Blue Oyster Cult

One of the founders of the band, Blue Oyster Cult, explains the Saturday Night Live Cowbell Skit.

The whole thing was so surreal that it ended up being tucked away toward the end of an episode.

While some older acts floundered, they took advantage of the new decade and its new gimmick, MTV.

It involved answering the demand for "more cowbell."

Few bands in rock 'n' roll history have so willingly wrapped themselves in mystery and misdirection.