Concerts can be rowdy and raucous. For some attendees, that is all part of the fun. For others. it creates an environment they would prefer to avoid. In the case of Blue Oyster Cult, however, it was their in-concert laser shows drew the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That agency's Bureau of Radiological Health was interested in the lasers due to their potential health consequences, per grunge.com. There's a jaw-dropper for you!
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The lasers produced brilliant colored-light effects. The light show must have been utterly dazzling, augmenting the music and wowing the throng. But there was a substantial downside as well. The lasers were balky to use, very costly, and quite intricate to operate. Then there were the ominous health warnings associated with them to boot. So it was a big ongoing headache for Blue Oyster Cult in return for a more impressive experience for the fans.
The Alleged Issue With Blue Oyster Cult's Lasers
Per the outlet, an unnamed FDA spokesperson said, ""But lasers do produce potentially hazardous light radiation. Like any other light there is a potential burn hazard. It's like holding a magnifying glass to the sunlight." According to the outlet, no injuries from the band's lasers were known. Still, in the opinion of the spokesperson, a light beam from a laser could possibly reflect off an object and into someone's eye, thus damaging their vision.
The FDA Reportedly Warned The Band About Their Lasers And Asked For A Redesign To Improve Safety
Per grunge.com via The Washington Post, the FDA was concerned enough about the band's lasers to warn them. The agency reportedly requested a system redesign to prevent any crowd members from being impacted. Blue Oyster Cult said okay. According to the outlet via the Post, an FDA spokesperson said, "They've talked to people here and they've worked things out. Most of the groups get pretty cooperative when they find we might shut down one of their concerts."
With the prospect of having a concert shut down, I guess that got the band moving when it came to making the lasers safer.
