You?re asked to make some tough calls when you?re a musical icon. Eric Bloom, lead singer and guitarist of Blue Oyster Cult, is often asked by music journalists and others to rank the best guitarists in rock. Bloom is, after all, the man who wields the “stun guitar.”
“I get asked that a lot and there are a lot of guys I like. I can?t answer the question because I don?t want to leave anyone off the list,” he said. “Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore?s Night), Peter Frampton, the tried and true are still my favorites.”
Certainly, Bloom has seen them all in his 35+ years as frontman for the band that arguably holds the title of best metal band from the U.S. Happenstance led Bloom to land the Blue Oyster Cult job as road manager and then as frontman. But while some classic rockers seem content to ride on their past achievements, Bloom and his band mates make it clear they?re no oldies band waiting for retirement.
Bloom, for example, has collaborated with some fairly famous writers (such as John Shirley) to write a few recent Blue Oyster Cultsongs. But like most classic rockers, Bloom and his band mates know that many in the audience are there primarily for some of the older hits.
That devotion to Blue Oyster Cult classic songs such as [“Don?t Fear] the Reaper and Godzilla, has helped Bloom build a custom-made guitar business. Bloom works with a painter to create and sell elaborately painted custom-made guitars, each one of which interprets a different Blue Oyster Cult song.
People love reliving the Blue Oyster Cult songs because it puts them back to the times in their lives when they first heard them, said Bloom. Consider that Trans Siberian Orchestra, which often features special surprise guests, had a special Blue Oyster Cult guest in 2006.
“We had Buck Dharma as a guest last year,” said Paul O?Neill, founder and leader of Trans Siberian Orchestra. “We had to have him play “Don?t Fear the Reaper,” on New Years Eve. Everyone loved it.”
IF YOU GO
Blue Oyster Cult
Venue: Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis
When: 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday
Tickets: $42.50
Info.: 410-547-SEAT
