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On this day, April 8, 2000, "The Bruce Dickinson" demanded "more cowbell."
More Cowbell
"The Bruce Dickinson" (Christopher Walken) demands "more cowbell."
Original air date: April 8, 2000
Guests: Christopher Walken
"More Cowbell" is a comedy sketch that aired on Saturday Night Live on April 8, 2000. The sketch is presented as an episode of VH1's documentary series Behind the Music that fictionalizes the recording of the song " (Don't Fear) The Reaper " by Blue Öyster Cult. The sketch featured guest host Christopher Walken as music producer "The Bruce Dickinson", and regular cast member Will Ferrell, who wrote the sketch with playwright Donnell Campbell, as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, whose overzealous playing annoys his bandmates but pleases producer Dickinson. The sketch also starred Chris Parnell as Eric Bloom, Jimmy Fallon as Albert Bouchard, Chris Kattan as Buck Dharma and Horatio Sanz as Joe Bouchard.
The sketch is often considered one of the greatest SNL sketches ever made, and in many "best of" lists regarding SNL sketches, it is often placed in the top ten, being ranked number nine by Rolling Stone. As a result of its popularity, "more cowbell" became an American pop culture catchphrase.
{snip}
"The Bruce Dickinson" (Christopher Walken) demands "more cowbell."
Original air date: April 8, 2000
Guests: Christopher Walken
"More Cowbell" is a comedy sketch that aired on Saturday Night Live on April 8, 2000. The sketch is presented as an episode of VH1's documentary series Behind the Music that fictionalizes the recording of the song " (Don't Fear) The Reaper " by Blue Öyster Cult. The sketch featured guest host Christopher Walken as music producer "The Bruce Dickinson", and regular cast member Will Ferrell, who wrote the sketch with playwright Donnell Campbell, as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, whose overzealous playing annoys his bandmates but pleases producer Dickinson. The sketch also starred Chris Parnell as Eric Bloom, Jimmy Fallon as Albert Bouchard, Chris Kattan as Buck Dharma and Horatio Sanz as Joe Bouchard.
The sketch is often considered one of the greatest SNL sketches ever made, and in many "best of" lists regarding SNL sketches, it is often placed in the top ten, being ranked number nine by Rolling Stone. As a result of its popularity, "more cowbell" became an American pop culture catchphrase.
{snip}
More Cowbell - SNL
11,324,853 views • Feb 22, 2019
Saturday Night Live
10M subscribers
When rock band Blue Oyster Cult records " (Don't Fear) the Reaper " producer Bruce Dickinson (Christopher Walken) insists Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell) play more cowbell. With Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon. [Season 25, 2000]
11,324,853 views • Feb 22, 2019
Saturday Night Live
10M subscribers
When rock band Blue Oyster Cult records " (Don't Fear) the Reaper " producer Bruce Dickinson (Christopher Walken) insists Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell) play more cowbell. With Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon. [Season 25, 2000]
📺On April 8, 2000, ‘Saturday Night Live’ aired the sketch, ‘More Cowbell’
Link to tweet
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Sat Apr 8, 2023: On this day, April 8, 2000, "The Bruce Dickinson" demanded "more cowbell."
Wed Apr 8, 2020: On this day, April 8, 2000: The Bruce Dickinson demands "more cowbell."