Will Ferrell and Chad Smith’s ‘Tonight Show’ Drum-Off Needed More Cowbell (Video)

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer soundly defeated Ferrell, who finally resorted to pulling out a cowbell in a callback to his classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch

In a feud that had been brewing for months, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Will Ferrell finally got to prove once and for all who the superior percussionist was. It was the inaugural “Drum Off” on “The Tonight Show,” and the guys showed up dressed and ready to go.

In fact, they showed up dressed exactly alike. The whole “feud” started when it was pointed out to Ferrell that he looked a lot like Smith. The two performers then ratcheted up the tension until it exploded in this epic duel. Both men were battling for charity, with Ferrell raising money for Cancer for College, while Smith was raising funds for Little Kids Rock.

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After a lot of trash talk, where the men pretended to be one another during their interview segment with Jimmy Fallon, the two headed to their respective drum kits. Each would have four rounds to prove their prowess on the skins.

Ferrell did show that he had some skills, but was easily outmatched by Smith. Luckily, he had a surprise up his sleeve for the final round. After Smith threw down the gauntlet in the final round, Ferrell dropped his drumstick. Rather than retrieve it, though, he picked up a cowbell.

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In a callback to his classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch, Ferrell started hitting the cowbell as the rest of the Red Hot Chili Peppers came out and performed “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.” Maybe it was the cowbell, but Ferrell somehow even won the gaudy, over-sized trophy Fallon handed out.

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