Original Publication: The Windsor Star Vol 1. No 29. Express section Original Publication Date: March 23, 1995 Original columinist: Gail Robertson Text file conversion by: Marty Lick martyl@emsphone.com Cover title (along with picture): Weird Al Yankovic Prince of parody No pop star is safe from the antics of His Weirdness Article: Musical mimicry...and then some Weird Al Yankovic's video antics come to life on stage The accordion-wielding nerd stresses he's not an impersonator, even as he's caught in the act of poking fun at pop music icons. "I try to emulate them as much as I can," says "Weird Al" Yankovic, admitting: "I'm a pretty sick puppy sometimes." When Weird Al writhes around on stage, wearing hospital greens as his band members don pointed breasts and skimpy bottoms, to sing Like a Surgeon, you're likely to agree as you chuckle. But this is not video. It's Weird Al, live in concert, for his first-ever Canadian tour. When he parodies Madonna's Like a Virgin, grabbing a chainsaw slapstick-style to cut for the very first time, he confirms the popularity of the genre. At a recent sold-out London, Ont, show the audience of 1,600 - in the nine to 17 age range, with parents tagging along - cheers loudly for his somewhat offbeat concert fare. Weird Al goes through more costume changes than most female impersonators, offering numerous videos to compensate for his constant absences as he nips backstage. For fans who know Weird Al mainly from the small screen, his concert offers the best of both worlds. The juvenile yet witty humor most often pokes fun at big musical names, ranging from Michael Jackson and Sting to Madonna and the Crash Test Dummies. "It has to be popular and something getting a lot of play on radio or on MuchMusic," Weird Al says. Yet it's often more than just a mock-up of the artists. "I'm not an impersonator," he stresses in a phone interview prior to heading out on his Alapalooza tour, with a Windsor stop next week at the Cleary Internation Centre's Chrysler Theatre. "I try to emulate them as much as I can... I'm a pretty sick puppy sometimes." That's what seems to be the key to his success as a parodist and reigning king of the tongue-in-cheek accordion, with multiple gold albums, two Grammys, his own feature film, a best-selling home video and many television specials, most notable on MTV and MuchMusic. His Alapalooza album, his seventh release, targets Jurassic Park, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith, Queen and Billy Ray Cyrus. No one is safe from the musical barbs of the strange yet likeable Weird Al, if they give him approval to parody them. In person, Weird Al appears shy, even timid, until he turns into the geeky singer on stage to parody hit songs such as Beat It, Like a Virgin, Achy Breaky and Money for Nothing. He's not your typical American pop star, but that's the point, and also the reason he draws such a following among young males. At a recent two-hour autograph signing session in London, the long lineup was evidence of the cult following Weird Al has built since bursting on tto the scene 11 years ago with Eat It, a take on Michael Jackson's Beat It. Prior to that big-time conncection, Weird Al was a protege of Doctor Demento, the syndicated U.S. radio show. After college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California, the architecture student recorded a version of The Knack's My Sharona which he retitled My Bologna, and soon he was on his way to a record deal. He released his self-titled debut album in 1983, followed in 1984 with Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D, which achieved gold status in the U.S. and Canada and sold more than one million copies worldwide. Since that time, Weird Al has changed little. He still keeps the '70s permed hair, the metal-rimmed glasse and wild and colorful shirts. He's the geek getting revenge on all the cool people. "It's hard to hide. I'm like a walking cartoon," he says. Yet his persona has made a mark in the music industry. Musicians now feel honored to have Weird Al parody their songs. Take Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies, who all but gushed in a recent interview of his Mmm, Mmm, Mmm song becoming Weird Al's Headline News, a commentary on canings, Tonya Harding, etc. And despite the suicide last year of Kurt Cobain, even Weird Al's Nirvana parody remains a key part of the show, but now preceeded by a dedication to the late singer. Weird Al says he thinks his parody stands on its own." "(Kurt) enjoyed it... It's more a celebration of his music." But it was really Michael Jackson who helped Weird Al attain notoriety more than a decade ago when he gave the nod for the Weird One to parody his hit song, Beat It. But alas, the erotic rocker Prince will not give the OK for a parody so the otherwise congenial entertainer now makes it part of his schtick. "I guess he's just a humorless little weasel," says a straight-faced Weird Al. "I've kind of written him off at this point. We've got a bit of a rivalry going." A few years ago, in a video Prince relased to accompany the Batman movie, a cigar blows up in the face of a Weird Al lookalike, which the parodist finds deliciously ironic. Not to be outdone, Weird Al includes a fake interview with Prince in his live show via the video screen. Same goes for Sting and Bruce Springsteen. In his music, Weird Al tackles all kinds from rock to grunge to blues with both parodies and original work. His most pointed work to date is Billy Ray Cyrus's Achy Breaky Heart. Here Weird Al sings about being tortured by Donny and Marie or listening to Barry Manilow, Village People, even Yoko Ono, rather than any more of Billy Ray. "I did an out and out attack," admits Weird Al, with a somewhat wicked laugh. "It's a joke!" Yet, he says, Cyrus took it all in stride despite the song being one of the meaner ones aimed at the song and artist. Weird Al is modestabout his role in the success of Michael Richards aka Kramer, of TV's Seinfeld. Trivia buffs may already know that Weird Al cast Richards as the janitorial lead in his cable-TV film spoof, UHF. In Richards, Weird Al could see something different, something strange which may relate to how his own mind works. "I've been warped since an early age," admits Weird Al. "Most kids in their early teens listen to the radio and change the words. It's a phase I never grew out of. "I was always a little weird. I was more of a geek... and not real popular." Well, at east he's changed one thing. Weird Al Yankovic appears at the Cleary International Centre's Chrysler Theatre on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 (including GST), available by calling the box office at 252-6579 or 1-800-387- 9181. Pictures and their captions: Picutre on page 6: Al with an accordion and a rubber chicken He is singing "Chicken Pot Pie" no caption Top picutre page 7: Al and a fan at signing session. caption: Weird Al Yankovic get a kiss at right, from an autograph seeking admirer prior to the recent London show. Bottom picture page 7: the "in motion" picture from Off the Deep End. caption: Weird Al and member of his band are caught in motion in publicity photo at right. Picutre on page 8: Al in tie dye shirt, green jacket and holding a synthesizer. He is singing "Money for Nothin/Beverly Hillbillies. caption: Weird Al Yankovic performs at London show, proving with the use of a modern portable systhesizer that he isn't a slave to his beloved accordion.