Top 10 Covers Of Blue Öyster Cult Songs

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Blue Öyster Cult has always been one of our favorite bands at ClassicRockHistory.com. The group, which hails from Long Island, New York, has made its reputation by delivering a catalog of heavy rock and roll albums of substance. No one has ever sounded like Blue Öyster Cult. Over the years, they have developed a large loyal following who often give praise to many of the band’s early albums like Secret Treaties, Tyranny and Mutation, and Agents of Fortune. Over time, the band has released sixteen studio albums, along with numerous live albums and compilations. Blue Öyster Cult remained active into 2026, while the group’s most recent studio album remained Ghost Stories, released on April 12, 2024. Our Top 10 Covers of Blue Öyster Cult Songs list is a fun dive into presenting some very cool bands who have done a nice job of covering some of the band’s classic songs.

# 10 – Burnin’ for You – Lizzy Borden

We open up our Top 10 Covers of Blue Öyster Cult Songs list with a Metal Blade Records version of “Burnin’ for You.” The song was recorded by the metal band Lizzy Borden, which was formed back in 1983. Their version of this Blue Öyster Cult classic was released on the album Best of Lizzy Borden, Vol. 2 in 2020. The original version of the song appeared on Blue Öyster Cult’s album Fire of Unknown Origin, which was released in 1981. Lizzy Borden does a great job staying pretty much true to the original, but they add their own style with signature lead guitar solos and Borden’s cool vocals.

# 9 – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Big Country

Continuing with our Top 10 Covers of Blue Öyster Cult Songs list is one of the most covered songs in the band’s catalog. Sadly, most of the cover versions of this song just don’t cut it from what we have heard. There were only two that we thought really stood out among the ones we listened to. This is the first one, which we thought stayed true to the original while adding their own bold sound. Big Country does a great version of this song. Their recording dates from 1993 and was later included on the band’s Under Cover collection. We love the drum sound on this one.

# 8 – Godzilla – Smashing Pumpkins

Now this cover of a Blue Öyster Cult song by the Smashing Pumpkins is very, very interesting. You definitely should take the time to listen to it. It’s not a highly polished studio recording, but what’s going on here is what’s important. It sounds a little bit like “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” doesn’t it? This live recording is taken from a 1990 Smashing Pumpkins performance and later circulated on the band’s Mashed Potatoes collection. Nirvana came out with Nevermind in 1991. Is there a chance Kurt Cobain heard it and was influenced? Who knows, but it’s kind of interesting, isn’t it? Regardless, it’s actually a really cool cover of “Godzilla” with the Smashing Pumpkins’ style all over it, capturing the essence of what was happening at the start of the decade.

# 7 – The Red and the Black – Minutemen

In the number seven position on our Top 10 Covers of Blue Öyster Cult Songs list is a cool punk version of the classic BÖC song “The Red and the Black.” This version, performed by the Minutemen, showcases the band’s unique punk rock style. The group was formed in 1980 and signed to SST Records, where they released a series of critically acclaimed punk albums. This song was released on the band’s final studio album, 3-Way Tie (For Last), in 1985. These guys were really good, and this version is phenomenal. The original Blue Öyster Cult song appeared on the album Tyranny and Mutation, which was released in 1973.

# 6 – She’s As Beautiful As A Foot – Gumball

It’s probably safe to say that many classic rock fans have never heard of the band Gumball. However, this is a group that was formed in the early ’90s, released a handful of albums, and then broke up. The band’s leader, Don Fleming, would become a widely known record producer, working with notable acts such as Sonic Youth, Hole, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, Screaming Trees, The Smithereens, and many more. Their cover of the Blue Öyster Cult song “She’s As Beautiful As A Foot” was a standout and appeared on Gumball’s 1994 album Revolution on Ice. The original song was released on Blue Öyster Cult’s debut album, Blue Öyster Cult, in 1972.

# 5 – Transmaniacon MC – The Fuzztones

It’s very interesting how many punk and garage rock bands have covered Blue Öyster Cult songs. There’s something gritty about the music that Blue Öyster Cult put out, especially in their first set of albums. Their songs translated well into the angry punk genre, especially for bands that could play their instruments well, which you had to because these songs were not easy to play. The Fuzztones, formed in the early 1980s by New York’s Rudi Protrudi, are one such band. Their version of “Transmaniacon MC” was later included on the band’s 2020 album NYC. This is a cool band that managed to capture the essence of Blue Öyster Cult’s raw energy while infusing it with their own garage rock attitude.

# 4 – Godzilla – Widespread Panic

At the number four spot on our Top 10 Covers of Blue Öyster Cult Songs list is the second appearance of “Godzilla” in this article. “Godzilla” stands as one of Blue Öyster Cult’s most famous songs. That opening guitar lick is just so iconic. Jam band Widespread Panic does a great job with their live version of the song. The band has performed “Godzilla” in concert, with some stunning guitar work, which has long been a hallmark of Widespread Panic’s sound.

# 3 – Godzilla – Racer X

I promise this is the last time you’ll see “Godzilla” on this list. I know the song has now appeared three times, but it’s one of Blue Öyster Cult’s most popular songs, as we already mentioned, and we just couldn’t miss Paul Gilbert’s guitar version of it. The name behind the killer guitar playing is none other than the fabulous Paul Gilbert. Most people first heard of Gilbert in his band Mr. Big, yet Racer X is also a big part of his life and actually started before Mr. Big. Racer X released its version of “Godzilla” on the album Superheroes. His version of “Godzilla” showcases his phenomenal guitar skills and why he has often been cited as one of the greatest guitar players ever.

# 2 – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Pat DiNizio

Just off the top spot on our Top 10 Covers of Blue Öyster Cult Songs list, we take a time out to pay tribute to the fantastic career of Pat DiNizio. For those who may not be familiar with the name, the late Pat DiNizio was the leader of the outstanding band The Smithereens. His version of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” appeared on the 2012 expanded edition of his 2006 album This Is Pat DiNizio, which included a collection of stripped-down acoustic-guitar-and-vocal recordings. This is a haunting version of the song that will give you chills.

# 1 – Astronomy – Metallica

We close out our Top 10 Covers of Blue Öyster Cult Songs list with this savage cover by Metallica. The song “Astronomy” was originally released on the Blue Öyster Cult album Secret Treaties, which came out in 1974. Metallica’s killer version was released on their Garage Inc. LP, a compilation album of cover songs, in 1998. Their cover of “Astronomy” is a smoking slow burn that just builds over time, leaving you completely blown away by the time the band is through.