Andrew Wk

Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier, known professionally as Andrew W.K., was born on May 9, 1979, in Stanford, California, and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He began piano lessons at the University of Michigan School of Music at age four and later attended Community High School, focusing on piano and keyboard. His early musical career started in 1993 with local bands, and by 1996, his first publicly released recording, “Mr. Surprise,” appeared on a compilation album. He moved to New York City in 1998, holding various jobs while pursuing his solo endeavors, eventually moving to Seffner, Florida, in 1999 to assemble his live band.

Andrew W.K. rose to prominence with his 2001 debut studio album, “I Get Wet,” which featured energetic rock and party-themed lyrics, achieving top spot on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers albums chart and producing UK hit singles like “Party Hard.” The album’s distinctive cover artwork, depicting a bloody nose, generated minor controversy. He followed this with “The Wolf” in 2003, which peaked at #61 on the Billboard 200. Beyond music, W.K. expanded into self-help and motivational performances, giving lectures at institutions like Yale and Oxford Union, and serving as a judge for the Independent Music Awards. He was notably named the Person of the Year by the American Association of Suicidology in 2018 for his positive influence.

Throughout his career, W.K. has diversified his work into television, radio, and writing. He hosted MTV2’s “Your Friend, Andrew W.K.” in 2004, appeared on numerous TV shows, and co-hosted the Relentless Kerrang! Awards in 2014. In print, he maintained a monthly advice column for Japan’s “Rockin’ On” magazine for a decade, leading to his book “I Will Change Your Life,” and a weekly column for The Village Voice and Vice Media. He also co-owned Santos Party House, a successful nightclub and concert venue in Manhattan, until its closure in 2016, and has produced music for other artists, including a Grammy-nominated album for Lee “Scratch” Perry.