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{{Short description|1976 single by Blue Öyster Cult}}
{{two other uses|the song by Blue Öyster Cult|the EP by Clint Ruin and Lydia Lunch|Don't Fear the Reaper (EP)|the album by Witchery|Don't Fear the Reaper (album)}}
{{about|the song by Blue Öyster Cult|other works by the same name|Don't Fear the Reaper (disambiguation)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->

| Name = (Don't Fear) The Reaper
{{Infobox song
| Cover = DontFearTheReaper.jpg
| Artist = [[Blue Öyster Cult]]
| name = (Don't Fear) The Reaper
| cover = DontFearTheReaper.jpg
| from Album = [[Agents of Fortune]]
| B-side = "Tattoo Vampire"
| alt =
| Released = July 1976
| border = yes
| Format = [[Gramophone record|7"]]
| type = single
| Recorded = 1976
| artist = [[Blue Öyster Cult]]
| album = [[Agents of Fortune]]
| Genre = [[Hard rock]],<ref name=matters/> [[psychedelic rock]], [[progressive rock]]
| B-side = Tattoo Vampire
| Length = 5:08 <small>(Album version)</small> <br> 3:45 <small>(Single/Radio edit)</small>
| Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| released = 1976
| Writer = [[Buck Dharma]]
| recorded = 1975
| genre = *[[Hard rock]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Kelly Boyer Sagert|title=The 1970s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9feBCLNhcFQC&pg=PA181|date=1 January 2007|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|isbn=978-0-313-33919-6|page=181|quote=Meanwhile, Blue Oyster Cult released two of the decade's hard rock favorites: "Don't Fear the Reaper" and "Godzilla.}}</ref>
| Producer = [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]], [[Murray Krugman]], [[Sandy Pearlman]]
*[[psychedelic rock]]<ref>{{cite book|first1=Martin Charles|last1=Strong|last2=Griffin|first2=Brendon|title=Lights, camera, sound tracks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aSYKAQAAMAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Canongate|isbn=978-1-84767-003-8|page=18|quote= Reaper' was a one-off return to their 60s psychedelic roots.}}</ref>
| Last single = "[[Born to be Wild]]" (1975)
*[[soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web|website=[[AllMusic]]|last=Jurek|first=Thom|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/agents-of-fortune-mw0000599232|title=Agents of Fortune - Blue Öyster Cult|quote=The album yielded the band's biggest single with "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," a multi-textured, deeply melodic soft rock song with psychedelic overtones.|access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref>
| This single = '''"(Don't Fear) The Reaper"''' (1976)
| length = *{{Duration|m=5|s=08}} (album version)
| Next single = "Goin' Through the Motions" / "Searchin' for Celine" (1977)
*{{Duration|m=3|s=45}} (single edit)
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| writer = [[Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser]]
| producer = *[[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]]
*[[Murray Krugman]]
*[[Sandy Pearlman]]
| prev_title = Then Came the Last Days of May
| prev_year = 1975
| next_title = This Ain't the Summer of Love
| next_year = 1976
| misc = {{External music video
| 1 = [//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy4HA3vUv2c "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"] on YouTube
| header = Official audio}}
}}
}}


"'''(Don't Fear) The Reaper'''" is a song by the American rock band [[Blue Öyster Cult]] from their 1976 album, ''[[Agents of Fortune]]''. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, [[Buck Dharma|Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser]] and was produced by [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]], [[Murray Krugman]], and [[Sandy Pearlman]]. The song is built around Dharma's opening, repetitive guitar [[riff]], while the lyrics deal with eternal love and the inevitability of death. Dharma wrote the song while picturing an early death for himself.
"'''(Don't Fear) The Reaper'''" is a song by American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Blue Öyster Cult]] from the 1976 album ''[[Agents of Fortune]].'' The song, written and sung by lead guitarist [[Buck Dharma|Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser]], deals with eternal love and the inevitability of death.<ref name="Grdn">{{cite news |last1=Simpson |first1=Dave |title=How we made Blue Öyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/feb/19/how-we-made-blue-oyster-cult-dont-fear-the-reaper |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=19 February 2019}}</ref> Dharma wrote the song while picturing an early death for himself.


The edited single version was Blue Öyster Cult's biggest chart success, reaching number 12 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in November 1976. Additionally, critical reception was mainly positive and, in 2004, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was listed at number 397 on the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' list of the top 500 songs of all time.
Released as an edited [[single (music)|single]] (omitting the slow building interlude in the original), the song is Blue Öyster Cult's highest chart success, reaching #7 in ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' and #12 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in late 1976. Critical reception was positive and in December 2003 "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was listed at number 405 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of the top 500 songs of all time.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time|first1=Rolling|last1=Stone| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=December 11, 2003}}</ref>


==Background==
== Background ==
{{quote box|width=25em|align=left|quote="I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of it (as opposed to actively bring it about). It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners."|source =&nbsp;— [[Buck Dharma]], lead singer<ref name=songfacts/>}}
{{quote box|width=25em|align=left|quote="I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of [death] (as opposed to actively bring it about). It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners."|source =&nbsp;— [[Buck Dharma]], lead singer<ref name=CMJ>{{cite journal| last = Lien| first = James | date = November 6, 1995 | title = Buck Dharma interview | journal = College Music Journal | location = New York City| publisher = [[CMJ]]}}</ref>}}


The song is about the inevitability of death and the foolishness of fearing it, and was written when Dharma was thinking about what would happen if he died at a young age. Lyrics such as "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity" have led many listeners to interpret the song to be about a [[murder-suicide]] pact, but Dharma says the song is about eternal love, rather than suicide. He used Romeo and Juliet as motifs to describe a couple believing they would meet again in the [[afterlife]]. He guessed that "40,000 men and women" died each day, and the figure was used several times in the lyrics.<ref name=songfacts>{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1607|title=(Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult|work=Songfacts|accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref>
The song is about the inevitability of death and the foolishness of fearing it, and was written when Dharma was thinking about what would happen if he died at a young age.<ref name=CMJ /> Lyrics such as "[[Romeo and Juliet]] are together in eternity" have led many listeners to interpret the song to be about a [[murder–suicide]] pact, but Dharma says the song is about eternal love.<ref name="Guardian"/><ref name="Grdn"/> He used Romeo and Juliet as an example of a couple who wanted to be together in the afterlife.<ref>{{cite journal |title= Mortal Love: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and the Practice of Joint Burial |first=Ramie|last= Targoff |journal=Representations |volume=120 |number= 1 |date=Fall 2012 |pages= 17–38 |doi=10.1525/rep.2012.120.1.17}}</ref> He guessed that "40,000 men and women" died each day (from all causes), and the figure was used several times in the lyrics, but it is about 100,000 too low.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://boingboing.net/2014/04/24/great-moments-in-pedantry-fac.html |title=Great Moments in Pedantry: Fact-checking "Don't Fear the Reaper" |magazine=Boing Boing}}</ref>


==Composition==
== Composition and recording ==
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Dharma, and was produced by [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]], [[Murray Krugman]], and [[Sandy Pearlman]].<ref name=rs>{{cite news|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/blue-oeyster-cult-dont-fear-the-reaper-19691231|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time: No. 405, Blue Öyster Cult, 'Don't Fear the Reaper'|accessdate=May 30, 2011|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=Wenner Publishing}}</ref> The song's distinctive guitar [[riff]] is built on the "i-VII-VI" [[chord progression]], in an A [[minor scale]].<ref>Rooksby 2002, p. 93</ref>
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was written and sung by Dharma and produced by [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]], [[Murray Krugman]], and [[Sandy Pearlman]].<ref name="rs">{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/blue-oyster-cult-dont-fear-the-reaper-169981/|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time|date=7 April 2011|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=Wenner Publishing}}</ref> The song's distinctive guitar riff is built on the I-bVII-bVI [[chord progression]] in A minor.<ref>Rooksby 2002, p. 93</ref> The riff was recorded with Krugman's [[Gibson ES-175]] guitar, which was run through a [[Music Man (company)|Music Man]] 410 combo amplifier, and Dharma's vocals were captured with a [[Telefunken]] [[Neumann U47|U47 tube microphone]]. The guitar solo and guitar rhythm sections were recorded in one take, while a four-track tape machine amplified them on the recording. Sound engineer [[Shelly Yakus]] remembers piecing together the separate vocals, guitar and rhythm section into a master track, with the [[overdubbed|overdubbing]] occurring in that order.<ref>{{cite news|last=Forlenza|first=Jeff|title=Classic Tracks: Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"|url=http://www.mixonline.com/news/profiles/classic-tracks-blue-oyster-cults-dont-fear-reaper/366100|access-date=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]]|date=June 1, 2009}}</ref>


''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' described its creation: "'Guys, this is it!' engineer Shelly Yakus announced at the end of the first take. 'The legendary once-in-a-lifetime groove!' ... What evolved in the studio was the extended solo section; it took them nearly as long to edit the five-minute track down to manageable length as it did to record it."<ref name="Mojo 1997, p52">''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'', August 1997, p52</ref>
The riff was recorded with Krugmann's [[Gibson ES-175]] guitar, which was run through a [[Music Man (company)|Music Man]] 410 combo amplifier, and Dharma's vocals were captured with a [[Telefunken]] U47 tube microphone. The guitar solo and guitar rhythm sections were recorded in one take, while a four-track tape machine amplified them on the recording. Sound engineer [[Shelly Yakus]] remembers piecing together the separate vocals, guitar and rhythm section into a master track, with the [[overdubbed|overdubbing]] occurring in that order.<ref>{{cite news|last=Forlenza|first=Jeff|title=Classic Tracks: Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"|url=http://mixonline.com/recording/tracking/blue-oyster-cults-dont-fear-reaper/index1.html|accessdate=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[Mix (magazine){{!}}Mix]]|date=June 1, 2009}}</ref>


The song features the prominent use of the [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]] percussion instrument. The song was originally recorded without a cowbell, but the sound was overdubbed into the song at a later stage. Bassist [[Joe Bouchard]] remembered a producer requesting his brother, drummer [[Albert Bouchard]], to play the cowbell on the track. Joe Bouchard recalled: "Albert thought he was crazy. But he put all this tape around a cowbell and played it. It really pulled the track together."<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46074-2005Jan28.html|title=Blue Öyster Cult, Playing Along With 'More Cowbell'|accessdate=August 2, 2012|last=Farhi|first=Paul|date=January 29, 2005|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> Producer [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]] claims that the inclusion of the cowbell was his idea,<ref name=hall>{{cite news|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/entertainment/music/Blue-Oyster-Cult-cowbell-ringer-honored|title=Blue Oyster Cult cowbell ringer honored|date=June 30, 2011|accessdate=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[WIVB-TV]]|last=George|first=Eli}}</ref> and guitarist [[Eric Bloom]] supports Lucas's claim.<ref name=stockton>{{cite news|title=Blue Oyster Cult's innovative use of a cowbell will never be forgotten|url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/A_ENTERTAIN/909170308/-1/rss03 |date=September 17, 2009|last=Sauro|first=Tony|work=[[The Record (Stockton)]]|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
The song features the [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]] percussion instrument overdubbed on the original recording.<ref name="Grdn" /> Bassist [[Joe Bouchard]] remembered the producer requesting that his brother, drummer [[Albert Bouchard]], play the cowbell: "Albert thought he was crazy. But he put all this tape around a cowbell and played it. It really pulled the track together."<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46074-2005Jan28.html|title=Blue Öyster Cult, Playing Along With 'More Cowbell'|access-date=August 2, 2012|last=Farhi|first=Paul|date=January 29, 2005|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> However, producer [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]] says that he played it,<ref name=hall>{{cite news|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/entertainment/music/Blue-Oyster-Cult-cowbell-ringer-honored |title=Blue Oyster Cult cowbell ringer honored |date=June 30, 2011 |access-date=August 2, 2012 |newspaper=[[WIVB-TV]] |last=George |first=Eli |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702084549/http://www.wivb.com/dpp/entertainment/music/Blue-Oyster-Cult-cowbell-ringer-honored |archive-date=July 2, 2011 }}</ref> and bandmember [[Eric Bloom]] says he did.<ref name=stockton>{{cite news|title=Blue Oyster Cult's innovative use of a cowbell will never be forgotten|url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/A_ENTERTAIN/909170308/-1/rss03|date=September 17, 2009|last=Sauro|first=Tony|work=[[The Record (Stockton)]]|access-date=August 7, 2012|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802183250/https://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/A_ENTERTAIN/909170308/-1/rss03|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Reception==
== Reception ==
The song was on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart for 20 weeks, reaching number 12 for the weeks of November 6 and November 13, 1976.<ref>{{cite web|title=Agents of Fortune|url=http://www.blueoystercult.com/Studio/5Agents.html|work=Blue Öyster Cult|access-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> It was the band's highest-charting U.S. song and helped ''[[Agents of Fortune]]'' reach number 29 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web
{{Listen|pos=right|filename=Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear The Reaper.ogg|title="(Don't Fear) The Reaper"|description=A sample of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from Blue Öyster Cult's 1976 album, ''Agents of Fortune''.}}
| url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/blue-%C3yster-cult-mn0000061938/awards| title=Blue Oyster Cult awards| website=[[AllMusic]]
The song was on the [[Hot 100]] chart for 20 weeks, reaching number 12 for the weeks beginning November 6 and November 13 in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|title=Agents of Fortune|url=http://www.blueoystercult.com/Studio/5Agents.html|work=Blue Öyster Cult|accessdate=August 6, 2012}}</ref> It was the highest-charting U.S. song for Blue Öyster Cult and helped ''[[Agents of Fortune]]'' reach number 29 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="allmusic"/> "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" charted even higher in Canada, peaking at number 7.<ref name=rpm/> It was not released as a single in the UK until 1978, where it reached number 16 on the [[UK pop chart]].<ref name="betts">Betts 2004, p.89</ref>
| access-date=August 2, 2012}}</ref> "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" charted even higher in Canada, peaking at number 7.<ref name="rpm">{{cite journal | url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5106A&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7a7rmq4tj4spq4av5sjtuq7e75 | title = RPM Top Singles | volume = 26 | issue = 7 | date = November 13, 1976 | access-date = August 2, 2012 | journal = [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] | publisher = RPM Music Publications Ltd. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141101214359/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5106A&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7a7rmq4tj4spq4av5sjtuq7e75 | archive-date = November 1, 2014 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> The single edit was released in the UK in July 1976 (CBS 4483) but failed to chart. The unedited album version was released as a single (CBS 6333) in May 1978, where it reached number 16 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="betts">Betts 2004, p.89</ref>


Critical reception to the song was mostly positive. [[Denise Sullivan]] of ''[[Allmusic]]'' praised the song's "gentle vocals and virtuoso guitar" and its "haunting middle break which delivers the listener straight back to the heart of the song once the thunder is finished."<ref name=Sullivan>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Denise|title=(Don't Fear) The Reaper review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-fear-the-reaper-mt0033404854|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref> Nathan Beckett called it Blue Öyster Cult's "masterpiece" and compared the vocals to the [[Beach Boys]].<ref>Beckett 2004, p. 88</ref> Writing for ''[[PopMatters]]'', James Mann remarked that "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was a "landmark, genre-defining masterpiece" that was "as grand and emotional as American rock and roll ever got."<ref name=matters/>
The song received critical acclaim. ''[[Record World]]'' said that "An '[[Eight Miles High]]' guitar line is complemented by smooth vocals."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=July 17, 1976|page=1|access-date=2023-03-04|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-07-17.pdf}}</ref> [[Denise Sullivan]] of [[AllMusic]] praised the song's "gentle vocals and virtuoso guitar" and "haunting middle break which delivers the listener straight back to the heart of the song once the thunder is finished".<ref name=Sullivan>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Denise|title=(Don't Fear) The Reaper review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-fear-the-reaper-mt0033404854|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=June 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821004925/https://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-fear-the-reaper-mt0033404854 |archive-date=August 21, 2012}}</ref> Nathan Beckett called it the band's "masterpiece" and compared the vocals to [[the Beach Boys]].<ref>Beckett 2004, p. 88</ref> Writing for ''[[PopMatters]],'' James Mann called it a "landmark, genre-defining masterpiece" that was "as grand and emotional as American rock and roll ever got".<ref name=matters /> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' also called the song a masterpiece.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1488-the-essential-clash/|title=The Clash: The Essential Clash &#124; Album Reviews &#124; Pitchfork<!-- Bot generated title -->| website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=2015-01-18|archive-date=2015-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916041249/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1488-the-essential-clash/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Accolades==
== Track listing ==
In 1976 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" the song of the year<ref name=rs/> and, in 2004, the magazine placed the song at number 397 on its list of "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]";<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#500Songs| title = The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time| accessdate = May 2, 2010|work= Rock List Music}}</ref> however, the 2010 version of the list moved the song down to number 405.<ref name=rs/> In 1997 ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' listed the song as the 80th best single of all time,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo_p2.htm#singles| title = Mojo – The 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time | accessdate = August 6, 2011|work= Rock List Music}}</ref> while ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' ranked "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" number 404 in its 2003 countdown of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm| title = Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003) | accessdate = August 6, 2011|work= Muzieklijstjes.nl|language=Dutch}}</ref>

When ''[[The Guardian]]'' released its unranked list of the "1001 Songs Everyone Must Hear" in 2009, the song was included. The publication wrote that the song's charm "lies in the disjuncture between its gothic storyline and the sprightly, [[The Byrds|Byrds]]ian guitar line that carries it."<ref>{{cite news|title=Life and death: 1000 songs everyone must hear|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/table/2009/mar/19/life-death-1000-songs-everyone-must-hear|accessdate=August 6, 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=March 19, 2009}}</ref> In his book ''The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made'', rock critic [[Dave Marsh]] ranked the song at number 997.<ref>Marsh 1999, p. 628</ref>

==Other versions==
{{in popular culture|date=September 2014}}
Blue Öyster Cult released live recordings of the song on numerous albums, including the 1978 album ''[[Some Enchanted Evening (Blue Öyster Cult album)|Some Enchanted Evening]]'';<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Some Enchanted Evening review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/some-enchanted-evening-mw0000189272|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> the 1982 album, ''[[Extraterrestrial Live]]'';<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Extraterrestrial Live review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/extraterrestrial-live-mw0000309624|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> the 1991 live album, ''[[Live 1976]]'';<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Live 1976 review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-1976-mw0000181298|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> and the 2002 album, ''[[A Long Day's Night]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Horowitz|first=Hal|title=A Long Day's Night review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-long-days-night-mw0000224630|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref> Dharma released an acoustic version of the song on the 1994 [[various artists]] compilation album ''Guitar Practicing Musicians 3''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|title=Guitar Practicing Musicians review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/guitar-practicing-musicians-3-mw0000121092|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

*[[Gus]] covered the song in 1996 for the ''[[Scream (1996 film)|Scream]]'' soundtrack.
*[[Finland|Finnish]] band [[HIM (Finnish band)|H.I.M.]] recorded a [[gothic metal]] version of the song on their 1997 debut album ''[[Greatest Lovesongs, Vol. 666]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ravelin|first=Antti|title=Greatest Lovesongs, Vol. 666 review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-lovesongs-vol-666-mw0000470026|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Pop rock]] band, the [[Goo Goo Dolls]], recorded a cover version of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on their 1987 [[Goo Goo Dolls (album)|self-titled album]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Goo Goo Dolls Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/goo-goo-dolls-mw0000197056|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*In 1992 [[Clint Ruin]] and [[Lydia Lunch]] released an [[extended play"EP]], titled ''[[Don't Fear the Reaper (EP)|Don't Fear the Reaper]]'', on which their rendition of the song appears.<ref>{{cite web|title=Don't Fear the Reaper Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dont-fear-the-reaper-mw0000280073|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Apollo 440]] transcribed an electronic version of the track on the 1995 debut album ''[[Millennium Fever]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title=Millennium Fever review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/millennium-fever-mw0000762070|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*In 1998 [[Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers]] recorded a version of the song for their ''Rock the Party'' album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rock the Party Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rock-the-party-mw0000711321|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Celtic rock]] band [[Big Country]] included a version of the song on their 2001 cover-version album ''Under Cover''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Under Cover Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/under-cover-mw0000005426|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*The [[Mutton Birds]] recorded a version for the 1996 movie ''[[The Frighteners]]'', which is also included on their 2002 [[greatest hits]] compilation ''Flock: The Best of the Mutton Birds''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flock: The Best of the Mutton Birds Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/flock-the-best-of-the-mutton-birds-mw0000459860|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Folk rock]] band [[Unto Ashes]] recorded a rendition of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on the 2003 album ''Empty into White''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Raggett|first=Ned|title=Empty into White review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/empty-into-white-mw0000599489|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Alternative rock]] group [[The Beautiful South]] covered the song on their 2004 album ''[[Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Golddiggas Headnodders & Pholk Songs review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/golddiggas-headnodders-amp-pholk-songs-mw0000471659|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was covered by [[hardcore punk]] band [[Snuff (band)|Snuff]] for their 2005 album ''Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other: 1986-2002''.<ref>{{cite web|title='Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other: 1986-2002 Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/six-of-one-half-a-dozen-of-the-other-1986-2002-mw0000248868|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Synthpop]] band [[Heaven 17]] recorded a version of the song for their album ''[[Before After]]'', released in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schnee|first=Steve|title=Before After review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/before-after-mw0001438651|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Pat DiNizio]], frontman of [[The Smithereens]], covered the song for his 2006 solo album, ''This Is Pat DiNizio''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Deming|first=Mark|title=This Is Pat DiNizio review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-pat-dinizio-mw0000421060|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*In 2008 [[moe.]], a [[jam band]], recorded a live version of the song for their ''[[Dr. Stan's Prescription, Volume 2]]'' album.<ref>{{cite web|last=Monger|first=James|title=Dr. Stan's Prescription, Volume 2 review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dr-stans-prescription-vol-2-mw0000801369|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=August 9, 2012}}</ref>
*Rock band [[L.A. Guns]] added a version of the song to their 2010 cover-version album ''[[Covered in Guns]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Monger|first=James|title=Covered in Guns review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/covered-in-guns-mw0001958995|work=Allmusic|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|accessdate=August 7, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Pierce the Veil]]'s version of the song appears on the 2010 ''[[Punk Goes Classic Rock]]'' compilation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equalvision.com/news/show/529 |title=Pierce The Veil featured on Punk Goes Classic Rock : Equal Vision Records |publisher=Equalvision.com |date=February 26, 2010 |accessdate=September 5, 2013}}</ref>
*Swedish [[doom metal]] band [[Candlemass]] recorded a version of the song for their 2010 EP, also titled ''Don't Fear The Reaper''.<ref>{{cite web|title=MAXI Candlemass|url=http://www.candlemass.se/candlemass/discography/maxi/|publisher=Official website|accessdate=July 24, 2013}}</ref>
*Swedish Metal Band, [[Wolf (band)|Wolf]] also did a version on their album ''Evil Star''.<ref>http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/album-groupe-Wolf_%28SWE%29-nom_album-Evil_Star-l-en.html</ref>
*In 2014, youtuber, samuraiguitarist, released a video of this song played entirely using iPad apps <ref>https://www.http://www.laughingsquid.com/musician-performs-a-cover-of-blue-oyster-cults-song-dont-fear-the-reaper-on-an-ipad-using-virtual-instruments/</ref>

===In other media===
In addition to appearing in several films, most notably 1978's ''[[Halloween (1978 film)|Halloween]]'' and its [[Halloween (2007 film)|remake]].<ref name=Sullivan/> [[Stephen King]] cited the song as the inspiration for his novel ''[[The Stand]]'', and it appears as the theme song for [[The Stand (TV miniseries)|the TV miniseries based on the novel]].<ref name=matters>{{cite news|last=Mann|first=James|title=Blue Oyster Cult: Agents of Fortune / Tyranny and Mutation|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/blueoystercult-tyranny/|accessdate=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[PopMatters]]|date=July 25, 2001}}</ref> "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was also featured in the [[Gone Girl (film)|2014 film adaption]] of ''[[Gone Girl (novel)|Gone Girl]]''.

The song was memorialized in the April 2000 ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (''SNL'') comedy sketch "[[More cowbell]]". The six-minute sketch presents a fictionalized version of the recording of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on an episode of VH1's ''[[Behind the Music]]''. [[Will Ferrell]] wrote the sketch and played Gene Frenkle, an overweight cowbell player. "Legendary" producer Bruce Dickinson, played by [[Christopher Walken]], asked Frenkle to "really explore the studio space" and up the ante on his cowbell playing. The rest of the band are visibly annoyed by Frenkle, but Dickinson tells everyone, "I got a fever, and the only prescription--is more cowbell!" Buck Dharma thought the sketch was fantastic and said he never tired of it.<ref name="Washington Post"/>

In October 2013, [[Banksy]] featured the song as part of one of his installations, titled "Reaper", in New York City, U.S. (part of [[Better Out Than In]]); the song also appears on his YouTube video of the installation.<ref>{{cite web|last=John|first=Del Signore|title=Banksy's Reaper Was Too Much Cowbell For Disgruntled NoHo Neighbors|url=http://gothamist.com/2013/10/28/banksys_reaper_was_too_much_cowbell.php|work=[[Gothamist]]|accessdate=29 October 2013}}</ref>

A segment of the song was performed by [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] in May 2014, as the conclusion of a drumming contest between the band's drummer [[Chad Smith]] and actor Ferrell. In a repeat of the 2000 ''SNL'' sketch, Ferrell again played cowbell for the rendition, which appeared on an episode of ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Drum-Off|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uBOtQOO70Y|work=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on YouTube|publisher=Google, Inc|accessdate=27 May 2014|author=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|format=Video upload|date=22 May 2014}}</ref>

The song featured in the season two finale of ''[[Orange Is the New Black]]''.<ref>http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/06/the-best-musical-moments-from-this-season-of-orange-is-the-new-black/372491/</ref>

==Track listing==
;7" Vinyl
;7" Vinyl
#"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Roeser) – 3:45
#"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Roeser) – 3:45
#"Tattoo Vampire" ([[Albert Bouchard]], Helen Robbins) – 2:40
#"Tattoo Vampire" ([[Albert Bouchard]], Helen Robbins) – 2:40


==Personnel==
== Personnel ==
*[[Eric Bloom]]&nbsp;– guitar, percussion
*[[Eric Bloom]]&nbsp;– guitar, backing vocals
*[[Buck Dharma|Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser]]&nbsp;– guitar, synthesizer, percussion, lead vocals
*[[Buck Dharma|Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser]]&nbsp;– guitar, lead vocals
*[[Allen Lanier]]&nbsp;– keyboards, guitar, bass
*[[Allen Lanier]]&nbsp;– keyboards, guitar
*[[Joe Bouchard]]&nbsp;– bass, piano
*[[Joe Bouchard]]&nbsp;– bass
*[[Albert Bouchard]]&nbsp;– drums, percussion, cowbell<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/blue_oyster_cult_drummer_reveals_truth_about_cowbell_on_dont_fear_the_reaper_says_it_sounded_like_crap_first.html|title=Blue Oyster Cult Drummer Reveals Truth About Cowbell on 'Don't Fear the Reaper,' Says It Sounded Like 'Crap' First|website=Ultimate-guitar.com}}</ref>
*[[Albert Bouchard]]&nbsp;– drums, acoustic guitar, percussion, harmonica
with:
with:
* [[The Brecker Brothers|Michael and Randy Brecker]]&nbsp;– horns (their contribution appears only on the extended album track and was edited out of the released single)<ref>Refer to the personnel listing and artiste credits provided on the sleeve notes of the LP ''[[Agents Of Fortune]]'', CBS records (1976)</ref>
*[[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]]&nbsp;– backing vocals, keyboards, percussion
* [[David Lucas (composer)|David Lucas]]&nbsp;– backing vocals, keyboards, percussion


==Chart performance==
== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1976)
!scope="col"|Chart (1976–1978)
!Peak<br>position
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|7|chartid=5106a|rowheader=true|access-date=June 6, 2024}}
| align="left" |Canadian Singles Chart<ref name="rpm">{{cite journal | url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5106A&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7a7rmq4tj4spq4av5sjtuq7e75 | title = RPM Top Singles | volume= 26 |issue= 7 |date= November 13, 1976 | accessdate = August 2, 2012 | journal=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] | publisher=RPM Music Publications Ltd.}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|17|song=Don't Fear the Reaper|rowheader=true|access-date=June 6, 2024}}
| align="left" |U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Chart<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web
| url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/blue-%C3yster-cult-mn0000061938/awards| title=Blue Oyster Cult awards| work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]
| accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref>
|align="center"|12
|-
|-
{{single chart|UK|16|date=19780709|rowheader=true|refname=UK1|access-date=June 6, 2024}}
|align="left"|U.K. Singles Chart<ref name="betts"/>
|align="center"|16
|-
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|artist=Blue Oyster Cult|12|rowheader=true|access-date=June 6, 2024}}
| align="left" |Irish Singles Chart<ref name="irishcharts">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=Search the Charts|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref>
|align="center"|17
|}
|}


{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
==Notes==
!scope="col"|Chart (2017)
{{reflist|2}}
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|artist=Blue Oyster Cult|11|rowheader=true|access-date=June 6, 2024}}
|}

== Certifications ==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Blue Oyster Cult|title=Don't Fear the Reaper|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2022|access-date=April 29, 2022|id=13912-4251-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Blue Oyster Cult|title=Don't Fear the Reaper|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=1976|certyear=2024|access-date=August 7, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

== Covers ==
* New Zealand band [[the Mutton Birds]] recorded a version for the soundtrack of [[Peter Jackson]]'s film ''[[The Frighteners]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} In 1997, it peaked at No.48 on the Australian [[ARIA Charts|ARIA singles charts]], the only Mutton Birds single to chart in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=mutton+birds|title=aAustralian charts portal|website=Australian-charts.com|access-date=October 1, 2024}}</ref>
*The band The Spiritual Machines made a cover of the song. There was a longer version released in a single in 2016, and a slightly shorter version split into two parts that was released in 2017. The song was also used in trailer for the 2019 Video Game [[Vampyr (video game)|Vampyr]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thespiritualmachines.com/|title=THE SPIRITUAL MACHINES - Official Website|website=Thespiritualmachines.com|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=October 1, 2024}}</ref>

== Accolades ==
In 1976 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" the song of the year,<ref name=rs /> and in 2004 the magazine placed the song 397th on its list of "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]";<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#500Songs| title = The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time| access-date = May 2, 2010|work= Rock List Music}}</ref> the 2010 version of the list moved it down to 405th.<ref name=rs /> In 1997 ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' listed the song as the 80th-best single of all time,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo_p2.htm#singles| title = Mojo – The 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time | access-date = August 6, 2011|work= Rock List Music}}</ref> while ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' ranked it 404th in its 2003 countdown of the "1001 Best Songs Ever."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm| title = Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003) | access-date = August 6, 2011|work= Muzieklijstjes.nl|language=nl}}</ref>

When ''[[The Guardian]]'' released its unranked list of "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear" in 2009, the song was included. The publication wrote that the song's charm "lies in the disjuncture between its gothic storyline and the sprightly, [[The Byrds|Byrdsian]] guitar line that carries it."<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|title=Life and death: 1000 songs everyone must hear|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/table/2009/mar/19/life-death-1000-songs-everyone-must-hear|access-date=August 6, 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=March 19, 2009}}</ref> In his book ''The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made,'' rock critic [[Dave Marsh]] ranked the song 997th.<ref>Marsh 1999, p. 628</ref>

==Legacy==
==="More Cowbell"===
{{Main|More Cowbell}}
The song was memorialized in the April 2000 ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' comedy sketch "More Cowbell".<ref name="Grdn"/> The six-minute sketch presents a fictionalized version of the recording of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on an episode of VH1's ''[[Behind the Music]].'' [[Will Ferrell]] wrote the sketch and played Gene Frenkle, a cowbell player. "Legendary" producer Bruce Dickinson, played by [[Christopher Walken]], asked Frenkle to "really explore the studio space" and up the ante on his cowbell playing. The rest of the band is visibly annoyed by Frenkle, but Dickinson tells everyone, "I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!" Buck Dharma said that the sketch was fantastic and he never gets tired of it<ref name="Washington Post" /> but also lamented that it made the song lose its "creepy" vibe for some time.<ref name="20 May 2016">{{cite news |last1=Spitz |first1=Marc |title='(Don't Fear) the Reaper' Is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/movies/dont-fear-the-reaper-blue-oyster-cult-creepy-tune.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=20 May 2016 |access-date=23 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] performed a segment of the song on May 22, 2014,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Newman|first=Jason|title=Chad Smith, Will Ferrell Talk Trash for 'Fallon' Drum-Off | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/exclusive-chad-smith-will-ferrell-talk-trash-for-fallon-drum-off-20140516|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=31 January 2015|date=16 May 2014}}</ref> as the conclusion of a drumming contest between Ferrell and the band's drummer, [[Chad Smith]]. As in the ''SNL'' sketch, Ferrell played cowbell for the rendition, which appeared on an episode of ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]].''<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Drum-Off|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uBOtQOO70Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/0uBOtQOO70Y| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|work=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on YouTube|publisher=Google, Inc|access-date=27 May 2014|author=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|format=Video upload|date=22 May 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Sarah |title=More cowbell: Will Ferrell, Chad Smith face off on Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/more-cowbell-will-ferrell-chad-smith-face-off-on-tonight-show-with-jimmy-fallon-20140523-zrmlw.html |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=23 June 2018 |language=en |date=23 May 2014}}</ref>

=== In other media ===
<!-- Please note that unsourced items will be removed in accordance with [[WP:IPCV]]. -->
[[Stephen King]] cited the song as one of his inspirations for his novel ''[[The Stand]]''. He began the novel a year earlier, in 1975, but developed [[writer's block]]. The song was released around that time and its lyrics are quoted at the novel's beginning.<ref name="psw">{{cite web|url=https://performingsongwriter.com/blue-oyster-cult-dont-fear-the-reaper/|title=(Don't Fear) The Reaper|website=Performing Songwriter|date=25 October 2011 |access-date=July 31, 2022}}</ref> It also appears as the opening theme song for [[The Stand (1994 miniseries)|the 1994 TV miniseries based on the novel]],<ref name="psw"/><ref name=matters>{{cite news|last=Mann|first=James|title=Blue Oyster Cult: Agents of Fortune / Tyranny and Mutation|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/blueoystercult-tyranny/|access-date=August 2, 2012|newspaper=[[PopMatters]]|date=July 25, 2001}}</ref> and was used as the end credits music for the fifth episode of the [[The Stand (2020 miniseries)|2020-21 miniseries adaptation]].

In the 1978 film ''[[Halloween (1978 film)|Halloween]]'', the song plays in the car when [[Jamie Lee Curtis]]'s and [[Nancy Kyes]]'s characters, [[Laurie Strode]] and [[Annie Brackett]], are being stalked by serial killer [[Michael Myers (Halloween)|Michael Myers]]. It is the only licensed song featured in the film.<ref name="‘(Don't Fear) the Reaper’ Is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/movies/dont-fear-the-reaper-blue-oyster-cult-creepy-tune.html| title='(Don't Fear) the Reaper' Is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell |work=The New York Times | date=20 May 2016 | access-date= 22 March 2019| last1=Spitz | first1=Marc }}</ref> It is used again in the 2022 sequel ''[[Halloween Ends]]'', playing over the final scene and ending credits.<ref name="‘Halloween Ends’ Ending, Explained">{{cite web|url= https://dmtalkies.com/halloween-ends-ending-explained-2022-slasher-film-david-gordon-green/| title='Halloween Ends' Ending, Explained | date=15 October 2022 | access-date= 17 October 2022}}</ref>

In the 1994 book ''[[The Discworld Companion]]'', by [[Terry Pratchett]] and [[Stephen Briggs]], the family motto of [[Death (Discworld)#Lord Mortimer, Duke of Sto Helit|Mort of Sto Helit]] is revealed to be "Non Timetis Messor", [[dog Latin]] for "don't fear the reaper".<ref name="The Annotated Pratchett File v9.0 - The Discworld Companion">{{cite web|url=https://www.lspace.org/books/apf/the-discworld-companion.html| title=The Annotated Pratchett File v9.0 – The Discworld Companion|website=Lspace.org | access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> This is referenced again in Pratchett's 1997 novel ''[[Hogfather]]'',<ref name="The Annotated Pratchett File v9.0 - Hogfather">{{cite web|url=https://www.lspace.org/books/apf/the-discworld-companion.html| title=The Annotated Pratchett File v9.0 – Hogfather | access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> the first reference in the mainline [[Discworld]] series. In 2010, [[Hubert Chesshyre]] designed Pratchett's coat of arms, which features the motto "Noli Timere Messorem", a corrected Latin translation of "don't fear the reaper".<ref name="The College of Arms September 2010">{{cite web|url= http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/27-september-2010 |title= The College of Arms September 2010 |work= College of Arms |date= September 2010 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>

The 1994 film ''[[The Stoned Age]]'' features the song when a character calls it "a pussy song" despite being performed by Blue Oyster Cult.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/movies/dont-fear-the-reaper-blue-oyster-cult-creepy-tune.html|title='(Don't Fear) the Reaper' Is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell (Published 2016)|first=Marc|last=Spitz| newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

The 2022 horror film [[X (2022 film)|''X'']] by [[A24]] has the song playing on the protagonists' van radio at the film's climactic midpoint. The slasher nature of the scene, as well as the film's setting in 1979, suggests an intentional homage by director [[Ti West]] to [[Halloween (1978 film)|''Halloween'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/x-review-sxsw-1235203851/|title='X' Review: '70s Horror Meets '70s Porn in the Rare 'Chain Saw' Homage That Earns Its Fear|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|author-link=Owen Gleiberman|date=March 14, 2022|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref>

The song was featured in the starting tracklist of the rhythm game ''[[Rock Band (video game)|Rock Band]]''.<ref name="Review: 'Rock Band' hits right notes for music fans">{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/12/07/rock.band/index.html| title=Review: 'Rock Band' hits right notes for music fans |publisher=CNN | access-date= 12 April 2019}}</ref>

Variations of the song are used throughout the 2021 video game ''[[Returnal (video game)|Returnal]]'': the vocal melody played on a piano appears as a key memory of the protagonist, an expansion of that theme is played on an organ by one of the [[Boss (video games)|boss]]es, and the original song appears unaltered in a flashback sequence.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://goombastomp.com/five-standout-moments-from-returnal-on-playstation-5/ | title=Five Standout Moments from Returnal on PlayStation 5 |website=Goombastomp.com| date=4 May 2021 }}</ref>

The 2006 video game ''[[Prey (2006 video game)|Prey]]'' features the song playing on a jukebox as Jen's bar is attacked.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/14/prey-goes-for-the-gut-with-in-game-musicUtbXVzaWM&ntb=1] {{Dead link|date=August 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10 Video Games That Peaked Too Early – Page 11 - WhatCulture.com |url=https://whatculture.com/gaming/10-video-games-that-peaked-too-early?page=11 |website=Whatculture.com| date=6 August 2019 }}</ref>

''[[The Simpsons]]'' [[The Simpsons (season 13)|season 13]] episode 2, "[[The Parent Rap]]" references the song, which also plays during the episode's end credits, and [[Don't Fear the Roofer|inspired the title of a later episode]].<ref name="Long">Long, Tim. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> [[George Meyer]], one of the writers, later got to meet the band, who said that they were "stoked" to be referenced in a ''Simpsons'' episode.<ref name="Meyer">Meyer, George. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>

The 2022 Netflix series ''[[1899 (TV series)|1899]]'' features the song in Episode 4 before the end credits roll.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/1899-netflix-soundtrack/ | title=1899 soundtrack: Every song featured in the Netflix series|website=Radiotimes.com | date=18 November 2022 |access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>

The 2013 Netflix series ''[[Orange Is the New Black]]'' features the song in Episode 26 (the last episode of Season 2) before the end credits roll.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://observer.com/2014/06/orange-is-the-new-black-season-2-finale-dont-fear-the-reaper/ | title='Orange Is The New Black' Season 2 Finale: Don't Fear The Reaper | website=[[The New York Observer]] | date=13 February 2023 |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref>

A cover of the song by the band The Spiritual Machines was used in trailer for the 2019 video game [[Vampyr (video game)|Vampyr]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdTcv3uUi1o|title=Vampyr - Story Trailer &#124; PS4|date=Apr 5, 2018|access-date=Oct 1, 2024|via=YouTube}}</ref>

The song was featured in the video game ''[[Fortnite Festival]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coulson |first=David |date=2024-03-20 |title=Latest Fortnite Festival Songs Add Muse, Kansas, and Carly Rae Jepsen to the Game |url=https://insider-gaming.com/latest-fortnite-festival-songs-add-muse-kansas-and-carly-rae-jepsen-to-the-game/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Insider Gaming |language=en-US}}</ref>

The game [[Cyberpunk 2077]] uses the song's name as the name of one of the final missions.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Harvey |first1=Angie |last2=Hadad |first2=Adam |last3=Hoolihan |first3=Hanah |date=May 14, 2024 |title=How to Unlock the Secret Ending - (Don't Fear) The Reaper |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/cyberpunk-2077/How_to_Get_the_Secret_Ending |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|30em}}


==References==
==References==
*{{cite book| first= Graham| last= Betts| year=2004| title= Complete UK Hit Singles 1952–2004| edition= 1st|publisher= Collins Press| location= London| isbn= 0007179316}}
*{{cite book|first=Graham|last=Betts|year=2004|title=Complete UK Hit Singles 1952–2004|edition=1st|publisher=Collins Press|location=London|isbn=0-00-717931-6}}
*{{cite book|last=Brackett|first=Nathan|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|year=2004|publisher=Rolling Stone LLC|location=New York City|isbn=0743201698|edition=4th}}
*{{cite book|last=Brackett|first=Nathan|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|year=2004|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=New York City|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|edition=4th|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac}}
*{{cite book|last=Dave|first=Marsh|title=The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|year=1999|publisher=Da Capo Press|location=New York City|isbn=030680901X}}
*{{cite book|last=Marsh|first=Dave|title=The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|year=1999|publisher=Da Capo Press|location=New York City|isbn=0-306-80901-X}}
*{{cite book|last=Rooksby|first=Rikky|title=Riffs: How to Create and Play Great Guitar Riffs|year=2002|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=0879307102}}
*{{cite book|last=Rooksby|first=Rikky|title=Riffs: How to Create and Play Great Guitar Riffs|year=2002|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=0-87930-710-2}}


{{portal bar|Rock music|United States}}
{{Blue Öyster Cult}}
{{Blue Öyster Cult}}
{{Romeo and Juliet}}
{{Romeo and Juliet}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Don't Fear The Reaper}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Don't Fear The Reaper}}
[[Category:1976 songs]]
[[Category:1976 singles]]
[[Category:1976 singles]]
[[Category:1970s ballads]]
[[Category:Blue Öyster Cult songs]]
[[Category:Blue Öyster Cult songs]]
[[Category:Hard rock ballads]]
[[Category:Songs written by Buck Dharma]]
[[Category:Songs written by Buck Dharma]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Sandy Pearlman]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Sandy Pearlman]]
[[Category:Songs about death]]
[[Category:Songs about death]]
[[Category:Hard rock songs]]
[[Category:Fiction about personifications of death]]
[[Category:Psychedelic rock songs]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Progressive rock songs]]
[[Category:Hard rock ballads]]
[[Category:Music based on Romeo and Juliet]]

Latest revision as of 15:58, 27 November 2024

This article is about the song by Blue Öyster Cult. For other works by the same name, see Don't Fear the Reaper (disambiguation).

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
Single by Blue Öyster Cult
from the album Agents of Fortune
B-side"Tattoo Vampire"
Released1976
Recorded1975
Genre
Length
  • 5:08 (album version)
  • 3:45 (single edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser
Producer(s)
Blue Öyster Cult singles chronology
"Then Came the Last Days of May"
(1975) 		"(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
(1976) 		"This Ain't the Summer of Love"
(1976)
Official audio
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on YouTube

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is a song by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult from the 1976 album Agents of Fortune. The song, written and sung by lead guitarist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, deals with eternal love and the inevitability of death.[4] Dharma wrote the song while picturing an early death for himself.

Released as an edited single (omitting the slow building interlude in the original), the song is Blue Öyster Cult's highest chart success, reaching #7 in Cash Box and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1976. Critical reception was positive and in December 2003 "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was listed at number 405 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 500 songs of all time.[5]

Background

[edit]

"I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of [death] (as opposed to actively bring it about). It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners."

 — Buck Dharma, lead singer[6]

The song is about the inevitability of death and the foolishness of fearing it, and was written when Dharma was thinking about what would happen if he died at a young age.[6] Lyrics such as "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity" have led many listeners to interpret the song to be about a murder–suicide pact, but Dharma says the song is about eternal love.[7][4] He used Romeo and Juliet as an example of a couple who wanted to be together in the afterlife.[8] He guessed that "40,000 men and women" died each day (from all causes), and the figure was used several times in the lyrics, but it is about 100,000 too low.[9]

Composition and recording

[edit]

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was written and sung by Dharma and produced by David Lucas, Murray Krugman, and Sandy Pearlman.[10] The song's distinctive guitar riff is built on the I-bVII-bVI chord progression in A minor.[11] The riff was recorded with Krugman's Gibson ES-175 guitar, which was run through a Music Man 410 combo amplifier, and Dharma's vocals were captured with a Telefunken U47 tube microphone. The guitar solo and guitar rhythm sections were recorded in one take, while a four-track tape machine amplified them on the recording. Sound engineer Shelly Yakus remembers piecing together the separate vocals, guitar and rhythm section into a master track, with the overdubbing occurring in that order.[12]

Mojo described its creation: "'Guys, this is it!' engineer Shelly Yakus announced at the end of the first take. 'The legendary once-in-a-lifetime groove!' ... What evolved in the studio was the extended solo section; it took them nearly as long to edit the five-minute track down to manageable length as it did to record it."[13]

The song features the cowbell percussion instrument overdubbed on the original recording.[4] Bassist Joe Bouchard remembered the producer requesting that his brother, drummer Albert Bouchard, play the cowbell: "Albert thought he was crazy. But he put all this tape around a cowbell and played it. It really pulled the track together."[14] However, producer David Lucas says that he played it,[15] and bandmember Eric Bloom says he did.[16]

Reception

[edit]

The song was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 20 weeks, reaching number 12 for the weeks of November 6 and November 13, 1976.[17] It was the band's highest-charting U.S. song and helped Agents of Fortune reach number 29 on the Billboard 200.[18] "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" charted even higher in Canada, peaking at number 7.[19] The single edit was released in the UK in July 1976 (CBS 4483) but failed to chart. The unedited album version was released as a single (CBS 6333) in May 1978, where it reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[20]

The song received critical acclaim. Record World said that "An 'Eight Miles High' guitar line is complemented by smooth vocals."[21] Denise Sullivan of AllMusic praised the song's "gentle vocals and virtuoso guitar" and "haunting middle break which delivers the listener straight back to the heart of the song once the thunder is finished".[22] Nathan Beckett called it the band's "masterpiece" and compared the vocals to the Beach Boys.[23] Writing for PopMatters, James Mann called it a "landmark, genre-defining masterpiece" that was "as grand and emotional as American rock and roll ever got".[24] Pitchfork also called the song a masterpiece.[25]

Track listing

[edit]
7" Vinyl
  1. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Roeser) – 3:45
  2. "Tattoo Vampire" (Albert Bouchard, Helen Robbins) – 2:40

Personnel

[edit]

with:

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1976–1978) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[28] 7
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[30] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[31] 12
Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[32] 11

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] 6× Platinum 6,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

[edit]
  • New Zealand band the Mutton Birds recorded a version for the soundtrack of Peter Jackson's film The Frighteners.[citation needed] In 1997, it peaked at No.48 on the Australian ARIA singles charts, the only Mutton Birds single to chart in Australia.[35]
  • The band The Spiritual Machines made a cover of the song. There was a longer version released in a single in 2016, and a slightly shorter version split into two parts that was released in 2017. The song was also used in trailer for the 2019 Video Game Vampyr.[36]

Accolades

[edit]

In 1976 Rolling Stone named "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" the song of the year,[10] and in 2004 the magazine placed the song 397th on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time";[37] the 2010 version of the list moved it down to 405th.[10] In 1997 Mojo listed the song as the 80th-best single of all time,[38] while Q ranked it 404th in its 2003 countdown of the "1001 Best Songs Ever."[39]

When The Guardian released its unranked list of "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear" in 2009, the song was included. The publication wrote that the song's charm "lies in the disjuncture between its gothic storyline and the sprightly, Byrdsian guitar line that carries it."[7] In his book The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made, rock critic Dave Marsh ranked the song 997th.[40]

Legacy

[edit]

"More Cowbell"

[edit]
Main article: More Cowbell

The song was memorialized in the April 2000 Saturday Night Live comedy sketch "More Cowbell".[4] The six-minute sketch presents a fictionalized version of the recording of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on an episode of VH1's Behind the Music. Will Ferrell wrote the sketch and played Gene Frenkle, a cowbell player. "Legendary" producer Bruce Dickinson, played by Christopher Walken, asked Frenkle to "really explore the studio space" and up the ante on his cowbell playing. The rest of the band is visibly annoyed by Frenkle, but Dickinson tells everyone, "I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!" Buck Dharma said that the sketch was fantastic and he never gets tired of it[14] but also lamented that it made the song lose its "creepy" vibe for some time.[41]

Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a segment of the song on May 22, 2014,[42] as the conclusion of a drumming contest between Ferrell and the band's drummer, Chad Smith. As in the SNL sketch, Ferrell played cowbell for the rendition, which appeared on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[43][44]

In other media

[edit]

Stephen King cited the song as one of his inspirations for his novel The Stand. He began the novel a year earlier, in 1975, but developed writer's block. The song was released around that time and its lyrics are quoted at the novel's beginning.[45] It also appears as the opening theme song for the 1994 TV miniseries based on the novel,[45][24] and was used as the end credits music for the fifth episode of the 2020-21 miniseries adaptation.

In the 1978 film Halloween, the song plays in the car when Jamie Lee Curtis's and Nancy Kyes's characters, Laurie Strode and Annie Brackett, are being stalked by serial killer Michael Myers. It is the only licensed song featured in the film.[46] It is used again in the 2022 sequel Halloween Ends, playing over the final scene and ending credits.[47]

In the 1994 book The Discworld Companion, by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs, the family motto of Mort of Sto Helit is revealed to be "Non Timetis Messor", dog Latin for "don't fear the reaper".[48] This is referenced again in Pratchett's 1997 novel Hogfather,[49] the first reference in the mainline Discworld series. In 2010, Hubert Chesshyre designed Pratchett's coat of arms, which features the motto "Noli Timere Messorem", a corrected Latin translation of "don't fear the reaper".[50]

The 1994 film The Stoned Age features the song when a character calls it "a pussy song" despite being performed by Blue Oyster Cult.[51]

The 2022 horror film X by A24 has the song playing on the protagonists' van radio at the film's climactic midpoint. The slasher nature of the scene, as well as the film's setting in 1979, suggests an intentional homage by director Ti West to Halloween.[52]

The song was featured in the starting tracklist of the rhythm game Rock Band.[53]

Variations of the song are used throughout the 2021 video game Returnal: the vocal melody played on a piano appears as a key memory of the protagonist, an expansion of that theme is played on an organ by one of the bosses, and the original song appears unaltered in a flashback sequence.[54]

The 2006 video game Prey features the song playing on a jukebox as Jen's bar is attacked.[55][56]

The Simpsons season 13 episode 2, "The Parent Rap" references the song, which also plays during the episode's end credits, and inspired the title of a later episode.[57] George Meyer, one of the writers, later got to meet the band, who said that they were "stoked" to be referenced in a Simpsons episode.[58]

The 2022 Netflix series 1899 features the song in Episode 4 before the end credits roll.[59]

The 2013 Netflix series Orange Is the New Black features the song in Episode 26 (the last episode of Season 2) before the end credits roll.[60]

A cover of the song by the band The Spiritual Machines was used in trailer for the 2019 video game Vampyr.[61]

The song was featured in the video game Fortnite Festival.[62]

The game Cyberpunk 2077 uses the song's name as the name of one of the final missions.[63]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Kelly Boyer Sagert (January 1, 2007). The 1970s. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-313-33919-6. Meanwhile, Blue Oyster Cult released two of the decade's hard rock favorites: "Don't Fear the Reaper" and "Godzilla.
  2. ^ Strong, Martin Charles; Griffin, Brendon (2008). Lights, camera, sound tracks. Canongate. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-84767-003-8. Reaper' was a one-off return to their 60s psychedelic roots.
  3. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Agents of Fortune - Blue Öyster Cult". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2019. The album yielded the band's biggest single with "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," a multi-textured, deeply melodic soft rock song with psychedelic overtones.
  4. ^ a b c d Simpson, Dave (February 19, 2019). "How we made Blue Öyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper". The Guardian. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Stone, Rolling (December 11, 2003). "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ a b Lien, James (November 6, 1995). "Buck Dharma interview". College Music Journal. New York City: CMJ.
  7. ^ a b "Life and death: 1000 songs everyone must hear". The Guardian. March 19, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  8. ^ Targoff, Ramie (Fall 2012). "Mortal Love: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and the Practice of Joint Burial". Representations. 120 (1): 17–38. doi:10.1525/rep.2012.120.1.17.
  9. ^ "Great Moments in Pedantry: Fact-checking "Don't Fear the Reaper"". Boing Boing.
  10. ^ a b c "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Wenner Publishing. April 7, 2011.
  11. ^ Rooksby 2002, p. 93
  12. ^ Forlenza, Jeff (June 1, 2009). "Classic Tracks: Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"". Mix. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  13. ^ Mojo, August 1997, p52
  14. ^ a b Farhi, Paul (January 29, 2005). "Blue Öyster Cult, Playing Along With 'More Cowbell'". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  15. ^ George, Eli (June 30, 2011). "Blue Oyster Cult cowbell ringer honored". WIVB-TV. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  16. ^ Sauro, Tony (September 17, 2009). "Blue Oyster Cult's innovative use of a cowbell will never be forgotten". The Record (Stockton). Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  17. ^ "Agents of Fortune". Blue Öyster Cult. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  18. ^ "Blue Oyster Cult awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  19. ^ "RPM Top Singles". RPM. 26 (7). RPM Music Publications Ltd. November 13, 1976. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  20. ^ Betts 2004, p.89
  21. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 17, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Sullivan, Denise. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  23. ^ Beckett 2004, p. 88
  24. ^ a b Mann, James (July 25, 2001). "Blue Oyster Cult: Agents of Fortune / Tyranny and Mutation". PopMatters. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  25. ^ "The Clash: The Essential Clash | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  26. ^ "Blue Oyster Cult Drummer Reveals Truth About Cowbell on 'Don't Fear the Reaper,' Says It Sounded Like 'Crap' First". Ultimate-guitar.com.
  27. ^ Refer to the personnel listing and artiste credits provided on the sleeve notes of the LP Agents Of Fortune, CBS records (1976)
  28. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5106a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Fear the Reaper". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  31. ^ "Blue Oyster Cult Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  32. ^ "Blue Oyster Cult Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  33. ^ "British single certifications – Blue Oyster Cult – Don't Fear the Reaper". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  34. ^ "American single certifications – Blue Oyster Cult – Don't Fear the Reaper". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  35. ^ "aAustralian charts portal". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  36. ^ "THE SPIRITUAL MACHINES - Official Website". Thespiritualmachines.com. May 20, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  37. ^ "The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rock List Music. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  38. ^ "Mojo – The 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time". Rock List Music. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  39. ^ "Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003)". Muzieklijstjes.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  40. ^ Marsh 1999, p. 628
  41. ^ Spitz, Marc (May 20, 2016). "'(Don't Fear) the Reaper' Is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell". The New York Times. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  42. ^ Newman, Jason (May 16, 2014). "Chad Smith, Will Ferrell Talk Trash for 'Fallon' Drum-Off". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  43. ^ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (May 22, 2014). "Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Drum-Off" (Video upload). The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  44. ^ Thomas, Sarah (May 23, 2014). "More cowbell: Will Ferrell, Chad Smith face off on Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  45. ^ a b "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". Performing Songwriter. October 25, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  46. ^ Spitz, Marc (May 20, 2016). "'(Don't Fear) the Reaper' Is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  47. ^ "'Halloween Ends' Ending, Explained". October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  48. ^ "The Annotated Pratchett File v9.0 – The Discworld Companion". Lspace.org. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  49. ^ "The Annotated Pratchett File v9.0 – Hogfather". Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  50. ^ "The College of Arms September 2010". College of Arms. September 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  51. ^ Spitz, Marc (May 20, 2016). "'(Don't Fear) the Reaper' Is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell (Published 2016)". The New York Times.
  52. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (March 14, 2022). "'X' Review: '70s Horror Meets '70s Porn in the Rare 'Chain Saw' Homage That Earns Its Fear". Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  53. ^ "Review: 'Rock Band' hits right notes for music fans". CNN. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  54. ^ "Five Standout Moments from Returnal on PlayStation 5". Goombastomp.com. May 4, 2021.
  55. ^ [1] [permanent dead link‍]
  56. ^ "10 Video Games That Peaked Too Early – Page 11 - WhatCulture.com". Whatculture.com. August 6, 2019.
  57. ^ Long, Tim. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  58. ^ Meyer, George. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  59. ^ "1899 soundtrack: Every song featured in the Netflix series". Radiotimes.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  60. ^ "'Orange Is The New Black' Season 2 Finale: Don't Fear The Reaper". The New York Observer. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  61. ^ "Vampyr - Story Trailer | PS4". April 5, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2024 – via YouTube.
  62. ^ Coulson, David (March 20, 2024). "Latest Fortnite Festival Songs Add Muse, Kansas, and Carly Rae Jepsen to the Game". Insider Gaming. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  63. ^ Harvey, Angie; Hadad, Adam; Hoolihan, Hanah (May 14, 2024). "How to Unlock the Secret Ending - (Don't Fear) The Reaper". IGN.

References

[edit]
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