Watch Amanda Palmer Serenade Neil Gaiman with ‘Enter Sandman’ on Ukulele

Screenshot via YouTube

Today is a big day for Neil Gaiman, as the author turns 55 and his new graphic novel, The Sandman: Overture, hits stores.

And so, Gaiman’s wife, the ever-spontaneous Amanda Palmer, decided to surprise him following his conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz (who, like Gaiman and Palmer, has local ties—he teaches at MIT), hosted by DC Entertainment on Monday.

It appears that not even Gaiman can keep up with Palmer.

“I saw none of this coming. I am so stupid,” he said, after his wife appeared on stage, wielding a ukulele.

In a nod to Gaiman’s latest literary endeavor, Palmer launched into a ukulele version of “Enter Sandman.” She had emailed Slash, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, and John Mayer, but none of them were available, she joked, and so, she played the signature guitar riff on a kazoo instead.

The performance didn’t last for long—”I didn’t have a chance to learn the rest of it because I had a baby!” exclaimed Palmer—but to round off the evening, the singer invited the audience to join her in serenading Gaiman with “Happy Birthday.”

A birthday cake and an appearance by Anthony, the couple’s recently born son, who adorably hiccuped in his dad’s arms, completed the surprise.

Watch the full video below. Palmer appears around the 1:19:40 mark.