Blue Öyster Cult member Allen Lanier dies

One of the founding members of influential rock act Blue Öyster Cult, Allen Lanier has passed away at the age of 67.

The guitarist and keyboardist passed yesterday (14 August) due to complications arising from long-term lung disease COPD.

The group’s frontman, Eric Bloom released the following statement:

“My great friend Allen Lanier has passed. I’ll miss the guy even though we hadn’t spoken in awhile. 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 parted ways with the band back in 2006, but reunited for a 40th anniversary show in New York last year. He will also be remembered as Patti Smith’s boyfriend during the 1970s.

Our thoughts are with Lanier’s friends and family during this time.

[via Pitchfork]