FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: September 30th
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Suzy Starlite & Simon Campbell (September 2023)
  • Stray - About Time
  • Downes Braide Association - Celestial Songs
  • Ali Ferguson (August 2023)
  • Leoni Jane Kennedy (August 2023)
  • High Pulp - Days In The Desert
  • Moving Pictures - The Garage, Glasgow
  • WinterStorm 2023 - Legends and Legacies
  • 2023 Reviews
  • 2023 Featured Album Reviews
    • Starlite & Campbell - STARLITE.ONE
    • Matteo Mancuso - The Journey
    • Oli Brown & The Dead Collective - Prelude & Prologue EPs
    • Extreme - Six
    • Bison Hip - Older Stronger Better
    • Joy Dunlop - Caoir
    • Mike Ross - Third Eye Open
    • Martin MIller - Maze Of My Mind
    • Cruachan - The Living and The Dead
    • King Kraken - MCLXXX
    • Heavy Metal Kids - The Albums 1974-1976
    • Anchor Lane - Call This a Reality?
    • Doomsday Outlaw - Damaged Goods
    • Hayley Griffiths - Far From Here Hayley Griffiths Band - MELANIE
  • 2022 Reviews
  • 2022 Featured Album Reviews
    • Moon City Masters - The Famous Moon City Masters
    • Steve Hill - Dear Illusion
    • Kira Mac - Chaos is Calling
    • EBB - Mad & Killing Time
    • The Commoners - Find A Better Way
    • Rebecca Downes - The Space Between Us
    • Erja Lyytinen - Waiting For The Daylight
    • Chris Antonik - Morningstar
    • The Milk Men - Spin The Bottle
    • SiX BY SiX - SiX BY SiX
    • Jeff Berlin - Jack Songs
    • Keef Hartley Band - Sinnin' For You The Albums 1969-1973
    • Toby Lee - Icons Vol.1
    • Montrose - I Got The Fire : Complete Recordings 1973-1976
    • Orianthi - Live From Hollywood
    • Valeriy Stepanov Fusion Project - Album No. 2
    • Dan Reed Network - Let's Hear It For The King
    • Ali Ferguson - The Contemplative Power Of Water
    • Edgar Winter - Brother Johnny
    • Joe Satriani - The Elephants Of Mars
    • Dave Cureton - State Of Mind
    • Larry McCray - Blues Without You
    • Tears for Fears - Tipping Point
    • Kris Barras Band - Death Valley Paradise
    • Dan Patlansky - Shelter of Bones
    • Black Lakes - For All We've Left Behind
    • Wille & The Bandits - When The World Stood Still
    • LALU - Paint the Sky
    • Various Artists - Revolt Into Style 1979
  • 2021 Reviews
  • 2021 Featured Album Reviews
    • Dave Bainbridge - To The Far Away
    • Lachy Doley - Studios 301 Sessions
    • Mark Pontin Group - Kaleidoscope
    • The Mentulls - Recipe For Change
    • Plush - Plush
    • Wayward Sons - Even Up the Score
    • Pat Metheny - Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)
    • Steve Hackett - Surrender Of Silence
    • Sweet Crisis - Tricks On My Mind
    • Amanda Lehmann - Innocence and Illusion
    • Chantel McGregor - Shed Sessions Volume One & Volume Two
    • Troy Redfern ...The Fire Cosmic!
    • NWOCR - Volume One
    • Jeff Kollman - East of Heaven
    • The Damn Truth - Now Or Nowhere
    • Dennis DeYoung - 26 East Vol 2
    • Mark Lettieri - Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol 2
    • Reach - The Promise Of a LIfe
    • Jane Getter Premonition - Anomalia
    • Mason Hill - Against The Wall
    • Lyle Workman - Uncommon Measures
    • Robert Berry - 3.2 : Third Impression
    • Lifesigns - Altitude
    • Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - Songs For The Apocalypse
  • 2020 Reviews
  • 2020 Featured Album Reviews
    • McCartney III
    • Gary Barlow - Music Played By Humans
    • Storm Warning - Different Horizons
    • Reb Beach - A View From The Inside
    • Lykantropi - Tales To Be Told
    • King King - Maverick
    • Jakko M Jakszyk - Secrets & Lies
    • Blue Öyster Cult - The Symbol Remains
    • Fish - Weltschmerz
    • Dyble Longdon - Between A Breath And A Breath
    • Jim Kirkpatrick - Ballad of a Prodigal Son
    • Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee & Other Moments of Clarity
    • Toby and the Whole Truth - Ignorance is Bliss (25th Anniversary Edition)
    • Everyday Heroes - A Tale of Sin & Sorrow
    • Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Last Light on the Highway
    • Pat Metheny - From This Place
    • Anchor Lane - Casino
  • Selected 2023 Gig Reviews...
    • Hamish Stuart & James Bown Is Annie; Hamilton Loomis - Darvel Music Festival
    • Amigo The Devil - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Davey Pattison Blues Band - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Joe Satriani - O2 Academy, Glasgow
    • Walter Trout - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Stereo, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Focus - The Ferry, Glasgow
    • Elles Bailey - The Caves, Edinburgh
    • The Blackheart Orchestra - Hotel Utopia UK tour
    • The Wilson Brothers - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
  • Selected 2022 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender - Troon
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Paul McCartney - Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury 2022
    • Daryl Hall - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Eric Gales - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Selected 2021 Gig Reviews...
    • Sweet - The Garage, Glasgow
    • The Damn Truth - Now Or Nowhere Record Release Experiment Live
    • Anchor Lane - Lockdown Live, DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Laurence Jones - Live From Camden, Powerhaus, London
    • Joe Bonamassa - Austin City Limits, Live Stream
    • Todd Rundgren - Clearly Human Virtual Tour, "Pittsburgh"
  • Selected 2020 Gig Reviews...
    • Jared James Nichols - Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Oscar Cordoba Band - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes Band - The Ice Box, Glasgow
    • Ben Poole Trio - Room 2, Glasgow
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Aristocrats - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Fat Suit - Drygate, Glasgow
    • Francis Dunnery's It Bites - St Lukes, Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • Joy Dunlop (May 2023)
    • Dan Patlansky - April 2023
    • Hayley Griffiths (February 2023)
    • Steve Hill (January 2023)
    • Rebecca Downes (December 2022)
    • Chris Antonik (November 2022)
    • Pat Travers (October 2022)
    • Robert Berry (August 2022)
    • JW-Jones (August 2022)
    • Mike Ross (July 2022)
    • Bernie Marsden (December 2021)
    • Robin George (November 2021)
    • Dennis DeYoung (June 2021)
    • Robert Berry (March 2021)
    • Dan Reed (February 2021)
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • FabricationsHQ Q&As With...
    • Jeff Kollman - August 2021
    • Lyle Workman (March 2021)
    • Jason Bieler (February 2021)
    • Félix Rabin (February 2020)
    • Chantel McGregor (August 2019)
    • Greig Taylor (July 2019)
    • Adam Norsworthy (June 2019)
    • Erja Lyytinen (March 2019)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • Knowing Your Shit... 2022 In Review
    • 2019AB?
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Laser Love
Blue 
Öyster Cult - Glasgow Apollo, 29th April 1978
Picture
"We’ve come over to the UK all the way from New York City just to ask you this question… are you ready to rock!"
On the basis of the roar and response to Eric Bloom’s question the answer was an unequivocal "Yes!"

The positive reply was part of a raucous welcome for Blue Öyster Cult’s first (and as it would turn out only) visit to the Glasgow Apollo; the sold-out show was part of a UK tour that was a major success.

In 1978 Blue Öyster Cult were showcasing not just a great collection of songs but a great light show, courtesy of full lighting rig and the incorporation of stage lasers.


Fairly commonplace in arena shows now, Blue Öyster Cult were one of the first bands to utilise lasers as part of a rock concert but in the 70s it was a very expensive toy and technically still in its infancy.
Overall costs and glitches would make it a relatively short three-year feature of BÖC shows.

The three year love affair with lasers aside, the band were peaking both commercially and as a unit.
There would be further successes in the 80s with albums such as Fire of Unknown Origin and the hit single 'Burnin’ For You' but for many the late 70s era of the band was as good as it got.

The band were firing on all five cylinders of the original line-up and blending the somewhat progressive and sometimes eclectic material of their first three albums with 1976’s '(Don’t Fear) the Reaper' and the Top 30 Billboard album Agents of Fortune.
The following year there was a monster by the name of 'Godzilla' and the commercial appeal of an album called Spectres.

Post-tour, there was Some Enchanted Evening, a live album that featured tracks from the 1977 US and 1978 UK tour dates.
Some Enchanted Evening would go on to become the band’s most popular and best-selling album; it's an excellent memento for those who attended a 1978 tour show and provided a flavour of the gigs for those who didn’t.

But prior to the album's release it was uncharted live territory for British BÖC fans unfamiliar with a Blue Öyster Cult live show – most of the audience would have been caught unaware by the rocked out extended bridge of opener 'R. U. Ready 2 Rock' and Eric Bloom’s question to the crowd, all accompanied by a blaze of white light across the audience.

The rocking instrumental section and light show added power to the band’s already strong opening gambit but it was followed, and bettered by, an outstanding version of 'E.T.I.' that sported a blistering instrumental finale.
Lead guitarist Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser’s chunky power chords drove the song along while Eric Bloom’s mysterious extra-terrestrial lyric shaped the chorus – Bloom’s bracelet laser sent a light cone out above the Apollo audience while vocally declaring Balthazar had "found the saucer’s new-ooooos!"

The one-two opening punch was followed by a further seventy-five minutes of BÖC classics and three covers.
Two of those covers were, at the time, set list surprises – a punky and feisty rendition of MC5’s 'Kick Out the Jams' shared the stage with a faithful but rocked up version of The Animals classic 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place.'

But it was the BÖC originals that stole the show.
The progressive rock and roll of 'Harvester of Eyes' was a crowd favourite with a three thousand strong "Weegie" choir in fine voice... 'ME 262' was as jet powered as the fighter plane it took its name from... the short and sharp 'This Ain't the Summer of Love' was another sing-a-long opportunity for the Cult fans of Apollo.

Just about every song played on the night could be cited as a highlight but the plaintive and powerful 'Then Came the Last Days of May' was a true stand-out.
Featuring Buck Dharma on vocals, the guitarist sprayed some brilliant guitar notes out across the theatre while surrounded by a circulating array of lights and lasers.

Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma may have been the featured BÖC front men (and still are) but the late Allen Lanier’s keyboards were an integral component on many of the songs (including some great rock and roll piano on the aforementioned 'ME 262') while his rhythm guitar work beefed up the sound of others.

The Bouchard brothers were as tight a rhythm section as you would find in 70s rock and both got their moments in the spotlight.
Albert Bouchard put his voice and big beats across 'Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll' and raised his 'Godzilla' masked head to powerful, stroboscopic effect during the drum solo of the Spectres classic.
Joe Bouchard’s rhythmic jam with his brother produced some punchy and funky four-string lines before seguing to 'Five Guitars,' the band’s unique instrumental workout where each musician featured on rhythm, harmony or lead guitar.

The band’s main set closer was a bombastic version of Steppenwolf’s 'Born to Be Wild' while a searing 'Hot Rails to Hell,' featuring Joe Bouchard on lead vocal, was the encore opener.
Inevitably '(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,' which takes on an added vibrancy live, brought the curtain down on an exceptional rock show.

There were certainly Some Enchanted Evenings when Blue Öyster Cut came out to play, and on the night of 29th April 1978 Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma, Alan Lanier, Albert and Joe Bouchard were near flawless.

It was one of the best rock concerts the famous theatre ever hosted and it remains one of my all-time favourite gigs.

Ross Muir
Apollo Memories - Blue 
Öyster Cult 29-04-1978
  


'Laser Love' is part of a series of retrospective reviews by Ross Muir, reflecting upon and recalling some of the best-ever rock shows at one of the best-ever venues.
The review was inspired by hearing the show again via Rescued Recordings, a non-profit making undertaking by fans dedicated to archiving as many Glasgow Apollo/ Green’s Playhouse rock and pop concerts as possible through the collation of official live releases, radio broadcasts, soundboard and audience recordings.


Between 1973 and 1985 (and from the late 60s as Green’s Playhouse, when the cinema and ballroom complex became a live music theatre) the Glasgow Apollo was the venue for rock and pop gigs in the UK.

The building was very old and poorly maintained but it had an atmosphere like no other venue due, in no small part, to the passion and fervour of Glasgow audiences (although they knew a bad show when they heard one, and there were a few).
It was a favourite place to play for many an artist including Sammy Hagar and Status Quo.


The Glasgow Apollo website: http://www.glasgowapollo.com/

Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved