Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!! Tunh- nuh-na-nuh na-nuh-nuh. Tunh- nuh-na-nuh na-nuh-nuh. Okay, maybe the opening riff of Blue Oyster Cult’s classic “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” doesn’t translate well in black and white. But thanks to SNL it’s transcended classic rock to comic rock. And now thanks to the teams that have taken the mantle of the cowbell in to their stadiums, “The Reaper” is an arena rock anthem. It just so happens that The Cult (yeah, we’re tight like that) live in the Bay Area and continue to perform around the world. Metromix caught up with lead guitarist Buck Dharma to ask him what he thought about The Cult’s cult status.
First off, who did you root for in the playoffs? Rays, of course.
What do you think of the Rays post season? Could the cowbell have had something to do with that? Anyone will benefit from more cowbell. Blue Oyster Cult were early beneficiaries of cowbell power.
What was your initial reaction when you first saw or heard of the SNL “more cowbell” skit? I didn’t know it was Coming. None of us did. I got a call in the middle of it and caught the end of it. I saw the whole thing a couple of days later and thought it was hilarious.
Several teams are brining the cowbells into their stadiums. What do you think of this new phenomenon? It drives us nuts (at concerts). Cause they’re loud and people rarely play them in time. At ball games and if I was on the opposing team it would drive us crazy.
Does it make you regret the decision to keep a cowbell in the final mix of “Reaper?” No, the cowbell is right where it should be in "Reaper."
The t-shirts are out there, parodies of the parodies are out there, fans are out there asking for more cowbell at your concerts. Do you wake up in a cold sweat when a clanging cowbell enters your dreams? Are you tired of it yet? In the years since the sketch, I have come to embrace the cowbell.
Has the SNL skit affected BOC’s decisions on whether or not to include more cowbell? Ever think about a cowbell solo? No, the cowbell is most effective in a supportive setting.
What’s next for BOC? Less cowbell? Or MORE cowbell? In the sense that "more cowbell" has rippled out into the larger culture, as a metaphor for greater effort and power, I foresee yet more cowbell in the future for Blue Oyster Cult. Go Rays!
