Blue Oyster Cult to Rock the Flying Monkey

Plymouth, New Hampshire -  At 7:30pm on Friday, February 1st The Flying Monkey is excited to present legendary rock band Blue Oyster Cult.   Named after a poem written by manager Sandy Pearlman, they are known for cult classics “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” “Godzilla,” and “Burnin’ for You,” their unique science fiction influenced rock music keeps a loyal cult following.   VH1 Lists them as one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.  NH’S own Old Salt Band will open the evening.  Tickets for this concert start at $59.

It’s not an unusual scene to find the entire lineup of Blue Oyster Cult buried in books when they’re not traveling the world playing psychedelic rock music.  Lead singer Eric Bloom is an avid science fiction fan and writes for a magazine in his spare time.  And that’s a good thing, as BÖC’s satirical, science fiction laced lyrics are the catalyst of their explosive hits, and often show through in songs like “Take Me Away.”

“We’ve always been interested in UFOs, extra terrestrials, science fiction and all that literary stuff,” Bloom said.

BOC burst on the national scene in 1976 with their first platinum album, Agents of Fortune . It contained the
hit single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", which reached number 12 on the Billboard charts and has become a classic of the genre. For the tour, the band added lasers to their light show, for which they became known.

Vocalist Bloom recalled BOC’s earliest days, saying the band struggled to survive, “We lived in a house in Long Island, and when I say ‘lived’ it was more like ‘just barely’.  Nobody knew where we were going or when we could afford to eat. Club dates sort of kept us alive.”

Since those days they have seen a bit more success.   And after 40 years on the road and 20 albums, Bloom said the band works hard to keep their live shows fresh and entertaining. He writes a new set list for each show, never playing the same songs in the same order two nights in a row. The band also adjusts to the crowd, the setting and the atmosphere at each of its shows.

“It’s too boring to us to play the same show,” he said. “So, it’s all very selfish. The audience is always different. That keeps it fresh for us.”

 “Reaper” was named the number one rock single of 1976 by Rolling Stone and Creem magazines, and reached No. 12 on the American charts. When the song was first released, Bloom said the band wasn’t sure they had a hit on their hands.

“If you knew the formula to how to make a hit, you’d make one every week,” he said. “You do what you do and cross your fingers someone’s going to like it.” As for the 'Reaper,' “It just caught fire,” Bloom said.

And they have been on fire ever since.  Don’t miss a truly iconic rock band in the intimate setting of the Flying Monkey.

Tickets for the BOC concert are on sale now for $59, and $69 for Premier seats. For tickets and more information on concerts and the Flying Monkey Performance Center, visit www.flyingmonkeynh.com or call 603-536-2551.