Conference napalm::heavy_metal

   
    I saw those guys with Black Sabbath about 5 years ago and never
    thought of them as anything BUT metal!.

    I have about 7-8 of their albums and have seen them in concert before.
    They are a good band with some bizarre rock songs, but I don't think of
    them as metal myself.  That is per my personal defination of metal, I
    don't consider stuff like Bon Jovi metal either, although there are
    those that do (probably not here). 
    
    Before we get into the "what is metal" debate, there's already a topic
    for that which has received much use in the past. 
                                       
    BOC is a good band and I've been a fan from way back ('74 or so
    at least).
    
    gh
    

    I'll agree with .1!!!  They fit in right next to Steve Miller and
    Genisis.
    
    Great band!  I'm glad they're coming out with another album!
    
    BOZ

Well, when BOC first became real popular, they were considered a HM
band, although usually they were called an 'intelligent' metal band.
That's because in the mid-Seventies, you were either disco (BeeGees),
pop (Olivia Newton-John), or HM (Zep, Sabbath, etc.). So, of course,
BOC was lumped into the heavy metal category.

Now, in the Eighties, the definitions have become even less meaningful
than in the Seventies. But I definitely see BOC as a father to the 
pop/metal bands out there today. They were one of the first bands to
combine heavy metal guitar with pop hooks ("Burnin' For You", etc.),
which is so popular nowadays. And they were one of the first bands to
have science-fiction-like lyrics, instead of simple love songs or 
party songs. This is another big influence on today's music.

So is BOC Heavy Metal? I guess it depends on your definition. But I 
tend towards 'yes', if only because of their past and their influence
on the present.

(phew! I feel like I'm writing a college paper here!)

cat

    
    
            I don't know if I would really classify B.O.C. as heavy
    metal. They were certainly a hard rock band with B.O.C., Tyranny
    and Mutation and Secret Treaties. They fell into the pop metal category
    later. Their latest album certainly isn't heavy metal but it is
    heavier than their last two. 
    
           I think Imagino's was suppose to be drummer Albert Bouchard's
    solo album. He had left B.O.C. after their Fire of Unknown Origin
    album. His return is a welcomed one because something was sure missing
    from the albums he wasn't participating.
    
                                               Rich

    I always thought of BOC as "Progressive Rock", kind of along the same
    line as Rush, who I also feel are not metal (just good).
    
    gh 

    
    B.O.C. is heavy metal, sure.   But I do agree with the previous
    response, their later stuff is alot more pop than metal.  
    
    In response to .4, cat, what would you say of the later (68,69,70)
    Beatles music, if you were talking about influencial lyrics being
    a mainstay of heavy metal music?  In songs like Rain for example,
    or Tomorrow never Knows?  Is that what you meant by different lyrics
    making B.O.C. metal?
    
    HITMAN
    

        Well, I hate to disagree - but even Bon Jovi is Heavy_Metal
        compared to BOC.
    
        BOC is good, and can definitely be considered medium to hard
        rock - but they're not H_M.
    
        Hell, Honeymoon Suite has stuff that borders on H_M, but I
        held back on entering a note for fear that I'd be told that
        they're not H_M.  They have some good intros, and some hard-
        driving guitar, but even they're not really Metal.  (Yes, I
        strayed from the topic - but it seemed relevant at the time.
        Now what was I saying?).
    
        BOC?  Nah - although the record companies might group them
        with H_Mish type groups (ever look at the flyers that come
        with the 'monthly package'?  HAH!!  They call Bruce Springsteen
        hard rock!!).
    
                                                       GTI

    
    	Listen to the `Transmaniacon' album.  Songs like "She's As
    Beautiful As A Foot" can't really be taken as Hard Rock/HM.
    Although they've had some real cookers (Godzilla and Heavy Metal(Black
    & Silver) come to mind) they don't fit the HM role. (IMO)
    
    	Yo, GTI - If Bon Jovi can fit, I really don't see why Honeymoon
    Suite can't !
    
    METALord"

re: .6

>                      Is that what you meant by different lyrics
>    making B.O.C. metal?
    
Well, maybe I didn't make myself real clear. I don't think that their
lyrics made them HM. I feel that their music was closer to metal than
any other genre of music that was around at the time.

The point I was trying to make about lyrics is that they were one of
the first metal (or hard rock, if you like) bands to say something
more than "let's party" or "I love you" in their lyrics. And that is
a trend that I still see going on today. No doubt that the Beatles
started that trend (along with many others!), but BOC was one of the
first to incorporate intelligent lyrics into HM (or hard rock) music.

Does that make a little more sense now?

cat

                     
    I remember a movie I've seen in the States (81/82), named "Black & Blue".
    That was for Black Sabbath & Blue Oyster Cult. In that movie both
    bands were Heavy and great. IMO
    
    
    	Didier
            
    
    PS : Black Sabbath already featuring Ronnie James Dio  

    re .10
    
    Much clearer, cat.  Well put, as a matter of fact.  I agree!
    
    HITMAN
    
    p.s.  If you were going to put B.O.C. in a catagory of their own,
    in other words, not quite HM, not quite pop, not quite hard rock,
    what would you call it?

    
        I'd call it 'progressive hard rock'.
    
                                                       GTI
    

    
    Gesh, here goes that "progressive" word again ;-)

    Progressive hard rock....
    
    Hmmm.....   I like that!
    
    
    
    HITMAN

    
    Has anyone out there heard the new version of "Astronomy"? DEFINITELY
    NOT metal! The version on the live album is ten times better. Not
    only does the new version not rock, but the production stinks! Oh
    well...
    
    Everybody here keeps mentioning BOC's lyrics. On the sleeves of
    their first few albums, you could order all their lyrics for a dollar
    or so. Are they still avaliable? I never got around to sending for
    them myself, but I'd like to hear from anyone who did.
    
                                            Warren Young
    
    
    

    		I am a true BOC fan. For those of you who think they
    are not HM that judgement is probably based on the fact that you
    are listening to thier studio stuff. IMO it would be hard to call
    them HM by listening to studio, and the stuff they (radio) play
    on the air. Personally I thought they were BORING. then I went to
    see them at the Centrum, They wre great totatly blew me away! I've
    been a BOC fan ever sence.
    
    		To set the recrd staight in the studio they are hard
    rock.
    
    		In concert definatelly HM.
    
    		BTW dose any BOC fan know the other 2 names they are
    known by? I'll post them tommorrow. here's a couple of hints
    
    			SWU
    			SFG
    
    YOU'VE GOT POWER. WE'VE GOT THE KEY. YEAH, B-O-C !!!!!!

    				CB

    
    Re: .19
    
    SWU = Soft White Unberbellies
    
    
    
    Paul

    Yup what about SFG	
    		
    	Three men in black said,"Don't report this."

		"This is Don Kershner, and tonight on Don Kershners's
    Rock Concert a new phenomena in the music world, with 6 million
    albums to his credit in just 2 (or is it 3) short years my good friend;
    here's Jonnie........."
    
    		
    
        	Last time they played the Casino they were SWU. I didn't
    see them though. What time is the concert? Farenheit is pretty good
    too. I saw them with the Fools ( great band to see live ) at the
    Casino about 3 years ago. The casino good place for a club concert,
    small, no bad seats.
    
    		BTW did they come out with another new album? the  last
    one I've got is Club Ninga, I know they had one after that w/a remix
    of Astronomy on it but do to lack of funds (bought a house, started
    a business for wifey that hasn't got off the ground yet) I haven't
    bought any albums in 2 years!! Pretty bad when I'd get about 5-6
    a month.
    
    
				CB	
    
    	He turns around but Suzie's disappeared.....

>    		BTW did they come out with another new album? the  last
>    one I've got is Club Ninga, I know they had one after that w/a remix
>    of Astronomy on it but do to lack of funds 

Yes, they released an album about six months ago called 'Imaginos'. It
featured a remake of "Astronomy", and also had some 'guest stars' including
Aldo Nova and Joe Satriani.

"Came the last night of sadness....."

cat

    RE:-1 
    
    			Aldo Nova ? He opened for them on their ETL
    tour at the Centrum. BTW that one was broadcast across the country
    LIVE. I was there, they had a 25' ZILLA-GOD behind the set. They
    are so #$%^ing t!ts in concert!! The last time I saw them was at
    EM LOEWS. GREAT SHOW ! w/John Butcher.
    
    			BTW have you noticed that their albums are getting
    heavier & heavier (w/the exception of Club Ninga) ?
    
    				CB

    
    
    Catholic school girls twurl away there mascara, thay chain them
    selves to a axels of big mac trucks.
     
    Ok It's quiz time, several years ago myselve and a friend in a drunken
    haze tryed to count all the difrent noises in the Joan Crawford
    track "you know all the phone bells screems + sierens etc"
    never could come to agreement, but have you tried ?, belive me its
    not that simple , don't no  weather this intrests anybody but I
    made it 23.
    
    
    The Celt.
    
    

    I'm going to check BOC out at the Club Casino for the first time.
    Farenheit is backing them up. People tell me Farenheit $ux. Taint
    seen them either. Hopefully the show will be decent.... or at least the
    women. :-} 
    
    jkr

    Re: .32 That's good to know... I hate disappointments. 
    

	Wow! I didn't even know this topic existed! (see what happens when
you hit a wrong key!)

	I saw them at the Casino show last month - awesome ain't the word. Not
bad for what Rolling Egg (uh, Stone, sorry) would call a "bunch of dinosaurs"
(no pun intended, honest).  I sat right on the edge of the stage in front of
Alan Lanier.  My hands hurt for days from pounding on the stage (I guess this
qualifies them as HM in my book).  Alan had a shirt that said "Lorenzo" on it
with a red circle and a slash through it.  I tried to ask him where he got it,
but I think he thought I was asking for the shirt (off his back, yuk yuk).

	Needless to say, I was pretty drunk (which at the Casino requires a
home equity line of credit), but I don't remember them playing "Last Days of
May".  They also didn't do "Hot Rails to Hell", a really rockin' tune which is
sung by Joey Bouchard, the original bass player - anybody know what happened
to him?  Another song I really missed was "Golden Age of Leather":

	Raise your can of beer on high, and seal your fate forever,
	Our best years have passed us by, the golden age of leather...

Hearing an entire audience sing that accapella, holding cans of beer in the
air, is a really moving experience.  I would think that that would be especially
appropriate now, since they are all looking pretty "mature" (come to think of it
so was the audience).  The only song I really didn't care for is "Black Blade", 
I don't know why, but it just never grew on me.  

	For anyone out there unfortunate enough to have not seen them live, it
is a MUST.  If you like your music loud and rockin', you're gonna love these 
guys.

	Has anybody seen "Extraterrestrial Live" on CD?  My alblum is QUITE worn
- this being my first BOC alblum purchase.  The jacket, by the way, has all the
lyrics for the following songs:
	
	Dominance and Submission			Black Blade
	Cities on Flame					Hot Rails to Hell
	Doctor Music					Godzilla
	The Red and the Black				Theme from "Heavy Metal"
	Joan Crawford					E.T.I.
	Burnin' for You					Don't Fear the Reaper
	

				"My ears will melt, and then my eyes!"
							
						Brad
	

    	These guys are out touring again. This time they are the Cult
    Brothers. Does anyone know what the line-up is? For what was once
    a mega band they always seemed to like to do the club circuit.
 	
    
    
    					CB

    
    Has anyone had a chance to check out Buck Dharma's song "Gamera is
    Missing" on Guitar's Practicing Musicians CD?  Pretty good stuff!
    
    J-Dot

    They split up and a couple of members formed a band called simply The
    Cult.
    
    They do some fantabulous songs like 'Devil Woman' and 'You ain`t seen
    nothing yet'.
    
    They also do a lot of work for charity,but don`t like to talk about
    it.
    
    Er,or something like that.
    

    re: .40             
    
>    They split up and a couple of members formed a band called simply The
>    Cult.
    
    You sure you got that name right?  Not the more famous "The Cult",
    which is in no way related to BOC.  The Cult was formed around Ian
    Astbury and Billy Duffy, other members have come and gone.
    
    gh

    Greg,it was a sad attempt at humour.
    
    
                                                 Staynz

    Ah humor...ar ar.
    
    I've heard of it.

    %^)
    
    
                                                Staynz

    Does anyone know if B.O.C. is planning on any new material in the 
    near future.
    
    JEF

    
    GODZILLA!!!!!!
    

Like the man said : ON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES!!!!

    I remember that concert introduction well!
    
    	"ON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES, HERE THEY ARE, THE AMAZING
         BLUE...OYSTER...CULT!!!"
    

    
    Dominance and Submission, dudes!  :^)

    
    
    				B.O.C.
    
       this Saturday : Pearl street Cafe,Pearl Street in Northampton.
    
    
    	tix available at TM or the Northampton B.O. (413) 586-8686.
    
    stoney

They still around? Wow! I used to love them way back in the seventies. On your feet
or on your knees, right on! Any info on the line up of BOC today? Buck Dharma still
around? Allen Lanier? 

/Tom, 

    
    Or if'n you prefer things a little south, they'll be at Lupo's Heartbreak
    Hotel in Providence, RI, on Friday night, 1/6.  I'll be trying to make this
    one.
    
    Buck, Allen and Eric Bloom are all still there!
    
    - Sean

    
    The show at Lupo's was excellent as usual.  The new Lupo's (vs. the
    old one in a different part of town) is, imo, a really great place to 
    see a bar band - well laid out, unlike its horrendous antithesis, the 
    Paradise.
    
    Anyway, met up with an ex-DECie and present DECie and had a real
    good time.  
    
    B.O.C. was tight - wicked tight.  Sounding not at all like a has-been.
    I think that was my 14th or 15th time for them, I lost count.  :^)
    
    - Sean

Here's what I reported to the boc-l Internet list after their show in Paris. I
just couldn't beleive I could see them again... It was GREAT!
Cheers,
Jean-Charles
______________________________________________________________________________


From:   MORIAUD (moriaud@AMLEMAN@EHQMTS@GEO@umc@umc@VALMTS@VBO)
Date:   18-DEC-1995 15:48:09.54
To:     Multiple recipients of list BOC-L
Cc:     
Subj:   BOC: Paris concert review.
Reply requested: not set            Reply by date:   



Hello,

I finally managed to get to the BOC concert in Paris on Tuesday 14th. In spite
of the strikes (no train and no public transports), no tickets due to the post
strikes, in spite of the signature of the Bosnia treaty (Clinton and many other
presidents were in Paris this very day...) and in spite of the snow (I did 550
km from home on slippery roads). You really need to be a fan...

I was there two hours before the show hoping they would let me in for the
balance as the producer let me understand. But this was rubbish and I stayed
nearly two hours waiting in the cold with other fans. I had anyway the pleasure
to meet with other French fans. I met the 'president' of the French BOC fan
club (I didn't even know there was one) which name is Jean-Luc Carrier. He
lives in Toulouse (south of France). He was there with several friends. I must
confess that actually I thought I was a fan... But these guys know by heart
everything about BOC, every song, and they collect virtually everything.
Jean-Luc is a personal friend of Bolle and often speak to him on the phone. He
regularly publishes a little bulletin named "Blue Perl". He doesn't own a modem
yet and has no access to the Internet. So I will send him the FAQ and other
information I get from the net printed.

BOC should have taken the Eurostar train from London to Paris, but due to the
strike, they took the plane and arrived late. The show was due at 19:30 and
they only manage to arrive at around 17:30 in limousines. The doors opened at
17:45 and the opening band was a French 'celtic/hard rock/progressive/jazz'
type of band named "peter Alexander Band". Good sound, good players but well,
we were all waiting for BOC... Their show took 40 minutes. Then it took another
30 minutes for the sound check and balance...

I had the opportunity to meet Rick Downey at that time and asked him to tell
the band that we'd like to hear "Veterans of Psychic Wars". Very kindly he came
back to me five minutes later and told me "maybe, depending on their mood...".
I was surprised how cool this guy is.

The "Elysee Montmartre" is a small venue and was 3/4 full. I would say around
500-600 people were there, average age around 35! I met a guy who saw them
there in 75 ;-) Nice place anyway and lots of fans.

The play list was the following (as written by the sound engineer):

Stairways
DR Music
OD
ETI
Before the Kiss
See You in Black
Take me Away/Joan/Telepath
Cities
Last Days/Astro/Vets
In Thee
Me262/Bucks
Harvest moon
Burning
Zilla
Reaper
----------
D&B
Summer/Golden
Red&Black

Then came the so awaited moment:

A strange music made of a mix of classical music, drums, guitar, during one or
two minutes and here they are. What a shock to see Eric with short hairs, small
beard, all in black, and Buck so 'class'!

They started with "Stairway to the Stars", loud and clear, excellent sound.
Allen smoking at the keyboards. With that kind of intro., you know immediately
that the show will be good. Waooo.

Then "DR Music", a song I personally don't really like, but still a lot of
energy, particularly with Danny Miranda. This guy looks really different ;-).
What a contrast between Eric, Buck and Allen, and this guy... Buck is full of
energy, enjoying himself and just 'too easy'.

"OD'd..." was then played LOUD. Allen playing guitar too. Then Eric says that
they have something old to play too and then starts "ETI". Eric takes the micro
in his hands and is playing with it. Het then plays the keyboards. These guy
don't show their age on stage!

The guitar solo is quite poor on this one. At least I didn't like it because
it's too different from the record one... Buck looks quite happy anyway since
he raises his arm and fist like a victory sign at the end of the song...

I didn't know "Harvest Moon", that Buck sang, and I couldn't remember it...
Then came "Before the Kiss, full of energy, with a very good bass solo from
Dany. But still, the look of this guy is too different from the one of Eric and
Buck...

Then Eric introduces in French the 'new song' "See you in black". It's the
first time I hear that song. Well, it's not the kind of song I prefer from BOC.
But still, full of energy and they seem to enjoy playing it.

Allen then on keyboard for a loooong introduction that I thought the one of
"Joan Croawford". But no, it's "Take me Away". We quite didn't hear Eric during
this one... problem with his micro... forget this one...

One of the best one was "Flaming Telepaths"... The stroboscopic flashes on "and
the joke..." was great... Then a good one too "Cities of Flames..." and a
disillusion (at least for me): they played "Last Days..." but no "Veterans...".

Eric was on keyboards and Allen on guitar for this one.

Eric introduces in French "Une chanson de Allen Lanier du disque Mirrors (a
song written by A.L from the Mirror album)". They perform the 'acoustic'
version of "In Thee". Nice work.

I liked the two or three time Eric said "And now something completely
different" a la Monthy Pithons... This was time for a GREAT "Lip in the Hills".
Eric presented the bassist and the drummer (O'Reilly?) and the performed
"Burning for You", that he told was "from our last album"... and at the end
"we're still burning..."

A very 'soft' "Godzilla" followed also introduced in French by Eric.
Impressively good bass solo. Funny to see Allen talking, drinking and smoking
in the back... Then Eric and buck leave during a looooong drum solo. Well too
long for me and unimaginative, sorry.

Eric says he is happy to be in Paris the same day than the president of the
USA... And that they have to leave for Greece, "...may be in Taxi..."

The "Reaper" is just great. Perfect solo (from my point of view again)... and
this is it...

Only five minutes and they come back with "Me262", "Dominance &.." where it's
nice to see buck enjoying himself so much during the solo. Allen takes the
guitar again and they end with a speedy "The Red&...". Nice to see all them in
line...

Ending words in French "Au revoir..."

We had the opportunity to talk to the band after the show. I asked and
autograph to Eric on my FAQ ;-) He hesitated quite a lot before signing...
asking what this was and verifying that it was not a contract...;-) I was
surprised how cool these guys are too. Very nice with us, taking their time for
some photos... I was also surprised because they are very small men...

All in all it was a great show and I am so happy I could be there. I'am already
waiting for the next one. I hope that next year as Eric said...

This is it, thanks to be indulgent with my english...

Best regards,
A happy fan:


_______________________________________________________
Jean-Charles Moriaud                       Digital Equipment Corporation
Tel: +41 22 709 4979                                   12, av. des Morgines
Fax: +41 22 709 4140                                        1213 Petit-Lancy
INet: jean-charles.moriaud@geo.mts.dec.com                    Geneva
X.400: c=ch; a=400net; p=digital; o=digital; ou=geo      Switzerland
_______________________________________________________