-When people talk about your "Best of: SNL" or things that you've done on the show, I know what everyone brings up to me. -Right. Which is... -...you're involved in. [ Laughter ] Anyway. Let's talk about something else. -Cowbell. Cowbell sketch. -Yes, the cowbell sketch. That's what I was gonna say. I was gonna say that. I was gonna talk about the cowbell. -You were a major part of that. -I was a really major part of the cowbell sketch. It was all you. It was all you. This is a -- This is a picture of... -Yeah. -That's me there. -Right. -That's Kattan, Parnell. -Look at that hair. -Horatio Sanz. -And -- -That's you. And that is Christopher Walken. -Which is... It's the strangest thing. [ Laughter ] -That's Christopher Walken. -That's Christopher Walken across...from that. -Yeah. [ Laughs ] Look at -- That shirt is insane. -You maintain that between dress rehearsal and air that I went and put a tighter shirt on. -I think -- You did, didn't you? -I thought it just -- I just -- I thought I just put a little more mustard into it, and then it hiked up. -Is that right? I thought -- -But you thought I put a tighter shirt on, you think? -I thought you did because this doesn't even feel like a shirt that should... That's insane. Everyone else is wearing other shirts. I think I would've -- But you were coming up a little bit in dress. -Yeah. -But that was high up. -Yeah. -And that was -- That was low down. -But you might be right. Maybe I -- -I mean, you barely have a shirt on. -Maybe I switched it to a tighter shirt. -Because I remember it was so loud on air because it was -- -Oh, with -- Yeah. I banged it much louder than in the dress. -No, but, I mean, the audience response. -Oh, the response. Yeah. -Yeah, but, I mean, like, the -- the sketch was on at the end of the show, I believe. -Right. -Which is where usually the weirder sketches are. -Yeah. -And it was working so well that the floor started shaking. -Oh, I don't remember that. -Yeah. -I was just in a haze. -Dude, you were in a comedy haze. -I was staring you down. But you -- Because you were laugh-- But I was laughing, too. But the beard was just protecting, uh -- You couldn't see it. -After a series of staggering defeats, Blue Oyster Cult assembled in the recording studio in late 1976 for a session with famed producer Bruce Dickinson. And luckily for us, the cameras were rolling. ♪♪ -Alright, guys. I think we're ready to lay this first track down. By the way, my name is Bruce Dickinson. Yes -- the Bruce Dickinson. And I got to tell you, fellas, you have got what appears to be a dynamite sound. -Coming from you, Bruce, that means a lot. -Yeah. I mean, you're Bruce Dickinson. -This is incredible. -I can't believe Bruce Dickinson digs our sound. -Easy, guys. I put my pants on just like the rest of you -- one leg at a time. Except once my pants are on, I make gold records. [ Laughter ] Alright. Here we go. "Don't Fear the Reaper." Take one. Roll it. -Alright. One, two, three, four. ♪♪ [ Cowbell clanging rhythmically ] ♪♪ -♪ All our times have come ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Here but now they're gone ♪ -Okay! Wait! Wait! Stop. Um, Bruce, could you come in here for a second, please? -That -- That was gonna be a great track. Guys, what's the deal? -Uh, are you sure that was sounding okay? -I'll be honest, fellas, it was sounding great, but... I could have used a little more cowbell. So let's take it again. And, Gene. -Yeah. -Really explore the studio space this time. -You got it, Bruce. -I mean, really. -Yeah. -Explore the space. -Okay. -I like what I'm hearing. Roll it. -One, two, three, four. ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ All our times have come ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Here but now they're gone ♪ -Okay! Wait! Stop! Stop! Bruce, I'm sorry. Could you come back in here, please? -Fellas, now, we -- we just wasted two good tracks. This last one was even better than the first. -Well, it's just that I find Gene's cowbell playing distracting. I don't know. If I'm the only one, I'll shut up. -No, it's pretty rough. -You know, I can pull it back a little if you like. -Not too much, though. I'm telling you, fellas. You're gonna want that cowbell on the track. -You know what? It's fine. Let's just do the thing. -Okay. Roll it. -One, two, three, four. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ All our times have come ♪ [ Cowbell clanging off-beat ] ♪ Here but now they're gone ♪ ♪♪ Come on, Gene! -No, you come on! -[ Shouts ] -Guys, you know... that -- that -- it doesn't work for me. I gotta have more cowbell. -Don't blow this for us, Gene! -Quit being -- Quit being so selfish, Gene. -Can I just say one thing? -Say it, baby, just say it! -I'm standing here staring at rock legend Bruce Dickinson. -I'm the cock of the walk, baby! -And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell! -Say it, baby! -And, Bobby, you are right. I am being selfish. But the last time I checked, we don't have a whole lot of songs that feature the cowbell. -I gotta have more cowbell, baby! -And I'd be doing myself a disservice... And every member of this band, if I didn't perform the hell out of this! -Guess what! I got a fever! And the only prescription is more cowbell! -Thank you, Bruce. I think if -- I think if I just leave and -- Maybe I'll come back later and we can lay down the cowbell. -Come on, baby. -Gene, wait. Why don't you lay down that cowbell right now? With us. Together. -Do you mean that, Eric? -Oh, yeah. -Speaks for all of us. -Thank you. -Babies, before we're done here, y'all be wearing gold-plated diapers. -What does that mean? -Never question Bruce Dickinson. Roll it! -Thanks, man. One, two, three, four. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ All our times have come ♪ -But here's the crazy thing. So, I go to see Christopher Walken years later in a play. I say hello to him backstage, and he's like, "You know, you've ruined my life." [ Laughter ] -What? What? -"People during the curtain call bring cowbells and ring them." [ Laughter ] "The other day, I went for an Italian food lunch, and the waiter asked if I wanted more cowbell with my pasta bolognese." [ Laughter ] And I think he was really mad at me. -Wow. No way. -He had a little smile, but... -Well, because he had such a great career. -But, you know... -He's a great actor. -From "The Deer Hunter" to "Pulp Fiction"... -"Pulp Fiction." He's amazing. -...to "more cowbell." That's all he gets now. -That's all he gets now. So it made a lot of people happy... -But Christopher... -Ruined one person's life. -Ruined one person. But what are you gonna do? -That's good odds, right? That's decent odds. You know what I'm saying?