Although Blue Öyster Cult may be said to have had only moderate success, they have been a tremendous influence on other bands. The band first got together at Stony Brook University, in Long Island, in 1967. They played gigs around the US and the UK, sometimes calling themselves Soft White Underbelly, then Blue Öyster Cult.
Irrespective of how they got the name, they released their self-titled debut album “Blue Öyster Cult in 1972. Their most recent album is 2020’s “The Symbol Remains.” The band has global sales of about 25 million records, with “Godzilla,” and “Burnin’ for You” two of its biggest hits. The band’s signature song, however, is “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.”
The band’s sound is a mix of psychedelia and hard rock accompanied with fantastical, occult, and sometimes whimsical lyrics. This combination has influenced such other outfits as Twisted Sister, Alice in Chains, Metallica, and Iron Maiden. “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” has been used in films such as “Halloween,” on television series like “Orange is the New Black,” and in video games. Their songs are often heard on classic rock stations.
A review says:
“. . . the band was proving beyond a shadow of doubt that Blue Oyster Cult is still worth seeing in 2022.”
Blue Öyster Cult will be at the Paramount Theatre in Denver on June 3. When organizers plan events like this, they can use poster printing to create advertising material.