Even Worse

Even Worse is the fifth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1988. The album was the fifth produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Recorded between November 1987 and February 1988, this album helped to revitalize Yankovic's career after the critical and commercial disappointment of his previous album Polka Party! (1986).

The music on Even Worse is built around parodies and pastiches of pop and rock music of the mid-1980s. Half of the album is made up of parodies, featuring jabs at Michael Jackson, George Harrison, Tiffany, Los Lobos' version of the folk song "La Bamba", and Billy Idol. The other half of the album is original material, featuring many "style parodies", or musical imitations that come close to, but do not copy, existing artists. These style parodies include imitations of specific artists such as Oingo Boingo, Beastie Boys, and James Taylor. Even Worse has the distinction of being one of two albums by Yankovic lacking any polka renditions of pop songs or medleys, the other being his debut album "Weird Al" Yankovic (1983). This album's title and cover art are spoofs of Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad.

Even Worse (band)

Even Worse was a New York City punk rock band formed in 1980. Jack Rabid (drums) (who founded the music magazine The Big Takeover, also in 1980) was the only constant as the band lineup changed numerous times over the course of the band's four-year existence. Other band members included vocalists John Pouridas, John Berry), Garth Ripton, Rebecca "R.B." Korbet, and Ken "Tantrum" Tempkin; guitarists Dave Stein, Robert Weeks, Thurston Moore, and Steve Waxman; and bassists Nick Marden (later of The Stimulators), Eric Keil and Tim Sommer.

History

Even Worse formed in April 1980 by Summit, New Jersey punk rockers Jack Rabid (drums) and Dave Stein (guitar) along with Nick Marden (bass), as the direct result of The Stimulators needing an opening band for their May 1980 show at New York City club Tier 3. With singer John Berry (later of The Young Aborigines and Beastie Boys), the teenage quartet performed at various Manhattan clubs, opening for the likes of Bad Brains. Eventually Marden left to join The Stimulators and Berry and Stein likewise departed.