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Jon Schwartz (drummer)

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Jon Schwartz
Bermuda Schwartz in 2021
Born (1956-08-18) August 18, 1956 (age 68)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Other namesBermuda Schwartz, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
Occupation(s)Drummer, Web Designer, Author
Websitewww.bermudaschwartz.com

Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz (born August 18, 1956) is a drummer best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. The two met while recording "Another One Rides the Bus" at the Dr. Demento show on September 14, 1980.[1] Shortly after, Yankovic invited Schwartz to join his band, gave him the nickname "Bermuda" ("Bermuda Schwartz" being a play on the words "Bermuda shorts") and they have worked together ever since. Schwartz is heard and/or seen on all of Yankovic's albums, videos, and concerts.

Early life

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Although born in Chicago in 1957,[2] Schwartz grew up in Phoenix.[2] He came from a musical family; his father played accordion, his mother was a singer and piano player, and his brother, session guitarist and producer Richard Bennett, has recorded with countless top artists in Los Angeles and Nashville, and enjoyed lengthy associations touring and recording with Neil Diamond and Mark Knopfler.[3]

Schwartz began drum lessons in 1965, and when his family moved to Los Angeles a few years later, he had decided to become a professional drummer and by the mid-1970s was drumming regularly with a few bands and doing some recording work.[2]

Later life

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Schwartz first met "Weird Al" Yankovic at the Dr. Demento Show on KMET in Los Angeles, September 14, 1980.[4] He has played drums for every "Weird Al" concert since 1981, except for three shows during the 2003 Poodle Hat Tour; a minor illness prevented him from playing the drums, and bassist Steve Jay's friend and collaborator Pete Gallagher, who was working as a tech on that tour, sat-in on the drums while Schwartz handled the electronics, cues, and vocals from behind the drum riser.[4]

Schwartz is also the official band historian, known for keeping meticulous lists and notes, and has archived an unsurpassed collection of unique retail and promo audio and video products from around the world that feature "Weird Al" Yankovic either as a performer, director, in a cameo appearance, or named or pictured on the product.[2] Schwartz has an unmatched wealth of photos, memorabilia, and details on his career with Yankovic, and is regularly sourced for rare and behind-the-scenes images or other materials and information for TV shows, publications, audio and video releases having to do with Yankovic.[5]

In between Yankovic projects, Schwartz continues to play with other L.A.-area artists and bands and has worked with Rip Masters, Jim Silvers, Karling Abbeygate, Idle Hands, Ray Campi, Raymond and Scum, ApologetiX (specifically the album Biblical Graffiti, where he played drums on seven of the tracks[6]), Lousy Little Gods, Brian Sisson, Crown City Bombers, and The Zero G Band.

Schwartz has enjoyed a respectable online presence since 1993.[citation needed] Schwartz began designing web sites in 1995, and grew it into a side-business that now includes other graphic design work such as CD layouts and book cover art. He also created the official "Weird Al" Yankovic website in 1995, which later became weirdal.com. He is an administrator for the World of "Weird Al" Yankovic and Drummerworld forums, and regularly participates in various forums with the username "bermuda".[5]

In 2020, Jon became a published author with Black & White & Weird All Over, a coffee-table book featuring his unreleased black-and-white photographs of Weird Al from the early '80s.[5] He followed up with Lights, Camera, Accordion! in 2022, a collection of his color film photos of Weird Al from 1981-2006.

Discography

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Main articles: "Weird Al" Yankovic discography and List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album title Release year
"Weird Al" Yankovic 1983
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D 1984
Dare to Be Stupid 1985
Polka Party! 1986
Even Worse 1988
"Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits 1988
UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff 1989
Off the Deep End 1992
The Food Album 1993
Alapalooza 1993
Permanent Record: Al in the Box 1994
Greatest Hits Volume II 1994
The TV Album 1995
Bad Hair Day 1996
Running with Scissors 1999
Poodle Hat 2003
Straight Outta Lynwood 2006
Internet Leaks 2009
Alpocalypse 2011
Mandatory Fun 2014
Single Release year
You're Pitiful1 2006
Whatever You Like1 2008

^1 The "You're Pitiful" and "Whatever You Like" singles were released as digital downloads only.

References

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  1. ^ "Hat Tricks". Dallas Observer. August 7, 2003. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jon Bermuda Schwartz – Best Among the Best". zerotodrum.com. 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Richard Bennett". Dave & Ethan's Weird Al Podcast. 2000inch.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Jon 'Bermuda' Schwartz: A Life In Drumming (Pictorial)". drummagazine.com. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Mike Duquette (August 12, 2020). "This Is The Life: Weird Al's Drummer, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, On His New Book Of Photos". theseconddisc.com. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "apologetix.com". Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
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