The typical Dr. Demento show features old artists like Spike Jones, Peter Sellers, The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa), and The Bonzo Dog Band, which are some of the early trail blazers in comedy rock. These acts, along with others, would influence the likes of Monty Python, Ween, and The Beatles (yes, The Beatles were very into humor…just look at their hair) to name a few. However, Dr. D doesn’t just play old comedy bits. He prides himself in taking an interest in new and upcoming artists and often goes out of his way to bring attention to these unknowns of comedy rock…or just unknown. One such unknown rode Dr. Demento’s coat tails to become the most famous and best-selling comedy rock artist of all time. Although many would say he’s just “weird.” Alfred Matthew Yankovic, who would later earn the moniker, “Weird Al” for obvious reasons, is a nerd in every sense of the word from early childhood thanks in part to his own parents. At the impressionable age of five, Yankovic senior strapped young Al to an accordion because he was convinced the instrument would revolutionize rock... apparently the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Al spent his school days known as a nerd and an outcast. He graduated high school at the ripe old age of 16 and as the valedictorian of his class. In 1976 lil’ Al went to see Dr. Demento speak at his high school and his life was forever changed.
Dr. Demento
Weird Al Yankovic
After the Demento speech, Al handed the Doc a demo tape created with his accordion on a crude tape recorder in his bedroom. As odd as it may sound today, the Doc actually played some of the songs from Al’s tape on his radio show. In 1979 Al recorded “My Bologna,” a parody of the The Knack’s “My Sharona,” in a campus restroom. The song was liked by the lead singer of The Knack so much that he recommended to his label that it be released as a single. Thankfully, Capitol Records agreed and signed Weird Al to a short term contract. 14 Grammy nominations (three wins), seven platinum albums, and multiple #1 hits later, Weird Al is still going strong today. In fact, it is an industry inside joke that your band has made it if Weird Al asks to parody one of your songs. While we have only scratched the surface of the comedy rock genre, we have hit on perhaps the two most influential people and their codependent relationship. In fact, as soon as I submit this piece, I am digging out my old Weird Al albums…ahh Smells Like Nirvana.
-JH