Blue Öyster Cult banned cowbells from their shows after SNL sketch

Back in 2000, a Saturday Night Live sketch focused on the use of the “cowbell” in the Blue Öyster Cult most famous song, “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Featuring Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, and Christopher Walken, the sketch became one of the most iconic in recent decades. Walken even remarked that it “ruined” his long and successful career because people constantly approached him saying, “I need more cowbell,” instead of mentioning his other significant movie roles.

A similar thing happened with Blue Öyster Cult, as the band’s guitarist and singer, Buck Dharma, told Vulture. According to him, they had to ban cowbells from their shows because fans would bring them to play along with the song. However, Dharma also admitted that he found the sketch funny and appreciated how it introduced the band to a new generation of fans.

Blue Öyster Cult banned cowbells from their shows after SNL sketch

“When the sketch aired, I wasn’t watching television, but my wife got a call from her mother who was still up that late and watching it. She said, “Oh my God, Donald is on television.” So we were a bit confused and turned SNL on and, of course, it wasn’t me. It was SNL lampooning the song and doing a sketch about it. I saw about the last 25 seconds of it. It wasn’t long after that I was able to get a VHS tape of the whole episode.”

“My first feeling was relief — relief that it was funny and relief that it wasn’t too cruel on the band. SNL had done some rather cruel things about Neil Diamond and other artists over the years, so I was happy it was actually hilarious. While it poked fun at Blue Öyster Cult, it wasn’t mean-spirited at all.”

He continued

(…) The first change (after the sketch) was we began playing the cowbell in “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” live. 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.

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. I feel a little bit of kinship and sympathy with them. 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. 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,” Buck Dharma said.

The hit “Don’t Fear The Reaper” was featured on Blue Öyster Cult’s classic 1976 album, Agents of Fortune. The album became a platinum seller, peaking at number 29 on the United States Billboard chart, while the song reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the years, the track has also become a staple in horror movies, including its memorable appearance in John Carpenter’s groundbreaking 1978 film, “Halloween”.