MR

Okay, I'm admitting my ignorance. Would someone please explain the "more cowbell" thing to me? It's driving me nuts

ek88 wrote:Okay, I'm admitting my ignorance. Would someone please explain the "more cowbell" thing to me? It's driving me nuts

Don't feel bad - you obviously don't watch "Saturday Night Live" (neither do I). It's a skit with Christopher Walken playing a record producer producing "Blue Oyster Cult"'s "Don't Fear the Reaper". Will Ferrell plays the cowbell player and....well...you just have to <I>see</I> it to get it. Fortunately it's all over YouTube.

I think it's funny, but some people swear it's the funniest thing they've ever seen. Go watch the clip and you'll get it.

Cinj

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_Cowbell

Will also made a cow-bell encore during a set on SNL. This time while Queens of the Stone Age were performing. Hysterical.

cinj wrote:

ek88 wrote:Okay, I'm admitting my ignorance. Would someone please explain the "more cowbell" thing to me? It's driving me nuts

Don't feel bad - you obviously don't watch "Saturday Night Live" (neither do I). It's a skit with Christopher Walken playing a record producer producing "Blue Oyster Cult"'s "Don't Fear the Reaper". Will Ferrell plays the cowbell player and....well...you just have to <I>see</I> it to get it. Fortunately it's all over YouTube.

I think it's funny, but some people swear it's the funniest thing they've ever seen. Go watch the clip and you'll get it.

Cinj

Thanks for the explanation - I was another one who didn't get to watch SNL. (I didn't get cable until I was in University and I was out on most Saturday nights!)

I just saw the clip on YouTube, it's hilarious! I *like* the darned cowbell!

Amanda

MtlLady wrote:I just saw the clip on YouTube, it's hilarious! I *like* the darned cowbell!

I *bought* a cowbell not long after I saw that skit. LOL

That clip also gave BOC some free publicity...that explains why they sell "More Cowbell" t-shirts at their concerts! They also listed the fictitious Bruce Dickinson as a producer on their remastered albums released this year...

hence my sig pic!

Saturday Night Live Transcripts

Season 25: Episode 16

4/8/00


Behind The Music: Blue Oyster Cult

Bruce Dickinson.....Christopher Walken
Eric Bloom.....Chris Parnell
Buck Dharma.....Chris Kattan
Danny.....Horatio Sanz
Bobby.....Jimmy Fallon
Gene Frenkle.....Will Ferrell

Jimmy19029 note: (The writers obviously didn't know that Danny & Bobby were later BOC members and were not in the band in 1976. LOL! And they mistakenly have Eric Bloom, played by Chris Parnell, lead singing Reaper when in reality it was Buck Dharma who sang that song. Ah well! FUNNY SKIT anyway!)


Announcer: After a series of staggering defeats, Blue Oyster Cult assembled in the recording studio in late 1976 for a session with famed producer Bruce Dickinson. And, luckily for us, the cameras were rolling.

Bruce Dickinson: Alright, guys, I think we're ready to lay this first track down. By the way, my name is Bruce Dickinson. Yes, the Bruce Dickinson. And I gotta tell you: fellas.. you have got what appears to be a dynamite sound!

Eric Bloom: Coming from you, Bruce, that means a lot.

Buck Dharma: Yeah. I mean, you're Bruce Dickinson!

Alan: It's incredible!

Bobby: I can't believe Bruce Dickinson digs our sound!

Bruce Dickinson: Easy, guys.. I put my pants on just like the rest of you - one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records. [ the group laughs ] Alright, here we go. "Don't Fear the Reaper" - take one. [ exits into the control booth ]

[ the group begins the song. Bobby slaps the drums, Eric jams his guitar, and Gene bangs on a cowbell. ]

Eric: [ distracted by Gene banging the cowbell ] Okay! Wait! Wait! [ the group cuts off their instruments ] Bruce, could you come in here for a minute, please?

Bruce Dickinson: [ stepping out of the booth ] That was gonna be a great track. Guys, what's the deal?

Eric: Are you sure that was sounding okay?

Bruce Dickinson: I'll be honest.. fellas, it was sounding great. But.. I could've used a little more cowbell. So.. let's take it again.. and, Gene.

Gene Frenkle: Yeah?

Bruce Dickinson: Really explore the studio space this time. I mean, really.. explore the space. I like what I'm hearing.

[ the group starts the song again, as Gene bangs more wildly onto the cowbell while dancing crazily. In the booth, Walken is smiling to keep from laughing. Before the session is interrupted, Frenkle misses a beat on his cowbell.]

Eric: Okay, wait! Stop! I'm sorry. Bruce, could you come back in here, please?

Bruce Dickinson: [ stepping out of the booth ] Fellas.. now, we just wasted two good tracks! That last one was even better than the first!

Eric: Well, it's just that I find Gene's cowbell playing distracting! If I'm the only one, I'll shut up.

Buck Dharma: It was pretty rough..

Gene Frenkle: You know, I could pull back a little. If you'd like.

Bruce Dickinson: Not too much, though! Fellas, I'm telling you - you're gonna want that cowbell on the track!

Gene Frenkle: You know what? It's fine. Let's just do this thing.

[ the band starts the song once more, with Gene banging the cowbell right next to Eric's ear until Eric pushes him, causing Horatio Sanz to fall ]

Eric: [ stopping the song again, fighting Gene ] Come on, people!

Bruce Dickinson: [ running out of the booth again ] That.. that doesn't work for me. I gotta have more cowbell!

Alan: [ grabs Gene's shirt ] Don't blow this for us, Gene!

Bobby: [ cracks up ] Yeah, quit being so selfish, Gene!

Gene Frenkle: Can I just say one thing?

Bruce Dickinson: Say it, baby. Say it.

Gene Frenkle: I'm standing here, staring at Bruce Dickinson!

Bruce Dickinson: The cock of the walk, baby!

Gene Frenkle: And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!

Bruce Dickinson: Say it, baby!

Gene Frenkle: And, Bobby, you are right - I am being selfish. But the last time I checked, we don't have a whole lot of songs that feature the cowbell.

Bruce Dickinson: I gotta have more cowbell, baby!

Gene Frenkle: ..and I'll be doing myself a disservice -- [begins to slightly laugh. Jimmy Fallon turns away and bites down on his drumstick to keep from laughing] -- and every member in this band, if I don't perform the hell out of this.

Bruce Dickinson: Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription.. is more cowbell!

Gene Frenkle: Thanks, Bruce. But I think, maybe if I just leave.. and, maybe I'll come back later, and we can lay down the cowbell. [ starts to leave the studio ]

Bruce Dickinson: Aw, baby..

Eric: Gene, wait! Why don't you lay down that cowbell right now. With us. Together.

[ everyone agrees ]

Gene Frenkle: Do you mean that, Eric?

Buck Dharma: He speaks for all of us.

Gene Frenkle: Thank you.

Bruce Dickinson: Babies.. before we're done here.. y'all be wearing gold-plated diapers.

Alan: [ confused ] What does that mean?

Bruce Dickinson: Never question Bruce Dickinson! Roll it! [ exits back to booth ]

Eric: [ ready to lay the complete track down ] 1, 2, 3, 4.

[ the band starts up again, this time Frenkle is playing the cowbell in tune with the band. Close-up on Gene as he bangs the cowbell to freeze-frame with graphic: "In Memoriam: Gene Frenkle: 1950-2000" ]

Thanks, everyone! Going to check out youtube right now . . .

Checked it out -- very funny stuff!!!

The best part of that skit, besides Ferrell's gut hanging out, is the other cast members trying to hold in their laughter.

ek88 wrote:Checked it out -- very funny stuff!!!

I'm still giggling over it three days later. The part where the drummer has to bite down on his drumstick to keep from laughing is hilarious. But the thing that made me really laugh out loud was the part when he was trying to "explore the space" and knocking everyone over.

Cute belly button too.

The Skit was really funny... Too bad SNL is turned into Shit lately.

Well now hearing cowbells in songs everywhere! (No, I haven't lost all my marbles yet and I don't live in the country). Two songs with a cowbell just on the 20 minute drive to work this morning - April Wine and Grand Funk Railroad (don't have BOC on that particular CS).

See what you all started??

Well now hearing cowbells in songs everywhere! (No, I haven't lost all my marbles yet and I don't live in the country). Two songs with a cowbell just on the 20 minute drive to work this morning - April Wine and Grand Funk Railroad (don't have BOC on that particular CS).

See what you all started??

Well now I'm hearing cowbells in songs everywhere! (No, I haven't lost all my marbles yet and I don't live in the country). Two songs with a cowbell just on the 20 minute drive to work this morning - April Wine and Grand Funk Railroad (don't have BOC on that particular CS).

See what you all started??