“Weird Al” Yankovic: The Mandatory World Tour$37.50-$269. June 3, 8 p.m. The Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Pete. 727-893-7831. themahaffey.com.
One of my oldest and best friends, Luci, is an Al-aholic. She’ll tell anyone how she saw “Weird Al” Yankovic open for The Monkees at Ruth Eckerd Hall in the mid-’80s and fell into infatuation. Her enduring adoration for this unconventional man caught me by surprise, until Luci reminds me she grew up with an outlaw dad and a mom who died when Luci could barely drink legally.
“My childhood/adolescence, what with the whole ‘father in prison’ and ‘mother with cancer’ deal — insert violin music here — wasn’t exactly a laugh riot, so any humorous diversion was welcomed. He [Weird Al] is genuinely funny,” she says. “That’s really the basis for all the admiration. The guy has an amazing imagination. Plus, have you ever listened to his original songs? They are excellent.”
Weird Al, according to Luci, knows how to work a crowd.
“He sang ‘One More Minute’ — my favorite, especially the line about eviscerating oneself with a fork — and he came out into the audience during the performance. I’ve been a fan ever since. I’ve seen him in concert three or four times — my memory has not improved with age — and have never been disappointed.”
When I had the chance to interview Weird Al, I jumped. I figured if he gave such good concerts, he’d give even better phone.
He did not disappoint.
Do you have any stories about Tampa Bay?
I remember the last time I was in Tampa, I believe I was about three blocks from a Starbucks and I think backstage they had cheese on the deli tray, and I believe it was cut into orange triangles. I’m gonna guess cheddar.
Do you have an icebreaker party story?
I’m not very good at parties; I usually hang out in the corner. One of my last day jobs was accordion repo man. I worked for a music school that gave accordion lessons. I would teach kids, but if they didn’t return their accordions I would have to drive to their house and get it back.
What’s your worst habit?
I don’t have a day job, per se, so it’s not like I wake up, punch the clock. I hear that Randy Newman rents office space; I obviously don’t do that. I work whenever I get inspired. Obviously, if I’m on a deadline I work around the clock.
What’s the one song you wanted to make but didn’t?
There are a lot of songs I wish I could come up with a good parody for. Once in a while there are songs I make that can’t be released officially… one was “You’re Pitiful.” It made its way to the internet [but I never had] permission. (Click here for a link to the bootleg version of this song, which is not at all endorsed by Weird Al.)
If this election season were one of your songs, which one would it be?
I should say that I don’t do anything political for a number of reasons… but … everyone’s saying I shouldn’t have done “Gump” [a parody of the song “Lump” by Presidents of the United States of America], “you should have done ‘Trump.’”
Do you have any songs you hate that audiences expect you to play?
No. There are songs I’ve literally played onstage over 1,000 times, and I don’t get tired of playing them, because the fans still go nuts. If you get that type of gratification, they don’t get old. By and large, there’s certainly nothing [where] I say, “I can’t believe I’m playing that song again.” If I didn’t enjoy doing it on stage, I wouldn’t do it.
How has social media changed groupies for you? Ever been stalked?
It’s certainly made me a lot easier to stalk. Before the internet and social media, it was difficult for people to figure out my tour schedule. Now I find I have tour chasers, who follow me from city to city, like I’m the Grateful Dead or Phish.
So, they call Dead fans deadheads. What does that make your fans?
Yankheads? Alheads? Some people have said Al-aholics.
I have to ask this for one of my oldest friends, Luci, who is absolutely in love with you and has been for years: How’s the marriage?
[Laughs] I’m sorry to say this on her behalf, but my marriage is going great. Suzanne and I have been married 15 years now, and we have a 13-year-old-daughter.
What does she do?
She’s wrapping up 7th grade.
No, excuse me, I meant your wife.
She’s wrapping up 7th grade… we got married very young.
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2016.
