| "I'm trying to
make the most exciting music possible."--Andrew W.K.
Age 4
Born in California and raised in Michigan, Andrew
W.K. begins classical piano lessons. Encouraged by his parents,
he continues to play piano throughout his young life, eventually
taking up the drums in his teens and playing in numerous Detroit
punk and metal bands.
Age 17
Begins recording solo material.
Age 18
Moves to New York City. Early recordings
are circulated among record labels with the help of friends.
Age 20
Andrew plays dozens of shows up and down the East
Coast, equipped only with a CD player, keyboard and microphone.
Girls Own Juice, a debut EP culled from the early solo recordings,
is released on Bulb Records.
Age 21
A second EP, Party Til You Puke, is released, also
on Bulb. Andrew plays another series of one-man shows--including
two support slots for Foo Fighters and a Belgian arts festival--before
returning to New York to focus on forming a band. Members are
assembled: Guitarist Jimmy Coup, formerly of Minnesota's Coup
de Grace, drummer Donald "D.T." Tardy, late of Obituary,
bassist Gregg R., and guitarists E. Payne and Sergeant Frank.
The crew moves to Florida.
Andrew signs to Island Records.
Age 22
Andrew W.K.'s debut album, I Get Wet, is recorded
in Michigan, Los Angeles, New York City, Colorado, Minnesota,
Florida. On October 29th, Mercury UK releases the "Party
Hard" single, which enters the British charts at 14 as Andrew
plays a series of sold out shows and appears on the cover of NME
(twice!).
January-February 2002
Andrew returns to the UK and tours the European continent.
March 26, 2002
I Get Wet is released in the U.S.
"This record is about 'not stopping' in every
sense of the word, and every aspect of life, and it was created
with determination that reflected that. Whatever you do in life,
if you go full bore you're bound to get wet--with blood, sweat,
urine, semen or girls' lubricant. This record is about cutting
in to the heart of existence and getting wet... But it's also
about having no fear, experiencing intense emotions – from
passionate feelings of love and excitement to the most anger filled,
hateful rages, and everything in between – embracing life
and other people, and coming together as a party in celebration
of possibilities, potential and opportunity. It's an explosion
of human life."
The Future
"I like things to be strong because I feel that
other people can derive strength from that themselves. And I try
to reflect that strength, and purity, truth and passion for what
we are doing in everything you see and hear. How it's not a fucking
joke and that what we mean is very serious to us. I guess you
could say this is a cause, but if so, it is a cause that is undertaken
simply for its own sake."
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