Eric Bloom to Miss A Few Blue Öyster Cult Shows After Surgery
Eric Bloom will miss some eric bloom shows after undergoing a non-life-threatening surgical procedure, and Blue Öyster Cult has already lined up Kasim Sulton to cover a few dates. Bloom said the operation was scheduled during the band’s time off, but his recovery has run longer than expected.
On May 13, Bloom said, "During BÖC's time off I scheduled a non-life threatening surgical procedure. I am on the mend, but the recovery is taking a little longer than expected. Kasim Sulton will be standing in for me for a few shows and knock it out of the park! I’ll see you soon." The 81-year-old singer’s note gives the band a clear short-term workaround while it keeps its schedule moving.
May 16 in Oroville
Blue Öyster Cult is scheduled to play its next gig on May 16 in Oroville, California, and Bloom’s absence will begin before that run settles in. The band also has additional dates on its itinerary through the summer and fall, so this replacement is not a one-off convenience but a practical answer for a stretch of live work.
Sulton is a familiar name inside the band’s orbit. He previously served as Blue Öyster Cult’s bassist and backing singer from 2012 to 2017, which makes the handoff cleaner than bringing in a last-minute outsider with no history onstage with the group.
Rock Legends Cruise to California
Blue Öyster Cult’s most recent concert took place on February 26 aboard the Rock Legends Cruise, which means the band has already had a meaningful pause before this new scheduling wrinkle. That gap also explains why Bloom could time the procedure around downtime rather than force an abrupt cancellation of the spring run.
The live calendar now depends on how quickly Bloom can resume full duties, but the band has a workable interim setup and a singer with its history already in place. For ticket holders, the immediate takeaway is simple: May 16 still stands, but not necessarily with the same frontman on mic.
Kasim Sulton’s return
Sulton is best known for his work with Utopia, and his return gives Blue Öyster Cult continuity at a moment when Bloom is still recovering. That matters because the band is not pausing its itinerary; it is adapting it, show by show, around an 81-year-old singer who expected a quicker recovery than he got.
