Deadline by Blue Öyster Cult

Album: Cultösaurus Erectus (1980)

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Songfacts®:

This song was written by the band's guitarist, Donald Roeser, who is also known as Buck Dharma.He explained the meaning in a 1980 interview with the NME: "It's a little under-appreciated in terms of air play. The song is about an old friend of ours, Phil King, who used to book us in small clubs. He was murdered as the result of messing with organized crime and not paying up. He disregarded the gravity of the consequences. On another level the narrative thrust is a cautionary rap. It's all true."

Comments: 4

John Fi from Staten IslandBill S- So I worked with the real Dave. He was living with the band at the time their friend was killed. The police came to the door with a pic of him murdered. Dave answered the door and was shown the picture and asked if he knew him.
Bill-s from Minnesota, UsaDeadline played many years ago on KQRS Rock radio, still around, BTW.... The lyrics are tricky...the photo they showed David, was a terrible Sight...still confusing
Nedkelly from Sydney, AustraliaThis is a very underrated B.O.C. tune if I ever heard one ! I hear a 'darker more sinister' msg in between the lines of the lyrics...something I can't quite pinpoint, but it feels uncanny. Love it !!
Paul from Rothesay, Nb, NbWhile BOC could rock yer socks off, this tune was also proof of the band's pop sensibility.

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