Allen Lanier – Burnin’ No More, RIP

Allen Lanier—the keyboardist, guitarist, and songwriter best known as a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult—has died. According to BÖC’s website, Lanier “succumbed to complications from C.O.P.D. [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].” He was 67.

“We’ve lost our friend and bandmate,” the statement reads, confirming that Lanier died of complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Using an acronym for the band’s biggest hit, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” the band later says: “DFTR sweet man. We love you and miss you.”

The keyboardist and guitarist retired from the band in 2006, but returned for an anniversary show late last year.

The last show I saw him play with Blue Öyster Cult was on the Renfrew Ferry, when despite his claims of being on the wagon, he started off getting the audience to buy him drinks before dropping any pretence (and keyboard parts) by jumping off stage to use the stage right bar.

Eric Bloom said;

“I’ll miss the guy even though we hadn’t spoken in awhile,” he wrote. “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 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 Jim Carroll right now.”

Lanier is survived by his wife Dory, sister Mary Anne and mother Martha.