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'{{two other uses|the song by Blue Öyster Cult|the EP by Clint Ruin and Lydia Lunch|Don't Fear the Reaper (EP)|the album by Witchery|Don't Fear the Reaper (album)}} {{Good article}} {{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs --> | Name = (Don't Fear) The Reaper | Cover = DontFearTheReaper.jpg | Artist = [[Blue Öyster Cult]] | from Album = [[Agents of Fortune]] | B-side = "Tattoo Vampire" | Released = July 1976 | Format = [[Gramophone record|7"]] | Recorded = 1976 | Genre = [[Hard rock]],<ref name=matters/> [[psychedelic rock]], [[progressive rock]] | Length = 5:08 <small>(Album version)</small> <br> 3:45 <small>(Single/Radio edit)</small> | Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] | Writer = [[Buck Dharma]] | Producer = [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]], [[Murray Krugman]], [[Sandy Pearlman]] | Last single = "[[Born to be Wild]]" (1975) | This single = '''"(Don't Fear) The Reaper"''' (1976) | Next single = "Goin' Through the Motions" / "Searchin' for Celine" (1977) }} "'''(Don't Fear) The Reaper'''" is a song by the American rock band [[Blue Öyster Cult]] from their 1976 album, ''[[Agents of Fortune]]''. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, [[Buck Dharma|Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser]] and was produced by [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]], [[Murray Krugman]], and [[Sandy Pearlman]]. The song is built around Dharma's opening, repetitive guitar [[riff]], while the lyrics deal with eternal love and the inevitability of death. Dharma wrote the song while picturing an early death for himself. The edited single version was Blue Öyster Cult's biggest chart success, reaching number 12 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in November 1976. Additionally, critical reception was mainly positive and, in 2004, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was listed at number 397 on the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' list of the top 500 songs of all time. ==Background== {{quote box|width=25em|align=left|quote="I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of it (as opposed to actively bring it about). It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners."|source =&nbsp;— [[Buck Dharma]], lead singer<ref name=songfacts/>}} The song is about the inevitability of death and the foolishness of fearing it, and was written when Dharma was thinking about what would happen if he died at a young age. Lyrics such as "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity" have led many listeners to interpret the song to be about a [[murder-suicide]] pact, but Dharma says the song is about eternal love, rather than suicide. He used Romeo and Juliet as motifs to describe a couple believing they would meet again in the [[afterlife]]. He guessed that "40,000 men and women" died each day, and the figure was used several times in the lyrics.<ref name=songfacts>{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1607|title=(Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult|work=Songfacts|accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref> ==Composition== "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Dharma, and was produced by [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]], [[Murray Krugman]], and [[Sandy Pearlman]].<ref name=rs>{{cite news|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/blue-oeyster-cult-dont-fear-the-reaper-19691231|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time: No. 405, Blue Öyster Cult, 'Don't Fear the Reaper'|accessdate=May 30, 2011|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=Wenner Publishing}}</ref> The song's distinctive guitar [[riff]] is built on the "i-VII-VI" [[chord progression]], in an A [[minor scale]].<ref>Rooksby 2002, p. 93</ref> The riff was recorded with Krugmann's [[Gibson ES-175]] guitar, which was run through a [[Music Man (company)|Music Man]] 410 combo amplifier, and Dharma's vocals were captured with a [[Telefunken]] U47 tube microphone. The guitar solo and guitar rhythm sections were recorded in one take, while a four-track tape machine amplified them on the recording. Sound engineer [[Shelly Yakus]] remembers piecing together the separate vocals, guitar and rhythm section into a master track, with the [[overdubbed|overdubbing]] occurring in that order.<ref>{{cite news|last=Forlenza|first=Jeff|title=Classic Tracks: Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"|url=http://mixonline.com/recording/tracking/blue-oyster-cults-dont-fear-reaper/index1.html|accessdate=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[Mix (magazine){{!}}Mix]]|date=June 1, 2009}}</ref> The song features the prominent use of the [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]] percussion instrument. The song was originally recorded without a cowbell, but the sound was overdubbed into the song at a later stage. Bassist [[Joe Bouchard]] remembered a producer requesting his brother, drummer [[Albert Bouchard]], to play the cowbell on the track. Joe Bouchard recalled: "Albert thought he was crazy. But he put all this tape around a cowbell and played it. It really pulled the track together."<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46074-2005Jan28.html|title=Blue Öyster Cult, Playing Along With 'More Cowbell'|accessdate=August 2, 2012|last=Farhi|first=Paul|date=January 29, 2005|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> Producer [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]] claims that the inclusion of the cowbell was his idea,<ref name=hall>{{cite news|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/entertainment/music/Blue-Oyster-Cult-cowbell-ringer-honored|title=Blue Oyster Cult cowbell ringer honored|date=June 30, 2011|accessdate=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[WIVB-TV]]|last=George|first=Eli}}</ref> and guitarist [[Eric Bloom]] supports Lucas's claim.<ref name=stockton>{{cite news|title=Blue Oyster Cult's innovative use of a cowbell will never be forgotten|url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/A_ENTERTAIN/909170308/-1/rss03 |date=September 17, 2009|last=Sauro|first=Tony|work=[[The Record (Stockton)]]|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> ==Reception== {{Listen|pos=right|filename=Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear The Reaper.ogg|title="(Don't Fear) The Reaper"|description=A sample of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from Blue Öyster Cult's 1976 album, ''Agents of Fortune''.}} The song was on the [[Hot 100]] chart for 20 weeks, reaching number 12 for the weeks beginning November 6 and November 13 in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|title=Agents of Fortune|url=http://www.blueoystercult.com/Studio/5Agents.html|work=Blue Öyster Cult|accessdate=August 6, 2012}}</ref> It was the highest-charting U.S. song for Blue Öyster Cult and helped ''[[Agents of Fortune]]'' reach number 29 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="allmusic"/> "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" charted even higher in Canada, peaking at number 7.<ref name=rpm/> It was not released as a single in the UK until 1978, where it reached number 16 on the [[UK pop chart]].<ref name="betts">Betts 2004, p.89</ref> Critical reception to the song was mostly positive. [[Denise Sullivan]] of ''[[Allmusic]]'' praised the song's "gentle vocals and virtuoso guitar" and its "haunting middle break which delivers the listener straight back to the heart of the song once the thunder is finished."<ref name=Sullivan>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Denise|title=(Don't Fear) The Reaper review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-fear-the-reaper-mt0033404854|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref> Nathan Beckett called it Blue Öyster Cult's "masterpiece" and compared the vocals to the [[Beach Boys]].<ref>Beckett 2004, p. 88</ref> Writing for ''[[PopMatters]]'', James Mann remarked that "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was a "landmark, genre-defining masterpiece" that was "as grand and emotional as American rock and roll ever got."<ref name=matters/> ==Accolades== In 1976 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" the song of the year<ref name=rs/> and, in 2004, the magazine placed the song at number 397 on its list of "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]";<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#500Songs| title = The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time| accessdate = May 2, 2010|work= Rock List Music}}</ref> however, the 2010 version of the list moved the song down to number 405.<ref name=rs/> In 1997 ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' listed the song as the 80th best single of all time,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo_p2.htm#singles| title = Mojo – The 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time | accessdate = August 6, 2011|work= Rock List Music}}</ref> while ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' ranked "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" number 404 in its 2003 countdown of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm| title = Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003) | accessdate = August 6, 2011|work= Muzieklijstjes.nl|language=Dutch}}</ref> When ''[[The Guardian]]'' released its unranked list of the "1001 Songs Everyone Must Hear" in 2009, the song was included. The publication wrote that the song's charm "lies in the disjuncture between its gothic storyline and the sprightly, [[The Byrds|Byrds]]ian guitar line that carries it."<ref>{{cite news|title=Life and death: 1000 songs everyone must hear|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/table/2009/mar/19/life-death-1000-songs-everyone-must-hear|accessdate=August 6, 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=March 19, 2009}}</ref> In his book ''The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made'', rock critic [[Dave Marsh]] ranked the song at number 997.<ref>Marsh 1999, p. 628</ref> ==Other versions== {{in popular culture|date=September 2014}} Blue Öyster Cult released live recordings of the song on numerous albums, including the 1978 album ''[[Some Enchanted Evening (Blue Öyster Cult album)|Some Enchanted Evening]]'';<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Some Enchanted Evening review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/some-enchanted-evening-mw0000189272|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> the 1982 album, ''[[Extraterrestrial Live]]'';<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Extraterrestrial Live review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/extraterrestrial-live-mw0000309624|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> the 1991 live album, ''[[Live 1976]]'';<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Live 1976 review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-1976-mw0000181298|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> and the 2002 album, ''[[A Long Day's Night]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Horowitz|first=Hal|title=A Long Day's Night review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-long-days-night-mw0000224630|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> Dharma released an acoustic version of the song on the 1994 [[various artists]] compilation album ''Guitar Practicing Musicians 3''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|title=Guitar Practicing Musicians review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/guitar-practicing-musicians-3-mw0000121092|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Gus]] covered the song in 1996 for the ''[[Scream (1996 film)|Scream]]'' soundtrack. *[[Finland|Finnish]] band [[HIM (Finnish band)|H.I.M.]] recorded a [[gothic metal]] version of the song on their 1997 debut album ''[[Greatest Lovesongs, Vol. 666]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ravelin|first=Antti|title=Greatest Lovesongs, Vol. 666 review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-lovesongs-vol-666-mw0000470026|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Pop rock]] band, the [[Goo Goo Dolls]], recorded a cover version of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on their 1987 [[Goo Goo Dolls (album)|self-titled album]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Goo Goo Dolls Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/goo-goo-dolls-mw0000197056|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *In 1992 [[Clint Ruin]] and [[Lydia Lunch]] released an [[extended play"EP]], titled ''[[Don't Fear the Reaper (EP)|Don't Fear the Reaper]]'', on which their rendition of the song appears.<ref>{{cite web|title=Don't Fear the Reaper Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dont-fear-the-reaper-mw0000280073|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Apollo 440]] transcribed an electronic version of the track on the 1995 debut album ''[[Millennium Fever]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title=Millennium Fever review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/millennium-fever-mw0000762070|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *In 1998 [[Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers]] recorded a version of the song for their ''Rock the Party'' album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rock the Party Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rock-the-party-mw0000711321|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Celtic rock]] band [[Big Country]] included a version of the song on their 2001 cover-version album ''Under Cover''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Under Cover Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/under-cover-mw0000005426|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *The [[Mutton Birds]] recorded a version for the 1996 movie ''[[The Frighteners]]'', which is also included on their 2002 [[greatest hits]] compilation ''Flock: The Best of the Mutton Birds''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flock: The Best of the Mutton Birds Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/flock-the-best-of-the-mutton-birds-mw0000459860|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Folk rock]] band [[Unto Ashes]] recorded a rendition of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on the 2003 album ''Empty into White''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Raggett|first=Ned|title=Empty into White review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/empty-into-white-mw0000599489|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Alternative rock]] group [[The Beautiful South]] covered the song on their 2004 album ''[[Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Golddiggas Headnodders & Pholk Songs review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/golddiggas-headnodders-amp-pholk-songs-mw0000471659|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was covered by [[hardcore punk]] band [[Snuff (band)|Snuff]] for their 2005 album ''Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other: 1986-2002''.<ref>{{cite web|title='Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other: 1986-2002 Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/six-of-one-half-a-dozen-of-the-other-1986-2002-mw0000248868|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Synthpop]] band [[Heaven 17]] recorded a version of the song for their album ''[[Before After]]'', released in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schnee|first=Steve|title=Before After review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/before-after-mw0001438651|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Pat DiNizio]], frontman of [[The Smithereens]], covered the song for his 2006 solo album, ''This Is Pat DiNizio''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Deming|first=Mark|title=This Is Pat DiNizio review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-pat-dinizio-mw0000421060|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *In 2008 [[moe.]], a [[jam band]], recorded a live version of the song for their ''[[Dr. Stan's Prescription, Volume 2]]'' album.<ref>{{cite web|last=Monger|first=James|title=Dr. Stan's Prescription, Volume 2 review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dr-stans-prescription-vol-2-mw0000801369|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 9, 2012}}</ref> *Rock band [[L.A. Guns]] added a version of the song to their 2010 cover-version album ''[[Covered in Guns]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Monger|first=James|title=Covered in Guns review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/covered-in-guns-mw0001958995|work=Allmusic|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> *[[Pierce the Veil]]'s version of the song appears on the 2010 ''[[Punk Goes Classic Rock]]'' compilation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equalvision.com/news/show/529 |title=Pierce The Veil featured on Punk Goes Classic Rock : Equal Vision Records |publisher=Equalvision.com |date=February 26, 2010 |accessdate=September 5, 2013}}</ref> *Swedish [[doom metal]] band [[Candlemass]] recorded a version of the song for their 2010 EP, also titled ''Don't Fear The Reaper''.<ref>{{cite web|title=MAXI Candlemass|url=http://www.candlemass.se/candlemass/discography/maxi/|publisher=Official website|accessdate=July 24, 2013}}</ref> *Swedish Metal Band, [[Wolf (band)|Wolf]] also did a version on their album ''Evil Star''.<ref>http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/album-groupe-Wolf_%28SWE%29-nom_album-Evil_Star-l-en.html</ref> *In 2014, youtuber, samuraiguitarist released a video of this played entirely using iPad apps <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uSAHqxs5n4</ref> ===In other media=== In addition to appearing in several films, most notably 1978's ''[[Halloween (1978 film)|Halloween]]'' and its [[Halloween (2007 film)|remake]].<ref name=Sullivan/> [[Stephen King]] cited the song as the inspiration for his novel ''[[The Stand]]'', and it appears as the theme song for [[The Stand (TV miniseries)|the TV miniseries based on the novel]].<ref name=matters>{{cite news|last=Mann|first=James|title=Blue Oyster Cult: Agents of Fortune / Tyranny and Mutation|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/blueoystercult-tyranny/|accessdate=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[PopMatters]]|date=July 25, 2001}}</ref> "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was also featured in the [[Gone Girl (film)|2014 film adaption]] of ''[[Gone Girl (novel)|Gone Girl]]''. The song was memorialized in the April 2000 ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (''SNL'') comedy sketch "[[More cowbell]]". The six-minute sketch presents a fictionalized version of the recording of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on an episode of VH1's ''[[Behind the Music]]''. [[Will Ferrell]] wrote the sketch and played Gene Frenkle, an overweight cowbell player. "Legendary" producer Bruce Dickinson, played by [[Christopher Walken]], asked Frenkle to "really explore the studio space" and up the ante on his cowbell playing. The rest of the band are visibly annoyed by Frenkle, but Dickinson tells everyone, "I got a fever, and the only prescription--is more cowbell!" Buck Dharma thought the sketch was fantastic and said he never tired of it.<ref name="Washington Post"/> In October 2013, [[Banksy]] featured the song as part of one of his installations, titled "Reaper", in New York City, U.S. (part of [[Better Out Than In]]); the song also appears on his YouTube video of the installation.<ref>{{cite web|last=John|first=Del Signore|title=Banksy's Reaper Was Too Much Cowbell For Disgruntled NoHo Neighbors|url=http://gothamist.com/2013/10/28/banksys_reaper_was_too_much_cowbell.php|work=[[Gothamist]]|accessdate=29 October 2013}}</ref> A segment of the song was performed by [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] in May 2014, as the conclusion of a drumming contest between the band's drummer [[Chad Smith]] and actor Ferrell. In a repeat of the 2000 ''SNL'' sketch, Ferrell again played cowbell for the rendition, which appeared on an episode of ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Drum-Off|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uBOtQOO70Y|work=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on YouTube|publisher=Google, Inc|accessdate=27 May 2014|author=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|format=Video upload|date=22 May 2014}}</ref> The song featured in the season two finale of ''[[Orange Is the New Black]]''.<ref>http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/06/the-best-musical-moments-from-this-season-of-orange-is-the-new-black/372491/</ref> ==Track listing== ;7" Vinyl #"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Roeser) – 3:45 #"Tattoo Vampire" ([[Albert Bouchard]], Helen Robbins) – 2:40 ==Personnel== *[[Eric Bloom]]&nbsp;– guitar, percussion *[[Buck Dharma|Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser]]&nbsp;– guitar, synthesizer, percussion, lead vocals *[[Allen Lanier]]&nbsp;– keyboards, guitar, bass *[[Joe Bouchard]]&nbsp;– bass, piano *[[Albert Bouchard]]&nbsp;– drums, acoustic guitar, percussion, harmonica with: *[[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]]&nbsp;– backing vocals, keyboards, percussion ==Chart performance== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1976) !Peak<br>position |- | align="left" |Canadian Singles Chart<ref name="rpm">{{cite journal | url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5106A&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7a7rmq4tj4spq4av5sjtuq7e75 | title = RPM Top Singles | volume= 26 |issue= 7 |date= November 13, 1976 | accessdate = August 2, 2012 | journal=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] | publisher=RPM Music Publications Ltd.}}</ref> |align="center"|7 |- | align="left" |U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Chart<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/blue-%C3yster-cult-mn0000061938/awards| title=Blue Oyster Cult awards| work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] | accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref> |align="center"|12 |- |align="left"|U.K. Singles Chart<ref name="betts"/> |align="center"|16 |- | align="left" |Irish Singles Chart<ref name="irishcharts">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=Search the Charts|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref> |align="center"|17 |} ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== *{{cite book| first= Graham| last= Betts| year=2004| title= Complete UK Hit Singles 1952–2004| edition= 1st|publisher= Collins Press| location= London| isbn= 0007179316}} *{{cite book|last=Brackett|first=Nathan|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|year=2004|publisher=Rolling Stone LLC|location=New York City|isbn=0743201698|edition=4th}} *{{cite book|last=Dave|first=Marsh|title=The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|year=1999|publisher=Da Capo Press|location=New York City|isbn=030680901X}} *{{cite book|last=Rooksby|first=Rikky|title=Riffs: How to Create and Play Great Guitar Riffs|year=2002|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=0879307102}} {{Blue Öyster Cult}} {{Romeo and Juliet}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Don't Fear The Reaper}} [[Category:1976 singles]] [[Category:Blue Öyster Cult songs]] [[Category:Hard rock ballads]] [[Category:Songs written by Buck Dharma]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Sandy Pearlman]] [[Category:Songs about death]] [[Category:Hard rock songs]] [[Category:Psychedelic rock songs]] [[Category:Progressive rock songs]]'