Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Allen Lanier dead at 67
 

Blue Oyster Cult founding member Allen Lanier has died at the age of 67.

The keyboardist/guitarist passed away in the hospital after a fight with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung disease commonly associated with smoking.

Bing: More on Allen Lanier

Frontman Eric Bloom broke the news on the band's Facebook page on Wednesday, writing, "My great friend Allen Lanier has passed. I'll miss the guy even though we hadn't spoken in a while. He was so talented as a musician and a thinker. He read voraciously, all kinds of things, especially comparative religion. We drove for years together, shared rooms in the early days. We partied, laughed, played. All BOC (sic) fans and band members will mourn his death. Ultimately smoking finally got to him. He had been hospitalized with C.O.P.D. It was Allen who heard some old college band tapes of mine and suggested I get a shot as the singer in 1968. A lot of great memories, over 40 years worth. Maybe he's playing a tune with (punk writer) Jim Carroll right now."

Lanier, who was the one-time partner of singer Patti Smith, was with Blue Oyster Cult for almost 20 years from 1967 to 1985 when he left, only to return two years later. He co-wrote several of the band's hit songs including "True Confessions," "Tenderloin" and "Lonely Teardrops." Lanier retired from performing with the band in 2006.

Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Allen Lanier dead at 67 - MSN Music News

Re: Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Allen Lanier dead at 67
 

R.I.P.

Re: Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Allen Lanier dead at 67
 

Sad, I hate smoking.

Re: Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Allen Lanier dead at 67
 

Did he fear the reaper?

It's not in bad taste - he was a Rocker so I'm sure he wouldn't mind...

Re: Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Allen Lanier dead at 67
 

... that's what I was thinking ... "RIP man, don't fear the reaper ... a little cliche', but I'm sure we're not the only ones, :mrgreen:.

Re: Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Allen Lanier dead at 67
 

Really a shame. BOC was A major part of my teenage years. They were one of several bands at my first concert. A Rock Super Bowl in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando. Now the Citrus Bowl.