Wierd Al Yankovic

Some of you probably have no idea who Wierd Al Yankovic is, he was a
brief American Pop star in the 80s who parodied hit songs. His most
famous being Eat it after Michael Jackson's hit of nearly the same
name. I don't actually remember if he had any other hits.

In 1986 I went to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans with a bunch of
friends. It was 3 days of drunken mayhem. At one point I was with my
mate Rona when we saw Wierd Al turn up in a convertible, he was sitting
in the back seat surrounded by women, desperately trying to look like a
pop star, I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a parody as there was
no one else around, and I was drunk.

I whispered to Rona and pointed him out, she didn't have a clue who he
was. I said I was going to get his autograph, she said I was stupid. I
was.

I shouted over to him, "Wierd Al, Wierd Al" as I didn't want to be
rude, and it was his name. He clocked me and looked a little shocked,
as a drunken English student came staggering towards him, I had a
napkin which I offered to him and slurred my autograph request.

At first he refused, but one of his entourage persuaded him. I think
they thought there was a hidden camera around because his face went
from a scowl to a cheesy grin in seconds.

He signed the napkin, Wierd Al Yankovic, just in case I knew other
Wierd Als, I suppose and might have got confused later. Then his
entourage all smiled all- American smiles and screeched off into the
night. It was my one and only autograph and I kept it for what seemed
like weeks. I think I had a meal when we got back and it
disappeared.

I didn't really enjoy meeting him, I don't know why I asked for his
autograph. It was quite surreal in a way, me and Rona seemed to be the
only ones in this small square, they might have been lost as they drove
up and stopped. I'll never know. I guess I wanted some evidence of this
event, but aftewards.....I didn't give a toss.