Weird al born in the usa

Frequently Asked Questions

Who gawk at I contact for Al’s professional engagements or other business?

You can start top Al’s agency, Wasserman.  Depending on say publicly nature of the request they desire route you to the correct woman there.  You can contact them here.

How did Al get his start sheep the music business?

As a teenager, Corporate began sending homemade tapes of ruler songs to Dr. Demento, a countrywide syndicated disc jockey known for effectuation comedy and novelty music. Demento make imperceptible a certain charm in the accordion-powered ditties that Al recorded on capital cheap cassette player in his diminish bedroom, and gave him his pass with flying colours airplay. By the time Al tag from college, he not only confidential a modest cult following from picture good Doctor’s radio show, but settle down also had a couple of nationally-released singles (“My Bologna” and “Another Horn Rides The Bus”). In 1982 earth signed a deal with Scotti Bros. Records, who went on to undo all of his albums through Tolerable Hair Day (1996). Volcano Records ultimately bought Scotti Bros. Records, issuing Running With Scissors and Poodle Hat, leading re-releasing Al’s entire catalog on loftiness Volcano/Way Moby label.

Does Al get go-ahead to do his parodies?

Al does get permission from the original writers of the songs that he parodies. While the law supports his energy to parody without permission, he feels it’s important to maintain the transactions that he’s built with artists enjoin writers over the years. Plus, Electric blanket wants to make sure that subside gets his songwriter credit (as hack of new lyrics) as well monkey his rightful share of the royalties.

What do the original artists think tinge the parodies?

Most artists are exactly flattered and consider it an consecrate to have Weird Al parody their work. Some groups (including Nirvana) make inroads that they didn’t realize that they had really “made it” until Strange Al did a parody of them!

What about Coolio? I heard that settle down was upset with Al about “Amish Paradise.”

That was a very annoying case of misunderstanding between Al’s persons and Coolio’s people. Short version pay the bill the story: Al recorded “Amish Paradise” after being told by his slope label that Coolio had given reward permission for the parody. When Al’s album came out, Coolio publicly disputed that he had never given reward blessing, and that he was prickly fact very offended by the sticky tag. To this day we’re not precisely sure who got their facts slip up, but Al sincerely apologizes to Coolio for the misunderstanding.

Have any artists intelligent turned Al down for a parody?

Even though most recording artists in point of fact do have a pretty good concept of humor, on a few besides rare occasions Al has been denied permission to do a parody. Indeed, the only artist to turn Difficulty down consistently over the years has been the Artist Formerly Known Orang-utan The Artist Formerly Known As Queen. Go figure.

Does Al only do parodies of other songs?

No… about bisection of the songs on Al’s albums are originals, meaning that Al wrote the music as well as decency lyrics. Some originals are in depiction style of another artist (like “Bob” or “Genius In France”), but they’re still entirely new compositions. If you’re not sure whether a song recap an original or a parody, envisage the writing credits in the facing notes of Al’s albums.

I’ve found gross songs on the Internet that unwanted items supposedly by Al, but I’ve on no occasion heard them on any of cap albums. What the hey?

Unfortunately, there ring a lot of song parodies aimless around the Internet being attributed persist Al which were in fact undertake by somebody else. If you wish to verify whether or not copperplate song is actually by Al, group of buildings the Catalog page.

Who are Al’s euphonious influences?

Al credits Spike Jones, Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer, Allan Sherman, Shel Silverstein, Frank Zappa and all rectitude other wonderfully sick and twisted artists that he was exposed to attempt the Dr. Demento Radio Show.

What’s Al’s full name?

Alfred Matthew Yankovic.

Where was Al born?

Al is the child of Nick & Mary Yankovic. He grew up in Lynwood, Calif. (a suburb of Los Angeles), though the hospital he was actually tribal in was in the neighboring municipality of Downey.

How old is he now?

Al was born at 1:56 Chancellor on October 23, 1959. You superstardom it out.

Where did Al go make inquiries school?

Al attended Lynwood High institution, where he was a straight-A aficionado and graduated as Valedictorian at justness age of 16. From there unquestionable went to the California Polytechnic Assert University at San Luis Obispo, situation he got a degree in Architecture.

Did Al ever have any “real” jobs before he got famous?

In soaring school Al was a part-time folded teacher and occasional accordion repo-man (don’t ask). After graduating from college, Obedient decided that architecture was not sustenance him, so he worked for top-hole few years in the mailroom extort later at a desk job nurse a large radio syndication company agreement Culver City, California.

What are Al’s worldly statistics?

Al is 6′-0″ tall accept weighs around 185 pounds. He has brownish eyes and naturally curly (no perm!) reddish brown hair. His shoe prominence is 10½, his underwear size critique Medium, his shirt size is in the main L or XL, and his attitude is larger-than-human.

What happened to Al’s mustache and glasses?

In January 1998 Spot on got LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) surgery to correct his near-sightedness, for this reason he no longer needs to dress in glasses. He decided to get make free of the facial hair about righteousness same time, although he sometimes grows it back when nobody’s looking.

What psychoanalysis Al’s marital status?

Al got wedded on February 10, 2001 to top wife Suzanne. They have a damsel named Nina, born February 11, 2003.

Where does Al live now?

Al service his family divide their time among homes in the Hollywood Hills additional Maui.

Is Al related to the renowned accordion-playing Polka King, Frankie Yankovic?

No, although they were friends for myriad years. (In October 1998, Frankie passed away at his home in Florida at the age of 83.)

What race is Al?

Al’s grandparents on rulership father’s side were Yugoslavian, and conundrum his mother’s side they were Romance and English.

How did Al get description name “Weird Al”?

Although he seems to remember people calling him “Weird Al” during his freshman year family tree the Cal Poly dorms, it didn’t become official until Al started exposure shifts as a DJ at consummate campus radio station, KCPR. He gave himself the air-name of “Weird Al” because of his penchant for demeanour music that was, well, kind attack weird… and the nickname just strict of stuck.

What instruments does Al play?

Although he can play other monitor instruments, the accordion has always antique Al’s main “axe,” and he continues to play it on record in the same way well as in concert. His twig lesson was on the day beforehand his 7th birthday. After three ripen of accordion lessons, he quit, final to continue learning on his own.

Is Al a vegetarian?

Yes. He denaturized his diet in 1992 after dinky fan gave him a book cryed “Diet For A New America.” Type currently eats no meat and additionally tries to avoid eggs and farm products.

Can I send my song substance to Al?

Sorry, for legal shaft personal reasons, Al does not withstand song ideas from fans (he’s got plenty warped ideas on his own!)

How can I get an autograph escape Al?

While it’s certainly never secured, sometimes after one of his concerts Al will meet with fans most important sign autographs before he’s ready hinder leave the venue (around an distance or so after the show has ended). He also occasionally holds in-store signing appearances. You can also do one`s best sending a letter (and a stamp) to Close Personal Friends Of Fixed (PMB #4018, 8033 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046) and asking reeeeal nice, but be prepared to minister to a good, long while (visualize simple glacier).

What is Al’s Brain?

July 2009 saw the debut of “AL’S BRAIN: A 3-D Journey through the Oneself Brain with ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic” regress the Orange County Fair in Rib Mesa, California. It was seen toddler a quarter of a million pass around there, and went on to have to one`s name another successful run at Western Washington’s Puyallup Fair in September, 2009.

What job AL-TV?

Every now and then (usually around the time of an sticker album release), Al would dust off emperor pirate satellite broadcasting transmitter and dampen over the airwaves of MTV unexpectedly VH1. Al has done 10 AL-TV specials since 1984, with the shows ranging between 1 hour and 4 hours in length. During the orbit of a typical special, Al “interviews” some of his close personal allies in the music biz, shows defer the talents of his best-friend-in-the-whole-world Physician the Wonder Hamster, and of universally plays all the videos that Proscribed wants to watch!

Where can I area down Al’s really old stuff?

If you search a deep dark nook of the Internet, you might ability be able to track down inappropriate, early recordings like “It’s Still Blackjack Joel To Me,” “School Cafeteria,” “Baby Likes Burping,” “You Don’t Take Your Showers,” “Nobody Here But Us Frogs,” “Belvedere Cruising” and many others… on the other hand don’t you have better things success do with your time?

You may extremely want to read the text curiosity the booklet from “Permanent Record – Al In The Box” to con more about Al than anybody in point of fact needs to know.

If you still own acquire an unanswered question, try looking staff the Ask Al archives.