Puff Daddy, the Offspring, Barenaked Ladies, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, and "The Phantom Menace" are among the pop culture ships that Weird Al Yankovic is trying to torpedo with his upcoming album, "Running With Scissors."
The spoof-master will deliver his first album in three years next week, and with it he will bring his unique take on recent hits from the aforementioned acts. However, for fear of giving away his punchlines, Weird Al isn't releasing any information about the album's track listing before its release date next Tuesday.
What is known is that the album's first single sees Yankovic set his sights on "The Phantom Menace" with his "The Saga Begins," a track that puts Al's unique spin on the "Star Wars" storyline to the tune of "American Pie." Of course Yankovic (who has directed videos for artists like the Black Crowes and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) has put together a clip for the single. His "The Saga Begins" video will debut this Friday online at a site set up specifically for the clip (at www.sagabegins.com), and also at Weird Al's official site (at www.weirdal.com).
Next month, Al will take his shtick on the road in support of "Running With Scissors," and here's where you can find him:
- 7/19 - Green Bay, WI @ Oneida Casino
- 7/21 - Costa Mesa, CA @ Orange County Fair
- 7/22 - Redding, CA @ Redding Convention Center
- 7/23 - Central Point, OR @ Jackson County Fair/Expo
- 7/25 - Beverly, MA @ North Shore Music Theatre
- 7/28 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ Palace Theatre
- 7/30 - Pittsburgh, PA @ IC Light Amph./Pepsi Plaza
- 7/31 - Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
- 8/1 - Stanhope, NJ @ Waterloo Village/Concert Tent
- 8/3 - Westbury, NY @ Westbury Music Fair
- 8/5 - West Warwick, RI @ Warwick Musical Theatre
- 8/6 - Cohasset, MA @ South Shore Music Circus
- 8/7 - Hyannis, MA @ Cape Cod Melody Tent
- 8/8 - Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Amphitheatre
- 8/12 - North Tonawanda, NY @ Majestic Theatre
- 8/13 - Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadowbrook Music Festival
- 8/14 - Eureka, MO @ Six Flags, St. Louis
- 8/15 - Cleveland, OH @ Nautica Stage
- 8/18 - Cincinnati, OH @ Music Hall
- 8/19 - Chicago, IL @ Navy Pier
- 8/20 - Columbus, OH @ Metrostage
- 8/21 - Merrillville, IN @ Star Plaza Theatre
- 8/24 - Sacramento, CA @ California State Fair
- 8/26 - Boise, ID @ Western Idaho Fair
- 8/27 - Lancaster, CA @ Antelope Valley Fair
- 8/28 - Kellogg, ID @ Silver Mountain Amphitheatre
- 8/29 - Salem, OR @ Oregon State Fair/Expo Center
- 8/30 - Monroe, WA @ Evergreen State Fair
- 8/31 - Kelseyville, CA @ Konocti Field Amphitheatre
- 9/22 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ Performing Arts Centre
- 9/24 - Bakersfield, CA @ Kern County Fair
- 9/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
- 10/7 - Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona State Fair
