More than 40 years after he first appeared in the world of comedic music, “Weird Al” Yankovic has finally been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that comedy music veteran “Weird Al” Yankovic was set to receive a long-overdue star on the iconic hall of fame. Nominated and paid for by fans who began a yearly campaign approximately 15 years ago, this honour comes more than 40 years after the musician was first aired on The Dr. Demento Radio Show in the late ’70s.
“I’m completely overwhelmed by the love and support of the fans. It means so much to me,” Yankovic said at the ceremony earlier today. “Having my name in a star on a sidewalk – that’s cool, that’s really nice, who wouldn’t want that?”
“But just knowing that I have the love and support of the fans, people that would go through all this time and effort and money to do something completely crazy like this, that means everything in the world to me.”
“Weird Al” Yankovic was flanked by idol and early supporter Dr. Demento at the ceremony, alongside comedian Thomas Lennon, who both spoke in honour of the musician’s legacy.
“My name is gonna be walked on, spit on, and let’s face it… urinated on for generations to come,” Yankovic continued. “That’s a legacy, my friends.”
“I’m sorry I even have to say this, I don’t want to even have to ask this, but I…Please don’t pick-axe my star, okay guys?” he pleased with fans, referencing a recent incident with US President Donald Trump’s own star. “I know it’s all the rage these days, but that’s not cool, just please don’t do that.”
“Unless, at some point in the future, I do something unfathomably monstrous and evil, in which case, sure, fine, go ahead, makes sense,” he noted. “But anything short of that, please limit yourself to spitting and urinating.”
Yankovic first came to fame in the ’80s thanks to his song parodies and original songs, as well as appearing in a number of films, including UHF, which he also wrote. While his profile grew rapidly in the ’90s, he received widespread recognition throughout the ’00s, and charting at #1 for the first time with 2014’s Mandatory Fun album.