LOS ANGELES (Weird Al Official Website) - "Weird Al" Yankovic, the undisputed champion of musical satire, loses himself in 12 new pop culture send-ups that are as hot as the artists he spoofs on his new CD, Poodle Hat (Way Moby / Volcano). The disc features parodies of Eminem, Avril Lavigne,
Nelly and others and arrives in stores May 20.
No where is Al's knack for finding absurdity in the mundane more evident than on the CD's lead track, "Couch Potato." Performed to the tune of Eminem's smash hit, "Lose Yourself," "Couch Potato" showcases Al's winning MC style as he delivers intense, rapid-fire rhymes in this sharp social commentary on America's obsession with television, the media and celebrity.
But for the first time in a career that has spanned more than 20 years, Weird Al will not be doing a music video for the lead track. Eminem gave his blessings for the parody of "Lose Yourself", but he felt uncomfortable with Al making a video for "Couch Potato". Eminem sees "Lose Yourself" as an important hip hop song with a strong legacy and is afraid that a Weird Al video might detract from that.
Al also parodies Backstreet Boys and Billy Joel on the CD and delivers one of his signature accordion-fueled medleys covering artists from The White Stripes to Rage Against The Machine on the angst-filled "Angry White Boy Polka." Poodle Hat contains several Weird Al original songs including "Hardware Store," "Party At The Leper Colony," "Wanna B Ur Lovr," "Why Does This Always Happen to Me" (featuring a guest performance by acclaimed alt-pop keyboardist Ben Folds), "Bob" (an homage to Dylan) and "Genius In France" (an epic 9-minute tribute to Frank Zappa featuring a guitar cameo by his son Dweezil).
Weird Al and his long-time band (Jim West on guitar, Steve Jay on bass and Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz on drums) will embark on a North American tour in support of the new CD beginning on June 19 in Del Mar, California (complete list of dates below). The Weird Al concert experience is a high-energy, multimedia extravaganza complete with hilarious video montages and elaborate costume changes. This summer's Poodle Hat Tour promises to be no exception.
The best-selling comedy artist of all time, "Weird Al" Yankovic remains the top dog in his field. The release of Poodle Hat further illuminates a recording career that began rather inauspiciously in the men's room across the hall from the college radio station where Al was a DJ in 1979. The restroom's acoustics proved perfect for his recording of "My Bologna," a delicious parody of The Knack's "My Sharona."
A few years later, Al landed his first recording contract and has since created an extraordinary legacy of music and videos, including parodies such as "Eat It," "Like A Surgeon," "Fat," "Smells Like Nirvana," "Bedrock Anthem," "Amish Paradise," "The Saga Begins" and many others. He is a two-time Grammy Award winner (and eight-time nominee) who has amassed 25 Gold or Platinum album certifications in the U.S., Canada and Australia.
His feature film "UHF" is a cult favorite and a Top 10 best-selling DVD. Al has starred in his own Saturday morning TV series as well as countless specials for VH1, MTV, CBS and the Disney Channel, among others.
"Weird Al" Yankovic has created one of the most unique and enduring careers in entertainment history and he continues to pursue new musical challenges as he lampoons popular culture with unmatched passion, wit and his own distinctive style.
The Poodle Hat Tour:
June 19 DEL MAR, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds
June 20 KELSEYVILLE, CA Konocti Field Amphitheatre
June 21 LAS VEGAS, NV Alladin Theater
June 22 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA Christopher Cohan Center
June 26 MILWAUKEE, WI Summerfest
June 27 KALAMAZOO, MI Kalmazoo State Theatre
June 28 TOLEDO, OH Zoo Amphitheatre
June 29 BUFFALO, NY Melody Fair Theatre
July 1 VERONA, NY Turning Stone Casino
July 11 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY Mid Hudson Civic Center
July 12 ALLENTOWN, PA The Great Allentown Fair
July 13 DOSWELL (RICHMOND), VA Paramount's Kings Dominion
July 18 HAMPTON BEACH, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
July 19 PHILADELPHIA, PA Mann Center for the Performing Arts
July 20 HOLMDEL, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 22 WESTBURY, NY Westbury Music Fair
July 23 WESTBURY, NY Westbury Music Fair
July 25 PITTSBURGH, PA Amphitheatre at Station Square
July 26 CHICAGO, IL Navy Pier
July 27 KINGS ISLAND (CINCINNATI), OH Paramount's King's Island
August 5 TULSA, OK Riverpark Amphitheatre
August 6 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Bricktown Events Center
August 8 GULFPORT, MS Grand Casino Gulfport
August 9 VALDOSTA, GA Wild Adventures Theme Park
August 10 CHARLOTTE, NC Paramount's Carowinds
August 12 HOUSTON, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
August 13 DALLAS, TX Bronco Bowl Theatre
August 15 ALBUQUERQUE NM Kiva Auditorium
August 16 PUEBLO, CO Colorado State Fair
August 17 DENVER, CO Universal Lending Pavillion
August 22 ROCHESTER HILLS, MI Meadowbrook Music Festival
August 23 ROCKFORD, IL Coronado Theatre
August 24 ST. PAUL, MN Minnesota State Fair
August 25 FT. WAYNE, IN Embassy Center
August 27 SAULT ST. MARIE, MI Kewadin Casino
August 29 S. WOODSTOCK (PUTNAM), CT Woodstock Fair
August 31 CLEVELAND, OH Tower City Amphitheatre
September 4 PHOENIX, AZ Dodge Theatre
September 5 LOS ANGELES, CA Greek Theatre
September 7 SANTA CLARA, CA Paramount's Great Adventure
