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. In addition to his work with BÖC since its formation, Lanier appeared on recordings by numerous artists over the years, including those by The Clash, John Cale, and Jim Carroll—not to mention Patti Smith, whom Lanier was romantically involved with throughout the ’70s.
BÖC came together in Long Island in 1967 under the name Soft White Underbelly, which soon morphed into The Stalk-Forrest Group before eventually taking the strange name it would make famous. Compared to co-leaders Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma, Lanier was a less visible figure in the band as it gradually built a cult following on the backs of hits like 1976’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and 1977’s “Godzilla.” But he factored heavily into BÖC’s classic output of the ’70s, including writing or co-writing many fan-favorite album cuts like the soaring “In Thee” from 1979’s Mirrors.
Prior to BÖC’s last showing of mainstream success, 1981’s “Burnin’ For You,” Lanier had built a considerable résumé as a sideman and session musician. He played with John Cale in the ’70s—including a widely bootlegged set from 1976 titled The Ocean Club, in which Lanier appears alongside Cale, Lou Reed, and David Byrne—and added much to the former Velvet Underground member’s 1982 album Music For A New Society. He also played barrelhouse piano, anonymously, on The Clash’s 1978 song “Julie’s Been Working For The Drug Squad.” On his association with punk poet and songwriter Jim Carroll, he was given much more credit: Not only did Lanier co-write several songs with Carroll, he can be seen in live videos playing keyboards on Carroll’s 1980 anthem, “People Who Died.”