For the first time since Michael Jackson's death, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, the parody king who had some of his biggest hits spoofing the King of Pop's tunes, is speaking out about Jackson's tragic death.
"The first time around I pursued Michael Jackson about a song parody, it was a shot in the dark. We're talking about the most popular and famous person in the known universe, and here I was, this goofy comedy songwriter. He not only returned our phone calls, but he approved it. He thought it was a funny idea," Yankovic writes in a Rolling Stone tribute to Jackson.
Weird Al Yankovic's Classic Michael Jackson Parodies
'Eat It'
'Fat'
"The first time I met him in person was long after I had gotten permission to do "Eat It" back in 1984. There's a contract somewhere that has his signature next to mine, proving that we are the co-writers of "Eat It," which is surrealistic in and of itself," Yankovic says.
He goes on to say that "seeing him [Jackson] in person was amazing, it was otherworldly. He was and continues to be so iconic, it's hard to even conceive of him as a human being. He always was bigger than life."
Yankovic also says he realizes just how much Jackson's songs impacted his own success. "I don't know what kind of career I would have today if it hadn't been for Michael Jackson. In a very real sense, he jump-started my career. 'Eat It' basically changed me from an unknown into a guy that got recognized at Burger King," Yankovic wrote.
Michael Jackson starred as the Scarecrow in the 1978 film 'The Wiz.'
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Oprah Winfrey interviewed Jackson in February of 1993.
AP
Time showed off an Andy Warhol portrait on a 1984 cover at the height of his 'Thriller' popularity.
Time & Life Pictures / Getty Images
Michael Jackson is photographed with Brooke Shields in 1988.
Ron Galella, WireImage
Michael Jackson hit the court with Michael Jordan during the video shoot for 'Jam' in 1992.
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Jackson attends a Pepsi press conference on February 3, 1992. Jackson accepted the largest individual sponsorship deal in history from Pepsi-Cola in 1983.
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Jackson performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena in 1993. The halftime show was a ratings smash.
Rusty Kennedy, AP
Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley kiss on the stage of Radio City Music Hall at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. "And they said he wouldn't last," Jackson joked.
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Wearing a black surgical mask, Jackson arrives with companion Debbie Rowe, mother to two of his children, at a performance of the play "Sisterella" in 1996.
Chris Pizzello, AP
Michael Jackson with baby son Prince and mother Debbie Rowe on cover of OK! Magazine in 1997.
