The Story Behind Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper," Cowbell's Crowning Achievement

Classic rock legends Blue Öyster Cult may be the first band to feature an umlaut in their name, but the band -- which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year -- was no gimmick. They released a string of major hits in the '70s, with their most transcendent classic of course being 1976's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." The record that still haunts as deeply as ever, continually finding new ways to enter the zeitgeist.

Of course, that's partially due to that iconic cowbell. The use of the instrument was given even more attention thanks to Will Ferrell's classic 2000 Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Christopher Walken’s inimitable deadpan as Bruce Dickinson incessantly demanding, “More cowbell!”

Interestingly, Dickinson wasn't even involved in making the record -- and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" isn't about what you might think it is. In this 14th episode of The Story Behind the Song podcast, Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma discusses "The Reaper" with host Peter Csathy, touching on the song's lasting impact, its position in the modern music pantheon, and, of course, that cowbell.

Listen to the podcast above, or watch a segment of the discussion via YouTube. Make sure you're following The Story Behind the Song wherever you get your podcast, as there will be a special Halloween episode featuring Danny Elfman discussing Oingo Boingo’s “Dead Man’s Party." You can also keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Twitter @pcsathy and at Creative Media.

Blue Öyster Cult are currently on the UK leg of their 50th anniversary tour, but they have more US dates lined up for November. Get tickets here.

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