Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll

The Zoo Crew is cranking up the vibes at THE ZOO radio station, spinning "Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll" by Blue Öyster Cult for all the Zoo Freaks out there. This track, from the band’s 1972 self-titled debut album, is a hard-hitting classic that’s been a staple of their live shows for decades. One juicy piece of trivia is that the song’s demo was pivotal in landing Blue Öyster Cult their deal with Columbia Records. The riff, inspired by Black Sabbath’s "The Wizard," gives it that gritty, heavy edge, while the lyrics, penned by singer-songwriter Harry Farcas, weave a tale of nuclear devastation through rock and roll metaphors. Drummer Albert Bouchard takes lead vocals, a rare move, belting out lines like “My heart is black, and my lips are cold” while pounding the drums, which he also did live, adding a raw intensity to performances.

Digging deeper, the song’s lyrics reference “Sir Rastus Bear,” which fans might not know was the name of Farcas’ pet Saint Bernard, adding a quirky personal touch to the apocalyptic imagery. Critics at the time, like those at Cash Box, praised its “hard driving, heavy metal” vibe, predicting it would light up both AM and FM radio. The track’s enduring appeal is evident in its covers by bands like Church of Misery and Iced Earth, and its inclusion in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and the soundtrack for That '70s Show. On X, fans like @doomedparade have called it one of the best song titles ever, noting Buck Dharma’s scorching guitar solo in a 1981 Hollywood, FL performance. The song’s raw energy still resonates, with fans on Reddit sharing stories of catching it live as an encore in 2017 shows in Vegas and Toledo.

Blue Öyster Cult got their start in 1967 in Stony Brook, Long Island, New York, initially as a college band called Soft White Underbelly. The group, led by vocalist/guitarist Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser, vocalist/rhythm guitarist Eric Bloom, keyboardist/guitarist Allen Lanier, drummer Albert Bouchard, and bassist Joe Bouchard, was shaped by manager Sandy Pearlman, who envisioned them as America’s answer to Black Sabbath. Pearlman, a rock critic, gave them their iconic name, inspired by his poetry about a group of aliens guiding Earth’s history. Their early sound blended hard rock with psychedelic and occult elements, influenced by bands like Alice Cooper, Grateful Dead, and Jimi Hendrix. By 1972, after years of gigging and refining their sound, they released their debut album, featuring "Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll". The album’s black-and-white cover, designed by artist Bill Gawlik, and its heavy, tongue-in-cheek style earned praise from critics like Lester Bangs in Rolling Stone, who called them New York’s “first authentic boogie beast.”

The band’s official website, www.blueoystercult.com, is a treasure trove for Zoo Freaks, offering tour dates, merch, and news. You can catch up with them on Facebook, where they share live performance clips, like a 1980 rendition of "Cities on Flame" at Nassau Coliseum. Their Instagram features behind-the-scenes shots and throwbacks, while their X account keeps fans updated on shows and engages with posts about classics like "Cities". For deeper dives, check out fan communities like the Blue Öyster Cult Fans Facebook group, where devotees swap stories and rare photos. The fan site Hot Rails to Hell is another gem, packed with discographies, interviews, and fan art, keeping the cult of BÖC alive for all the Zoo Freaks tuning in.