Jon Schwartz (drummer)

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.

Jon Schwartz
Born
Jon Schwartz

(1956-08-18) August 18, 1956
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Other namesBermuda Schwartz, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
OccupationDrummer, Web Designer, Author
Websitewww.bermudaschwartz.com

Early life

Although born in Chicago, Schwartz grew up in Phoenix. 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.

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.

Later life

Schwartz first met "Weird Al" Yankovic at the Dr. Demento Show on KMET in Los Angeles, September 14, 1980. 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.

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. 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.

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[2]), Lousy Little Gods, Brian Sisson, Crown City Bombers, and The Zero G Band.

Schwartz has enjoyed a respectable online presence since 1993. 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".

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.

Personal life

Schwartz and his wife live in Southern California with their dog Nigel.

Discography
Main articles: "Weird Al" Yankovic discography and List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album titleRelease year
"Weird Al" Yankovic1983
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D1984
Dare to Be Stupid1985
Polka Party!1986
Even Worse1988
"Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits1988
UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff1989
Off the Deep End1992
The Food Album1993
Alapalooza1993
Permanent Record: Al in the Box1994
Greatest Hits Volume II1994
The TV Album1995
Bad Hair Day1996
Running with Scissors1999
Poodle Hat2003
Straight Outta Lynwood2006
Internet Leaks2009
Alpocalypse2011
Mandatory Fun2014
SingleRelease year
You're Pitiful12006
Whatever You Like12008

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

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1984 "Eat It" Best Comedy Recording Won
1985 Dare to Be Stupid Best Comedy Recording Nominated
1987 Polka Party! Best Comedy Recording Nominated
1988 "Fat" Best Concept Music Video Won
Even Worse Best Comedy Recording Nominated
"Peter and the Wolf" Best Recording for Children Nominated
1992 Off The Deep End Best Comedy Album Nominated
2003 Poodle Hat Best Comedy Album Won
2006 Straight Outta Lynwood Best Surround Sound Album Nominated
Best Comedy Album Nominated
2011 Alpocalypse Best Comedy Album Nominated
2014 Mandatory Fun Best Comedy Album Won


Gold and platinum records

Recording Gold Platinum Double
Platinum
"Weird Al" Yankovic U.S.
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D Canada
U.S.
U.S.
"Eat It"1 Australia
Canada
U.S.
Dare to be Stupid U.S. U.S.
Even Worse Canada
U.S.
U.S.
"Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits Canada
Off the Deep End Canada
U.S.		 Canada
U.S.
The Food Album U.S.
Alapalooza Canada
U.S.		 Canada
 		 Canada
 
Greatest Hits Volume II Canada
Bad Hair Day Canada
U.S.		 Canada
U.S.		 U.S.
Running with Scissors Australia
Canada
U.S.

U.S.
Straight Outta Lynwood U.S.
"White & Nerdy"2 U.S. U.S.

^1 The "Eat It" single reached the No. 1 position on the Australian singles chart in 1984.

^2 The "White & Nerdy" single was certified platinum for digital downloads and gold for ringtone downloads in the U.S.

References
  1. "Hat Tricks". Dallas Observer. August 7, 2003. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  2. apologetix.com
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