Andrew W.K. is an American singer, songwriter, and motivational speaker born on May 9, 1979. Blending rock metal and pop he’s best known for his high-energy party anthems. Growing up in Michigan Andrew started his music career in the mid-1990s playing in various local bands before moving to New York to create his first recordings under the Andrew W.K. name.
He first grabbed attention with his 2000 EP “Girls Own Juice.” However, it was his debut studio album “I Get Wet” released in November 2001 that shot him to fame. Since then Andrew W.K. has explored numerous ventures from TV and radio to motivational speaking and writing.
| Full Name | Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier |
| Date of Birth | May 9, 1979 |
| Place of Birth | Stanford, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, motivational speaker, and actor |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (190 cm) |
| Partners | Cherie Lily (m. 2008; separated 2019) Kat Dennings(m. 2023) |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
Andrew W.K. Early Life and Education
Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier better known as Andrew W.K. was born in Stanford, California, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His father James E. Krier is a respected legal scholar at the University of Michigan Law School and co-authored the well-known Dukeminier & Krier property casebook. His mother is Wendy Wilkes. Andrew has a younger brother Patrick, who was a professional golfer and is now a golf coach in Michigan.
Andrew started learning piano at just four years old at the University of Michigan School of Music. He fondly remembers family trips to midnight mass, greatly influencing his passion for music. An elementary school teacher started calling him Andrew W.K. to avoid confusion with two other classmates named Andrew.
For middle school, Andrew attended Greenhills School a private prep school before moving to Community High School from 1993 to 1997. During this time, he continued to develop his skills in piano and keyboard.
Career
In 1993, when he was just 14 years old, he joined a band called Slam later renamed Reverse Polarity. Three years later Andrew W.K. made his first official recording “Mr. Surprise” which was featured on a compilation album by Westside Audio Laboratories. Over the next few years, he played in various punk rock and heavy metal bands in Detroit including The Pterodactyls and Kathode.
In 1998, Andrew W.K. moved from Michigan to New York City where he took on a series of short-lived jobs from selling bubblegum machines to working as an opera ticket salesman and a fashion photographer. During this time, he also explored solo projects under his birth name Andrew Wilkes-Krier releasing his early work on cassette tapes.
His breakthrough came in March 2000 with the release of his first EP “Girls Own Juice” under the name Andrew W.K. This EP introduced his hard rock style blending influences like Judas Priest and Sparks. It received acclaim from critics including a five-star rating from Kerrang! magazine.
Following this success, Andrew W.K. continued to build his career with energetic live performances in New York and along the East Coast. His demos caught the attention of Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters and executives at Island Def Jam Music Group leading to significant opportunities and a major-label deal.
In November 2001, Andrew W.K. released his debut studio album “I Get Wet” known for its intense party themes and hard-hitting sound. The album received positive reviews and included hit singles like “Party Hard” and “She Is Beautiful.” It marked his rise to fame and solidified his reputation for high-energy live shows.
Andrew W.K. followed up with his second album “The Wolf” in late 2003 showcasing his versatility by playing all the instruments himself. Despite its initial success, the album faced challenges in sustaining sales.
Throughout his career, Andrew W.K. has remained active and experimental releasing albums like “The Japan Covers” and engaging in diverse projects beyond traditional rock music. His journey is characterized by a relentless dedication to his unique musical vision and a commitment to thrilling his audience with every performance.
In February 2009, Andrew W.K. found a way around his contract limitations to start his record label Skyscraper Music Maker in London and Manhattan. The label’s first release was DAMN! The Mix Tape Vol. 1 on May 25, 2009, featuring, music from artists like Bad Brilliance and Aleister X with production by DJ B-Roc.
His next project the album “55 Cadillac” was entirely his creation consisting of spontaneous piano improvisations. His struggles inspired this album released on September 7, 2009, with legal issues and hallucinations.
In 2010 after resolving legal disputes, Andrew W.K. and his label now renamed Steev Mike re-released Close Calls with Brick Walls with extra material called “Mother of Mankind.” He toured extensively to promote this release including headlining the 2010 Warped Tour. A music video for the song “I Want to See You Go Wild” was also released in 2010.
In March 2011 he released The “Party All Goddamn Night” EP followed by discussions about recording a new album at a fan convention for “My Little Pony” in September 2012. Despite delays due to other projects, he expressed eagerness to record new music in 2014.
By September 2017, Andrew W.K. announced a new studio album “You’re Not Alone” which was released on March 2, 2018. He continued to work on new music signing with Napalm Records in October 2020 and releasing the lead single “Babalon” in February 2021. This marked a shift in his music style embracing darker themes.
His sixth studio album “God Is Partying” arrived on September 10, 2021, with W.K. handling all instruments. The release was accompanied by singles like “I’m in Heaven” and “Everybody Sins, ” featuring Kat Dennings in its video.
After the album’s release Andrew W.K. unexpectedly postponed shows and removed his website and social media pages without explanation leaving fans and his label uncertain about the situation.
Net Worth
Andrew W.K. has an estimated net worth of $4 million, according toCelebrity Net Worth. The main source of Andrew W.K.’s net worth comes primarily from his career as a musician, songwriter, and performer. He has earned money from album sales, concert tours, and merchandise related to his music.
Additionally, Andrew W.K. has expanded his earnings through appearances in movies, TV shows, and commercials, as well as through his motivational speaking engagements and writing projects. His energetic and unique persona has also led to various endorsem*nts and collaborations, contributing further to his overall net worth.
Personal Life
Andrew W.K. used to live in Midtown Manhattan until around 2006 or 2007. After that, he moved around to different places outside New York for short periods. He got married to Cherie Lily on October 4, 2008, in a traditional Persian wedding. Cherie also performed in Andrew’s band as a singer and hype woman from 2006 to 2018. Andrew W.K. has two children but he prefers to keep them away from public attention. He also has a younger brother named Patrick Wilkes-Krier who is a professional golfer.
In May 2021, Andrew W.K. announced through a press release that he and Cherie had started divorce proceedings in late 2019 and that it was amicable. He also revealed that he began dating actress Kat Dennings after they met in Los Angeles early in 2021. A week later on May 13, 2021, Andrew and Kat announced their engagement on Instagram. They got married on November 27, 2023, at their home in Los Angeles.
Other ventures
Andrew W.K. embarked on his “One Man Show” tour in 2007 where each event began with him improvising on the piano. These shows often turned into huge parties with the audience joining him on stage to dance play piano and sing along. His energetic performances caught the attention of media like The New York Times and Time magazine who praised his unique approach.
In 2012, he appeared at a “My Little Pony” convention to lead a motivational seminar inspired by the show’s character Pinkie Pie which gained coverage in Rolling Stone. Andrew also spoke at prestigious venues like the Oxford Union on topics related to partying and positivity earning recognition for his philosophical insights.
He’s been active in writing with columns in magazines like FRONT in the UK and “Rockin’ On” in Japan where his advice became a book titled “I Will Change Your Life”. His first book “The Party Bible” was announced in 2013 further establishing his role as a cultural figure.
Andrew’s diverse career extends to producing music for bands like To Live and Shave in L.A. and he’s been involved in various TV appearances from hosting MTV shows to cameo roles in cartoons. His ventures include co-founding the nightclub Santos Party House in New York City.
Recognized for his positive impact Andrew W.K. was named Person of the Year by the American Association of Suicidology in 2018 highlighting his consistent use of positivity through music and motivational speaking.
Controversy
In November 2004, Andrew W.K.’s official website was hacked by someone who claimed they helped create his persona. They demanded to be part of his next album or else they’d blackmail him. Andrew responded by saying not to believe this person known as “Steev Mike” and clarified that he used that name in the past but it means nothing now. He reassured fans that someone was trying to create confusion and make him look bad.
Over the years, Andrew W.K. faced accusations that he wasn’t a real person and that his persona was fake. He firmly stated that he is a real person who makes his own decisions and isn’t controlled by anyone. He admitted that the way his early career was presented caused some misunderstandings. Different people and parts of his backstory got mixed up but he emphasized that he made the music on his albums though he received support from many talented people.
In September 2009, Andrew W.K. acknowledged legal troubles related to his name. He explained that an old friend’s business problems unfairly impacted him leading to restrictions on how he could use his name in certain contexts. Despite the challenges, he continued to work hard and push forward in his career.
