stairway to the stars - Blue Oyster Cult 1976

[drgonzosstrat]

Anyone catch the length of this song 420 LOL - a coincidence? long live BOC

[bocno1fan]

@drgonzosstrat it skipped over 420 the way it looked over here, to 421

[masseto1987]

Nice R&R Band!!!!!

[rockkilla17]

Buck's amazing skills over shadows the great drumming! bt Great drumming never the less!

[eddietheironmaiden1]

the intro, damn way too many monsters

[6378962ROCK]

buck's acting like he doesnt give a fuck about the show...just let me play dudes!! i love him!!!!

[RetroGoop]

saw them in '78

[actron]

awesome

[mchsjtams]

I saw them in 1973 at The Schaefer Music Festival in NYC. A group called Mason Proffit opened. I had never heard BOC but I was 16 and figured what the heck. They totally swabbed the deck - people were blown away, except all their fans from Long Island who already knew all the words to their tunes. I'll always remember Eric Roeser kneeling down to play with his amp during the encore, "Magic Carpet Ride."

[dancingrizz]

never has a beter lead man hit the stage.

[baal3223]

Are you ready!!! that anouncer is annoying glad they dont do that anymore. of course they are ready they came there didn't they...

[baal3223]

Are you ready!!! that anouncer is annoying glad they dont do that anymore

[drgonzosstrat]

BOC - 8th Wonder of the World - Love this band and always will. Buck and his stun guitar - true genius and effortless sound. They have to be in the top 12 of all time bands.

[carnyumic68]

@drgonzosstrat Top 5 ever since I saw them starting in 1873

[drgonzosstrat]

@carnyumic68 OK carny after further reflection (and listening to Flaming Telepaths / Astronomy ) I change my earlier top 12 to top 5 - I'm having a BOC listening party in Phoenix over the Labor day weekend - I'll survey the guests to find out what they think - you're welcome to come - should be a great time

[paperboy6996]

I was there tripping my ass off

[bobbyozb]

It seems someone forgot to take his medication.

[Thelittlepumpkins]

They were never too popular, but damn they could put on a show

[pkrwd]

@Thelittlepumpkins Bullshit~! not too popular my ass!!  Fuck you're a dick!

[skipfuckdie]

eric bloom is sum fuckin gr8 motherfucker

[pkrwd]

@skipfuckdie Goddamn right he is!!!

[miamigroove]

what , no bass on this? :(

[eurekabach]

@miamigroove ya can't listen to it anyway xD

[gri0tube]

Can I find this live in a DVD or something? and how is it called?

[WonderBOnTheOne]

@gri0tube Make a search on Amazon.com : Blue Oyster Cult - Live 1976 that's the one

[bobbyozb]

Got a '76 Les Paul Deluxe almost identical to Roeser's......Sounds a lot like his.....Just a loud bitchin axe !!

[pkrwd]

@bobbyozb who fucking cares what you imagine you had?? Not me asshole!

[Korban3]

I cry myself to sleep in joy to the guitar solos in this one.

[Pinkfloyd75100]

I seen them Live in Fresco Colorado at a street fair in 2008

[Dogface276]

One of the most under rated band in the history of rock...long live BOC.

[almostacowboy77]

Saw them at the Avalon Ballroom in Chicago. Aerosmith opened. What a night. BOC came back out after 90% of the crowd left and played Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, anything and everything they knew for another hour! There was probably fewer than 200 of us there at 1AM.

[MrScotty590]

I once saw a band in a bar,, They called them selves "Soft White Underbelly" Thank god I was one of the lucky ones to watch BOC test fry some new music live on stage in a little Ft. Lauderdale , place called the Button South , on the strip.. hahaha , I think there were only 100 people in the crowd.... What a treat...

[fireicer]

brilliance 40 years later and still great 

[WettexSlips]

I was there, saw the show.

It's one of The Magic Moments of my Life.

[c8udyp]

Cool clip but was that announcer Randy Marsh from South Park?

[magtownrep]

Albert Bouchard lookin a bit like Billy Joel at around 1:53.

[fuzz1a]

I love these guys..... since day one!

[SFNightauditor]

Man, Buck sure makes playing guitar look effortless.

[akrocuba]

@SFNightauditor .......I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!

FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC!!!!!

[ledzeppelinbojo]

Buck totally looks like Mario!

[Ice73Storm]

A rare sight...Eric Bloom playing a Les Paul! Buck Dharma's my favorite guitarist of all time...he makes the guitar SING! I saw them in 1978. Best concert i ever saw, and I saw a lot of concerts.

[monster4josh]

ass-kicking number!

[11xzxzxz]

come on let's get outofhere like Vladamir.

Stairway to the stars, I think I'll write good health to you

Stairway to the stars, we got better things to do

You can have my autograph

[IntwatPapsmir]

At :30, every one of the guys on stage is saying to themselves, "Oh SHIT I hope I'm on my mark, oh SHIT I hope I'm on my mark, oh SHIT I hope I'm on my mark, oh SHIT I hope the stagehands weren't too stoned when they put my mark tape here where's the flashpots oh shit oh shit oh shit..."

[Rusfi16]

The usual great guitar work by Buck here with an assist by Erics Stun Guitar.

[smilingpug]

Such a soft, white underbelly .....

[sonzoomspark1]

Always great live, the band was at its best when Albert was the drummer. He wrote a lot of great tunes. Buck is soooo underrated amongst guitarists.

[FlounderFlounder99]

I was there, long time ago...

[shakey64]

Buck always wore those cool white suits...hehe. Great song..love the simple riff.

[foppa123]

3:36 on kicks ass.

[TheGojira84]

I love theguy doing the introduction

[crzyshine]

Buck also looks like a young Edgar Allan Poe, if Poe ever played the guitar this is how he would rock I bet.

[Drizzlerman]

regardless that stun guitar @ 2:26 murders your brain

[nucleardude11]

amazing isn't it

[Drizzlerman]

@nucleardude11 oh yeah

[changethismf]

Buck looks like a waiter. Good one.

Still, to this day his prowess and style grabs my ass. There is no one like him. He has always been true to himself, as is true with most of the group. BOC's Tyranny and Mutation is one of those "top three" that I would want to have on a deserted island."

[MrOzzyIommi]

this is GREAT!!!!!!!! even though Buck looks like a waiter here ahahahah don't get me bad people! rock on!

[clubninjarock]

A waiter would wear a vest rather than a jacket. He looks like Tony Orlando.

[foppa123]

lol

[mja2035]

Out of all the videotaped recordings of Buck Dharmas riffs on YouTube, this one is my favorite!

[Drizzlerman]

Their first album cover relates to this song as their symbol is the reapers scythe and the symbol for chaos and lead; heavy metal, and how the god Saturn rules over these. This song is from the perspective of this ruler and how it dispenses it's powers onto those willing to sign their love to it. Their album cover also illustrates a progression towards the stars through a vast series of spaces with doorways each leading closer to the symbol which resides above each one of them.

[Drizzlerman]

This relates to the progression of each life in empty cubicles of which is ultimately void except for the favors one gains by working with the the ruler of life so to be able to set up the next generation to pick up where you left off and to keep going onward with the life and death cycles, but how it all relates to the destinies and fates written in the stars.

[Drizzlerman]

This song was written during the Vietnam era the theme of battle, soldiering, killing, and reincarnation are hidden throughout the songs lyrics.

[Drizzlerman]

note @ around 3:04 when Eric sings 'You can have my autograph..' he draws their logo/symbol with his fingers in the air.

[clubninjarock]

Whoa......that really talks to the nuts.

[Drizzlerman]

@clubninjarock yahaha

[905Alive]

go to their site ( easy to find but can't seem to post it here--wtf?)

go to studio

then albums & cd's

the click on an album

then the song to get their lyrics

[905Alive]

go to their site and check the lyrics

You can have my autograph

I think Ill sign it good health to you

Upon the cast, your broken arm

Stairway to the stars

Think Ill write good health to you

Stairway to the stars

I hope you heal up real quick

[905Alive]

many BOC tunes have sci fi/horror/make you think lyrics along with great musicianship which is why I would love to be their drummer

this isn't one of them

it's just about a guy just making it, tasting the crazy life, signing autographs, letting people drive your over insured cars

[905Alive]

not sure, I think the song is about a musician that is finally making it, and experiencing all the trappings of being a rock star, autographs, fancy cars, groupies, signing casts, signing breasts, signing asses

the killing part is about driving the over insured car, kill them all, if you wish, I got insurance baby

most of you may be too young but back then you did not have to have insurance to register a car, so many people got burned no fault insurance was made mandatory

[905Alive]

climbing the stairway to being a star

Stairway to the Stars

that is all it is about, every BOC song is not occult, killing, sci fi

[Drizzlerman]

ok if you analyze the lyrics, and see the other hidden meaning within them it is about being a killer. Plus it sounds like Eric sings 'I think Third Reich in Hell to you' but aside from that the part about 'I hope you heal up real quick' meaning he hopes after he's killed and sent you back to the stars that you'll be reborn quickly.

[Rusfi16]

I always wondered what kind of a car it was that was insured for 30 thousand in the song,and how much it would cost to insure it in todays dollars.

[Drizzlerman]

probably some sort of military vehicle which is likely why he sings 'kill them all if you wish' after wards. This song is about being a soldier/rock musician and the similarities between them as soldiers ear stars as symbols of rank and musicians become rock stars. The occult side of this song is that it is about killing folks and how they get sent back up to the stars which birthed their souls and then they're sent back to earth when someoneelse is born in a form of astrological reincarnation

[AIKevorkian]

I really hope when we're all long gone 200+ years from now, that BOC is remembered for all this great music, rather than "more cowbell"

[PaBasser]

Love Buck's white suit. Wish he'd bring that and his Gibsons back.

[wes85292]

who does their hair?

[jimmym1964]

mmmmmmmmmm ludes,mmmmmmm

[wiktor99321]

like la grange-zz top:P

[Ease54]

Stun guitar!

[mrmott44]

Black&Blue Tuesday in Cleveland 1980, followed by Black&Blue Wednesday in Cinci--the cult blew sabbath away both nights, we were all deaf for a week. Smokin ludes and eating hash.

[rvhawkeye]

Great video, but the announcer is very annoying.

[fastfret94]

i couldnt help but laugh when i heard the announcer..lololol

[atltom58]

Buck is a bad motherfucker seen him about 9 times live.

[mja2035]

I don't know if Buck Dharma is the best rock guitarist ever, but he's my favorite!

[dapoetmaster]

There R more skilled guitarists but BUCK is my favorite as well....he's channeled the psychic essentials...

[bassmanjoe]

There is no best guitarist ever, but Donald is my favorite for sure as well!!!!

[PaBasser]

Buck's The Man. Love the white suit. He was so cool in that. Seen them twice. Once in 74 when they opened for Black Sabbath and again in 79 when Head East opened for them. Loved the laser show at that one. BOC fan since 72.

[sgor727]

Anybody out here have video from March 1978, Columbus,OH? My first BOC show, the godz opened. Would love to reexperience the show .

[Lothair13]

The first time I saw them KISS opened great show BOC was incredible! I am taking my son to see them in Oct

[easyriderusa2007]

I was at that show, it was so good. Eric threw his guitar pick out in between songs and it landed right next to my shoe! I reached down and looked at it and put it in my pocket. Good memories but I don't have any video though. I would like to see it too.

[glimmer2158]

Is that Will Farrell singing?

[JamesIsMyNamo]

What a badass band!

[luvumo2day]

out rag ious man white shoes blind man look im your biggist fan boc for evah rockonbonzo76

[thejpfan]

YOU GOT TO LOVE BUCK HE'S THE MAN

[kona8753]

i thought the sound quality was only bad on my vhs... but it still kicks ass!!!

[finestsounds]

Capitol Center / Largo, MD. I purchased the tix at a Hecht's the minute they went on sale. I was shocked & overjoyed to see that I got front row center, seeing that they were my fav band. The first ticket day sale was hardly promoted, there was no line, I was the only one there when they went on sale!. The show did end up being a near-sellout though. I wrote a review for my HS paper and took pictures with B&W film. Uriah Heep opened for them, (their guitarist Mick Box, had his arm in a sling).

[pduvall100]

@finestsounds -Very cool- I was at this show as well- Great Show. Lucky you, getting those great seats- your ears must of been ringing for days. I'm pretty sure I also saw BOC at Capitol Center a year earlier (1975) . At that time Uriah Heep was the headliner. BOC opened the show.

They had quickly risen to big-name/star status- where they belonged. My all-time favorite band- long live the music of Buck & of BOC !!!

[finestsounds]

I was sitting front row center at this concert, great show! I have this VHS, too bad the audio was recorded so poorly.

[MadisonCutlass44057]

A myth helped get these guys some attention back in the 70's. Toured with Kiss as an opening band.

T he myth was that they were to use Kisses sound equipment at a lowered volume. Instead they blasted the roof of the place and gained noterity as the loudest band in the world. They use to perfore New Years Eve concerts at the old Cleveland Colisieum for years on end. It was the show you waited for at the end of every year.

ROCK ON BOC. You will always be remembered.

[mrmott44]

They were loud--saw them in Cleveland on "Black and Blue Sunday" with Sabbath. The next night saw them both in Cincinatti, drove there with no radio or music at all--Tuesday we had classes at UC but we were all totally deaf and missed that week's classes. Loudest I ever saw, including Deep Purple and the Who, even louder than the Godz!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rusfi16]

How cool is this.BOC at thier best with Buck ripping it up and Eric on "Stun" guitar.

Thanks a mil for posting this.

[mksterr]

please welcome! from new york city...

the 8th wonder of the world...the fantastic

Blue...Oyster...Cult!!!!!

[Gumbydunzeeto]

Hey I have a bootleg of this show!

[GonzoEnthusiast]

you are truly a fortunate person. BOC was the first concert i ever saw and i couldn't hear for two days. needless to say, it was wonderful

[pduvall100]

@GonzoEnthusiast - Same here- very first band I ever saw in concert-

-1972 w/ Black Sabbath & Black Oak Arkansas -Univ. Of Maryland- What memories.

[pduvall100]

@Gumbydunzeeto  I want a copy!

[Brizzlerman]

Gotta love that stun guitar!

[Irish0400]

Truely, one of the greatest bands of all time. i havent heard a song by them yet that i havent liked. stunning band for sure...

[Efrasnel]

To those who ignore Buck: your loss, not his.

[nucleardude11]

damn strait

[clubninjarock]

Ha, truly, the Eighth Wonder of the World.

[nucleardude11]

allan, joe, and albert are the only good lookind one, eric and buck look like german porn stars! but they all rock regardless of their looks!

[groovyastrodude]

Their hair kicks unbelievable ass, as does their music!!

[nucleardude11]

true, i like allens the best.

[Brizzlerman]

B.O.C. always sets my headphones on flame, well not really but they do get all heated up for some reason when I play their tunes thru them at high volume.

[DavidSontz]

Buck's Solo at 2:00 owns anyone in todays Rock/Metal.

[TheJamezMan]

Amen.

[capricioussole]

@TheJamezMan  praise be the elder gods

[aarthoor]

He's one of the great underated guitarists for sure.

[arcmage]

Listen to Buck's Boogie sometime.

Truly epic.

[BoondockSaints01]

fuck yeah! noone nowadays can touch him!

[notahemi]

And he makes it look like he's not even tryn'.

[WettexSlips]

The fill at 3:27 is Absolutely Fucking Magic.

Amen.

[magtownrep]

Buck kicks major ass in this clip. So fuckin rad.

[DavidSontz]

" The Amazing Blue Oyster Cult "

[FatwNker]

Is that Ronald Binder doing the intro? Hell yes it is.

[SPAZZOBOXER]

Saw them open shows with this 30+ years ago, transfixed entire auditoriums with it's demanding, hypnotizing, groove/heavy punch to the sinuses. Obviously, this recording leaves a lot to be desired, as do all the tracks from this 1976 show that suffers from channel amputation, & a paucity of prod. values. But, if you utilize your imagination, {always an asset, & intellectual necessity when ingesting BOC}, you can FEEL the full sonic range accompanying the visual. Better song than Zepp's Stairway.

[carrienurse]

SPAZZOBOXER--You are always DEAD ON. Perhaps I was at one of those 30+ shows. Yessir. There was NOTHING better than BOC shows opening with STTS. Remember them changing that up when "Spectres" came out? And then "Mirrors"? Sorry, but the shows opening with "RU Ready 2 Rock" or "D. Music", IMHO, never quite matched up with this great one from their debut.

[SPAZZOBOXER]

RU Ready/Dr.Music are weaker openers to BOC's transcendental "Live" shows. Although the intrumental gear change/vocal rap in the middle of "RU" featuring Buck's "Chainsaw" snakes/ladders pick runs & E.Bloom's emphatic dissertations on democtratization, libertarianism & societal attitudes re. voluntary ingestion of alternative recreational pharmacological substances could get sound pretty raucous & set an expectant heavy tone for the upcoming show ala the opening trk. on "Some Enchanted Evening".

[Johnhoulgate]

What a treat! Thanks for posting!

[powerkor]

they got some wack lyrics

[Brizzlerman]

Thanks to Richard Meltzer. But this song is supposed to reflect the apathetic and arrogant attitude taken by rock stars towards the outside or lower world.

[powerkor]

thanks for the insight. it was really tough trying too make sense of the lyrics as a teenager.

[karlwarrior123]

They are truely an amazing band..one for the ages!

[teachmike2000]

My first concert in 1976! Been a huge fan ever since! Seen them dozens of times.

[shakey64]

I love early BOC. They were my first concert in 1979.

[carrienurse]

Unfortunately, another recording sounding like it came off the soundboard. Certainly not hearing the mix the audience was hearing. No matter, this was THE Cult at their height.

[guitarshred998877]

I know joe, he's my guitar teacher (he started out with guitar, switched 2 bass, and back 2 guitar)

[blackbook668]

this is on Life on Mars.