Then Came the Last Days of May

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning a classic for you today: Then Came the Last Days of May by Blue Öyster Cult, straight off their self-titled debut album from 1972. This track’s got a haunting vibe, and it’s rooted in a wild, tragic story. According to guitarist Buck Dharma, who wrote and sang the song, it’s based on a real-life drug deal gone wrong. Three students from Stony Brook University, where the band was gigging as Soft White Underbelly, headed to Tucson, Arizona, to score some marijuana. They got double-crossed by two brothers who planned to rob and kill them. The trio was taken to the desert and shot; two died, but one survived, crawling back to a highway to identify the culprits. Dharma pieced the story together from Long Island’s Newsday reports, adding a personal touch since he knew the victims. He swapped July for May in the lyrics just for the flow—poetic license, Zoo Freaks!

Here’s another tidbit to blow your mind: the song’s storytelling and moody guitar work caught the ear of critics like Lester Bangs, who called Blue Öyster Cult New York’s “first authentic boogie beast” in Rolling Stone. Fans on Reddit’s progrockmusic still rave about its bluesy, proto-metal edge, with one post calling it a standout for its “sad, beautiful composition.” The track’s live versions, like the one from their 50th Anniversary shows in 2022, bring back founding drummer Albert Bouchard for extra nostalgia. It’s a staple at their concerts, and you can feel the desert heat and desperation every time Dharma’s vocals kick in. So, crank it up, Zoo Freaks, and let this one take you on a ride!

Now, let’s rewind to how Blue Öyster Cult got rolling. Formed in 1967 on Long Island, New York, in the Stony Brook University scene, these guys started as Soft White Underbelly, a name inspired by a Churchill WWII quote. They were a bunch of college pals—Eric Bloom, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser, Allen Lanier, and brothers Joe and Albert Bouchard—jamming at local dances and bars. Manager Sandy Pearlman and critic Richard Meltzer gave them their sci-fi, occult-tinged edge, renaming them Blue Öyster Cult after a line from Pearlman’s poetry cycle, The Soft Doctrines of Imaginos. Their big break came when Columbia Records signed them, leading to that 1972 debut album we’re spinning today. Pearlman wanted them to be America’s answer to Black Sabbath, blending hard rock with psychedelia and cryptic lyrics. The rest is history, with over 25 million records sold worldwide!

Wanna keep up with Blue Öyster Cult? Check out their official website for tour dates and news, like their sold-out London show or the new live album, 50th Anniversary Live – Third Night. They’re active on Facebook, posting about gigs and merch, and Instagram, where you’ll see cool throwback pics. Follow them on X for quick updates and fan chats. For the real Zoo Freak vibe, join the Blue Öyster Cult Fans Facebook group to trade stories and setlists with other diehards. There’s also a fan-run Reddit community and a Discord server for deep dives into BÖC lore. Keep rocking, Zoo Freaks!