More Cowbell
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"More Cowbell" is a line from an April 8, 2000 Saturday Night Live comedy sketch about the recording of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult. The sketch featured guest host Christopher Walken as music producer Bruce Dickinson and Will Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle. The line itself has grown into a pop culture catch phrase.
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[edit] Synopsis
The sketch is presented as though it is an episode of VH1's Behind the Music. It begins with what is said to be film from the 1976 recording session that produced the band's biggest hit, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." The producer (Christopher Walken) introduces himself as "the Bruce Dickinson" and tells the band they have "what appears to be a dynamite sound." The band members are impressed at this compliment because of Bruce Dickinson's supposed high standing in the music industry.
The first take of the recording session begins soon after. The recording seems to be going well, but is ended by the band after a few moments because the cowbell part is rather loud and distracting. However, Dickinson feels quite differently and, to the surprise of most of the band, asks for "a little more cowbell," and suggests that the cowbell player, Gene Frenkel (Will Ferrell), "really explore the studio space this time".
Frenkle's exuberance in following this advice causes him to bump into his bandmates in the cramped studio, and the band aborts another take. Dickinson enters the studio exasperated at wasting "two good tracks". Frenkle sheepishly agrees to tone down his performance in the spirit of cooperation. Instead, he passive-aggressively plays the cowbell very close to Eric Bloom's (Chris Parnell) ear and fails to keep time with the rest of the band. Frenkle then knocks over Bloom's microphone stand, ending the take prematurely. The rest of the band expresses frustration with Frenkle, but Dickinson remains focused only on getting more cowbell onto the track.
Gene Frenkle then makes an impromptu speech to Blue Öyster Cult, declaring that it is his duty to give it his all in playing the cowbell. At the climax of the sketch, Dickinson exclaims: "I got a fever. And the only prescription... is more cowbell!"
The band agrees to let Frenkle play the cowbell part his way. As the band begins another take, the sketch ends with a freeze frame on Frenkle with the message: "In Memoriam: Gene Frenkle: 1950-2000."
[edit] Goofs
During much of Gene's plea for unity, the skit's players exhibit noticeable difficulty staying in character. Jimmy Fallon overtly laughs while delivering a line, and continues to laugh for about 30 seconds, while Ferrell breaks into a conspicuous smile at one point in his delivery. Christopher Walken remains completely serious.
[edit] Comedy vs. reality
The sketch takes a great deal of liberty with the actual events surrounding the recording of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper":
- Gene Frenkle is a fictional character invented for the sketch, though fans have occasionally expressed their sympathies to Blue Öyster Cult over his death.<ref name="Washington Post">Paul Farhi (2005) Blue Oyster Cult, Playing Along With "More Cowbell", Washington Post, 1-29-2005. [1]</ref><ref name="PauseAndPlay">Gerry Galipault (2001) A Cowbell Salute To Blue Öyster Cult. [2]</ref>
- According to former band bassist Joe Bouchard, the cowbell line was performed by his brother Albert after the song was recorded.<ref name="Washington Post"/> It was dubbed in afterwards, and is much quieter than was portrayed in the sketch. Eric Bloom, however, states that in fact he played it.<ref name="PauseAndPlay"/>
- The sketch places the recording session in August 1976. However, the song was actually recorded in 1975 and released in May 1976.[citation needed]
- The sketch shows lead singer Eric Bloom as the vocalist, but lead guitarist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser actually wrote and sang "(Don't Fear) The Reaper".
- Christopher Walken portrays the producer of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" named Bruce Dickinson, but that is not the name of the man who produced the song in reality. "On Flame with Rock and Roll", a compact disc of BÖC's greatest hits including "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", carries the credit "Produced by Bruce Dickinson" (not to be confused with the lead singer for Iron Maiden of the same name) but that is a mischaracterization. Bruce Dickinson was in charge of producing the remasters but he had nothing to do with the original recording.<ref name="PauseAndPlay"/> Sandy Pearlman was the actual producer of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". <ref>Producers. Sandy Pearlman. [3], though Walken's impression is reportedly accurate of Pearlman, rather than Dickinson.</ref>
[edit] Reappearances in Saturday Night Live
On May 14, 2005, on an episode that Will Ferrell himself hosted, the beloved Gene Frenkle made a re-appearance on the set of Saturday Night Live during the musical guest's (Queens Of The Stone Age) first musical performance; "Little Sister". As the song itself has a repeating cowbell beat played in the background, Will Ferrell donned his Gene Frenkle costume and played the cowbell part of the song on-stage along with the band. The audience replied with an immense applause and the song continued without a hitch for the remainder.
[edit] References in popular culture
"More cowbell" has become a catchphrase and pop culture phenomenon. T-shirts featuring the slogan have been sold at Hot Topic and Urban Outfitters, sports teams such as Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Devil Rays use the sketch as the basis for cowbell-related fan participation, and numerous musical artists have incorprated the sketch into their concerts and studio releases.
[edit] Sketch performers
- Jimmy Fallon as Albert Bouchard
- Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle
- Chris Kattan as Buck Dharma
- Chris Parnell as Eric Bloom
- Horatio Sanz as Joe Bouchard
- Christopher Walken as Bruce Dickinson
[edit] References and footnotes
<references />
[edit] External links
- Even More Cowbell! – Timeline of events from Wired magazine.
- Blue Oyster Cult, Playing Along With 'More Cowbell' Paul Farhi, January 29, 2005, Washington Post
