Founding BLUE ÖYSTER CULT keyboardist and guitarist Allen Lanier died earlier today (Wednesday, August 14) of chronic lung disease. He was 66 years old.

Said the band in a statement: "We have extremely sad news to report. We've lost our friend and bandmate Allen Lanier. Allen succumbed to complications from C.O.P.D. [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease]. He is survived by his wife Dory, sister Mary Anne and mother Martha. Although he retired from touring in 2006, Allen returned to the stage for what turned out to be his final appearance, reuniting with BLUE ÖYSTER CULT at the 40th-anniversary show in New York this past November.

"[Don't fear the reaper] sweet man. We love you and miss you."

Added BLUE ÖYSTER CULT frontman Eric Bloom: "My great friend Allen Lanier has passed. I'll miss the guy even though we hadn't spoken in awhile. He was so talented as a musician and a thinker. He read voraciously, all kinds of things, especially comparative religion. We drove for years together, shared rooms in the early days. We partied, laughed, played. All BLUE ÖYSTER CULT fans and band members will mourn his death. Ultimately, smoking finally got to him. He had been hospitalized with C.O.P.D.

"It was Allen who heard some old college band tapes of mine and suggested I get a shot as the singer in 1968. A lot of great memories, over 40 years' worth. Maybe he's playing a tune with Jim Carroll right now."

Lanier was a member of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT since the band's inception in 1967 until his retirement in 2006.

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT founding member Eric Bloom has confirmed to MassLive.com that the band is planning to release its first new album since 2001's "Curse Of The Hidden Mirror".

"We're not exactly working on it yet, but the ink is going on the contract soon," he said. "We've all been working on songs over the years, but there's a lot of negotiation, because it's not just about the new product but also about the back catalog."

1. Cult Classic (originally released in 1994)
2. Heaven Forbid (originally released in 1998) [Not available for North / South America]
3. Curse of the Hidden Mirror originally released in 2001) [Not available for North / South America]
4. A Long Day's Night (Live CD/DVD and Blu Ray) originally released in 2002 - Blu Ray version to be released for the first time)

Additionally, in 2020 the band will present five new live releases which include:

1. Live show from the iHeart Radio Theater 2012 (40th Anniversary).
2. Live show from Hard Rock Casino Cleveland 2014
3. Live show from Rock of Ages Festival in Germany 2016
4. 40th Anniversary of "Agents of Fortune" shot in L.A. in April 2017 [ “Agents of Fortune" album played front to back]
5. BӦC 45th Anniversary show Live in London June 17th 2017) [includes BÖC first album played in its entirety back to back]

NEW MUSIC ON THE WAY!!!!

Frontiers Music Srl Signs Classic Rock Icons BLUE ÖYSTER CULT

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the signing of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT! For over four decades, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. Indeed, the Long Island, NY-­‐based band is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work. BLUE ÖYSTER CULT occupies a unique place in rock history because it's one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success. Now they have partnered up with Frontiers Music Srl to continue their amazing journey!

“We are delighted to be able to bring back the iconic BLUE ÖYSTER CULT with the release of a wealth of musical material that will certainly please all the fans. Hard Rock music would not be what is now without BÖC and Frontiers is their natural “home”. We look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation!” - Serafino Perugino, Frontiers Records President.

“It's been a long time since BÖC's last studio album. Our biggest question from fans is 'when are we going to do some new music?' So we are ready to take this journey again. Recording with Danny, Richie and Jules should be a great experience as we've been touring together for years and Buck and I are looking forward to including them in the creative and recording process, say Eric Bloom.

"The current band is GREAT and has never been recorded other than the live concerts, so we feel now is the time for new songs to be written and recorded. About half of the songs for the new record exist and the rest will be finished during the process,” adds Buck Dharma.

A new studio album is expected to be released from the band in 2020.