Original Publication: Fairbanks Daily News Miner Original Date: February 23, 1995 By Julia Gessing and Ingrid Martin Weird & Demented: The Friday night alternative The self-described "Master of Parodies" and "King of Funny Songs" will team up at Hering Auditorium Friday night, combining their respective brands of twisted energy into a single multimedia show guarenteed to warp your music attitude. "Weird Al" Yankovic- the genius behind such popular music takeoffs as "My Bologna," "Eat It," "Living in the Fridge," "Smells Like Nirvana," and "Bohemian Polka"- headlines the show. He will be joined by radio man Barry Hansen (a.k.a. "Dr. Demento") whose syndicated late-night cornucopia of the bizarre has become a staple on both bands (though as late, not in Fairbanks). Dr. Demento, it turns out, gets credit for discovering Yankovic's musical prodigy more than 15 years ago. He aired one of Yankovic's early efforts, recorded in a college restroom, simultaneously launching the would be architect's divergent career. Yankovic remembers eliciting laughs when he was very little. It never mattered whether his audiences were laughing with him or at him. He never stopped to worry about it. "I'm still not sure, actually," he said. He claims his weirdness is psychiatric. "I have a chemical imbalance in my brain," Yankovic said. "I can't help it. I've been warped since I was a small child." Yankovic, 35 and single, dubbed himself "Weird Al" while in college doing Saturday night radio shows at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. "I played lots of weird music, so it fit," he said. "I think they might have been calling me that in the dorm already though." In the years since, he has released a succession of albums and videos; one of his more recent recordings, "Smells like Nirvana," was among the top three video requests for six weeks on MTV, and earned him his seventh Grammy nomination. The musicians whose work he dissects rarely hesitate to give him their blessings. The few exceptions have been Prince, and Michael Jackson, when the proposed was a redo of "Black and White," because he felt its message was too important. "Usually they feel flattered when we call up to get permission," Yankovic said. "It's a sign that they've reached a certain level of populatiry." Yankovic writes all his own lyrics and has never lacked for inspiration. "Some of the most boring topics make the funnies songs," Yankovic said. "Who would have thought of doing a song about tacos, or Oreos?" His followubg comprises both a crop of diehards who have been fans since the early '80s as well as new devotees. "It turns over a little every couple years," Yankovic said. "I'll look out into the audience and see somebody wearing an '84 tour shirt and think 'Hey!'" Though Yankovic has performed in Anchorage, Juneau and Kenai in the past- and will do return engagements on this tour- Friday's show will be his first in Fairbanks. True to form, it will be a mix of comedy, music and costume changes- new materials and old- to a backdrop of video and film clips. "The live show is a full, high energy rock 'n' roll show," Yankovic said. He and his longtime Alapaloozer Band have been together for "many many" years. "They're really great musicians," Yankovic said. "If you don't think the songs are funny, you can at least dance to the music." Hansen, host of the widely acclaimed "Dr. Demento" weekend radio show, will precede Yankovic on stage. Since 1970, Hansen has made it his job to search out the most profoundly strange recordings, and spin them for his listeners. Spliced in between works by giants like Spike Lee [ed: assuming they meant Spike Jones], Cheech and Chong, Monty Python and Frank Zappa are "basement tapes" submitted by aspiring artists, one of whom was "Weird Al". "If it's musical and it's funny, I'll play it on my radio show," Hansen said. On stage, Hansen complements his musical forum with choice picks from his "personal library of short demented films." "It's a fast-moving show," Hansen said. In closing, he will reprise his trademark "Shaving Cream," tacking on a new verse written especially for Fairbanks. Next month, Hansen's lengthy resume of television appearances, albums and videos will take on a new dimension: "Dr. Demento Gooses Mother," featuring reconstructed nursery rhymes and zany dialogue, is due out next month. "It's something for young Demento fans," he said. A 25th anniversary double CD package is also in the works, to be released in late summer. Friday's show begins at 8 p.m. in Hering Auditorium. Tickets are $19, $24 and $27, plus outlet fee, and available at Carrs, Hoitt's Music or by calling (800) 478-7328.