Blue Oyster Cult Hilariously Needed To Ban Cowbells After SNL’s Iconic Skit

Blue Öyster Cult’s Buck Dharma recently revisited the famous Saturday Night Live “More Cowbell” sketch, which humorously reimagined the creation of their hit song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.” Airing on April 8, 2000, the sketch starred Will Ferrell as the fictional cowbell enthusiast Gene Frenkle and Christopher Walken as producer Bruce Dickinson. Ferrell’s over-the-top cowbell performance infuriates his bandmates, while Walken insists, “I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!”

The skit became a cultural phenomenon and one of SNL’s most beloved moments. Despite its comedic tone, Dharma believes the sketch ultimately brought more good than bad to Blue Öyster Cult’s legacy.

Why Blue Öyster Cult Banned Cowbells at Concerts

Reflecting on the sketch’s legacy, Dharma told Vulture:

“It’s funny to think about. I feel bonded to Will and Christopher in a way because we’re all at the mercy of the cowbell sketch in different ways. Will’s character, Gene Frenkle, was made up. We dedicate the song to him sometimes. But I would tell Christopher: It’s all bearable, I suppose. Blue Öyster Cult got through it and we persevered.”

However, the sketch had an unexpected side effect: fans began bringing cowbells to their concerts. “When we play ‘Reaper,’ people still mimic playing the cowbell, and we had to ban people from bringing actual cowbells to the concerts. But, again, it’s a tiny cross to bear,” Dharma added.

Cowbell in Concerts and the Song’s Legacy

Interestingly, the band hadn’t used a cowbell in live performances for decades until the sketch made it unavoidable. “For 20-odd years, we didn’t use a live cowbell for our shows and never considered it,” Dharma explained. “We had to play the cowbell because there was just no getting away from it.”

Despite the humor, Dharma is relieved that the sketch didn’t overshadow the song’s original intent. He stated:

“For 20-odd years, we didn’t use a live cowbell for our shows and never considered it. We had to play the cowbell because there was just no getting away from it. I’m grateful that as significant as the sketch is — because after 25 years, it still is — it didn’t kill the song, its original intent, or its original mood. It’s still used as a cue in horror movies when you want that mysterious and metaphysically uneasy vibe. So I’m glad the sketch didn’t kill the song and didn’t make it one big joke.”

And as for Walken’s famous line? Dharma quipped: “I think the cowbell was just as loud as it should be.”