Allen Lanier

Allen Glover Lanier (June 25, 1946 – August 14, 2013) was an original member of Blue Öyster Cult. He played keyboards and rhythm guitar. Lanier wrote several songs for Blue Öyster Cult albums. These included "True Confessions", "Tenderloin", "Searchin' for Celine", "In Thee", and "Lonely Teardrops". He also contributed to music by Patti Smith, Jim Carroll, The Dictators and The Clash. He dated Patti Smith for several years during the 1970s.^[1] When Lanier started in 1967, the group was known as Soft White Underbelly. He left the group and was replaced in 1986 by Tommy Zvoncheck.^[2] He returned in 1987. He retired from performing with them after the autumn of 2006. On August 14, 2013 he died of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).^[3]

Allen Lanier
Allen Lanier (2006)
Background information
Born	(1946-06-25)June 25, 1946 Long Island, New York, USA
Died	August 14, 2013(2013-08-14) (aged 67)
Genres	Heavy metal
Years active	1967-2007, 2012
Labels	Columbia Records, Moonshine Records, CMC Records, Sanctuary Records

References

1. Victor Bockris, Patti Smith: An Unauthorized Biography (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999), pp. 77, 146
2. Dafydd Rees; Luke Crampton, Rock Stars Encyclopedia (New York: DK Publishing, 1999), p. 111
3. "Original Blue Oyster Cult Member Allen Lanier Dies At 67". 2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2014.