After a few more temporary band names, including the Santos Sisters, the band settled on Blue Öyster Cult in 1971 (see below for its origin).
Greg Lindstrom, Robert Garven, Jerry Fogle and Pat Galligan (later a guitarist in Angry Samoans ) played in Titanic, their first band in junior high school. With a desire to play heavier music similar to that of Mountain and Grand Funk Railroad , the rest of the band parted with…
Read More
In 1971, Bobby Liebling and Geof O’Keefe left their previous groups (Shades of Darkness and Space Meat, respectively) to form a new band that reflected their interest in the emerging genres of metal and heavy rock . Liebling suggested naming the group “Pentagram” to reflect the gloomy subject matter of…
Read More
After forming in late 1971, the band played their first gig on January 1, 1972, at an anti-Vietnam war peace rally.
Their eponymous debut album of strong, blues-oriented hard rock was recorded at Rockfield Studios with Black Sabbath producer Rodger Bain and released in 1971. It was followed by Squawk in 1972. The third album, Never Turn Your Back on a Friend (1973), contained ” Breadfan “, which was covered by…
Read More
A second Mark II studio album, the creatively progressive Fireball , was issued in the summer of 1971, reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart . The title track ” Fireball ” was released as a single, as was ” Strange Kind of Woman “, not from the album…
Read More
The group’s 1971 tour featured a stage show involving mock fights and gothic torture modes being imposed on Cooper, climaxing in a staged execution by electric chair , with the band sporting tight, sequined, color-contrasting glam rock -style costumes made by prominent rock-fashion designer Cindy Dunaway (sister of band member…
Read More
The US release was held off until January 1971, as the Black Sabbath album was still on the chart at the time of Paranoid ‘ s UK release.
In December 1970 Keith Baker left the band and was replaced by Iain Clark (from another Vertigo band, Cressida ). With him the band toured Germany in late December 1970/January 1971 and made their first US tour in the spring of 1971, supporting Three Dog Night and Steppenwolf .
At Expo ’70 , members of Canadian rock band Lighthouse saw Flower Travellin’ Band perform, liked what they saw and suggested they go to Canada. The group quickly recorded their first album of original material, Satori released in 1971, to have something to bring with them. In December 1970, they…
Read More