Photo by Kristine Slipson
Summer time is here, and if you’re like me, you can’t wait to hit all the county fairs and catch all the classic rock bands that refuse to die. And if you’re even more like me, you secretly wonder what it’d be like if each band’s lead singer was replaced by Weird Al Yankovic. Wouldn’t it be awesome if somehow Weird Al was contractually obligated to take over some of the greatest classic rock bands touring the world? That he was mandated by international law to Weird Al-ify the band name and then adapt all of their songs to fit the theme that new name reflects?
Of course it’d be awesome, and so here are some examples of classic rock bands with Weird Al Yankovic at the helm, as well as a respective song from each, all of which now feature extended accordion solos.
- REO Speedwagon + Weird Al = OREO Speedwagon + “Can’t Fight This Feeling” = “Can’t Fight This Filling”
- Rush + Weird Al = Flush + “Closer to the Heart” = “Closer to a Fart”
- Styx + Weird Al = Shtickx + “Rockin’ the Paradise” = “Rock Opera’s My One True Vice”
- Judas Priest + Weird Al = Food As Beast + “Living After Midnight” = “Liver After Midnight”
- Journey + Weird Al = Gurney + “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’’” = “Strugglin’, Crutchin’, Wheezin’”
I know that you know there are more groups out there who’d love to enlist Mr. Yankovic for their tour this summer. Send me your own Weird Al/rock band equations, and then have a fantastic Fourth of July weekend.