On May 14, 2005, in a memorable episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL), rock group Queens of the Stone Age gave a remarkable rendition of their hit song “Little Sister.” The evening took a surprising and comical turn when Will Ferrell, in the role of his famous SNL character Gene Frenkle, joined the band on stage with a cowbell.
The Return of Gene Frenkle
Fans had already come to love Will Ferrell’s performance as Gene Frenkle, the fervent cowbell player from the well-known “More Cowbell” sketch. When Ferrell played the cowbell too enthusiastically and Christopher Walken insisted on “more cowbell,” the result was a humorous moment that fans found endearing in the original 2000 sketch. A further element of amusement was added to the show five years later when Ferrell revived Frenkle during Queens of the Stone Age’s SNL performance.
Queens of the Stone Age’s “Little Sister”
The band’s song “Little Sister,” which appears on their 2005 album Lullabies to Paralyze, is well-known for its infectious beat and unusual use of a jam block, which is a cowbell-like instrument. They had been working on the song for a while; an early version was recorded in 2002 while they were recording Songs for the Deaf, their previous album. Josh Homme, the band’s leader, led the charge during the band’s upbeat live performance on Saturday Night Live.
A Surprise Collaboration
Ferrell walked onto the stage as the band began playing “Little Sister,” sporting his trademark tight shirt and curly hair, in the role of Gene Frenkle. To the pleasure of the crowd, he started playing the cowbell with the band with a frenzied zeal. The unanticipated partnership created a memorable television moment by skillfully fusing humor and rock music. Ferrell’s antics gave the show a hilarious edge, but the band members remained composed and carried on with their performance.
Watch the video here.