"I gotta have more cowbell, baby!"
This is, no doubt, one of the funniest SNL skits I've ever seen.
The air date was April 8, 2000, with Christopher Walken as host and Christina Aguilera as musical guest. The spoof was VH1's Behind the Music: Blue Oyster Cult.
Here we see Jimmy Fallon (on the drums), Chris Kattan, Will Ferrell, Chris Parnell, and Horatio Sanz portraying the band in a recording studio. Walken plays record producer Bruce Dickenson. This is how it began:
Announcer: 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.
Bruce Dickinson: 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 gotta tell you: fellas.. you have got what appears to be a dynamite sound!
Eric Bloom (Chris Parnell): Coming from you, Bruce, that means a lot.
Buck Dharma (Horatio Sanz): Yeah. I mean, you're Bruce Dickinson!
Alan (Chris Kattan): It's incredible!
Bobby (Jimmy Fallon): I can't believe Bruce Dickinson digs our sound!
Dickinson: 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. < the group laughs > Alright, here we go. "Don't Fear the Reaper" - take one. < exits into the control booth >
< the group begins the song. Bobby slaps the drums, Eric jams his guitar, and Gene bangs on a cowbell. >
Eric: < distracted by Gene banging the cowbell > Okay! Wait! Wait! < the group cuts off their instruments > Bruce, could you come in here for a minute, please?
Dickinson: < stepping out of the booth > That was gonna be a great track. Guys, what's the deal?
Eric: Are you sure that was sounding okay?
Dickinson: I'll be honest.. fellas, it was sounding great. But.. I could've used a little more cowbell. So.. let's take it again.. and, Gene.
Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell): Yeah?
Dickinson: Really explore the studio space this time. I mean, really.. explore the space. I like what I'm hearing.
http://www.geekspeakweekly.com/cowbell/