Produced by longtime Misfits and Ramones collaborator John Cafiero (Osaka Popstar), and originally appearing on the #1 billboard charting album “Dr. Demento Covered In Punk,” Weird Al Yankovic’s “Beat On The Brat” was hailed by Rolling Stone as “a blistering, accordion-tinged cover.”

“Weird Al”, a pop culture icon, who also happens to be the most requested artist in the history of the Dr. Demento Show, stated of the recording, “How could I not contribute to this project. I love punk music, and Dr. Demento changed my entire life in an extraordinary way. I selected “Beat on the Brat” by the Ramones, because I truly believe it’s the most upbeat, danceable song about child abuse ever written.”

Performed by: “Weird Al” Yankovic on vocals and accordion, with Osaka Popstar (John Cafiero on backing vocals, Dean Rispler on guitar, Sal Maida on bass, and Dennis Diken on drums), this 3” black vinyl record, pressed in an edition limited to 1,500 units worldwide, is made to play on the RSD3 mini-turntable (as well as the RSD 2020 clear variant). Comes with a collector’s poster and sleeve featuring Weird Al ‘Brat Beater’ artwork by Garbage Pail Kids artist Neil Camera.

Available at participating indie stores on Sat July 17, exclusively from Demented Punk Records for RSD 2021! Contact your local record store to let them know it’s on your wish list and ask them to order! For a list of participating stores near you, visit RecordStoreDay.com

Also look for “Weird Al” T-Shirts and pins featuring the GPK-inspired ‘Brat Beater’ artwork at the Demented Punk Online Store.

I am truly and deeply saddened by Daniel Johnston’s passing. It’s affected me in equal measure to the passing of the founding Ramones; who were nothing short of my childhood heroes. They meant the world to me—and still do. I feel now like I did then; maybe a bit older and wiser, but no less devastated. There’s one less star in the night sky and it burns less brilliantly for it. Daniel and his work were sincerity personified, human emotion in the purest sense of the word. I experienced his music for the first time listening to WFMU in the very late hours one night in the late 1980s… a block of several songs from his lo-fi masterpiece “Songs of Pain” was played from a homemade cassette album that included a cut called “Wicked World”. It simply blew me away and hit hard. One after another the songs by this unidentified artist rolled on to tell the story of a tortured soul, unafraid to lay it all on the line with a unique sense of isolation and intimacy. It was as if you were right there with him in the room, strapped in for an emotional rollercoaster ride. I’d never heard anything like it. So incredibly heartfelt and well crafted, yet beautifully imperfect and devoid of any pretense whatsoever. I quickly sought out his entire catalog in a non-internet age, hitting the jackpot with a treasure trove of cassette albums by this relatively unknown artist available for sale just a few towns over in Hoboken NJ at a store called Pier Platters. I’d go back every week or so to pick up another, and another… And I’d make anyone that would listen, listen.

That first impression made such a lasting impact that years later I would record a punk version of “Wicked World” with Osaka Popstar, giving it a treatment I could always hear playing out in my head when listening to the original. I channeled all of the power Daniel brought with his sincerity, purity and raw emotion into the power and purity I’d been taught by the Ramones. Daniel dug it (which meant a lot to me) and that led to our collaborating on a punk-pop cover of the bluegrass classic “Man of Constant Sorrow”. I envisioned Daniel as the voice of hope to the “man of sorrow” and so—he was. We scheduled the session in NYC around a gig he’d do at the Knitting Factory. Our mutual friend, artist Ron English, came to the session and snapped the photo of us (shown above) immediately after the recording wrapped. It was raining when we left the studio and headed out on our way for a shopping spree at comic book shops and toy stores along St Marks place. Daniel drew his iconic illustrations in the fog on the car windows as I played him A Camp (Nina Persson’s band)’s cover of his song “Walking the Cow”. It was unreleased in America at the time and I felt it was an amazing rendering that warranted his attention. That day was a surreal and amazing experience. It’s a treasured memory and I’m so thankful for it, along with the incredible body of work Daniel left behind. The world seemed a little less wicked with Daniel in it… He will be missed but never forgotten.

— John Cafiero, Sept. 12, 2019

In loving memory of ‘the voice of hope’ the late great Daniel Johnston.

New “What’s In My Bag?” episode with legendary radio personality Dr. Demento and producer, director & Osaka Popstar vocalist John Cafiero! See what the “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk” collaborators found shopping at Amoeba Hollywood… punk classics, film soundtracks, and comedy albums on just about every format from CD to 78 record! What do they pick? What stories do they tell? How do Don Rickles & Tommy Ramone fit in to this?

Click the Amoeba logo, CLICK HERE or click the image above to watch the episode online now.

LTD ED NEON PINK 12-INCH SPLIT SINGLE—IN STORES SAT. APRIL 13

This special split maxi-single celebrates the 40th anniversary of the #1 most requested song of all-time on the infamous Dr. Demento Show… the hit novelty classic “Fish Heads”! Features the all-new punk-pop cover version by NYC’s Osaka Popstar (the first single from the #1 Billboard charting album “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk”—out now) teamed with the original 1978 version that inspired it, as performed by comedy-music cult icons Barnes & Barnes—back on vinyl for the first time since the 1980s! Plus two exclusive bonus tracks!

Featuring front cover art by Stephen Blickenstaff and back cover illustrations by Sam Fout, the 10-inch novelty cut of this special 12-inch vinyl creates a 2-inch “fish” lip at the start of the disc. Pressed on neon pink vinyl in an edition limited to 1,500 pcs WORLDWIDE.

For a list of participating stores near you, visit RecordStoreDay.com.

Side 1: Osaka Popstar

1.) “Fish Heads” (from the album “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk”)
2.) “Fish Heads” (Instrumental) Previously unreleased “Bubble Mix”

Side 2: Barnes & Barnes

1.) “Fish Heads” (From the 1980 LP “Voobaha”)
2.) “High School Gym” by Barnes & Barnes w/ Sulu (Non-Album Bonus Track).
The B-Side from the 1978 “Fish Heads” 45 rpm single!

Click the logos below for recent interviews with Osaka Popstar’s John Cafiero for insight on the animated “Fish Heads” music video, “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk”, future projects, upcoming releases from Osaka Popstar and more.

Demented Punk serves up a heaping platter of FISH HEADS in the all-new, fully animated music video from the #1 Billboard charting, punk-rock comedy hybrid, DR. DEMENTO COVERED IN PUNK.

The all-new animated music video from the album brings to life OSAKA POPSTAR’s punk-pop cover version of the #1 most requested song of all-time on the Dr. Demento Show, Barnes and Barnes’ surreal novelty hit FISH HEADS. While the original song celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, it’s now reimagined for the 21st century in a propulsive, celebratory, and near-anthemic version. The new animated video is ripe with pop culture references and influences ranging from sugar-coated breakfast cereals, the Twilight Zone, Queen, and Captain Beefheart’s “Trout Mask Replica” to name a few. The video also includes appearances from Dr. Demento, Barnes and Barnes, and an homage to actor Bill Paxton (“Aliens”, “Weird Science”) who starred in, and directed, the original FISH HEADS live-action music video which debuted in 1980.

Art Barnes (aka Bill Mumy of the TV sci-fi classic “Lost in Space”) had this to say of the demented-punk rendition: “Osaka Popstar’s new animated video and rockin’ version of ‘Fish Heads’ is Bitchin’, Boss, Bodacious and Bold! I dig it Bigly. I can’t think of anyone who could’ve done as great a job! Uhh… well… maybe one band! Heh… YEAH!!”

Like Paxton before him, DR. DEMENTO COVERED IN PUNK producer, and OSAKA POPSTAR vocalist, John Cafiero directed the new music video and stars—albeit the latter in cartoon form. A former animator himself, Cafiero’s team of collaborators on the short consisted of illustrator/animator Sam Fout (who’s resume includes LucasFilm, Warner Bros, Hanna-Barbera) and Todd Cronin (of the appropriately named Fishtoonz Animation). The music video even opens like a mini TV show, set to the DR. DEMENTO COVERED IN PUNK theme song heard on the album (also performed by OSAKA POPSTAR), and manages to bring to life a variety of incredible artwork from the impressive album packaging. Look for a cameo by the album cover painting by iconic illustrator Drew Friedman (Entertainment Weekly, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone), as well as contributions by Topps trading card artist Neil Camera, and illustrator Stephen Blickenstaff (The Cramps) who’s giant fish head from the back cover of the album makes a key cameo appearance.

The new FISH HEADS animated music video can be seen in its entirety now at the Demented Punk YouTube channel.

FISH HEADS T-Shirts, enamel pins, totes, and lots more, including an exclusive limited edition variant vinyl pressing of the album are available now at the Demented Punk online store.

On Aug. 27, 2018 “Weird Al” Yankovic received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Dr. Demento spoke at the ceremony and the city of Los Angeles proclaimed it “Weird Al Day”!

Pictured from L-R: Comedian Emo Philips, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Dr. Demento & John Cafiero (Osaka Popstar) celebrate “Weird Al Day” in LA.

The new “Weird Al” x “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk” ‘Brat Beater’ Tee (featuring artwork by Garbage Pail Kids artist Neil Camera) is available now from Demented Punk.

Click to read about the new music video from Dr. Demento Covered in Punk, the “Shatner-Cramps” Ltd Ed. signed screen-print, and first word of the next ‘Demented’ music video to come for Osaka Popstar’s punk-rock cover of “Fish Heads” as reported by Rolling Stone, and visit CoveredinPunk.com for more.

Click the screencap above to watch the CNN news segment on the new album “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk”, now airing worldwide!

Dr. Demento and “Covered in Punk” Producer/creator John Cafiero (of Osaka Popstar) recently appeared on NPR’s nationally syndicated World Café for an in-depth interview segment that aired on over 200 different stations nationwide. If you missed it, click to listen to the complete interview online now via NPR.