Heaven Forbid

Heaven Forbid is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on March 24, 1998. It was the band's first studio album with new material in a decade (not counting the 1992 soundtrack to Bad Channels). American science fiction and horror writer John Shirley wrote lyrics to most of the songs on the album. While he is primarily known as an author for his cyberpunk stories, many of the lyrics on this album revolve around early science fiction and mystery motifs. The album's working title was 'Ezekiel's Wheel,' after the Biblical story that some take to reference an early visitation by UFOs.

The album's live song "In Thee" was originally featured on Mirrors. "Still Burnin'" is a sequel to the song "Burnin' for You", which appeared on Fire of Unknown Origin.

The inspiration for the alternative cover is Morgan Fairchild. This image also appears on the reverse of the insert, and was originally intended to be the front piece as indicated by advertisements from the period.

"Harvest Moon", "Power Underneath Despair", "Cold Gray Light of Dawn" and "Still Burnin'" were debuted live during the 1992 tour.

The album was re-released on April 17, 2020, by Frontiers.

Band members

 * Eric Bloom – guitars, keyboards, lead vocals on tracks 1, 3, 5, and 7, producer
 * Buck Dharma – guitars, keyboards, lead vocals on tracks 2, 4, 6, 8–11, producer
 * Allen Lanier – guitars, keyboards
 * Danny Miranda – bass guitar on tracks 1, 4–9, 11, backing vocals
 * Jon Rogers – bass guitar on tracks 2, 3 and 10, backing vocals
 * Bob Rondinelli – drums on track 9
 * Chuck Burgi - drums on tracks 1-8 and 10, backing vocals

Additional musicians

 * George Cintron – additional vocals
 * Tony Perrino – additional keyboards

Production

 * Steve Schenck - producer on tracks 2, 3, 10, management
 * Paul Orofino – engineer, mixing
 * Marc Senesac – engineer and mixing on tracks 2, 3, 10
 * Leon Zervos – mastering