I don't think I'll ever hear Blue Oyster Cult and think American Idol. That's just fundamentally impossible. On one hand, you get squeaky clean professionalism and reality TV drama. Moreover, you'll get your powerhouse singing where the goal is to be the best at arguably overdoing it with raw power and captivate the audience. On the other hand, you have hard rock greats like Blue Oyster Cult who made classics like "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." How on earth do they have a connection?
Videos by Wide Open Country
Apparently, before he spent a decade at the judging table next to Simon Cowell for American Idol, Randy Jackson was chasing the music dream. At the time, Blue Oyster Cult had been recording their album The Revölution by Night and cutting the song "Shooting Shark." The band's bassist Joe Bouchard recalls guitarist Buck Dharma couldn't shake this feeling that the song needed some bass on it. So who do you call? Well, of course you call the future American Idol judge.
Randy Jackson and Blue Oyster Cult Unite on "Shooting Shark" in 1987
In another funny mismatch of styles, Randy had been playing bass for Journey of all bands at the time. But Blue Oyster Cult needed somebody who could really take over for Bouchard who didn't know how to slap bass at the time. "So Randy Jackson came in and slapped the hell out of the bass," Joe recounts. "Yes, the same guy who played with Journey and was on American Idol. He is the nicest guy in the world and a fantastic bass player."
Rather than leave them hanging for future shows, Randy Jackson stays behind and teaches the Blue Oyster Cult's bassist how to slap when it came time to tour. "He showed me all the tricks and taught me exercises for being able to do that stuff," Bouchard adds.
