DR. DEMENTO CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY

DR. DEMENTO CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY

LOS ANGELES (Wireless Flash) -- This year marks a demented anniversary in music history: Dr. Demento's 30th anniversary in show business. The doctor -- whose real name is Barry Hansen -- began his career in October of 1970 as an oldies DJ in Los Angeles. However, he quickly discovered novelty tunes got more audience response than Elvis Presley records. Demento says one 1945 tune called "Shaving Cream" became a surprise top 30 hit in 1974 after Demento started playing it on his show. Although Weird Al Yankovic is Dr. Demento's most famous alumni, he says the all-time most requested song is "Fish Heads," co-written by former "Lost In Space" star Billy Mumy. Dr. Demento's latest project is "Dementia 2000," a 30th anniversary box set that will hit stores March 14.