"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (/ˈjæŋkəvɪk/ YANG-kə-vik;[2] born October 23, 1959) is an American musician, comedian, and actor. He is best known for writing and performing comedy songs that often parody specific songs by contemporary musicians. He also performs original songs that are style pastiches of the work of other acts, as well as polka medleys of several popular songs, most of which feature his trademark accordion.
For the album, see "Weird Al" Yankovic (album).
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew Yankovic
October 23, 1959
Downey, California, U.S.
Lynwood, California, U.S.
- Singer
- songwriter
- musician
- record producer
- actor
- parodist
- author
- Vocals
- accordion
- keyboards
1976–present
- Rock 'n Roll
- Capitol
- Placebo
- TK
- Scotti Brothers
- Way Moby
- Volcano
- RCA
Since having one of his comedy songs aired on The Dr. Demento Radio Show in 1976 at age 16, Yankovic has sold more than 12 million albums (as of 2015),[3][4] recorded more than 150 parodies and original songs,[5][6][7] and performed more than 1,000 live shows.[8] His work has earned him five Grammy Awards and a further 11 nominations, four gold records and six platinum records in the U.S. His first top ten Billboard album (Straight Outta Lynwood) and single ("White & Nerdy") were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his career. His latest album, Mandatory Fun (2014), became his first number-one album during its debut week.
Yankovic's success has been attributed to his effective use of music videos to further parody pop culture, the song's original artist and the original music videos themselves. He has directed some of his own music videos and has also directed music videos for other artists including Ben Folds, Hanson, the Black Crowes, and the Presidents of the United States of America. With the decline of music television and the onset of social media, he used YouTube and other video sites to publish his videos; this strategy helped boost sales of his later albums. Yankovic has stated that he may forgo traditional albums in favor of timely releases of singles from the 2010s onward.
In addition to his music career, Yankovic wrote and starred in the film UHF (1989) and the television series The Weird Al Show (1997). He has produced two satirical films about his own life, The Compleat Al (1985) and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022). He has acted in several television shows and web series, in addition to starring in Al TV specials on MTV. He has also written two children's books, When I Grow Up (2011) and My New Teacher and Me! (2013).
Career
1976–1981: Dr. Demento and early fame
Yankovic received his first exposure via syndicated comedy radio personality Dr. Demento's Southern California-based radio show, later saying, "If there hadn't been a Dr. Demento, I'd probably have a real job now."[24] Despite his mother having caught him listening to Dr. Demento's program and banning him from listening to it again, he found ways to hear it discreetly.[17] In 1976, Dr. Demento spoke at Yankovic's school, where the 16-year-old Yankovic gave him a homemade cassette tape of original and parody songs performed on the accordion in Yankovic's bedroom into a "cheesy little tape recorder". The tape's first song, "Belvedere Cruisin'" (about his family's Plymouth Belvedere) was played on Demento's comedy radio show, launching Yankovic's career. Demento said, "'Belvedere Cruising' might not have been the very best song I ever heard, but it had some clever lines [...] I put the tape on the air immediately."[15][25] Yankovic also played at local coffeehouses, accompanied by fellow dorm resident Joel Miller on bongos.[26] He recalled in 2007:
Personal life
Yankovic became a vegetarian in 1992 when his then-girlfriend gave him a copy of the 1987 John Robbins book Diet for a New America, which he said "made a very compelling argument for a strict vegetarian diet".[69][70] When asked how he can rationalize performing shows at events such as the Great American Rib Cook-Off as a vegetarian, he replied, "The same way I can rationalize playing at a college even though I'm not a student anymore."[71] In a 2011 interview with OnMilwaukee, he clarified his stance on his diet: "I am still a vegetarian, and I try to be a vegan, but I occasionally cheat. If there's a cheese pizza on the band bus, I might sneak a piece."[72]
In 1998, Yankovic underwent LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) eye surgery to correct his near-sightedness. As his glasses were part of his signature look prior to the surgery, Yankovic considered wearing fake glasses but decided against it.[73]
Yankovic married Suzanne Krajewski, a marketing executive with 20th Century Fox, after they met in 2001. They were introduced to each other on a blind date by their mutual friend Bill Mumy.[70][17] Their daughter, Nina, was born in 2003.[74] They live in Los Angeles, where they own a house previously owned by writer Jack S. Margolis and rapper Heavy D.[75] In contrast to his stage persona, Yankovic is known by friends and associates to be polite, shy, and introverted, even among family.[17] He is a Christian, and a married couple from the church he attends can be seen in the background on the cover of his album Poodle Hat.[76][77] His religious upbringing is reflected in his abstinence from profanity, alcohol, and drugs.[78]
On April 9, 2004, Yankovic's parents were found dead at their home in Fallbrook, California, the victims of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from their fireplace.[16][74] Hours after his wife notified him of this, he made the decision to go on with his concert in Appleton, Wisconsin.[79][80] He later said, "Since my music had helped many of my fans through tough times, maybe it would work for me as well ... it would at least give me a break from sobbing all the time."[81][82] Their deaths occurred following the release of Poodle Hat, which was Yankovic's lowest-selling album in 20 years. He considered the Appleton show and subsequent tour dates therapeutic: "If I didn't have anything to distract me, I probably would have spiraled into an even deeper depression. For a couple of hours each night, I could go onstage and put on a big fake smile and pretend like everything was just okay."[75] In a 2014 interview, he cited the deaths of his parents as the worst thing that had ever happened to him, adding, "I knew intellectually, that at some point, probably, I'd have to, you know, live through the death of my parents, but I never thought it would be at the same time, and so abruptly."[83]
Fan-driven campaigns
The Weird Al Star Fund was a campaign started by Yankovic's fans to get him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their mission was to "solicit, collect, and raise the necessary money, and to compile the information needed for the application to nominate "Weird Al" Yankovic for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame".[220] Fans worldwide have sent donations to raise the US$40,000 needed for a nomination. In addition to the preferred method of cash donations, many methods were used to raise money for the cause, such as a live benefit show held April 11, 2006, and selling merchandise on the official website and eBay, including T-shirts, calendars, and cookbooks.[221] On May 26, 2006, the campaign hit the then-$15,000 target, just five days before the May 31 deadline to submit the necessary paperwork.[220] However, Yankovic was not included on the list of inductees for 2007.[222] On February 9, 2007, the Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce raised the price to sponsor a new star to $25,000.[220] Yankovic's application was resubmitted for consideration in 2007, but he was not included among 2008's inductees.[223] In December 2010, the price was raised again to $30,000.[220] and in 2017 the price was raised to $40,000.[220] The campaign raised the new target each time and applications continued to be submitted yearly, until The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced in June 2017 that Yankovic would receive a star on the Walk of Fame as one of the 2018 inductees. In an official induction ceremony on August 27, 2018,[224] Al received the 2,643rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star is located at 6914 Hollywood Blvd, directly across the street from TCL Chinese Theatre. The ceremony was attended by 1,500 fans.[225][226]
Similar to the Weird Al Star Fund, a second fan-driven campaign called "Make the Rock Hall 'Weird'" has tried to enshrine him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, for which he has been eligible since 2004.[227] Previous attempts to raise awareness for the campaign and support Yankovic's nomination included a petition drive from 2006 to 2007, which raised over 9000 signatures; an art competition in 2005; additionally, a documentary film about the campaign is currently being developed.[228][229] In addition to these efforts, an ongoing campaign is underway in which supporters of Yankovic's nomination are requested to send "sincere, thoughtful" letters to the Rock Hall Foundation's headquarters in New York.[229] The Hall has not considered Yankovic for nomination since the campaign started in 2004.[227] A 2009 Rolling Stone poll named Weird Al as the top artist that should be nominated for the Hall of Fame, followed by Rush (who were inducted in 2013) and The Moody Blues (inducted in 2018) in the top ten.[230]
A smaller ongoing effort has been made by fans to have Yankovic perform at the halftime show of a Super Bowl game.[231] This inspired Yankovic to write the fight song parody "Sports Song" for Mandatory Fun to help round out his repertoire.[232] Subsequent to the success of Mandatory Fun, another fan-driven campaign pushed for Yankovic to headline the then-upcoming Super Bowl XLIX at the highlight of the artist's career, which was noticed by many media outlets, including CNN and Wired, though the decision for this selection would reside within the management of the NFL (who instead chose Katy Perry for that position).[233][234][235] Yankovic believed that he would never be selected as a standalone act for the Super Bowl, but could see other bands include him as a special guest if they were selected.[236]
Awards and nominations
0
5
5
16
Current members
Former members
Timeline