History Music / Imaginos

* AlchemyIsMagic: Sandy Pearlman was fascinated with alchemy, and incorporated many references to it in the lyrics. Baron Von Frankenstein seems to an alchemist, and creates [[FantasticDrug world-without-end]], while in ''Re-Imaginos'' Desdinova describes his own experiments with alchemy and astronomy in the added song "''Black Telescope'"".

''Imaginos'' is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Music/BlueOysterCult. It is a RockOpera telling part of the story of [[ProtagonistTitle Imaginos]], or [[FaceHeelTurn Desdinova]], a HumanoidAbomination that becomes an agent of chaos and evil for a group of extraterrestrial deities called “Les Invisibles”.

The Imaginos plotline and concept was created by the band’s producer Sandy Pearlman in the 1960s, who incorporated it into many of the band’s lyrics. It was not told in a specific order until the ''Imaginos'' album itself was released in 1988, leading to many scattered, cryptic references to the plot across the band’s discography. ''Imaginos'' itself, which covers the years of 1804 up to 1893, is only Act I of III of the storyline. Two other double albums were planned which would follow Imaginos’ story up until the modern day. These were to be called ''Act II: Germany Minus Zero and Counting'' and ''Act III: The Mutant Reformation''. The full title of the entire narrative was, according to Pearlman, [[LongTitle ''The Soft Doctrines of Imaginos: A Bedtime Story for the Children of the Damned'']].

* StealthPun/ HurricaneOfPuns: A lot of the more cryptic lyrics are actually puns on some level. For example, “''these gravely digs of mine will surely prove a sight/and don’t forget my dog, fixed and consequent''”. Imaginos is a shapeshifter who has just come back from the dead, and is referring to his new form as “gravely digs” (digs being slang for clothes). The dog is the star Sirius, which is a “fixed” (non-moving) star in astrology.

* HumanoidAbomination: Emphasis on "humanoid" prior his death, emphasis on "abomination" afterward

* MoodWhiplash: A deliberate example, when listening to the tracks in narrative order the jaunty and upbeat “Del Rio’s Song” is immediately followed by “Blue Öyster Cult”, where Imaginos lays dying on a beach and is abandoned by his friends.

* RealityWarper: “*I’ve warped the stuff of ground/What seems to be is not*”

* StealthPun/ HurricaneOfPuns: A lot of the more cryptic lyrics are actually puns on some level. For example, “*these gravely digs of mine will surely prove a sight/and don’t forget my dog, fixed and consequent*”. Imaginos is a shapeshifter who has just come back from the dead, and is referring to his new form as “gravely digs” (digs being slang for clothes). The dog is the star Sirius, which is a “fixed” (non-moving) star in astrology.

->In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on his "charmed and armed" ship ''Plutonia'' on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and- [[HeWhoFightsMonsters much like a conquistador]]- ends up slaughtering anyone in the Yucatan who stands in the way of him trying to get it. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present ("''Magna of Illusion''"). By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and [[RevengeByProxy desire for vengeance]] influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

%%* AncientConspiracy
%%* BeenThereShapedHistory

* MindScrew: Try making sense of the plot *at all* without the [[MindScrewdriver liner notes]].

* RealityWarper: “I’ve warped the stuff of ground/What seems to be is not”

* StealthPun/ HurricaneOfPuns: A lot of the more cryptic lyrics are actually puns on some level. For example, “these gravely digs of mine will surely prove a sight/and don’t forget my dog, fixed and consequent”. Imaginos is a shapeshifter who has just come back from the dead, and is referring to his new form as “gravely digs” (digs being slang for clothes). The dog is the star Sirius, which is a “fixed” (non-moving) star in astrology.

->In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on his "charmed and armed" ship ''Plutonia'' on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters much like a conquistador]] ends up slaughtering anyone in the Yucatan who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present ("''Magna of Illusion''"). By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and [[RevengeByProxy desire for vengeance]] influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

->In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on his "charmed and armed" ship ''Plutonia'' on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present ("''Magna of Illusion''"). By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and [[RevengeByProxy desire for vengeance]] influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

->At some point he falls in love with a woman who he hides his powers from to some degree (“''The Girl Who Love Made Blind''”), and also develops the ability to travel through time and take different personas throughout history, greatly expanding the reach of his influence. One of these personas is Baron von Frankenstein, who may or may not be the same character from Literature/{{Frankenstein}} by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is distributing a drug called “world-without-end” which has mysterious and possibly cosmic effects (“''The Siege and Investiture of Baron von Frankenstein’s Castle at Wisseria''”). With his great cosmic powers, Desdinova amasses huge amounts of power, money, and influence, and collects occult tomes and artifacts (“''In the Presence of Another World''”).

->In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on his ship "charmed and armed" ship ''Plutonia'' on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present ("''Magna of Illusion''"). By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and [[RevengeByProxy desire for vengeance]] influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

''Imaginos'' is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Music/BlueOysterCult. It is a RockOpera telling part of the story of Imaginos, or [[FaceHeelTurn Desdinova]], a HumanoidAbomination that becomes an agent of chaos and evil for a group of extraterrestrial deities called “Les Invisibles”.

->In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present ("''Magna of Illusion''"). By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and [[RevengeByProxy desire for vengeance]] influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

->He goes to Gil Blanco County in Texas and catches a disease of some sort (“''Gil Blanco County''”), then travels to New Orleans to plan a journey for the jungles of Mexico to seek the Magna of Illusion that he has seen in his visions (“''Del Rio’s Song''”). The ship sails into a storm in the Gulf of Mexico that Imaginos’ visions did not warn him of. Most of the crew drowns, and Imaginos is left on a beach to die by the only other two survivors. At the moment of his death, he is approached by the “Oyster Boys” who come out of the bay and offer him a deal- he can die, or he can pledge his servitude to Les Invisibles and be resurrected as their servant (“''Blue Öyster Cult''”). He agrees, and is raised from the dead as the much more villainous Desdinova, [[LightIsNotGood “the Eternal Light”]] (“Astronomy”). Desdinova is commanded to [[ShapeshiftingTrickster shapeshift into various guises and manipulate]] politicians, nobility, and other people of influence, mostly in Europe, to further Les Invisibles’ ends (“''I Am the One You Warned Me Of''”).

->In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present ("''Magna of Illusion''"). By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and desire for vengeance influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

Imaginos is a “modified child” born in New Hampshire in 1804 (beyond this, his exact nature is vague). He was born during an auspicious astronomical event where the Sirius star was especially bright and prominent. This star is somehow connected to the powers of ''Les Invisibles'', a group of seven extraterrestrial deities who were worshipped in [[{{Mayincatec}} pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and Haiti]]. The worshippers of Les Invisibles were massacred by the conquistadors, who also stole one of the two magical obsidian mirrors that acted as gateways to the beings’ realm and conduits of their power (“''Les Invisibles''”). This mirror ([[https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/john-dees-spirit-mirror a real-life artifact]]) eventually made its way into the possession of John Dee, eventually influencing Britain to crush Spain’s naval might. The other mirror, the [[ArtifactOfDoom Magna of Illusion]], remained sealed in a chamber of jade.


Imaginos was created as a tool of Les Invisibles to alter the course of human history to their desires. He [[VoluntaryShapeshifting can shapeshift]] and has the ability to [[Main/{{Seers}} see the future]], which he uses to wander the countryside of America on adventures, unaware of the true significance of his powers (“''Imaginos''”).

He goes to Gil Blanco County in Texas and catches a disease of some sort (“''Gil Blanco County''”), then travels to New Orleans to plan a journey for the jungles of Mexico to seek the Magna of Illusion that he has seen in his visions (“''Del Rio’s Song''”). The ship sails into a storm in the Gulf of Mexico that Imaginos’ visions did not warn him of. Most of the crew drowns, and Imaginos is left on a beach to die by the only other two survivors. At the moment of his death, he is approached by the “Oyster Boys” who come out of the bay and offer him a deal- he can die, or he can pledge his servitude to Les Invisibles and be resurrected as their servant (“''Blue Öyster Cult''”). He agrees, and is raised from the dead as the much more villainous Desdinova, [[LightIsNotGood “the Eternal Light”]] (“Astronomy”). Desdinova is commanded to [[ShapeshiftingTrickster shapeshift into various guises and manipulate]] politicians, nobility, and other people of influence, mostly in Europe, to further Les Invisibles’ ends (“''I Am the One You Warned Me Of''”).


At some point he falls in love with a woman who he hides his powers from to some degree (“''The Girl Who Love Made Blind''”), and also develops the ability to travel through time and take different personas throughout history, greatly expanding the reach of his influence. One of these personas is Baron von Frankenstein, who may or may not be the same character from [[Literature/Frankenstein]] by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is distributing a drug called “world-without-end” which has mysterious and possibly cosmic effects (“''The Siege and Investiture of Baron von Frankenstein’s Castle at Wisseria''”). With his great cosmic powers, Desdinova amasses huge amounts of power, money, and influence, and collects occult tomes and artifacts (“''In the Presence of Another World''”).

In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present ("''Magna of Illusion''"). By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and desire for vengeance influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

Imaginos is a “modified child” born in New Hampshire in 1804 (beyond this, his exact nature is vague). He was born during an auspicious astronomical event where the Sirius star was especially bright and prominent. This star is somehow connected to the powers of ‘’Les Invisibles’’, a group of seven extraterrestrial deities who were worshipped in [[{{Mayincatec}} pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and Haiti]]. The worshippers of Les Invisibles were massacred by the conquistadors, who also stole one of the two magical obsidian mirrors that acted as gateways to the beings’ realm and conduits of their power (“Les Invisibles”). This mirror ([[https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/john-dees-spirit-mirror a real-life artifact]]) eventually made its way into the possession of John Dee, eventually influencing Britain to crush Spain’s naval might. The other mirror, the [[ArtifactOfDoom Magna of Illusion]], remained sealed in a chamber of jade.


Imaginos was created as a tool of Les Invisibles to alter the course of human history to their desires. He [[VoluntaryShapeshifting can shapeshift]] and has the ability to [[Main/{{Seers}} see the future]], which he uses to wander the countryside of America on adventures, unaware of the true significance of his powers (“Imaginos”).

He goes to Gil Blanco County in Texas and catches a disease of some sort (“Gil Blanco County”), then travels to New Orleans to plan a journey for the jungles of Mexico to seek the Magna of Illusion that he has seen in his visions (“Del Rio’s Song”). The ship sails into a storm in the Gulf of Mexico that Imaginos’ visions did not warn him of. Most of the crew drowns, and Imaginos is left on a beach to die by the only other two survivors. At the moment of his death, he is approached by the “Oyster Boys” who come out of the bay and offer him a deal- he can die, or he can pledge his servitude to Les Invisibles and be resurrected as their servant (“Blue Öyster Cult”). He agrees, and is raised from the dead as the much more villainous Desdinova, [[LightIsNotGood “the Eternal Light”]] (“Astronomy”). Desdinova is commanded to shapeshift into various guises and manipulate politicians, nobility, and other people of influence, mostly in Europe, to further Les Invisibles’ ends (“I Am the One You Warned Me Of”).


At some point he falls in love with a woman who he hides his powers from to some degree (“The Girl Who Love Made Blind”), and also develops the ability to travel through time and take different personas throughout history, greatly expanding the reach of his influence. One of these personas is Baron von Frankenstein, who may or may not be the same character from [[Literature/Frankenstein]] by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is distributing a drug called “world-without-end” which has mysterious and possibly cosmic effects (“The Siege and Investiture of Baron von Frankenstein’s Castle at Wisseria”). With his great cosmic powers, Desdinova amasses huge amounts of power, money, and influence, and collects occult tomes and artifacts (“In the Presence of Another World”).

In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present. By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and desire for vengeance influence the chain of events that lead to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

Albert Bouchard, who has taken over the storyline and mythos after Sandy Pearlman’s death, has [[RetCon retconned]] a few points on his ‘’Re-Imaginos’’ album, released in 2019. In Bouchard’s current continuity, Imaginos went to Europe before Texas, where he met “Frankenstein” and took “world-without-end”, which seemingly unlocked his shapeshifting powers. Also, instead of the entire ship being wrecked, Imaginos is thrown overboard by his friends who learn of the “disease” he caught during “Gil Blanco County”. Bouchard is also planning to continue the ‘’Imaginos’’ saga, with ‘’Bombs Over Germany’’ set to release in October 2021.

Imaginos is a “modified child” born in New Hampshire in 1804 (beyond this, his exact nature is vague). He was born during an auspicious astronomical event where the Sirius star was especially bright and prominent. This star is somehow connected to the powers of ‘’Les Invisibles’’, a group of seven extraterrestrial deities who were worshipped in [[{{Mayincatec}} pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and Haiti]]. The worshippers of Les Invisibles were massacred by the conquistadors, who also stole one of the two magical obsidian mirrors that acted as gateways to the beings’ realm and conduits of their power (“Les Invisibles”). This mirror ([[https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/john-dees-spirit-mirror a real-life artifact]]) eventually made its way into the possession of John Dee, eventually influencing Britain to crush Spain’s naval might. The other mirror, the Magna of Illusion, remained sealed in a chamber of jade.

In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present. By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and desire for vengeance influence the chain of events that lead to [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI]]- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

Imaginos is a “modified child” born in New Hampshire in 1804. He was born during an auspicious astronomical event where the Sirius star was especially bright and prominent. This star is somehow connected to the powers of ‘’Les Invisibles’’, a group of seven extraterrestrial deities who were worshipped in [[{{Mayincatec}} pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and Haiti]]. The worshippers of Les Invisibles were massacred by the conquistadors, who also stole one of the two magical obsidian mirrors that acted as gateways to the beings’ realm and conduits of their power (“Les Invisibles”). This mirror (a real-life artifact) eventually made its way into the possession of John Dee, eventually influencing Britain to crush Spain’s naval might. The other mirror, the Magna of Illusion, remained sealed in a chamber of jade.


Imaginos was created as a tool of Les Invisibles to alter the course of human history to their desires. He [[VoluntaryShapeshifting can shapeshift]] and has the ability to [[Main/{{Seers}} see the future]], which he uses to wander the countryside of America on adventures, unaware of the true significance of his powers (“Imaginos”).



He goes to Gil Blanco County in Texas and catches a disease of some sort (“Gil Blanco County”), then travels to New Orleans to plan a journey for the jungles of Mexico to seek the Magna of Illusion that he has seen in his visions (“Del Rio’s Song”). The ship sails into a storm in the Gulf of Mexico that Imaginos’ visions did not warn him of. Most of the crew drowns, and Imaginos is left on a beach to die by the only other two survivors. At the moment of his death, he is approached by the “Oyster Boys” who come out of the bay and offer him a deal- he can die, or he can pledge his servitude to Les Invisibles and be resurrected as their servant (“Blue Öyster Cult”). He agrees, and is raised from the dead as the much more villainous Desdinova, [[LightIsNotGood “the Eternal Light”]] (“Astronomy”). Desdinova is commanded to shapeshift into various guises and manipulate politicians, nobility, and other people of influence, mostly in Europe, to further Les Invisibles’ ends (“I Am the One You Warned Me Of”).


At some point he falls in love with a woman who he hides his powers from to some degree (“The Girl Who Love Made Blind”), and also develops the ability to travel through time and take different personas throughout history, greatly expanding the reach of his influence. One of these personas is Baron von Frankenstein, who may or may not be the same character from [[Literature/Frankenstein]] by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is distributing a drug called “world-without-end” which has mysterious and possibly cosmic effects (“The Siege and Investiture of Baron von Frankenstein’s Castle at Wisseria”). With his great cosmic powers, Desdinova amasses huge amounts of power, money, and influence, and collects occult tomes and artifacts (“In the Presence of Another World”).

In 1892- a mirror of his first voyage in 1829- Desdinova sets out on another voyage to get the Magna of Illusion, and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters ends up slaughtering anyone who stands in the way of him trying to get it]]. He brings it back to England, where he now lives part of the time, and gives it to his granddaughter as a birthday present. By “planting” the Magna of Illusion in Britain, Desdinova spreads the influence of Les Invisibles directly into the minds of the powers of Europe. The dark cosmic gods’ hatred and desire for vengeance influence the chain of events that lead to [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI]]- in Sandy Pearlman’s words, “a disease with a long incubation”.

* AncientConspiracy
* BeenThereShapedHistory

!!Tropes taken from the jungle by crime include:

* StealthPun/HurricaneOfPuns: A lot of the more cryptic lyrics are actually puns on some level. For example, “these gravely digs of mine will surely prove a sight/and don’t forget my dog, fixed and consequent”. Imaginos is a shapeshifter who has just come back from the dead, and is referring to his new form as “gravely digs” (digs being slang for clothes). The dog is the star Sirius, which is a “fixed” (non-moving) star in astrology.

* StealthPun: A lot of the more cryptic lyrics are actually puns on some level. For example, “these gravely digs of mine will surely prove a sight/and don’t forget my dog, fixed and consequent”. Imaginos is a shapeshifter who has just come back from the dead, and is referring to his new form as “gravely digs” (digs being slang for clothes). The dog is the star Sirius, which is a “fixed” (non-moving) star in astrology.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Fresh from zones of moisture, and afterward the meat...'']]

The actual Imaginos album languished in DevelopmentHell for years, with the original idea of it being a solo album for Albert Bouchard, then being quickly reworked as a full Blue Öyster Cult album. Although this did add more polish and orchestration, it resulted in huge portions of the album (including several full songs) being cut and the tracks rearranged in a narratively incoherent order. 16 years passed between Bouchard’s writing of the first pieces of music for the album and the full release. Albert Bouchard’s original demo tape of the album can be listened to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soOHIaSyqtU here]].

The Imaginos plotline and concept was created by the band’s producer Sandy Pearlman in the 1960s, who incorporated it into many of the band’s lyrics. It was not told in a specific order until the Imaginos album itself was released, leading to many scattered, cryptic references to the plot across the band’s discography. ''Imaginos'' itself, which covers the years of 1804 up to 1893, is only Act I of III of the storyline. Two other double albums were planned which would follow Imaginos’ story up until the modern day. These were to be called ''Act II: Germany Minus Zero and Counting'' and ''Act III: The Mutant Reformation''. The full title of the entire narrative was, according to Pearlman, [[LongTitle ''The Soft Doctrines of Imaginos: A Bedtime Story for the Children of the Damned'']].

''Imaginos'' is the eleventh studio album by the band Music/BlueOysterCult. It is a RockOpera telling part of the story of Imaginos, or [[FaceHeelTurn Desdinova]], a HumanoidAbomination that becomes an agent of chaos and evil for a group of extraterrestrial deities called “Les Invisibles”.

* ArtifactofDoom: The Magna of Illusion, an ancient obsidian mirror that poisons the minds of those around it, causing them to become violent and destructive. Its presence in Britain is indirectly responsible for UsefulNotes/WorldWarI.

* ArtifactofDoom: The Magna of Illusion, an ancient obsidian mirror that poisons the minds of those around it, causing them to become violent and destructive. Its presence in Britain is indirectly responsible for WorldWarI.