'Weird Al' Yankovic Unleashes New CD Poodle Hat

"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.

Nowhere 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.

           MUSIC WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PRESS AND MEDIA ON MAY 13
  Artwork is available for download at http://www.bakernorthrop.com/art

                           The Poodle Hat Tour:

   DATE          CITY                            VENUE
   June 19       DEL MAR, CA                     Del Mar Fairgrounds
   June 20       KELSEYVILLE, CA                 Konocti Field Amphitheatre
   June 21       LAS VEGAS, NV                   Aladdin 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 1      TULSA, OK                       River Park Amphitheatre
   August 3      WICHITA, KS                     The Cotillion
   August 5      KANSAS CITY, MO                 Starlight Theatre
   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 Center
   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     DETROIT, MI                     Meadowbrook Music Festival
   August 24     ST. PAUL, MN                    Minnesota State Fair
   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 Theater
   September 5   LOS ANGELES, CA                 Greek Theatre
   September 7   SANTA CLARA, CA                 Paramount's Great Adventure

   Updated May 5, 2003

   For more information on "Weird Al" Yankovic please contact:

   The Baker/Northrop Media Group
   Sheryl Northrop / 818-986-5200 ext. 221
   Monica D'Ascanio / 818-986-5200 ext. 223 (Tour press)
   Kate Schintzius / 818-986-5200 ext. 100 (Tour press)

   Jive Records
   Sonia Muckle / 212-824-1370

SOURCE: Jive Records

CONTACT: Sheryl Northrop, +1-818-986-5200 ext. 221, or Tour press -
Monica D'Ascanio, +1-818-986-5200 ext. 223, or Kate Schintzius,
+1-818-986-5200 ext. 100, all of The Baker-Northrop Media Group; or Sonia
Muckle of Jive Records, +1-212-824-1370

Web site: http://www.jiverecords.com/