How Drummer Albert Bouchard left Blue Öyster Cult - Interview

[@stevemcnary7963]

Albert kind of glossed over that he was late/missing shows on that European tour(probably due to the coke habit he mentioned as stimulants during recording Fire Of Unknown Origin album). It's too bad that bands cant stay together for whatever reasons. The lineup of Bloom, Buck, Bouchard's & Lanier was untouchable.

[@opaque4742]

@steve mcnary Albert is great and a vital part of BOC, but I have to be honest: he seems to waffle a bit on his departure or removal from the band. I saw another Q&A in which the question came up and Albert said nothing about the wives/girlfriends not getting along. He said that "I'll just say this...someone in the band didn't want me to sing all the songs I wrote or co wrote." I believe he was referring to Eric Bloom's tendency to sing more songs than either Al or Joe did. No mention of the drugs, the women, or showing up late on tour. So there must be more to the story than they will ever share.

[@anfrankogezamartincic1161]

You got that right. FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN is their ultimate classic. All the records they recorded after Albert are...uhm, good,but not great. IMAGINOS included

[@godsofohio6734]

With the Bouchard brothers, BÖC had 5 gifted, unique songwriters and 4 singers.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Fire of Unknown Origin is a superb album, their darkest fits perfevyly the imaginary all Cult. Masterpiece not a single dull moment and their last great album.

[@m.j.hooligan8139]

Seen Albert with his brother and Dennis Dunaway in their band Blue Coupe at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland in 2019 - GREAT SHOW..!

[@AngryPostmanStockholm]

Just to read Dennis name is such deep thing to me, early cooper band made me much to what i am today ♥

[@rubicon-oh9km]

The Bouchard's were a massive part of BOC's success. Joe Bouchard's song, "Morning Final" off Agents Of Fortune is the bands finest moment in my opinion.

[@stephen1562]

And Joe's Screams off the debut 👍

[@buddhull]

Morning Final, Dominance and Submission, Hot Rails To Hell, Fireworks and especially Albert’s vocals on Death Valley Nights are all classics that owe a lot to the Bouchards. Astronomy’s music was mostly composed by them too, if I recall correctly.

[@cuttlefisch]

I would agree.

[@stephenstone8480]

Great song...certainly one of Joe's best.

[@stephenstone8480]

@@stephen1562 Good call...I love I Am The Storm and Moon Crazy as well...

[@chijim108]

Very insightful interview. I felt Albert was a very significant part of the writing for all of the 70s and early 80s records. The vibe wasn't the same after he then later Joe departed the band.

[@tomgorman748]

Completely agree. I love the current version of the band, as Jules and Danny are solid and Richie is incredible in all facets of recording and performing. But I’ve always felt that the main thing BÖC missed when Albert left was his writing and producing. Some of my favorite tunes from the original band were penned by Albert, and for that matter, Joe.

[@loilt5091]

@@tomgorman748 Exactly...everything you said. Albert's vocals, too! There was some real magic in a 5 member band, where they all wrote and sang lead, (Allen, too). For decades, I had no idea trying to decipher everything, especially their early, more cryptic lyrics and veils of it's unknown origin...I simply, loved their music! The internet and other sources like Martin Popoff's work, have pulled back the curtains. I lucked out seeing them on the Imaginos Tour, summer of '89...my 1st, being June 28, '77. Killer, row 3, floor seats, dead centre...Utopia opened, (Kasim Sulton, future BOC bassist, was with Rundgren, then), sharing their lasers for the pyramid stage theme. Caught the boys, a few summers back, just before the virus...always great, like the latest album! 🎃 Halloween 2012, I had the pleasure of talking to Buck & Eric on Rockline. They gave me one question. My favourite era is their early, Black & White, so with that in mind, with a common sense of humour, I inquired about, "She's As Beautiful As A Foot" ❓ Buck said former collaborator/lyricist & rock critic, Richard Meltzer, simply wrote the lyrics, wanting to make original frontman, Les Braunstein, sound ridiculous. ...mock'n'roll

[@chocloditelensman]

You got that right ! Death Valley Nights is at the top of the list of fantastic BOC songs.

[@brianfergus839]

Absolutely. I totally stopped following the band after the brothers left, and I was a big fan in the ‘70s.

[@inspector29]

BOC, I've probably listened to them more than any other band cept maybe Zeppelin in my lifetime. 59 here been a fan since Agent's of Fortune. My older brother Mark ( RIP) turned me on to them!!!!! Thanks Al.

[@raybenoit5238]

"on your feet " was probably my favorite live album of all time !

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Mine as well. Better than Mountain Twin Peaks 1973 and Colosseum Live 1971. The 1970s you know.

[@brianfergus839]

Great live album and the first Cult LP I bought (my brother already had 1, T&M, and ST)

[@davidmel2158]

Blue Oyster Cult was 3 of my first 4 concerts here in CT. The guys are from just across L. I. Sound & they graced us immeasurably for years. Being a drummer Albert was always my favorite. I would love to meet him & tell him how much his music meant to me. Imaginos is one of my favorite “BOC” albums. The juxtaposition of The Subhuman & the song Blue Öyster Cult blew my mind when I first heard it. Always a thinking man highly intelligent …. dude’s got that third eye activity down to a science.

[@qthelost]

Fire of Unknown Origin was a great record. I loved the song "Joan Crawford." It rocked and was humorous and creepy at the same time.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

My favourite track. Check out Joe Bouchard Band doing a cover. Absolutely great 😉

[@6000cs]

He seems to be laying it out about as honest as you could hope. I remember reading an interview with Al way back in 1982-83. He was very blunt, saying the rest of the band (even Joe) told him he had was so hard to get along with -- he'd better leave. So, he did. Got to admit that as soon as he left, something left with him. An edge, or feeling, something.

[@Mr.TonyClifton]

There's a reason for a bands success. Albert is a perfectionist.

[@KAndrew636]

All BOC went more commercial during this period! The first four albums will always stand the test of time!

[@bobt5778]

Secret Treaties does it for me.

[@Olliemets]

"A lot of cooks in this band" Great analogy. This was a great band and the first 4 albums are stellar. Next bunch very good but it went downhill after the Bouchards left. Things end and looking back maybe they would have lost their edge anyway. They still are a great band to see with the 2 Originals left and the replacement guys. Great to see this interview though. Thanks Albert.

[@bigal05171957]

Albert has some of the greatest drum 🥁 work ON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES & he was a excellent singer DEBBIE DENISE & CITY'S ON FLAME 🎵🎸🥁🥁

[@timarnett672]

One summer's eve about 4 years back I had the privilege to see Blue Oyster Cult in the woods down in 'Nelson Ledges Park' (OHIO). It was some motor cycle gather from all thew surrounding states. B.O.C was splendid, of course ending with 'Cities on Flame'. Afterwards they did a gig at Northfield Park. There's a favorite song I love, love, love, called 'Redeemed'. I think someone else wrote the lyrics, but the melody and drums just soothe my soul. If' I ever get to see them once more, I hope they play it, and Albert is on drums...

[@JohnHoulgate]

From my readings about the band, Albert and Buck (Donald) were really nucleus of the band's leadership from the begining. His personal problems came at a time when the band had a lot of obligations with touring and recording. The situation got to be impossible. Still, I think Albert and Buck maintained their friendship. That's the only way I can see how Albert would be allowed anywhere near the current band. He and his brother Joey were the pulse. They built the legacy, so they can never be separated from BÖC.

[@brianfergus839]

The band went downhill after the brothers left

[@crustafari]

I love BOC, and all of Albert's huge contributions throughout the band's classic period. Looking forward to hearing the "dark" chapter of Imaginos!!!

[@choatfarmnorthstudios]

Albert is a class guy and a good friend. Thanks for interviewing him!

[@jefftuttle7890]

Damn he was good! That is an understatement! I was really disappointed and pissed when he left the band . One of the greatest drummers and performers of ALL TIME ! He was one of the people that got me into drumming. I remember when I learned about him leaving the band I kind of threw a fit smashing on of my Zildjian crash cymbals. I got into real trouble over it LOL. I was a major Albert Bouchard fan.

[@Mr.TonyClifton]

I had the same reaction. I was pissed. It was like the Beatles without Ringo!@@jefftuttle7890

[@mariaday712]

Albert gave a great interview. Thanks John.

[@PeterByker]

You never really leave the Blue Oyster Cult. Albert is one-of-a-kind.

[@davidhorn8004]

At about the 7 minute mark, Al relates that he told Richie Castellano that he'd ask for his help on the next Imaginos installment (Mutant Reformation). Well thank goodness he did as Richie sings one of the stand-out tracks. Good call, Al!

[@raythackston1960]

I joined a band in late 1978 and there was 2 guitarists, a bass player, and me the drummer. They also had a sound guy. So we practiced and started playing gigs for about 6 weeks...then we showed up to a practice and one of the guitar layers had gotten married. An argument broke out and they stampeded out and screamed they quit and the other said great and so the band ended up braking up. Thing was HE was the only single guy in the band other than me (who was 10 years younger). I never understood why him getting married would piss off all the other married guys.

[@rino7789]

I wish both of the Bouchards were back with the group.

[@dougplace895]

I SECOND THAT!!!!

[@OysterBoyo]

​@Prestin Hurshberry yeah and he's amazing but the comment was saying that they wish Al and Joe were playing with BÖC

[@davidwood1923]

I Love Albert... He Keeps Creating Music and Does Stuff with his Brother Joe and Even the Original Band. He also has a Great Channel on KZbin

[@dennymcfastlane8530]

I wonder if Albert solved the problem of Bill Withers song...''Ain't No Sunshine'? When he substituted 'Ya Know' 'Ya Know' 'Ya Know' with...'I Know I Know I Know'. Anyway, always liked this band from the very beginnings, when WABX/Fm first started playing the Killer debut album. I seen them back~up that album by playing the old Grande Ballroom in Detroit. I remember Buck or Eric saying that they wanted to play the Grande because some of the MoJo might rub off on them. Needless to say, B.O.C. blew the roof off the ole' BallRoom. Been a fan ever since, and seen many shows that were always...pretty Damn G()()D!!!!

[@MysticRuler-n4j]

Cultasaurous and Fire Of Unknown Origin are two stellar albums that are criminally underrated. They are masterpieces.

[@stevenmccart709]

Those first three albums and tours were epic. B.O.C. rocked hard and my friends and I loved those shows. One show they had Jeff Healey and T-Rex open for them. The crowd was unfamiliar with Healey and gave him a good round of applause but , they were not having anything to do with T-Rex. They only got through a few songs and left while the getting was good.

[@gregggoss2210]

I just watched this and I still don't know why he exited the band. Albert did a lot of " ya know, ya know " but didn't offer much. Maybe part 2 will offer more information.

[@JohnHoulgate]

In other interviews Albert admitted that he was being an ass. He wasn't happy about something and rather than telling the others what was going on with him, he would act rather passive aggressive. He would do things like show up late for practice or not show up at all, bring his girlfriend when it didn't seem appropriate. It went on for some time and the other bandmates lost patience with him. They got Rick Downey, who as essentially a roadie for the band, to replace him. I think they waited until Downey was ready to replace him. I also think the troubles began when they started taking on other producers. Sandy Pearlman stepped aside from that role after Agents of Fortune and the other guys were coming up with their own material. So it seemed to make sense that Albert was imposing himself a little too much and when the other guys weren't liking it, he started to act out. Albert later acknowledged his own hand in his departure.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

​​@@JohnHoulgateWell that tells he is a perfectionist, the same with Roger Waters and Ritchie Blackmore, right? Not all like perfectionist in the band, do they?

[@TheAce24]

Very cool interview. I always felt that Albert was crucial to the band, and after he left, their music quality (sadly) went down.

[@martybrilley]

On the other hand, most of the Bouchard tunes were greatly improved due to the guitar work. Buck should get partial credit for Sinful Love, Astronomy, hell, all of ‘em.

[@mcbeezee2120]

Cities On Flame and Dominance and Submission were never the same in concert, after Albert left. NEVER.

[@Cinemagoer_64]

I agree! I never liked it when Eric sang it as a matter of fact I did not look forward to them playing it. It was a big loss. Cities on flame sounded so mechanical.

[@JohnHoulgate]

You're right.

[@mikekeeler6362]

I also liked his drumming on Born to be wild thought it was really great

[@mrromantimothy]

All I know is I've seen boc more times than I can count and after every show Albert when taking his bow was dripping with sweat he left everything on the stage every single time.

[@christophercarpenter2496]

Albert made mistakes 40 years ago but the animosity from Eric is atrocious. For proof check out the 2016 show when Albert was back for their 40th anniversary of Agents of Fortune. Eric's look of discontent as Albert was doing lead vocals on The Revenge of Vera Gemini indicated Eric still is grinding an axe. Can't this pass after 40 years, already?

[@opaque4742]

@Christopher Carpenter I did notice the tension on stage, but is that the issue no one seems to address? Read my post above? Albert has said several different things regarding his removal from BOC but some of them seem to either contradict each other or have nothing to do with one another. I got the sense he was talking about Eric Bloom's tendency to want to sing his or Joe's songs or the ones they co-wrote together, but then there are times he just blames it on the drugs or the other guys' wives not liking his wife.

[@aschule5684]

I remember noticing that when I saw that, Eric wasn't looking happy at all.....

[@FeelingShred]

Joint tour has to happen right now... BOC with both Joe and Albert as opening acts... We got 3 bands out of all of this to enjoy 🤘🤘🤘

[@simonagree4070]

Well, I had always heard that Albert was a problem because of his cocaine habit and grandiose ideas, but what do I know, I wasn't there. Perelman was the king of grandiose ideas, and I always liked that. I never understood his lyrics , but they were interesting anyway, compared to what passed for rock after the '60s. I haven't heard anything about Richard Meltzer's contribution to BOC on this channel so far. "Burning For You", anyone?

[@anfrankogezamartincic1161]

BÖC was a much better band with him. I respect all their stuff, but the golden era stoped with FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN ( which is a great, great album,i just love it)

[@wolftree3948]

You'd be hard pressed to find a more likeable guy, and a top notch songwriter and singer, too. Try the song Fire of Unknown Origin - no, not the slick title track for that album but the bonus track and original version on the Agents of Fortune reissue. One of their best.

[@Hecatecrossways]

Didn't Albert provide the Vocals for Cities On Flame, and Nosferatu ???

[@groundhog713]

Yes

[@326vince]

Saw BOC last night. Great show. I love the first 3 LPs most. But You know?

[@sheddski2942]

Agents of fortune was AWSOME especially late at night raining going down a country road in other words LOST and of course you’re high and nobody is making a sound it was AWSOME back in 1977 I remember earlier albums in 1973 oh ya

[@helethead]

You know.

[@cocktailhotel]

I think the Bouchard brothers are from the same small town in upstate New York that I was born in - Watertown. In fact, we may have been born in the same hospital, Watertown General. Myself in 1959, the two brothers guessing in 1947. Also, the actor Viggo Mortensen was born there a year before me. Lastly, Frank Sinatra has an album released in 1970 called Watertown, about the location. Just a little background history !

[@ronaldwilson9525]

More cowbell Albert!

[@douglemay7989]

She was a groupie, and had "met" most of the band.

[@cpdaddy7]

Debbie Denise?

[@MrRipster435]

Love you channel thank you for what you do great stuff

[@michaelfoubister4339]

Those guys fired. Albert !!!!!! Albert is blue oyster cult. What are you kidding me?

[@muziktrkr]

It's kind of funny he talked about how wives had issues with his girlfriend on the road that influenced him leaving, yet Helen Wheels (Tattoo Vampire) and Patti Smith (Career of Evil) were significant contributors to BOC?

[@metu9158]

How is that funny? Helen Wheels and Patti Smith were both contributors to the band's music and musicians in their own right, they weren't just tagging along only because they were dating/married to the band members

[@michaelgranberg3468]

The new guys are outstanding but BOC lost a lot when Albert left!

[@Cinemagoer_64]

After Albert left it was not the same I mean it was so different even in a sense disappointment.

[@mikee2923]

Agreed. I like all of BOC’s work but some better than others. Their first 3 studio albums and On Your Feet Or On Your Knees are by far their best work. Albert apparently was responsible for their uniqueness. This disappeared with him.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

I never liked ETL, actually sold it swapped second hand soon after bought the album. Revisited years later but don't like it today either, despite Buck Dharma's usual great work on it. Albert Bouchard is not the best drummer but one of most musical drummers in rock history.

[@bloodmoon1956]

What a nice guy

[@tedfordhyde]

Great drummer with great feel and obviously songwriting talents. The conversation here was just a bit disjointed and weird. I realize it's only part of the interview though.

[@billyz5088]

Think Albert prefers to be kind of vague about the whole thing now - since a lot of bad feelings and law suits etc. went on back then in the wake of his departure - but its true he was late ( VERY late for the one he got fired for) - arriving to gigs - which gave the others all the reason they needed to vote him off the island. Still it was a shame - throughout the 70's it was a point of great pride for them as a band that they kept the same line-up together.

[@spookedhorse]

Uncle Albert is BOC.

[@lizzyfan1986]

"Hey can't play anymore because he's brought his fuckin wife on tour"..."she's not my fuckin wife!"

[@jameslanclos568]

Is it true that BOC would play incognito in New York clubs under the name White Lace Underbelly ???

[@johnborn1600]

I saw them in 1984, touring as Soft White Underbelly, had a dispute with record company,so toured as original name of the band

[@roberttaylor1275]

I heard al was also a school music teacher

[@DeanS.F.S.K.]

Chicks have done more harm to bands over the years ! In this case it's the wives of the band members, NOT Albert's chick !

[@nitrohuffer1320]

sandy roeser, particularly.

[@oskarklang8616]

They should never have fired Albert. He was the main writer of BOC. They went downhill after he was sacked.

[@dougplace895]

I SECOND THAT!!!!

[@KevinHudson-q7i]

Two great songs- we gotta get out of this place- cover by the ANIMALS,& TAKE ME AWAY. KILLER TUNES😊😊

[@philwright2480]

You know, I mean

[@davidwilmott9969]

Notice that Fire of Unknown Origin was their last great record. It all went downhill after Albert was let go.

[@davidwilson1229]

After the 500th you know… I hand to turn this off… you know you know you know you know you know you know……. Fuckn painful….. I got a pretty good idea why he got the boot from the band.

[@326vince]

Do you know?

[@JohnnyangelNIU]

Ron Jeremy bahmbuzzled buffy davis👍

[@finslaw]

How do you prove your worth? Leave the band, watch them go from great to mediocre, let them take over your solo album and bring them back to great, then after they toss you aside watch them go back to mediocre.

[@billyrossi4661]

#Blueoystercult

[@neil1390]

I love Albert Bouchard, but he seems a little burnt out, you know?

[@jamesmichael3607]

He didn’t leave, he was kicked out. He thought was temporary. It should have been. He was a key piece in the originality and sound..

[@StripedTurkey]

One of the best shows I ever saw was around 1976, BOC at the Commack Arena on L.I. New York. Styx, followed by the J. Geil’s Band and then headlined by BOC. The first time I saw their laser show, totally awesome 🤩!