# Comedy rock
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{{Short description|Rock music that is comedic}}
{{use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox music genre
| name = Comedy rock
| other_names = Humorcore
| stylistic_origins = {{flatlist|
* [Rock](/source/Rock_music)
* [comedy](/source/comedy_music) and/or [satire](/source/satirical_music) music
}}
| cultural_origins = Early 1950s, US
Mid-1950s – early 1960s, UK
| subgenres =
| local_scenes = [Sunset Strip](/source/Sunset_Strip) in [West Hollywood, California, United States](/source/West_Hollywood%2C_California)
}}
'''Comedy rock''' is a genre of rock music that is [comedic](/source/Comedy_music) in nature. It is often mixed with [satire](/source/satirical_music) or [irony](/source/irony).[V. Bogdanov, C. Woodstra and S. T. Erlewine, ''All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul'' (Backbeat Books, 3rd Edition., 2002), pp. 126.]
==Bands and songs==
===Early===
Early American examples include [Stan Freberg](/source/Stan_Freberg), who lampooned artists such as [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley), [Harry Belafonte](/source/Harry_Belafonte) and [the Platters](/source/the_Platters), and [Sheb Wooley](/source/Sheb_Wooley).[[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-10-best-novelty-songs-of-the-50s-2521844 The 10 Best Novelty Songs of the '50s-ThoughtCo.]] The latter's "[Purple People Eater](/source/Purple_People_Eater)" reached No. 1 on the ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' pop chart in 1958 and stayed there for six weeks.[{{cite book | last = Bronson | first = Fred | title = The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits: The Inside Story Behind Every Number | publisher = [Billboard Books](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) | year = 2003 | isbn = 0-8230-7677-6 | page = 38 }}]
In Britain during the 1950s and early 1960s, comedians such as [Charlie Drake](/source/Charlie_Drake) and [the Goons](/source/The_Goons_(The_Goon_Show)) frequently appeared in the top ten with humorous rock 'n' roll records—the latter, along with [Lewis Carroll](/source/Lewis_Carroll) and [Edward Lear](/source/Edward_Lear), were to influence the word-play of [John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon)'s lyrics. Later British groups specialised in comedy: these included [the Scaffold](/source/the_Scaffold), [the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band](/source/the_Bonzo_Dog_Doo-Dah_Band) and [Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias](/source/Alberto_y_Lost_Trios_Paranoias). Later in Britain, in the 2000s, [Mitch Benn](/source/Mitch_Benn) released several studio albums that satirised current affairs using various musical genres, but mainly rock. His 2012 ''Breaking Strings'' album was critically acclaimed for its rock sensibility.[{{cite web |first=John-Paul |last=Stephenson |title=CD Review: Mitch Benn & The Distractions – Breaking Strings. |url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2012/02/cd-review-mitch-benn-the-distractions-breaking-strings/ |work=Giggle Beats |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-date=31 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531113303/http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2012/02/cd-review-mitch-benn-the-distractions-breaking-strings/ |url-status=dead }}]
[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) described [Frank Zappa](/source/Frank_Zappa) as the "godfather" of comedy rock.[{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/subgenre/comedy-rock-ma0000012139/artists |title=Comedy rock |publisher=[Allmusic](/source/Allmusic)}}] The [pop rock](/source/pop_rock) and [folk rock](/source/folk_rock) band [the Turtles](/source/the_Turtles) released a comedy rock album, ''[The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands](/source/The_Turtles_Present_the_Battle_of_the_Bands)'', in 1968, though the band had previously incorporated humor into their songs.[{{AllMusic |class=album |id=r20668 |tab=review |label="''The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands'' > Review" |Michael |last=Ofjord |access-date=22 September 2011}}] Two of its members, [Howard Kaylan](/source/Howard_Kaylan) and [Mark Volman](/source/Mark_Volman), later performed more explicitly comedic songs as [Flo & Eddie](/source/Flo_%26_Eddie) with their own band and with Frank Zappa.
===Later===
Several modern comedy rock bands have experienced mainstream commercial success. Duos [Tenacious D](/source/Tenacious_D) and [Flight of the Conchords](/source/Flight_of_the_Conchords) both released platinum-selling albums and starred in their own respective comedic television series. [Dan Finnerty](/source/Dan_Finnerty) with his [the Dan Band](/source/the_Dan_Band) has made comedy rock appearances in the [Todd Phillips](/source/Todd_Phillips) films ''[Old School](/source/Old_School_(2003_film))'' and ''[The Hangover](/source/The_Hangover)'' spoofing "[Total Eclipse of the Heart](/source/Total_Eclipse_of_the_Heart)" and "[Candy Shop](/source/Candy_Shop)", as well as his live show, which parodies female cover songs and was filmed as a one-hour TV special directed by [McG](/source/McG) and executive produced by [Steven Spielberg](/source/Steven_Spielberg). [Stephen Lynch](/source/Stephen_Lynch_(musician)) from New York developed a following with several Opie and Anthony appearances which led to two specials on Comedy Central. He performed on Broadway with the production of ''[Grease](/source/Grease_(musical))''.
With over 12 million albums sold, song parodist ["Weird Al" Yankovic](/source/%22Weird_Al%22_Yankovic) remains the highest-selling comedy act in history, with his 2014 album ''[Mandatory Fun](/source/Mandatory_Fun)'' having debuted at #1 on the [''Billboard'' 200](/source/Billboard_200), the first comedy album to do so since [Allan Sherman](/source/Allan_Sherman){{'}}s ''[My Son, the Nut](/source/My_Son%2C_the_Nut)'' in 1963.[{{cite web | url = https://www.billboard.com/pro/weird-al-yankovic-billboard-200-mandatory-fun-number-one/ | title = 'Weird Al' Yankovic Gets First No. 1 Album On Billboard 200 with 'Mandatory Fun' | first = Keith | last = Caulfield | date = July 23, 2014 | access-date = July 23, 2014 |work = [Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) }}] Rock has been the target of many [spoof](/source/Parody)s and several spoof bands have gone on to have hit records, for example [Spinal Tap](/source/Spinal_Tap_(band)) in the U.S., and [the Hee Bee Gee Bees](/source/the_Hee_Bee_Gee_Bees) and [Bad News](/source/Bad_News_(band)) in the UK. The band [Steel Panther](/source/Steel_Panther) has become a fixture on the [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California) [Sunset Strip](/source/Sunset_Strip) with their parody of 1980s [glam metal](/source/glam_metal),[{{cite web |title=Feeling The Steel Panther: Interview with Michael Starr |publisher=The Aquarian Weekly |date=4 October 2009 |work=Nightlife |url=http://www.theaquarian.com/2009/10/04/interview-steel-panther-michael-starr-feeling-the-steel/ | access-date=10 October 2009 }}] and their success opened the doors for other spoof bands such as [the Jimi Homeless Experience](/source/the_Jimi_Homeless_Experience).
Other spoof bands such as [Dread Zeppelin](/source/Dread_Zeppelin), [Beatallica](/source/Beatallica) and [Those Darn Accordions](/source/Those_Darn_Accordions) rely on unusual or intentionally contrasting genre-mixing for comic effect. [The Residents](/source/The_Residents) are well-known for their unusual, heavily distorted covers of pop and rock songs. Comedy rock duo [Ninja Sex Party](/source/Ninja_Sex_Party), who have collaborated with Steel Panther on occasion, blend rock and [synthpop](/source/synthpop) and have produced songs that parody the [dubstep](/source/dubstep) and heavy metal genres. They have enjoyed success from their online popularity.[{{cite web|url=http://livingmythmagazine.com/blog/2013/07/11/ninja-sex-party-tales-of-strawberries-and-cream/ |last=Milne |first=Gregory |title=Ninja Sex Party: Tales of Strawberries and Cream |date=11 July 2013 |newspaper=Living Myth Magazine |publisher=Living Myth Magazine |access-date=29 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525175156/http://livingmythmagazine.com/blog/2013/07/11/ninja-sex-party-tales-of-strawberries-and-cream/ |archive-date=25 May 2016 |df=dmy }}] Another band, [Primus](/source/Primus_(band)), is known for their wacky lyrics and comedic music videos. [Gorillaz](/source/Gorillaz) is a British [virtual band](/source/virtual_band) whose fictional, animated members parody contemporary trends in popular music.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}
[Geddy Lee](/source/Geddy_Lee) of [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)) did a guest appearance on the novelty ''[Take Off](/source/The_Great_White_North_(album))'', supporting his grade school classmate [Rick Moranis](/source/Rick_Moranis). The song peaked at number 16 on the [''Billboard'' 100 singles chart](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) in March 1982, higher than any of Rush's songs ever charted on the U.S. top 40. Despite selling 40 million albums worldwide, Rush's biggest hit on that chart, "[New World Man](/source/New_World_Man)", reached only number 21, and thus "Take Off" was Lee's biggest hit.
Many bands within the [alternative rock](/source/alternative_rock) and [college rock](/source/college_rock) spectrum are known for their incorporation of humorous and satirical songs, with bands such as [Barenaked Ladies](/source/Barenaked_Ladies), [Electric Six](/source/Electric_Six), [Mindless Self Indulgence](/source/Mindless_Self_Indulgence), [They Might Be Giants](/source/They_Might_Be_Giants),[[https://www.cltampa.com/music/article/20763612/comedy-issue-laugh-tracks-by-frank-zappa-ween-they-might-be-giants-and-more Comedy Issue: Laugh tracks by Frank Zappa, Ween, They Might Be Giants and more-Creative Loafing]] [the Presidents of the United States of America](/source/The_Presidents_of_the_United_States_of_America_(band)), [Bloodhound Gang](/source/Bloodhound_Gang), [System of a Down](/source/System_of_a_Down), [Ween](/source/Ween), [Weezer](/source/Weezer), [Wheatus](/source/Wheatus) and [Camper Van Beethoven](/source/Camper_Van_Beethoven) finding both mainstream and independent success in the United States, as well as successful foreign bands such as [Parokya ni Edgar](/source/Parokya_ni_Edgar) and [Knorkator](/source/Knorkator). [Punk rock](/source/Punk_rock) and [pop punk](/source/pop_punk) has made its contribution to the comedy rock ranks, with such bands as [the Aquabats](/source/the_Aquabats), [Blink-182](/source/Blink-182), [Bowling for Soup](/source/Bowling_for_Soup), [Patent Pending](/source/Patent_Pending_(band)), [Dead Kennedys](/source/Dead_Kennedys), [the Dead Milkmen](/source/the_Dead_Milkmen), [Macc Lads](/source/Macc_Lads), [the Meatmen](/source/the_Meatmen), [Mojo Nixon](/source/Mojo_Nixon), [the Radioactive Chicken Heads](/source/the_Radioactive_Chicken_Heads) and [the Vandals](/source/the_Vandals).{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}
[Heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) has also produced many humor-oriented and satirical bands, including [Green Jellÿ](/source/Green_Jell%C3%BF), [Lawnmower Deth](/source/Lawnmower_Deth), [Massacration](/source/Massacration), [M.O.D.](/source/M.O.D.), [Big Dumb Face](/source/Big_Dumb_Face), [Electric Callboy](/source/Electric_Callboy), [Primus](/source/Primus_(band)), [Nanowar of Steel](/source/Nanowar_of_Steel), [J.B.O.](/source/JBO_(band)), [Psychostick](/source/Psychostick), [Ludichrist](/source/Ludichrist), [Bad News](/source/Bad_News_(band)), [Spinal Tap](/source/Spinal_Tap_(band)), [Okilly Dokilly](/source/Okilly_Dokilly), [Scatterbrain](/source/Scatterbrain_(band)) and [Infant Annihilator](/source/Infant_Annihilator), whose comedic shtick mostly revolves around parodying heavy metal clichés and ironically spoofing the seriousness of many traditional metal bands, while other bands such as [Gwar](/source/Gwar), [Lordi](/source/Lordi), [Knorkator](/source/Knorkator) and [Rosemary's Billygoat](/source/Rosemary's_Billygoat) utilize outrageous costumes and over-the-top stage shows. The [virtual band](/source/virtual_band) [Dethklok](/source/Dethklok) is a [death metal](/source/death_metal) spoof featured in the [Adult Swim](/source/Adult_Swim) animated TV show ''[Metalocalypse](/source/Metalocalypse)'',[[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p882076|pure_url=yes}} allmusic.com]] and their album ''[The Dethalbum](/source/The_Dethalbum)'' debuted at No. 21 on the ''Billboard'' Top 200 list.["[http://sickdrummer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=642&Itemid=2 Dethalbum Debuts At #21 On Billboard Top 200] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705003124/http://sickdrummer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=642&Itemid=2 |date=5 July 2009 }}" 9 October 2007]
== See also ==
* [Comedy hip-hop](/source/Comedy_hip_hop)
* [Parody music](/source/Parody_music)
* [Parody in popular music](/source/Parody_in_popular_music)
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.xlrg.net/ Parody & Comedy Music Guide]
{{rock}}
{{Comedy footer}}
Category:Comedy rock
Category:Satire
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Comedy rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_rock) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_rock?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.