Blue Öyster Cult is an American hard rock band formed on Long Island in Stony Brook, New York, in 1967.
The band has sold 25 million records worldwide, including 7 million in the United States. The band's fusion of hard rock with psychedelia, and penchant for occult, fantastical and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, had a major influence on heavy metal music. They developed a cult following and, while achieving mainstream hits like "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (1976) and "Burnin' for You" (1981), their commercial success was limited. Both songs, and others such as "Godzilla" (1977), remain classic rock radio staples. The band were early adopters of the music video format, and their videos received heavy rotation on MTV in its early period.
Blue Öyster Cult performing in 2023
1977 publicity photo with the 1971–81 lineup, L–R: Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (bottom); Eric Bloom; Albert Bouchard; Allen Lanier; Joe Bouchard
Blue Öyster Cult live in 2006
Blue Öyster Cult performing at the Sweden Rock Festival, 2008
Occult rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the late 1960s to early 1970s, pioneered by bands such as Coven and Black Widow.
Blue Öyster Cult performing in 2006.
Blue Cheer in 1968.