The Brain Surgeons are the brainstorm of Albert Bouchard, whose prodigious songwriting, arrangements and creative drumming drove the legendary Blue Öyster Cult to platinum sales and arena rock status. Contrary to the hilarious Saturday Night Live skit, he's the dude who really put the cowbell in "Don't Fear the Reaper." More important, his influence is acknowledged by rock pioneers from the Minutemen (whose Mike Watt still covers his "The Red and the Black" nightly) to Metallica, whose version of his classic "Astronomy." went quadruple-platinum in the U.S. alone. The rare artist whose shared stages with both Jimi Hendrix and Sonic Youth, his vision, chops and giant Godzilla mask burn brightly as ever with the Brain Surgeons, who've released seven highly praised CDs on Cellsum Records and built a devoted cult following over a decade of hard touring and great word-of-mouth. The band also features Deborah Frost, an ex-rock critic in the tradition of Patti Smith and Chrissie Hynde on vocals and guitar. Their newest and perhaps most outrageous weapon is lead guitarist Ross the Boss (Dictators, Manowar), who's featured on the band's latest releases, the CD compilation BLACK HEARTS OF SOUL (Bad Reputation) and DVD, TO HELEN WITH LOVE: THE CONCERT. DENIAL OF DEATH, an album of completely new material and collaborations with Ross, is due in early 2006. One of the most powerful and best-loved guitarists ever to emerge from the New York scene, Ross the Boss has often made the band he's in sound like a supergroup. With Bouchard, who's longed to collaborate with him ever since the Dictators opened for Blue Öyster Cult, he's really in one.