Saturday, January 16, 2016

Today in motorcycle history, January 16, 1972


  



  





  Blue Öyster Cult releases it's eponymous debut album.









  The album featured songs such as "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll", "Stairway to the Stars", and "Then Came the Last Days of May", all of which the band still play during their shows.


  The album received mostly positive reviews from critics. Critic extraordinaire Lester Bangs gave the album a generally positive review stating, "with Blue Öyster Cult, New York has produced its first authentic boogie beast, and with any luck this one should be around for awhile" adding "I don't think you should miss this album." Circus wrote that "it could well be the album of the Seventies". The record was named an honorable mention on IGN's list of "Top 25 Metal Albums" and has been called "Heavy metal for people who hate heavy metal."


  That's great, but what does this have to do with motorcycles you ask? When Blue Oyster Cult played live "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" it was shortened to "Rock and  Roll" and 98% of the time they had a bike on stage. During the "On Your Feet or On Your Knees" tour (1975) Eric Bloom would come onstage aboard a Harley-Davidson and crank it up to open the show! The gig would end with their version of "Born to Be Wild".


  Rock and Roll.






  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk