An episode of VH1's Behind the Music documenting the band Blue Öyster Cult showcases footage of … See more

• Jimmy Fallon as Bobby Rondinelli on drums (Albert Bouchard was the actual drummer at that time).
• Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle on cowbell
• Chris Kattan as Buck Dharma on guitar (Dharma actually sang lead vocals on the track).… See more

Will Ferrell's idea for the sketch came from hearing "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" over the years: "Every time I heard [the song], I would hear the faint cowbell in the background and wonder, 'What is that guy's life like?'" Ferrell, who … See more

While the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult does indeed include a cowbell playing throughout the song, its sound is largely drowned out by the rest of the instruments. According to Donald "Buck Dharma" Ro… See more

The sketch's offbeat nature, as well as the actors breaking character, made the sketch an immediate fan favorite. Marc Spitz called it "one of the first super-memes of the new century" in The New York Times. Walken continued t… See more