Blue Öyster Cult at the Indigo O2, London 17 June 2017. Stone Free Festival 2017.
Last seen by me at 1981’s Monsters of Rock festival, Blue Öyster Cult where surprisingly good for the most part. There were some stunning guitar solos throughout the set especially from Buck Dharma (loved the guitar man) and Richie Castellano (he looks like he’s been seconded in from Los Lobos!). Bloody hell can Buck play the guitar or what!! In fact, they are all well talented musicians who played a tight set of rarities and classics superbly well. What’s more to say – it was damn good.
Their backdrop proudly proclaimed “On Tour Forever” and as I found out later they played their 1972 debut album in its entirety – “Just for the UK!” Eric Bloom proclaimed. This is only the 2nd time its ever happened and it was performed with minimal fuss – they just got on with it as if it was 45 years ago much to the delight of many fans sporting their BOC t-shirts with pride.
They finished with ‘(Don’t Fear) the Reaper’ which was dedicated to Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee and came back for two encores’ – ‘Tattoo Vampire and Hot Rails to Hell’ and went off to rapturous applause and no doubt some partying afterwards. I think they converted many a member of the audience who will be searching out their back catalogue.
Blue Öyster Cult Set list
- Transmaniacon MC (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- I’m on the Lamb but I Ain’t No Sheep (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- Then Came the Last Days of May (Blue Öyster Cult 1972) – 10 min version!
- Stairway to the Stars (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- Before the Kiss, a Redcap (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- Screams (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- She’s as Beautiful as a Foot (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- Workshop of the Telescopes (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- Redeemed (Blue Öyster Cult 1972)
- Burnin’ for You (Fire of Unknown Origin 1981)
- Buck’s Boogie (On Your Feet or on Your Knees 1975)
- Godzilla (Spectres 1977)
- (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (Agents of Fortune 1976) click to view video
- Tattoo Vampire (Agents of Fortune 1976)
- Hot Rails to Hell (Tyranny and Mutation 1973)
Marko 20 June 2017
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