Transcribed by "Jerad Hoff"

From 7/8/99 7:00-7:30PM Central Time
Posted: 7:40PM

You have just entered room ĘThe BowlĘ

AOLiveMC1:  Hello and welcome, "Weird Al" Yankovic.  Thanks so much for
joining us!

WeirdAlYnk: Thank you, AOL'ers!

AOLiveMC1:  Let's go right to your fans' questions.  Here is the first one....

Question:   hi AL where did you get started with parody songs?

WeirdAlYnk: I started writing parodies in my early teens.
WeirdAlYnk: In that way, I don't suppose I was too different
WeirdAlYnk: from any other adolescent in making up
WeirdAlYnk: stupid words to the songs.
WeirdAlYnk: I guess I never grew out of it!

AOLiveMC1:  :>
AOLiveMC1:  And are we glad you didn't!

Question:   Hi Al, Adam here... if you hadn't gone into music, what do you see
Question:   yourself having done with your life?

WeirdAlYnk: That's a very scary question!
WeirdAlYnk: I really have no idea!

AOLiveMC1:  lol

WeirdAlYnk: I have a degree in architecture, but
WeirdAlYnk: I've never used it
WeirdAlYnk: except as a bookmark or a drink coaster.

AOLiveMC1:  Wow!

WeirdAlYnk: Being in show business always seemed

AOLiveMC1:  Very impressive!

WeirdAlYnk: like a pipe dream to me.
WeirdAlYnk: I feel very fortunate that I've been
WeirdAlYnk: able to hang around as long as I have.

AOLiveMC1:  We do  to, don't we fans?!

Question:   I saw you on VH-1 the other night.  Good show!  Are you
planning to ever
Question:   give movie making a try again?

WeirdAlYnk: I sure would like to.  The movie studios
WeirdAlYnk: haven't been pounding down my door
WeirdAlYnk: trying to get me to do another,

AOLiveMC1:  :<

WeirdAlYnk: but if the right one came along
WeirdAlYnk: I would.

AOLiveMC1:  Yeah!

WeirdAlYnk: Right now I'm just concentrating
WeirdAlYnk: on the music.

AOLiveMC1:  Let's all write in!

Question:   weird al- i was wondering, since you made parodys of MJ songs,
are you
Question:   going to do anymore parodies of his songs

WeirdAlYnk: I never like to say never, but being as
WeirdAlYnk: how I've done his songs twice
WeirdAlYnk: already, it might be best
WeirdAlYnk: to switch to some other
WeirdAlYnk: subject matter.

Question:   Weird Al...I am a great fan of your work!  But I was wondering what
Question:   artists have been affended by your parodies??  Thanks so
much...anglgrl.

WeirdAlYnk: To date, the only artist who has
WeirdAlYnk: been offended has been Coolio,
WeirdAlYnk: and that was the result
WeirdAlYnk: of a misunderstanding.
WeirdAlYnk: I always try to get the artists
WeirdAlYnk: permission, and I was under the
WeirdAlYnk: understanding that he had given
WeirdAlYnk: it for that particular song.
WeirdAlYnk: I'm still not sure what happened.

Question:   Hi Al, Adam here... I love your videos, do you come up with
the concept
Question:   and jokes for them too?

WeirdAlYnk: About Coolio real quickly, I just hope
WeirdAlYnk: he's still not upset.\
WeirdAlYnk: For Adam, yes....
AOLiveMC1:  :>

WeirdAlYnk: I've always had a lot of creative
WeirdAlYnk: input.  I've been directing the videos as well.
WeirdAlYnk: As I've gotten older, I've become a control freak.
WeirdAlYnk: It's important to me that my creative vision
WeirdAlYnk: is executed properly.

AOLiveMC1:  That is understandable.

Question:   who did u come up with the title "running with scissors" for
your new
Question:   album

WeirdAlYnk: There's nothing I like better
WeirdAlYnk: than a stupid sight back
WeirdAlYnk: and I had that concept for an album a few years back
WeirdAlYnk: and was just waiting for the opportunity to use it.
WeirdAlYnk: Also, it's a bit how I'm living my life now.....
WeirdAlYnk: taking chances.
WeirdAlYnk: It's a bit edgier than usual.

OnlineHost: In case you've just joined us, we are chatting with "Weird Al"
Yankovic
OnlineHost: about his new album, "Running With Scissors."

Question:   weird al, who is your idol?

AOLiveMC1:  lol

WeirdAlYnk: Ra, the Sun God
WeirdAlYnk: no, just kidding!
WeirdAlYnk: People like Stan Freberg,
WeirdAlYnk: Alan Sherman,
WeirdAlYnk: and of course,
WeirdAlYnk: Dr. Demento,

AOLiveMC1:  lol

WeirdAlYnk: who introduced me to them all!
AOLiveMC1:  :>

Question:   Hi Weird Al,
 My son is very funny! How do I get him started in the
Question:   comedy business? Wilard

WeirdAlYnk: Probably the crummier his childhood is,
WeirdAlYnk: the more likely he will be to take refuge
WeirdAlYnk: in the world of comedy!
WeirdAlYnk: Try to curb your impulses
WeirdAlYnk: to be a good parent! ; )

AOLiveMC1:  lol
AOLiveMC1:  Asking the impossible, I think.

Question:   What made you change your look?

WeirdAlYnk: I decided in January of last year
WeirdAlYnk: to have laser eye surgery because
WeirdAlYnk: I didn't want to depend on wearing
WeirdAlYnk: glasses all the time.
WeirdAlYnk: I've been almost legally blind since 4th grade
WeirdAlYnk: and now I see practically 20/20.
WeirdAlYnk: I decided to drop the glasses altogether,
WeirdAlYnk: and decided since I was changing that
WeirdAlYnk: that I'd change my hair as well.

AOLiveMC1:  Oh, how wonderful for you!
AOLiveMC1:  Well, there's a vote of confidence for eye lazer surgery!

Question:   hey,who inspired u when u were young?

WeirdAlYnk: Pretty much the same people that
WeirdAlYnk: were my idols.
WeirdAlYnk: The same people who roughly
WeirdAlYnk: did what I do today,
WeirdAlYnk: but in their own generations.

Question:   Al...I AM YOUR NUBER ONE FAN!!!!!!!WHAT WAS THE TOTAL COST OF
MAKING THE
Question:   VIDEO FOR THE SAGA BEGINS???

WeirdAlYnk: About twice as much as
WeirdAlYnk: it cost to record the entire album.

AOLiveMC1:  And in the same vein....

Question:   Regarding "The Saga Begins", which came first, the idea to
parody "The
Question:   Phantom Menace", or to use "American Pie"?

WeirdAlYnk: I'd have to say the Star Wars idea
WeirdAlYnk: came first.
WeirdAlYnk: About 1 1/2 years ago, I realized a
WeirdAlYnk: new Star Wars movie was going
WeirdAlYnk: to be coming out, so it might be popular.
WeirdAlYnk: Since my career hinges on what's
WeirdAlYnk: popular, I figured it would be
WeirdAlYnk: a great subject.

OnlineHost: In case you've just joined us, we are chatting with "Weird Al"
Yankovic
OnlineHost: about his new album, "Running With Scissors."

Question:   What kind of feedback have you received about your "new look"?

WeirdAlYnk: It's been very odd.  I don't get
WeirdAlYnk: recognized nearly as much as
WeirdAlYnk: I used to, of course.
WeirdAlYnk: For the first time in my life,
WeirdAlYnk: I'm getting letters from
WeirdAlYnk: girls thinking I look cute!

AOLiveMC1:  lol
AOLiveMC1:  I thought you were cute before!

WeirdAlYnk: Awww!

AOLiveMC1:  :>

Question:   Will you be touring this summer?

WeirdAlYnk: Yes, in fact, I'm at this very moment
WeirdAlYnk: in the rehearsal studio with my band.
WeirdAlYnk: We leave on July 18th and will
WeirdAlYnk: be touring off and on for
WeirdAlYnk: the rest of the year.
WeirdAlYnk: You can find the tour dates
WeirdAlYnk: at www.weirdal.com.

AOLiveMC1:  Check it out!

Question:   Hi Al!  What ever became of your buddy, Dr. Demento?

WeirdAlYnk: He's still doing quite well.
WeirdAlYnk: He's still on the air syndicated
WeirdAlYnk: and just celebrated his
WeirdAlYnk: 30th anniversary on the air!

Question:   Out of all of the songs that you did, which one is your favorite?

WeirdAlYnk: It's gotta be The Saga Begins!

Question:   I'm curious to know if there has been an artist or song 
you've wanted
Question:   to parody, but you haven't because you weren't given
permission (and I don't
Question:   mean the mix-up with Coolio)? If yes, can you share which
artist or song?

WeirdAlYnk: That does happen, but
WeirdAlYnk: very rarely.
WeirdAlYnk: Most artists realize that a parody
WeirdAlYnk: is meant to be a tribute.
WeirdAlYnk: The only person who has turned me
WeirdAlYnk: down has been.............
WeirdAlYnk: well, I can't really mention his name,
WeirdAlYnk: because he's a symbol now.

Question:   What's the story behind Harvey the Wonder Hamster?

WeirdAlYnk: Harvey is my best friend in the whole world.
WeirdAlYnk: He's desparately trying to get

AOLiveMC1:  Aw...

WeirdAlYnk: his own spin-off series,
WeirdAlYnk: but it hasnt' happened yet.

AOLiveMC1:  Darn it!
AOLiveMC1:  Only enough time for 1 more question...

Question:   AL R U GOING TO MAKE A VIDEO MAKING FUN OF MARLIN MANSON?

WeirdAlYnk: Not in the near future.
WeirdAlYnk: There aren't parodies of any Manson songs
WeirdAlYnk: on the new album.
WeirdAlYnk: He was right next door in the studio
WeirdAlYnk: when I was mixing the album.

AOLiveMC1:  Thank you, Al, for joining us this evening.  We had a great time!

WeirdAlYnk: Thank you!
WeirdAlYnk: It was the greatest half hour of my entire life!

AOLiveMC1:  Aw.....
AOLiveMC1:  I am touched!

WeirdAlYnk: You can pick up Running With Scissors
WeirdAlYnk: in record stores or order on my web site!

AOLiveMC1:  And thanks to our audience members for joining us.  Good night!  :D

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      fubar@yuck.net         Macintosh Advocate, "Clapton Is God"
   http://www.hoff.org/        Have you hugged your nerd today?