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More Cowbell: The 40th anniversary of ‘(Don’t Fear) the Reaper’
From:
Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, Funeral Expert Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, Funeral Expert
Albuquerque, NM
Tuesday, May 24, 2016


Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®
 

"(Don't Fear) the Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult first hit the airwaves in May, 1976, when NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live was in its infancy. Little did anyone know the meme "More Cowbell" would come from the convergence of these two pop culture phenomena.

"I was just graduating from high school, the class of '76," said Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®. "Looking back, that song may have influenced my career in ways not apparent at the time."

The song was a Top 15 hit in an era when disco, punk, The Eagles, Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell were all the rage. It was used in a number of movies, most notably John Carpenter's 1978 horror flick, Halloween.

"But its message is not meant to be spooky," said Rubin. "It's supposed to confirm the belief in a life beyond death. In spite of exhortations to NOT fear the Reaper, people still do. It's the same old problem. Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die."

The song was born after the guitarist and co-vocalist Buck Dharma (real name: Donald Roesser) learned in his mid-20s that he had an erratic heartbeat. Still alive and kicking 40 years down the road, Dharma wants the song played at his funeral.

The New York Times just explained the amazing life of this song about death in the story, "(Don't Fear) the Reaper is a Creepy Tune, Even With the Cowbell."

A last word from Gail Rubin: "The lesson here - don't fear the Reaper. While you're at it, make some end-of-life plans BEFORE you leap into his arms. Check out A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don't Plan to Die."

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Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die. Her newest book is Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips. Next up: Kicking the Bucket List: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die (October, 2016, Rio Grande Books, www.NMSantos.com).

Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.

Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she also hosts A Good Goodbye Internet radio show and produces Mortality Minute radio spots.

Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. Her speaking profiles are available at BookASpeaker.net and eSpeakers.com.

Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV,  and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV.

Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.
News Media Interview Contact
Name: Gail Rubin
Group: A Good Goodbye
Dateline: Albuquerque, NM United States
Direct Phone: 505-265-7215
Cell Phone: 505-363-7514
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