Cowbells have played a role in rock for decades, in tunes such as the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women,” Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re an American Band,” James Gang’s “Funk #49,” and, of course, Mountain’s classic “Mississippi Queen.” But no cowbell song will ever transcend the popularity of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” and you probably know why. It was one fateful Saturday night in April of 2000, twenty years ago this month, when Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken redefined why we all need “more cowbell” in our lives.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, search for “cowbell” on Google. There, at the top of the page, you’ll see the Saturday Night Live sketch that was written by Will Ferrell and Donnell Campbell, featuring Ferrell as Gene Frenkle and Walken as Bruce Dickinson. It’s considered one of the greatest SNL sketches of all time and ranks right up there with Spinal Tap in the annals of musician comedy. Reportedly it ruined Walken’s life, with Broadway curtain calls consisting of cowbells clanging and restaurant waiters asking him, “You want more cowbell with your pasta Bolognese?”
All that got us thinking: “What cowbell did they use? Would it have been as popular if they’d used a different cowbell?” You may not realize how many cowbell options there are. Lots. Sweetwater can hook you up with any of 41 different cowbells (“Who knew, right?”). So, for this 20th anniversary of the “More Cowbell” sketch, we decide to pay tribute to it by auditioning a bunch of cowbells. We brought Nick D’Virgilio and Don Carr into Sweetwater Studio A and did the world’s very first (and probably only) cowbell shootout… because there’s no better prescription than “more cowbell!”
Take a listen and decide which of these you think is the best cowbell ever.
Latin Percussion Ridge Rider Cowbell
Ridge Rider Cowbell
Solo Cowbell
The Ridge Rider Cowbell is the Beef Wellington of cowbells and would make Will Ferrell proud. Tones of tender filet steak, coated in pâté and bathed in the earthiness of a fine duxelles, lovingly wrapped in parma ham, and all contained within a fluffy puff pastry of punch and presence. Played best if your drummer is wearing warm wilted greens and caressing the cowbell with his potato fingerlings.
Latin Percussion Black Beauty Collecta-Bells MC
Black Beauty Collecta-Bells MC
Solo Cowbell
Reliably exciting and satisfying, the Latin Percussion Black Beauty has the residual satisfaction of a summer’s eve spent reclining on the green sand beach of Papakolea at Hawaii’s southern tip. The glistening water full of crystalline mica churned up by the waves of the southern Pacific offers a visual treat not dissimilar to the tingling sensation of hearing this bell ring. So, grab a tall papaya smoothie and treat yourself to this bell’s aural enlightenment.
Latin Percussion Chad Smith Ridge Rider Cowbell
Chad Smith Ridge Rider Cowbell
Solo Cowbell
“To clang, or not to clang: that is the question.” But never a question that the Chad Smith Signature Ridge Rider has to answer. This instrument is the heavyweight champion of the cowbell world. A virtual chain hoist of a cowbell, the Ridge Rider’s tonality exhibits cool, almost cocky confidence in the task of inspiring the band. The sheer power of the Ridge Rider’s note is readymade for rock. And it’s the reddest of all cowbells.
Pearl Primero Rock Cowbell – Millennium Chrome
Primero Rock Cowbell
Solo Cowbell
Without a doubt, the Primero Rock Cowbell is the budget-conscious prima ballerina of cowbells. Although its name implies a rock instrument, this eminently playable cowbell, if available in Beethoven’s day, could have accented the staccato beginnings of the Allegro con brio in A Major (4th movement) in his 7th Symphony. Try to imagine that. I dare you.
Latin Percussion Rock Cowbell
Rock Cowbell
Solo Cowbell
The subtle dynamic sensitivity of this LP Rock Cowbell cannot be denied. With intensely complex harmonic depth, its insatiable voracity to establish a groove is like swaying to the rhythm of a night train to the Motor City. With impressive density and a leathery undertone, its firm structure will overwhelm your senses with its satisfying profile. The tart, bubbly, juicy, open, expressive, smoky aroma of this bell will not stop until your ears are slaked.
Pearl Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, IsaBELL
Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, IsaBELL
Solo Cowbell
Definitely the low rider of the bunch, the HH4 Isabell is a veritable Mariana Trench among cowbells. Deep and mysterious, yet wondrous and alive. It may seem reluctantly willing to reveal all its hidden secrets, but there’s more yet unseen — so much more. If ever a cowbell urged you to dance the night away, the Isabell is definitely it.
Meinl Percussion Steel Cowbell – 6 ¾ Black
Steel Cowbell – 6 ¾ Black
Solo Cowbell
The Steel Cowbell finds itself in the Godzilla vs. Megalon category of cowbells, leaning heavily to the Godzilla side with its sheer power and throaty delivery. But when Godzilla bellows while dismembering the tracks of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, this cowbell will be the soundtrack. In powder-coat black, not only does it look and sound menacing, but there’s likely destruction in its wake.
Pearl Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, MaryBELL
Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, MaryBELL
Solo Cowbell
For a cowbell that announces its mass without apology, the HH5 Marybell fits the bill. It steps up and thumps you in the chest with the resounding thud of a roadie pushing your amp case off the back of the truck. Yeah, it’s fun, like a party in your head, and the good times, bad times just keep coming. If this cowbell doesn’t make you move, check your pulse.
Pearl Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, ChaBELLa
Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, ChaBELLa
Solo Cowbell
Mmmmm Chabella. Meeting Chabella for the first time is ciao bella – hello beautiful! Think of that Italian you met while exploring the cobblestone streets of Capri. Smooth and sultry, you strolled arm in arm, laughing boisterously, with a gelato in one hand and a cowbell in the other. This cowbell will take you back.
Pearl Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, ClaBELL
Horacio Hernandez Signature Cowbell, ClaBELL
Solo Cowbell
If Peter Pan’s Tinkerbell had been born on the bayou, she would sound like this. Pearl’s HH2 Clabell is cheery and airy with bright harmonic overtones and a swampy flair, flitting around your head and landing on your ears with rainbows, sparkles, and some Spanish moss. Its creamy overtone series may lull you into a euphonic stupor, but watch out for gators.
Latin Percussion Collect-A-Bell 8″ More Cowbell
Collect-A-Bell 8″ More Cowbell
Solo Cowbell
Imagine a cowbell tearing its shirt off, running to the front of the stage, thumping its chest, and screaming, “I am cowbell. Hear me roar!” The Collect-a-Bell 8″ Cowbell, my friends, is that cowbell. Belligerent, yes, but don’t underestimate its evil ways. Never was there a louder, prouder cowbell. Just be careful it doesn’t jump into the mosh pit and take off with your girlfriend.
Technical Details
In typical Lynn Fuston fashion, we calibrated this shootout to the nines. Lasers, polarity confirmation, calibrated preamp levels, utilizing the finest gear available. We wanted to make sure each of these cowbells was represented in its full glory. And I think we succeeded.
In these samples, all of which were executed in a single take (no quantizing or Beat Detecting here!) you’ll hear the clear, defined sound of the Shure SM57 combined with the resonant warmth of the classic Telefunken U47, artfully augmented by Fritz, the binaural Neumann KU 100 dummy head, and a spaced pair of Shure KSM44A mics for the room. All the mics were run through a Rupert Neve Designs Shelford 5052 mic preamp and EQ into Avid MTRX converters and recorded into Pro Tools at 24-bit/96kHz. In the mix, we used the superb Apogee Clearmountain’s Domain plug-in, utilizing the Start Me Up – Guitar preset for the glorious cowbell reverb.
You can also download these cowbell samples (as 24/48 .wav files) by clicking the button below and use them in your music and programming.
All Clang…
And when we were all done, everybody grabbed a cowbell, and we had a big ol’ cowbell-clanging time.
Thanks to Shawn Dealey, Rachel Leonard, and all the other Sweetwater Studio and Theatre staff for their help with ringing the bells and to Drew Consalvo for help with ringing out the descriptions!
