Tonight was the formal opening night of the Blue Öyster Cult European tour, albeit a minimalist tour of six dates and one semi-secret show the night before playing as Soft White Underbelly. Subsequently, it was no surprise that this only official UK Blue Öyster Cult show at The London Palladium was completely sold out.
Blue Öyster Cult
The London Palladium – 25 May 2025
Words: Adrian Stonley
Photography: Robert Sutton
For those lucky enough to get tickets, this was a storm through their sumptuous back catalogue, with the majority of the set derived from their 1970s and early ’80s albums. 
For long-time fans, this was close to as perfect as they could get, and for any newer fans, then, it was the perfect introduction to the musical majesty that is Blue Öyster Cult.
This was a stripped-down show, with no onstage theatrics or lasers, just a few sparsely positioned lights and the band doing what they do best, playing some of the most perfect rock ‘n’ roll.
Perhaps where the previous night’s Soft White Underbelly show was more about rock ‘n’ roll, this was a concert clearly based around great songs and brilliant musicianship. With permanent members Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom to the fore, tonight was about sharing with a buoyant audience all that is good and great about this band.
Opening with Dr. Music from the Mirrors album, the band set the standard for that which was to come with all the hits and a few deeper cuts, ensuring that everyone went home happy.
Before The Kiss, A Redcap received a rapturous response before rolling into Career Of Evil.
If the audience were not already warming up, then the familiar Acapella introduction to Golden Age Of Leather brought their voices to the fore. At this point, it was very clear what sort of an evening we were in for.
The band were clearly enjoying themselves, with long-time bassist Danny Miranda prowling the stage, swinging his bass around and exchanging jokes with Eric Bloom.
That Was Me from 2020’s The Symbol Remains album was the first of two nods to more recent material and was also well received before the enthusiasm and audience reaction accelerated into a blistering Burnin’ For You.
That was particularly a kickstart into the next gear as they ripped through Cagey Cretins from the Secret Treaties album before jumping back briefly to the ’80s with Shooting Shark. This was a song that saw Buck Dharma completely open up on guitar, and if the audience were salivating before at the musical genius on show, they were positively dribbling after.
His exquisite technique was clearly on show, and if there had been a couple of hiccups the night before, any glitches were very clearly ironed out tonight as Dharma pulled out all the stops to produce an exquisite guitar masterclass.
With the likes of E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), Hot Rails To Hell and Astronomy following, the band were in full flow. Lead singer and guitarist Eric Bloom was swapping instruments and vocal duties around with keyboard player and guitarist Richie Castellano.
At times, with three lead guitars finely attuned, the guitar-rich trinity burst out in its full and obvious glory. With Danny joining in, the familiar foursome stood proud at the front of the stage whilst receiving the love of the adoring masses.
With the familiar introduction of “Something bigs coming this way,” the familiar crunching chords of Godzilla rung forth, complete with vociferous audience interaction.
Only one song could eclipse this moment, and unsurprisingly, following a further imaginative and interpretive guitar break from Dharma, the familiar notes of rock classic and main set closer (Don’t Fear) The Reaper rang out.
There is something magical in the way in which the band members all interrelate, both personally and musically. Blue Öyster Cult are an incredibly tight unit, always have been, and no doubt always will be. Tonight, just emphasised this.
With the stripped back stage, this allowed the musicianship to shine through. With their first album released in 1972, although they had been together since 1967 as the aforementioned Soft White Underbelly, this is a band that has now been in existence for fifty-three years yet show no sign of letting up.
With the encores taking us back to the early days, Teen Archer merged into Harvester Of Eyes before a storming Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll brought the set to an end.
But what a way to end it. It had been a magical two hours. No one could have asked for more, and for those who had been at the two shows, and it appeared there were plenty who were, then they had been completely immersed in everything that makes a Blue Öyster Cult show such a magical experience.
With the audience on their feet and bellowing for more, the band, bowing and throwing picks, left the stage, left the audience still hungry for more, and stepped out into the night.
What was clear from tonight is that anyone catching these shows is going to be in for a special treat. The band’s form and musical genius is such that they are clearly going to remain with us for many years to come.
So, roll on their next visit to these shores, and until that time arrives, we have some fabulous memories.
