fit under the ceiling and I don't remember hearing a Harley this time - maybe because the entrance was a tight stairway.
At any rate, this is one concert I try to forget, along with the abominable Who performance I also saw that summer. Maybe this is why you don't already have a review for this one. Everyone else who was there was lucky enough to forget it.
I came across the following gig listing which appeared in the Fri 07 Jul 1989 and Fri 14 Jul 1989 editions of The Pantagraph [Bloomington IL]:
Blue Oyster Cult - '70s rock, 7 p.m. July 14, City Limits Nite Club. $12.50.
However, as I'm reasonably sure that BOC played The Thirsty Whale on this date (see immediately below) and that this City Limits gig actually took place on 19 July.
Although I'm currently listing this as a "moved" gig, (the implication being that the gig was originally booked for this date but was later shunted to an alternate date), I don't actually know that these listings in the Pantagraph weren't printed as a result of either a misunderstanding or simply just a (repeated) typo, (making it a "phantom" listing).
Whichever it was, it didn't happen on this date, which is the important thing.
I found a confirmation listing for this gig in the 14 Jul 1989 edition of the "Chicago Tribune":
Blue Oyster Cult, Friday at the Thirsty Whale in River Grove: "This Ain't the Summer of Love," but this pioneering punk-metal band always knew that.
The lineup includes founders Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom and Allen Lanier.
I really enjoyed myself at this show. It was great hearing the Imaginos tunes since I am such a fan of that album.
One thing that I do remember was that one of the local opening bands was bitching and moaning about how people only come out for the 'majors' and not for local bands as much as they should. This led the crowd to start chanting "BLUE OYSTER CULT" at the top of their lungs!
Here's a link to some of my photos from this gig:
The opening band was Bronx Zoo.
I remember seeing my "fantasy group" back in the late 80's at the VOGUE in Indianapolis, IN. I had been a fan from the moment "Don't Fear the Reaper" was introduced on radio.
I was always fascinated with their sinister sound and eerie lyrics - and almost scared of them to tell you the truth. Being a Christian, my friends were telling me to "get rid of any albums by BOC"....how could I ??
I pocked weeks of lunch money during high school to buy an vinyl album each week. But the story is, when I saw them at the Vogue in Indy, I remember seeing the big touring cases with BOC and the emblem on each one and thinking: "Wow, I'm really going to see these guys for real."
And from what I remember, it was one of the most awesome and inspiring days of my life. I was nuts after that and followed them to every concert - almost every one... I lost count after a while. But it was a small arena, and we were up really close, and I remember these guys looking as intimidating as ever - even if Eric wasn't as tall as I remember from the low-angled photographs of their albums.
So that was it... no women throwing their panties and dancing naked... but who was paying attention to the crowd anyhow.
Just discovered this nice website with many concert reviews from Indianapolis:
On this date in history, 7/18/1989, I saw Blue Öyster Cult at The Vogue in Broad Ripple for the first time. They were so excellent to witness in the confines of an intimate club setting.
At one time BÖC had been an arena attraction with trend setting laser light shows and songs that were designed to thrill those larger spaces. Translating that size and scope to a room of The Vogue's nature simply made the impact of their music more hard hitting and direct. For one thing, evidence of the rich history of legendary performers that have graced that stage are lining the walls of the Vogue.
It is impressive for a casual observer, but for a band it is a catalyst and an ignition switch to fuel a classic night of music making. Blue Öyster Cult impressed me that night because they didn't have anything to win or lose and they played a killer show anyway; it's what a great band does.
Their most recent album, Imaginos, had been released the previous year and was basically dead in the water due to zero support from their record company. I remember it as a good album, one of the first actual cd's I ever purchased, but it was a complicated production that didn't actually function as a true collaborative effort from the band.
Consequently, on the night I finally got to see this band, they were lacking their original rhythm section. This was both bad and good, the good in respect to their young and hungry drummer and bass player, who spurred the veterans to inspired performances of a veritable "best of" set.
I remember the obvious crowd favorites like "Don't Fear The Reaper" and "Godzilla", but also got to hear "Veterans Of The Psychic Wars" and "Astronomy". Eric Bloom sounded amazing live, with that commanding voice bringing all those great lyrics to vivid life.
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser burned up the frets on various guitars, and Allan Lanier lurked in the background, contributing keyboards and guitars for just the crucial components to the mix.
After the show we got to meet Buck Dharma and the drummer, Ron Riddle (reminding me of a young Tommy Lee, still fresh and excited to be part of it all). Many years later, my band Misfit Toys would get to play a show as direct support for the might BÖC, making one of my teenage daydreams come true in brilliant fashion. Keep dreaming, I can assure you it is fantastic when they occasionally happen to be obtainable.
Written by Braddon S. Williams aka "The Concert Critic"
OK - there's a bit of an anomaly attached to the date of this gig because of the following gig listing which appeared in both the Fri 07 Jul 1989 and Fri 14 Jul 1989 editions of The Pantagraph [Bloomington IL]:
Blue Oyster Cult - '70s rock, 7 p.m. July 14, City Limits Nite Club. $12.50.
But the only logical assumption about that is that it was either a misunderstanding or a (repeated) typo because I'm reasonably sure that City Limits was on the 19th.
My reason for thinking that is not just the ticket above, but also because the original boc.com schedules listed it for this date also.
I saw the following mention of this gig on an online concert list belonging to Robert A. Fulkerson (now unfortunately offline) but he gave the date as 29 June 1989...
Does anyone know the truth?
This was a great concert. Some friends and I bought tickets at Homer's and then just took off on a road trip across Nebraska, or as long as it takes to cross Nebraska to Douglas.
Well, actually, it took longer, because we had no clue where we were going or what we were doing, and so we ended up actually driving away from Douglas for awhile, had to backtrack, and then got headed in the right direction shortly after that.
The concert itself was mighty fun. An outdoor, party festival kind of atmosphere.
Thanks to a flyer sent to me by William Handlon, I now know that the opening bands were "Air Raid" and "Agony Sweet".
On Aug 21 1989 at the Hollywood Palace in Hollywood California I opened for BOC when I was the lead singer of D.C. LaCroix. I have a photo of that gig on www.myspace.com/joedansereau
Our manager at the time, Bennett Glotzer who managed Frank Zappa through-out his entire career got us on the bill at the last minute. He said the palace owed him a favor and thats how we got on the show.
Black Cherry was also on the bill with us. We opened the show. For the first three songs we had NO monitors and I could only hear guitars and no vocals. I think they were mad at our manager so they (Black Cherry) made sure our monitors were shut off.
Headeast opened, it was my first concert. I was 11 years old.
Ted's ticket above says the venue is the "Eastbrook Theatre" whilst the newspaper listing from the Sun 01 Oct 1989 edition of the "Battle Creek Enquirer" says the gig was at "Club Eastbrook".
The gig listing in the original BOC schedules also listed the venue as "Club Eastbrook"...
I was wondering if these two venues were one and the same - perhaps there was some sort of deal where a local promoter might take over the Theatre for his own shows, calling it "Club Eastbrook" for the night...something like that...?
Club Eastbrook And Eastbrook Theater were the same venue (later called the Orbit Room I believe). It was an old movie theater converted to a club, and it changed names with management I think.
OK - cheers for that... despite the text in the newspaper mention, I've gone with listing the venue as "Eastbrook Theatre" because that's what was on the ticket - that's what you turned up at the door with in order to get in, so that trumps the advert, in my opinion...
I was at this show, briefly. My ex and I staked out a place in the very front, they were playing on a stage out in a field.
Anyway, after about the second song some drunk jackass starts pushing and shoving yelling because I'm not exactly dressed like a rocker at the time. My wife's bad knee hit the temporary fence and dislocated, so we had to leave. I obviously don't have the setlist.
I'm finally getting to see them in Nashville, TN on November 1st (2013). Seriously hoping they play Joan Crawford and Veteran of the Psychic Wars, my two favorites.
There was no performance here in 1989. I would have gone. I was still living in North Carolina then.
I'll leave it listed for now as it's included on the Official Site's giglists - this data was originally taken from the old band itineraries that BOC's management gave Bolle Gregmar access to in the late 80s - but these itineraries DIDN'T seem to include notice of gigs which were cancelled or added at short notice - so they ARE very useful but by no means Gospel.
So all this means for sure is that BOC were scheduled to play Baity's Music Garden on 8 Oct 1989 but doesn't mean they actually DID!!
BTW: I also have another Baity's gig listed for September 1986, but the exact date is currently unknown...
Anyway - does anyone out there know for sure if this 1989 gig took place or not?
Anyway, my brother in law and I attended both concerts at Baity's in Winston Salem in 88 and 89. Baity's (now Ziggy's) is a small club but it was packed both times.
For the 89 gig they had actually build a wooden stage (the year before they played on the floor surrounded by the audience). In 88 they played almost 2 hours and in 89 a little over 2 hours, I don't remember any opening acts.
Three things I remember about the 89 gig were that:
I still have my signed LP, a t-shirt that I bought at Baity's (black-cover of the first LP) and somewhere I think I still have a cardboard flyer asking people to join their website which was pretty avant garde for those times.
You wondered if this gig occurred or not - I confirmed with my brother-in-law that the two Baity's shows we saw were the 88 and 89 gigs. That's definite because he didn't move to North Carolina till 1987...
I found a confirmation listing for this gig's band line-up in the 11/12 Oct 1989 edition of the "Taconic Newspaper":
Calendar - Music
The Chance: Poughkeepsie. Oct. 13, Blue Oyster Cult;
Call 452-1233.
BOC - Airport Music Hall, Allentown, PA - 11/14/89
My source for the above was my notebook - I wrote down the set as soon as I got home from the show. As far as I know, there's no recording of the gig, but I'm still hoping one turns up.
The opening act was a punk band called the Blissters. Never heard of them before or since.
This was my first BOC show - I'll try to do a write-up over the weekend.
I was at that BOC show in Allentown, PA. The Blissters, the "punk band" that warmed up for BOC were/are all friends of mine and the promoter, Tom Makoul of Makoul Productions was my fiancé.
Although it was many moons ago, I can try to find out if someone recorded it... it was a great night, and the 4th time I saw BOC.
I was at this show in Allentown way back in 1989 when I was 24. I've been to a lot of concerts over the years, but will always remember this one because of the extraordinarily long time my friends and I waited in line outside before people were allowed to enter the venue.
I'm not sure if this is true, but I seem to remember the crowd talking about the fact that the original supporting act cancelled at the last minute and the delay was caused by getting the new supporting act's gear in place and allowing them a sound check. We were not in a particularly good mood as the show started because of the delay.
The funny thing is that I don't remember the supporting act being a punk band. I remember thinking that they were AC/DC clones.
I was glad that BOC played Black Blade which is one of my favorite songs. I don't remember a whole lot about the performance other than that.
I did manage to get one of the guitar picks that Buck threw into the audience which I still have to this day (I'm sure it's worth millions now).
One of my friends found a $20 bill by the vending machines in the back of the place during the show, so all in all everything worked out ok.
What happened in November? If you know, please let me ...
I found the following preview to this gig (Courtesy of Paul 5) in the 30 Nov 1989 edition of "The Springfield News-Leader":
Blue Oyster Cult plays Ozarks
'Vampirish' band brings sinister sounds to Joplin audience
by Ron Sylvester
Rock 'n' roll bands sometimes find fame and lose it in the time it takes to flip the switch of the spotlight, but Blue Oyster Cult has kept rolling.
BOC came on the metal scene in the early 1970s and has retained at least a cult following even when their music didn't fit the trend of the day. The band, which has played this area many times over the last 17 years, returns to the Ozarks at 8 p.m. Saturday, when they play Memorial Hall in Joplin.
After 14 albums, BOC hasn't changed all that much from the ironic music and spooky image that earned them early critical acclaim. Rolling Stone called them a "vampirish New York band that would sooner suck your blood than take your money."
The topics of their songs were sinister, their lyrics dark, before Tipper Gore ever crusaded about putting warning labels on album covers. But their guitar-slashing ways have continued to carry them for almost two decades.
Now that heavy metal has captured the imagination of the rock culture, the Cult remains an interesting example of how little rock really has changed.
Appearing with BOC will be metal bands Bronx Zoo and TEAZ. In Springfield, tickets are available at Heers.
I was with the promoter so I was all over at this gig. I do remember people that I guess were Christian protesters out front with signs - "Do fear the reaper" and such...
I found the following preview to this gig in the 6 Dec 1989 edition of the "The Times" [Munster IN]. Yes - you read that right - a preview on the 6th for a gig that took place on the 5th.
Just to add a further layer of confusion, the photo accompanying the article featured Rick Downey and Joe Bouchard...
Blue Oyster Cult to give an encore performance at Club Dimensions
By Tom Lounges
Times Correspondent
In the late-1960s, in the utter chaos of an embattled America gone askew, primal rumblings of Blue Oyster Cult could be heard in the band known as Soft White Underbelly, which evolved into the Stalk-Forrest Group.
In 1972, rock was fast becoming a safe and success-orientated commodity following the vastly experimental excursions of the previous decade.
Arising from the sea of mediocrity was Blue Oyster Cult's self-titled Columbia debut album.
Heavy instrumental thunderings paired with visionary Lovecraftian lyrical dementia and intellectual wordmongering, powered the group through the decade and earned them a place in rock's history.
Although essentially an album act, the group managed to become a mainstay on FM airwaves despite themselves, with such blockbuster anthems as "Cities on Flame with Rock'n'Roll," "R.U. Ready to Rock," and the timeless classic, "Godzilla."
Those and other more devised chart contenders as "Dr. Music," "Burning For You" and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" will be unleashed at 8 p.m. this Tuesday at Highland's Club Dimensions.
The Dec 5 date is being slated as an encore performance, set to accomodate the grumbling area fans unable to attend the group's sensational sold-out July appearance at the venue.
Opening the show is local hard rock quintet, Sgt. Roxx, who are supporting their new debut album on Rock-ola Records. All tickets are $10 general admission seating.
B.O.C. introduced fans to their 14th internationally released album, "Imaginos," this past spring. While still recording with an all-original line-up, the touring ensemble is lacking the highly rhythmic Bouchard Brothers - Albert and Joe - on drums and bass respectively.
Joining founding members - guitarist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, keyboardist Allen Lanier, and vocalist/frontman Eric Bloom - in the current road show are drummer Ron Riddle and bassist Jon Rogers.
I saw B.O.C. was Dec. 9, 1989 at the Cleveland Agora. I think there was an opening band, but I can't remember who it was.
This was another great show. The band was on fire, they played a long time, and with a lot of energy. I know they did "Career Of Evil" / "Last Days Of May" / and "Astronomy", but those are the only songs I am sure were played. I can't remember what else.
I do know that we had a great time at this one.
I only know about this show thanks to the above stub that was posted on Facebook in Jan 2020.
Ah, the show with Pat Travers, where he got pissed off and yelled at people in the crowd to go buy their own guitar picks.
One thing - I couldn't help noticing the temporal proximity of this show with the gig at this same venue back at the start of October. These two Club Eastbrook gigs were only 9 weeks apart.
What's more, if you look forward a year to 1990, you'll see something pretty similar:
Mon 06 Aug 1990: Club Eastbrook
Tue 30 Oct 1990: Club Eastbrook
These two 1990 Club Eastbrook gigs were just 11 weeks apart. That would seem to be rather unusual on the face of it - normally BOC would leave it about a year before they revisited a town.
Could the first gig of the two in either or both cases have been postponed for some reason and the second gigs in each sequence might have been "make-up" dates...?
Then again, maybe during 1989-1990 BOC were just very popular in Grand Rapids... :-)
Yes, they played Grand Rapids a LOT during that time period. A couple of the DJs from the local radio station were big fans. I even did an article for my college paper before one of the shows.