Godzilla

Zoo Freaks, get ready to stomp along with the monster riff of "Godzilla" by Blue Öyster Cult from their 1977 album Spectres! This tongue-in-cheek tribute to the iconic movie monster was written by the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, who came up with the song’s heavy, parallel-fifths guitar riff in a Dallas hotel room in 1975. In an interview, Buck shared, “I was a big fan of the Raymond Burr Americanization of the Toho Godzilla films… the guitar riff made me think of Godzilla, and the lyrics came quickly.” The song’s campy vibe, complete with Japanese dialogue translating to “Breaking news! Godzilla is headed towards the Ginza area! Evacuate immediately!” captures the chaotic charm of the kaiju films. During live performances, the band would crank up the spectacle, bringing a Godzilla dummy on stage while the drummer donned a kaiju mask for his solo, making it a fan favorite.

Despite its cult status, "Godzilla" never charted as a single, but it became a staple on classic rock radio and a highlight of Blue Öyster Cult’s live shows. The song’s absence from the 1998 Godzilla movie soundtrack prompted Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma to create a parody called "NoZilla," released exclusively to radio stations as a playful jab. In 2019, over 40 years after its debut, a cover by Serj Tankian of System of a Down, orchestrated by Bear McCreary and featuring Dethklok’s Brendon Small and Gene Hoglan, was included in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, marking the song’s first appearance in a Godzilla film. Fans on Reddit have raved about its enduring energy, with one user noting, “The ending line ‘History shows again and again, how nature points out the folly of man’ really summarizes Godzilla.” Another fun tidbit: Rush, while touring with BÖC, once pranked them by swapping their Godzilla intro video with a recording of “Hello, my name is Mister Ed.”

Blue Öyster Cult began in 1967 in Stony Brook, New York, initially under the name Soft White Underbelly. Formed by a group of friends—Eric Bloom (lead vocals, guitar), Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser (lead guitar, vocals), Allen Lanier (keyboards, rhythm guitar), and brothers Albert (drums) and Joe Bouchard (bass)—the band was shaped by their shared love for intellectual science fiction and hard rock. They recorded an unreleased album for Elektra Records in 1970 as the Stalk Forest Group before adopting the mysterious moniker Blue Öyster Cult and signing with Columbia Records. Their self-titled debut in 1972, followed by Tyranny and Mutation (1973) and Secret Treaties (1974), established their reputation as “thinking man’s heavy metal,” blending dark, cerebral lyrics with powerful riffs. Their breakthrough came with 1976’s Agents of Fortune, featuring the hit “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” which paved the way for Spectres and “Godzilla.” Over five decades, the band has influenced acts like Metallica and continues to tour with a lineup led by Bloom and Roeser, alongside Richie Castellano, Danny Miranda, and Jules Radino.

Stay connected with Blue Öyster Cult through their official website, where you can find tour dates and news about releases like their 2020 album The Symbol Remains. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Fans can dive deeper into the BÖC community on Reddit’s Blue Öyster Cult subreddit or join discussions in the Blue Öyster Cult Fans Facebook group. For more fan-driven content, check out Gojipedia, which celebrates the song’s kaiju connection, or explore the band’s legacy on Wikizilla. Keep rocking, Zoo Freaks, and let Godzilla stomp on!