# Funniest Musicians? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146 "2019-01-03T13:55:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/21 "2019-01-03T16:12:03Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Not at all. Weird al didn’t do weird renditions, AFAIK – he changed the words to make his points, but retained the melody and rhyme scheme (and, if he did a video, the basic structure). Spike Jones’ weird renditions kept the words, but went ape with the music. That you think these are identical, or even close, baffles me. Mostly you’re right, but Weird Al’s polka medleys are a lot closer to the kind of thing Spike Jones did. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/22 "2019-01-03T16:18:35Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > John Lennon > Jim Morrison I think a lot of people are taking this in a different direction than the OP intended. From the OP’s example, I don’t think he’s looking for comedy acts—people who made funny music—so much as for serious musicians who were/are funny, who had good senses of humor than didn’t necessarily come out in their music. I didn’t know that Jim Morrison was funny, but I did know that all four Beatles, and especially Lennon, were (from their interviews, writings, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/23 "2019-01-03T16:27:49Z")
Weird Al is just channeling Frank Jacobs. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/24 "2019-01-03T16:32:38Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I think a lot of people are taking this in a different direction than the OP intended. From the OP’s example, I don’t think he’s looking for comedy acts—people who made funny music—so much as for serious musicians who were/are funny, who had good senses of humor than didn’t necessarily come out in their music. > > I didn’t know that Jim Morrison was funny, but I did know that all four Beatles, and especially Lennon, were (from their interviews, writings, etc.). Yeah. Jim could be funny in some interviews, and was very funny sometimes in concert, shouting funny things to the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/25 "2019-01-03T16:39:47Z")
[Jim Stafford](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UUvuW0NbLQ), folks. Guy’s a total loon; I love him. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/26 "2019-01-03T16:43:46Z")
Pete Townshend has told some hilarious stories in between songs at solo gigs. ---
**Author:** ![ReptoidBusiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5e925/32.png) [@ReptoidBusiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReptoidBusiness)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/27 "2019-01-03T16:44:22Z")
Ace Frehley from Kiss. It’s a really specific type of humor, but if you watch any old interviews with him, his laugh alone is hysterical - Joker-level insane. The fact that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley seem like they can’t stand him makes it even better. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/28 "2019-01-03T16:51:56Z")
I’d second the vote for Mojo Nixon (and Skid Roper, even though he never said anything). Perhaps surprisingly, I’ll suggest Richard Thompson. For many years, both as a member of Fairport Convention and as a solo act, he never said anything on stage and wrote “doom and gloom” songs almost exclusively. In recent years, he’s shown a terrific deadpan humor, both in on-stage banter and in his often humorous and totally original songs. His cover of “Oooops! I Did It Again” is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/29 "2019-01-03T17:00:59Z")
Frank Zappa ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/30 "2019-01-03T17:02:57Z")
John Lennon? Run for Your Life? Jealous Guy? He is about as funny as a Moe Howard poke in the eye. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/31 "2019-01-03T17:05:24Z")
Oscar Levant. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/32 "2019-01-03T17:12:48Z")
With the passing of Bob Einstein, one has to think of the Smothers Brothers in this category. ---
**Author:** ![ReptoidBusiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5e925/32.png) [@ReptoidBusiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReptoidBusiness)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/33 "2019-01-03T17:18:25Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Loudon Wainwright III is very funny in concert and has some great funny songs withe depth to them. > > The Bonzo Dog Band is the gold standard of funny music in the rock era. Basically, they’re the Monty Python of music. Or, rather, Monty Python is the Bonzo Dog Band of sketch comedy – the Pythons were heavily influenced by them. > > Some examples: > [The Intro and the Outro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMqdwtd8TrQ) > [Look Out, There’s a Monster Coming](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HeEFxgktVg&list=RDcMqdwtd8TrQ&index=5) (cameo by Terry Jones) > [Death Cab for Cutie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKXsrWrmbAg&index=8&list=RDcMqdwtd8TrQ) (introduced by Michael Palin). They also performed this on the Beatles _Magical Mystery Tour_. > [Doctor Jazz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QU0lOIaBOY&list=RDcMqdwtd8TrQ&index=3) > > There’s also Martin Mull, who put out several very funny albums in the early 70s, with songs like [“Licks Off of Records.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifg5V9n66NM) > > Not quite as well known is Blotto, with “[I Wanna Be a Lifeguard,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBRJ6jQfap0)” “[We are the Nowtones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnwZGGV0rX8&t=52s),” and “[Metal Head](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyJSetm6U0k).” I love “Hunting Tigers Out in Indiah” and have had “The Equestrian Statue” stuck in my head for days. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/34 "2019-01-03T17:28:26Z")
Spanning the ‘intentionally humorous songs’ and ‘funny stories in person/concert’ categories is Arlo Guthrie. And, definitely in the ‘funny songs’ category is Tom Lehrer of course. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/35 "2019-01-03T17:43:00Z")
[O-Vouty!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v10YTumb5KQ) ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/36 "2019-01-03T17:59:26Z")
I think Rick Wakeman matches the spirit of the OP. Check out his acceptance speech when Yes were inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85PT2YgN780](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85PT2YgN780) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/37 "2019-01-03T18:07:42Z")
> [@txjim](#): > > [Let’s not forget Victor Borge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKeqaDSjy98) Victor Borge was one of the funniest people of all time, period. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/38 "2019-01-03T18:12:43Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Victor Borge was one of the funniest people of all time, period. [You have to make a “pop” sound for that period.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf_TDuhk3No) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/39 "2019-01-03T18:37:40Z")
Both David Bromberg and Dan Hicks had many hilarious lyrics and songs, in addition to other styles. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146/40 "2019-01-03T18:38:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > [You have to make a “pop” sound for that period.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf_TDuhk3No) 😃 Well played, well played. I think Borge was the undisputed master of the comedic pause. It’s what always struck me when watching him. That deadpan delivery combined with perfect pauses before the punchlines. If you can find it, look up video for the joke about his uncle who invented a soft drink called “4-Up”. Wonderful pause. Another example is the one liner he would begin by showing the audience his watch: “_My grandfather gave me this watch on his deathbed [pause]… for twenty bucks.”_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-musicians/827146.md?page=3)