W.E.I.R.D. (We Endorse Immediate Residents Deification) was the first Residential fan club, functioning in the late '70s and early '80s. It was run by Philip Culp and Mimi King, who had their friend Matt Groening (now famous for Life in Hell and The Simpsons) write an essay called The True Story of The Residents. This essay, subtitled "A Brief Summary of Known Facts, Top Secrets, Hazy Details, Veiled Hints, and Blatant Lies", formed the core of The Official W.E.I.R.D. Book of The Residents and was later expanded and reprinted in The Cryptic Guide to The Residents. The original version also appears in Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide to The Residents.

The book's cover was done by Gary Panter, who had collaborated with the band on his Tornado to the Tater single. The first edition was printed with a red cover, the second was printed in yellow.