Blue Öyster Cult - Astronomy - Live in Chicago 2002

Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards - Eric Bloom
Guitar, Vocals - Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums, Percussion - Bobby Rondinelli
Keyboards, Guitar - Allen Lanier
Recorded on the Summer Solstice, June 21, 2002 at Navy Pier/Skyline Stage, Chicago, Il.

[@fabfore4]

Buck is the best improvisational rock guitarist I’ve ever seen in my life!! Effortless too.

[@harryurz]

Tasteful solos too; concise and tonal; brilliant but soooo underrated

[@dewdude2112]

I like Michael Schenker too. Both of them a LEGENDS! A million riffs.

[@matframpton8656]

Best band on earth in my opinion. ❣️

[@damianotancredi2321]

For sure!

[@davidreynolds1516]

Their music DOMINATED my late teens/early twenties. They lost their Live appeal when Alan left us. Buck is/will ALWAYS be my favorite and Eric (and his sunglasses) with his enthusiasm for the lyrics will live in me forever!!!

[@arthurhall8238]

On this song, Buck proves why he's one of the most musical soloists ever!

[@thomassus4444]

Buck really tears into that first solo! The second one with the delay also rips so effortlessly.

[@JohnHoulgate]

A lot of guitar players can play fast. Not all can play fast musically.

[@keeranimal8]

For years my wife didn’t understand why BOC is one of my favorite bands…I got autographed memorabilia all over my band room…a few years back she was like “they’re really good, but what other really cool songs do they have besides Reaper?” Showed her this, and she’s been a massive fan ever since!!

[@ricardoavila197]

I love veterans of psychic wars, then came last days of may...

[@williamosborne6866]

@@ricardoavila197 My two favorites as well, followed by this one....

[@what7280]

Unpopular opinion, but dancing in the ruins is one of my favourites

[@fredcrowley7903]

Once people get introduced to their body of work, most become die hard fans.

[@MichelleBedard-w6j]

boc are in my top ten even if i like so many bands so much i listened to so much songs i know what sounds good

[@debrasarishvili9923]

Have loved BOC since I was in my teens. Their songs have gotten me through some tough times. Whenever I listen to them, memories made while listening to their music come back with such joy.

[@OldSaltyChip]

Man, I've always been a fan since the release of Fire of Unknown Origin. I love these guys. One of my top bands forever.

[@vernbodeen1]

Go much further bsck.

[@2is1acuity]

What an outstanding performance on the guitar, WOW!

[@pgzzz]

Buck is a fabulous guitarist, but his finest hour was on the live version on some enchanted evening. I first heard that 40 years ago and it still makes the hairs on my arms stand up to this day.

[@ricardoavila197]

I'll check your suggestion. He's really unique 🤙

[@paulclark5413]

Some Enchanted Evening was the album that got me into BOC. & this song!

[@Andre-yq7ce]

Veteran of Psychic War's solo is a truly masterpiece Every note shakes your soul like an earthquake Buck Dharma is a fucking legend

[@gtate135]

SEE was beyond epic! One of the greatest solos ever recorded imho

[@fabfore4]

The some enchanted evening version is easily the song I’ve listened to the most… Ever, of any song in my life. It’s like a puzzle, and I can’t figure how the fuck his fingers can do all that

[@jareddavidmanifold313]

Metallica covered this song on 1998s garage inc

[@russellj.s.257]

RNRHOF worthy,who agrees with me?

[@maxthepupp]

Damn, Buck can shred! Still can but could then too! Great version!🙏

[@mcbeezee2120]

FINALLY, this has been released. Eric's pipes a far cry from his beautiful original 1974 version, but Buck simply magnificent. Terrible editing though. You got Buck performing an epic solo, yet they shift the view to here, there, and everywhere where Buck isn't. You keep the view on the Master during a solo!

[@sKraat528]

Eric's BEST version imo is a slowed down, lower key, acoustic one. Sounds actually amazing. Try 'acoustic live blue oyster cult cruise' and find the 2-part set. Astronomy is on part 1 at the end.

[@pgzzz]

Still can’t beat the version from “Some enchanted evening” though - that was the definitive version IMHO

[@sKraat528]

@@pgzzz gonna have to check back on that one. Love that album.

[@mcbeezee2120]

@@pgzzz If you've heard the version from "Live 1976", you may find Eric's pipes from back then were unparalleled. So unfortunate though was, that video release suffered from a horrible audio track. It has been said that it was recorded "from the soundboard"(?) No idea what that meant, but the audio suffered from practically no bass track. But seeing how the rest is that good, it's almost excusable. It also features video from their controversial laser show, which the camera technology of the time could not capture its magnitude.

[@clansome]

@@pgzzz I was privileged to see them on that tour and I'm lost in the audience on "Godzilla" and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" from 1st June 1978. Was so stoked as a 20 year old to find that a concert I'd been to had been recorded (well 2 tracks). Definitely the best version of "Astronomy" on that record though.

[@elfman5176]

BOC always took the roof off At their live shows Amazing Guitars and Vocals

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

Allen's keys were a special part of BOC

[@davidreynolds1516]

Agreed......I've seen BOC too many times to count. Allen's death and subsequent absence has changed the live performances play list. I need some Joan Crawford!!!

[@ue4058]

@@davidreynolds1516 Others songs have come into ascension though, like Then Came the Last Days of May and Harvest Moon, so there's that. Bot of those are burners.

[@UjjayaEthnoambient]

We all want the mustache of Buck Dharma back !

[@YaoEspirito]

Neal Schon too!

[@NIB1306]

What an underrated guitarist is Buck Dharma.

[@Ghostartist]

Astronomy Forever ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@JohnHoulgate]

That moment you hear Eric sing, ". . .And then came me" and you see you're only about halfway through a 10 minute video. You know what's coming.

[@fabfore4]

Musical heaven!!

[@Drivapete]

Timeless classic!

[@Tao818]

The most melodic shredder and all round guitarist!

[@Nordraw]

They should be in the HOF just for that performance alone. Put them in!

[@geoffmcnew5863]

More feeling in his left pinky than Clapton has in his whole body

[@eddiep2899]

I was there on the summer solstice at Navy Pier's Skyline Stage, but I never realized until hearing this nicely mastered track that Allen played such a subtle yet significant keyboard part during this BÖC classic :-)

[@bayknight20]

He was a great musician and helped make the band what it became.And being friends with Patti Smith didn't hurt either

[@eddiep2899]

@@bayknight20 - I KNOW! But - again - my comment was about this particular live version of one of the ultimate BÖC songs.

[@beefoneeto]

Allen ALWAYS shined(shone??) on the live version of this song.

[@keefmack]

I always liked that on the studio version of this song it is much more piano oriented while on Some Enchanted Evening and other live performances it is guitar driven.

[@davidreynolds1516]

I've seen them a handful of times since Allen passed. I will always love this band but Lanier and the Bouchard Brothers Rhythm Section absence has lowered the BOC LIVE Effect. Eric and Donald (Buck).......❤❤❤❤❤ But something is missing 😥😢

[@lorlandogarcia]

Excelent Song. Eric Bloom GRANDE. GRANDE. No esta Buck DhArma???? . El guitarrista excelent (? Como se llama ?)

[@ronaldredmond3308]

Question : Why isn't B O C in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame??????

[@flyspith7686]

BEcause the Rock and Roll hall of bullshit is a joke... Why you ask ?? Look who is in there and who is not.. The name is a joke in itself...

[@gtate135]

Buck is the shit!

[@haraldrohrscheid5700]

Moon is made of Cheese-that´´s where guitars are from :) this one´´s from a far Galaxy ;))

[@EyEpOkEr1000]

That is the world's only cheeseberger guitar (cheese + steinberger). Read that on the BOC website...

[@boubabouba417]

Wow!

[@williamsuarez9486]

Absolutely nailed it!

[@andrewneedham3281]

Why have they not been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet? Of course, that organization has snubbed so many other great bands.

[@BrianGreeneRAD]

They’re too good! It would be an insult

[@TSPH1992]

They transcend space and time. And the Hall of Fame became too small for them

[@cindyrussell2028]

So well said

[@tracysnow349]

i would comment but i have had my mind officially blown again!

[@georgeyramone1720]

For you father.... Can you hear this masterpiece from up there??? 😓💔

[@tagadabrothersband]

Why this one isn't on the "A Long Day's Night" DVD but only on the CD? It's really a pity! I thought there had been a shooting problem during this song...

[@alejandrohernandezyanez2695]

Every version of this is AMAZING!!!! Súper rolisisisima!!!!!!!!

[@petermaguire1939]

Buck rocks saw them at radio city radio hall .. great show

[@beefoneeto]

I was there for both nights.

[@vaneipontes3824]

I Was There, Simply Night Magic ⚡ 🔥 💪 👊 😎 Great Band Criminally Underrated ⚡ 🔥 👊😎🤘

[@Psychonaut42]

F^^&*()€£@king awssssoooomeee!!!!!! I love you blue oyster cult 🙌🙌🙌

[@kokorozz]

Masterful!

[@Lowgun5]

I miss the sublime Joe Bouchard bass solo right before Buck Dharma goes nuts at 5:10 from the "Some Enchanted Evening" version, but Buck Dharma once again nails a completely different but still just as bad ass solo as on every other live version of this song I've ever heard. Plus, I'll bet that Swiss cheese guitar weighs a lot less than the white Gibson SG.

[@madmac66]

Buck fucking Dharma ladies and gentlemen

[@michaelross1339]

I am a diehard fan of the Imaginos version.

[@ludwigmaple1911]

How fuckin great was that? Huh?

[@Pericles78]

The interpretation is 1000% better than metallica.

[@fabfore4]

Should be, it’s their song!!

[@СергейМостовский]

guitar solo the best

[@harryurz]

Loved them as a teenager, but lost interest around Mirrors, but since retiring have rediscovered the band, especially the live stuff. Mirrors, Club Ninja and Imaginos all got a bad press back in the day, but to me are excellent parts of the back catalogue!

[@escargotomy]

May I just say, and for the record...FUCK YEAH!!!

[@xtevetyler5332]

ah from secret treaties along with me262 and that great era. haunting songs like last days of may. veteran of a psychic war have I flown this old war machine year after year opened my psyche to the invasion of a million attacks so the poison is in my veins and in my mind. if you see the doctor in the worshop of the telescope, then please remember me to him and tell him I never was, it was all monsters in my mind and the realm beyond to where I have no fear of the reaper and the 4 riders anymore. now I have a deep mission to engage. tell mother I miss her.

[@satyrosphilbrucato9140]

"Reaper" is their greatest HIT, but "Astronomy" is their greatest SONG.

[@westyavro]

Nope best song is Then Came the Last Days of May

[@niltoncesar1758]

A melhor banda de todo universo 👍 até extraterrestre escuta 😁

[@georgesteixeira8310]

Pour moi le meilleur solo de guitare depuis Hendrix (hey joe), cela soulève les tripes tellement d'émotion, waouh!!!

[@TheMunstawave]

Oui Oui

[@lorkox]

une dinguerie

[@russellj.s.257]

They should of added this on the DVD.

[@robertburke784]

I love this song, I love the album its on, and I love Mr. Buck Dharma's guitar playing! BOC is one of the most under appreciated bands of this era, and I don't know why. I have seen them live multiple times, and they put on a great show every time. There is also an energy to the rhythm section, that many other bands lack. I love the music of the 70's!

[@diegoe.sacchi2139]

I'm always enchanted by the musical performances of this band.

[@mehmetaliislamturk254]

I am a met fanboy This is first time I listen out Böc version Now I have a sensation about why this is "original" and real...

[@piyaboonklong2443]

Best band of all time

[@josemauropicasso4970]

This sound was composed and recorded in 1974. When Rush was in its infancy. Both bands played together in those crazy 70's. I personally believe that Rush saw a lot of things in BOC interesting and then was inspired by their Progressive phase, after 1977 onwards!!!!

[@timbraman2658]

Roeser is an amazing improv guitarist

[@Mynansabrick]

one comment about this solo EPIC

[@yngvebalmsteen9174]

The crowd seems moribund.

[@mehmetmuratceliktas9008]

What an incredible solo performance! Different level!

[@Nordraw]

Un real that is the best I have heard that

[@gazzboard]

What effect does buck switch on briefly at 07:13

[@donross6650]

Awesome!

[@iwin2655]

Crazy to think 2002 was 21 years ago.

[@thomasmeadowsjr3474]

No doubt, Buck is totally under rated as a guitarist

[@TSPH1992]

And the guy can sing. Wow

[@TSPH1992]

Never thought he could pull that off at the end

[@squire4463]

No cowbell needed. Someone check Buck’s guitar strings. Likely ground down to almost nothing at the end of this epic finish.

[@matframpton8656]

Absolutely Fabulous.

[@jeremielibot-musique9466]

Why wasn’t it released on the DVD?

[@nazli8325]

Huh Buck...lu mmg dasat beb.

[@williamgorman6685]

Saw them with sabbath in 1979

[@bobzdar9442]

This is so lame... the live version I mean.

[@ToSanJa]

One of the best !!!

[@ScworEz]

WOW !!!1000 likes !

[@ghanem.sbaih87]

WoW ❤❤❤

[@RIFFRAFF104]

I saw BOC with Zebra opening for them at radio City music Hall NYC in the 80's. I'm 16 years old.. From Jersey. Drinking all day in NYC bars.. We smoked up inside the concert.. And basically passed out... The people in the concert were totally cool.. The young rockers partied too much... I remember walking up when Godzilla came on stage...... Good times.

[@mnelson3225]

Guitar hero defined. Breathtaking...

[@69z281]

I was there! One of the greatest bands ever!

[@ue4058]

Might be the best live video of this I've seen. Dharma was so on fire, he actually cracked a smile!

[@oliverangermuller9827]

My god 😱 What an icredible guitar solo. One of my all time favorites.

[@samuelstoner1838]

Nice

[@TheMunstawave]

Dang !!!

[@ivanmay7890]

Secret Treaties is the only Blue Oyster Cult album you need to own. Either Secret Treaties or Agents Of Fortune.

[@dennyelrod513]

You, sir...are fill of shi-it. :) Every album is worth owning...all through '85 and then "Symbol" should be in your collection.

[@thomasrendall2237]

Saw them Aragon Ballroom Chicago 1976 as a lad and BOC sounds just as good now as then. Few bands can say that. Wishbone Ash The Stones Golden Earring ZZ Top also been playin' for over 50 years. Amazing!!

[@billythekid7839]

My fav cover of Metallica’s

[@michellec6844]

I was looking at recent setlists. Hoping to see BOC in November. It looks like they don't do Astronomy anymore :(

[@fabfore4]

If you yell for it long enough!!! They may whip out a version.

[@timschultz129]

Holy shit!

[@deking43]

God is the big dude in the sky. Sorry ladies, boys just think a bit different.

[@TheBhannah]

This is channeled from a higher place !

[@steventudor3769]

I wish they would tour Australia

[@morepiff21]

easily top 20 solo of all time.

[@stevenwilkinson1265]

Buckie D .....

[@eddiep2899]

ugh... bad conjugation.......

[@esoteric5277]

Never ceases to amaze me🎸🎶🔊🤯🥴🥳

[@marcdavis2745]

Awesome

[@bloodmoon1956]

Omg! What a band! 👍🇬🇧

[@ericskinner7355]

Always preferred this version.

[@BrianGreeneRAD]

Crowd was too passive!

[@TSPH1992]

Indeed. They were like statues

[@fabfore4]

Baked

[@Metalholica1]

🙋 I was there!!! Buck was on 🔥🔥!!! 🤘🤎🤘

[@rbrobbi]

I was at this show and it was one of the earliest HD Video concerts. I remember talking with the video crew before the show about the new technology. Ya wouldn’t know it from this video. Great show.

[@deadmessenger3484]

Except for the fact that Buck was "in the zone" I thought it could have used a bit more keyboards. But who the f#$% am I. WTF, Buck tore it up.