Allen Lanier (Blue Oyster Cult) passed away.

Founding BLUE OYSTER CULT keyboardist and guitarist ALLEN LANIER (June 25, 1946 – August 14, 2013) has died at the age of 66 after being hospitalized with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, according to the band’s official Facebook page. “DFTR sweet man,” the post reads, in apparent reference to their hit ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper.’ “We love you and miss you.” Apart from a two year absence in the ’80s, Lanier was with B.O.C. from their inception in 1967 until his retirement in 2006. He co-wrote several songs for the group, including ‘True Confessions,’ In Thee,’ ‘Tenderloin,’ and ‘Lonely Teardrops.’ In November 2012 he rejoined his former bandmates on stage for the last time at a special New York concert commemorating the release of a career-spanning box set. According to WebMd, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a lung disease that restricts breathing, “caused by damage to the lungs over many years, usually from smoking.”

Allen's death was announced by Blue Öyster Cult on August 14, 2013.

The band posted this on their facebook page:

ALLEN GLOVER LANIER 1946-2013

We have extremely sad news to report.

We’ve lost our friend and bandmate Allen Lanier.

Allen succumbed to complications from C.O.P.D.

He is survived by his wife Dory, sister Mary Anne and mother Martha.

Although he retired from touring in 2006 Allen returned to the stage for what turned out to be his final appearance, reuniting with BӦC at the 40th Anniversary show in New York this past November.

DFTR sweet man. We love you and miss you.

Lead singer Eric Bloom posted the following:

My great friend Allen Lanier has passed. I'll miss the guy even though we hadn't spoken in awhile. He was so talented as a musician and a thinker. He read voraciously, all kinds of things, especially comparative religion. We drove for years together, shared rooms in the early days. We partied, laughed, played. All BOC fans and band members will mourn his death. Ultimately smoking finally got to him. He had been hospitalized with C.O.P.D. It was Allen who heard some old college band tapes of mine and suggested I get a shot as the singer in 1968. A lot of great memories, over 40 years worth. Maybe he's playing a tune with Jim Carroll right now.