Be it through the eerie vibe of (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, the chugging proto-metal of Godzilla or the soaring AOR highs of Burnin’ for You, Donald Roeser – aka Buck Dharma – has reveled in eclecticism since the release of Blue Öyster Cult’s self-titled debut in 1972.
As a kid born in Queens, New York, who grew up in Smithtown, Long Island, Dharma couldn’t have dreamed he’d impact rock and metal through his songwriting and hare-brained gear choices. “Oh, absolutely not,” he tells Guitar World. “I thought we were fortunate just to get a record deal. But here I am, doing what I love and making records for the rest of my life.”
