Weezer

Artist Image: Weezer
Attribution
Image Credit: Hunter Kahn (Own work), CC BY-SA 4.0

Biography

Since coming together in Los Angeles in 1992, the members of Weezer have lived an especially capricious existence: In the course of a decade, they went from dorky alt-rock heroes to absentee cult figures to arena-filling megastars. The band's original lineup — lead singer and songwriter Rivers Cuomo, bassist Matt Sharp, drummer Patrick Wilson and guitarist Brian Bell — looked uncomfortable from the get-go, posing for the cover of their 1994 self-titled debut as though they were waiting to be noogied. Few might have predicted that, a decade and a half on, the band would prove consummate rock & roll pros. Produced by ex-Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, Weezer (Number 16, 1994), more commonly known as the Blue Album, largely eschewed grunge's angst-y, soul-baring angst howl. Cuomo didn't profess the cynicism of Kurt Cobain, and the unapologetic riffs made it clear that he was more influenced by the likes of Heaven Tonight than Raw Power. Songs like "Undone - The Sweater Song" (Number 57, 1994) sounded like handwritten notes found at the bottom of a locker — the early musings of a colossally self-aware nerd. The album's best-known early song, "Buddy Holly" (Number Two Modern Rock, 1994) mated Spike Jonze's nostalgia-tripping, "Happy Days"-based video with an equally nostalgic and chimerical young-and-in-love chorus: "Wooh-e-oooh, I like just like Buddy Holly/Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore." Weezer would sell more than 3 million copies, and a 2004 reissued edition includes several worthy B-sides. Cuomo had originally intended for Weezer's follow-up to be a sci-fi rock opera called Songs from the Black Hole, but after recording a series of tracks by himself, he shelved the project in favor of Pinkerton (Number 19, 1996). Though it's since become a fan favorite and a bellwether for he late-Nineties emo boom, Pinkerton was initially seen as a downer: Cuomo had undergone a painful leg operation after the Blue Album, and the new LP was packed with brutally honest songs about falling in love with lesbians and teenage fans living oceans away; the opening track, tellingly, was "Tired of Sex," and songs like "El Scorcho" (Number 19 Modern Rock, 1996), and "The Good Life" (Number 32 Modern Rock, 1996) were rife with frustration. The album takes its name from a character in Madame Butterfly, and the record is peppered with references to the opera. After a tour in support of the album — which failed to reach platinum — Sharp left the band to spend more time with his new-wave-reviving side project, the Rentals, while Cuomo dropped out of view altogether, prompting rumors that he had begun a Brian Wilson-like retreat from society (Cuomo left Harvard but returned again, earning his English degree in June 2006). Between 1997 and 2000, the band released only a handful of songs, including a cover of "Velouria" for a Pixies tribute album. But the band retained an ardent following on the Internet, as evidenced by the numerous threads about Pinkerton, which was quickly becoming a cult favorite. In 2000, the band reformed for a string of shows on the Warped Tour, where Sharp was replaced by bassist Mikey Welsh, a former member of Juliana Hatfield's backing band. The live dates were a success, prompting a sold-out mini-tour and a new album, titled Weezer (2001), which debuted at Number Four on the Billboard charts and retuned the band to its power-chord grandeur. With Ocasek returning as producer, the so-called "Green album" gave the band two of the biggest hits of its career: "Hash Pipe" (Number Two Modern Rock), and "Island in the Sun" (Number 11 Modern Rock), a lulling ballad that later wound up being covered for a tropical-resort ad. A few months after the Green Album's release, Welsh experienced a psychotic breakdown, and was replaced by bassist Scott Shriner. Almost exactly a year after the release of the Green Album, Weezer delivered Maladroit (Number Three, 2002). Due in part to Cuomo's abundant songwriting output, many of the self-financed Maladroit tracks had already appeared in demo form on the band's Website, and the songs' early release spurred a public battle between the band and its label, Interscope Records. But neither the controversy — nor the inclusion of singles "Dope Nose" (Number Eight Modern Rock) and "Keep Fishin'" (Number 15 Modern Rock) — could prevent Maladroit, an album that paid homage to several of Cuomo's metal influences, from failing commercially. Weezer teamed with Rick Rubin for 2005's Make Believe (Number Two), an album that gave the band its biggest single to date: "Beverly Hills" (Number 10, 2005) a sarcastic anti-fame rant that was misinterpreted by some as an ode to luxury branding. Longtime fans lamented that the Weezer responsible for Pinkerton was long gone, but "Beverly Hills" and the piano-plunking anthem "Perfect Situation" (Number 51, 2006) helped Make Believe sell more than a million copies in the U.S., and prompted an arena tour with the Foo Fighters. In 2007, Cuomo released Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo (Number 163), a collection of demos that included songs originally intended for the long-jettisoned Songs from the Black Hole. Weezer's sixth album, once again produced by Rick Rubin — and once again titled Weezer — was released June 3rd, 2008 and hit Number Four in Billboard. The Red Album, as it's known, spawned the single "Pork and Beans" (Number 64, 2008), boosted by a clever video featuring numerous fly-by-night YouTube stars. The band toured with Blink-182 in 2009, and the album Raditude (Number Seven) — featuring collaborations with r&b/hip-hop producer Jermaine Dupri, teen-pop songwriter Dr. Luke, and rapper Lil Wayne — followed. But the single, "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To", peaked at only Number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100. At the end of 2009, reports surfaced that the band had split with Geffen Records.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1992
Number of Albums 57
Record Label Atlantic
Website www.weezer.com
Wikipedia Weezer on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

Who was on guitar and vocals in the original lineup?

Rivers Cuomo

...rican alternative poprock band. The original lineup of the band was: Rivers Cuomo on guitar and vocals, Matt Sharp on bass and backing vocals, Patrick...
Which member of the band was on drums and backing vocals?

Patrick Wilson

... Cuomo on guitar and vocals, Matt Sharp on bass and backing vocals, Patrick Wilson on drums and backing vocals Jason Cropper on guitar and backing voc...
When did Weezer form?

1992

...Weezer (formed 1992 ) Weezer is an American alternative poprock band. The original lineup of the band was: Rivers Cuomo on guitar and vocals, Matt Shar...
Who directed the video for the single?

Spike Jonze

...ced by Ric Ocasek at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York. Spike Jonze directed the video for the single, which became hugely popular on MT...
When was the second Weezer album released?

September 1996

....' The second Weezer album was titled Pinkerton and was released in September 1996 . In comparison to the success of the first album, Pinkerton perform...
Where did Rivers Cuomo return to?

Boston

...of the first album, Pinkerton performed badly. Rivers Cuomo returned to Boston and put together The Rivers Cuomo Band, which played a number of gigs, ...
Who was a constant member of the Rivers Cuomos Band?

Mikey Welsh

... to Boston and put together The Rivers Cuomo Band, which played a number of gigs, with Mikey Welsh being a constant member of the everchanging lineup....
How many albums has the band released?

4

...rosol and spandex. Since their inception, the band has successfully issued 4 albums of straightforward powerpop and metalinfused rock heroics, while a...
Who was Rivers Cuomo's father?

Frank Cuomo

...June 13, 1970, in a New York City hospital to Beverly Shoenberger and Frank Cuomo . It was in Yogaville, a place Cuomo would later say had no contact w...
Who did Cuomo's mother marry after his father left for Germany?

Stephen Kitts

...fter Cuomo's father left for Germany, his mother had met and married Stephen Kitts . Instead of moving the family to Virginia, due to a relocation of t...
Where did Beverly and Stephen Kitts move to instead of Virginia?

Connecticut

...ion of the ashram, Beverly and Stephen decided to move to a suburb of Connecticut and enroll the boys in a more traditional school environment. As Riv...
What were Rivers' main passions?

soccer and heavy metal

...ent. As Rivers grew older, his interests began to flourish, and soccer and heavy metal became his main passions. As Cuomo's obsession grew, so did the...
What was a dream of AvantGarde members in Los Angeles?

Sunset Strip success

...s of Avant Garde arrived in Los Angeles to pursue their dream of Sunset Strip success . Though Avant Garde (who later changed their name one last time ...
How old was Rivers Cuomo when he started his band Avant Garde?

19

...udio version of this story below: In the spring of 1990, Rivers Cuomo was 19 years old, and all of his plans were coming undone. The year before, he a...
What was the name of Rivers' high school metal band?

Avant Garde

...re coming undone. The year before, he and his high school metal band, Avant Garde , moved from suburban Connecticut to L.A., where all five members cra...
How many members were crammed into the same studio apartment?

five

...al band, Avant Garde, moved from suburban Connecticut to L.A., where all five members crammed into the same filthy studio apartment, sleeping on the f...
Who did Cuomo leave frontman duties to?

an operatically inclined friend

...th member. Flamboyance aside, Cuomo left frontman duties to an operatically inclined friend . I could have seen myself in the NBA as easily as being a ...
What was the new name for Avant Garde?

Zoom

...able. Avant Garde gave themselves a slightly less embarrassing new name, Zoom , and streamlined their music, though they still sounded like a more prog...
What did the band Zoom sound like?

Dokken

...ined their music, though they still sounded like a more proggy, lessfun Dokken . Cuomo tried easing up on the hair spray. None of it helped them find f...
How many studio albums has the band released as of 2021?

fifteen

...ilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner. As of 2021, the band has released fifteen studio albums, and have had several hit singles which span their entir...
What was the name of the demo tape that the band worked on?

Cholesterol EP

...ce together several times and work to record a demo tape, named the Cholesterol EP . On November 29, the band performed at the Phoenix Theatre in Petal...
Who attended the concert?

Matt Sharp

... California in a concert that had been attended by friend of the band Matt Sharp . After a final practice on December 4, the band would break up and th...
What was the name of the new music project?

The 50 Song Project

... of forming a new, asofyet unnamed music project. This was dubbed The 50 Song Project , although such goal was never reached. From November 1991 to Feb...
How many songs were recorded for The 50 Song Project?

twentyseven

...er reached. From November 1991 to February 1992, the two had recorded twentyseven songs for this project, and Jason Cropper had contributed two songs ...
Who contributed two songs of his own?

Jason Cropper

...y 1992, the two had recorded twentyseven songs for this project, and Jason Cropper had contributed two songs of his own. Songs such as The World Has T...
Cropper contributed how many songs of his own?

two

...ded twentyseven songs for this project, and Jason Cropper had contributed two songs of his own. Songs such as The World Has Turned and Left Me Here, M...
What university was Cuomo studying when he was on hiatus?

Harvard

...pon completing the record, Weezer went on hiatus; Cuomo was studying at Harvard when their eponymous debut record came out. With the support of DGC an...
Who made Weezer a crossover success?

Buddy Holly

...onze directed video, Undone (The Sweater Song) became a modern rock hit in the fall of 1994, but what made Weezer a crossover success was Buddy Holly ....
At what age did Blue change my life?

18

...and that came along at a pivotal time in my life. Blue changed my life at 18 and reinvented my notions of rock & roll emotionally serious, yet unasham...
Pinkerton hit in my 20th year, not a great time for what?

me

...fun at the same time. Pinkerton hit in my 20th year, not a great time for me , and it salved my emo soul with songs about heartbreak so emotionally wro...
Maladroit showed promise but at the expense of what?

hooks

...but it sounds rushed, and Maladroit showed promise but at the expense of hooks (I have yet to listen to Make Believe and probably never will). But, it...
Blue has an essential simplicity that recalls what kind of music?

the Ramones

...ow me away to this day. Blue has an essential simplicity that recalls the Ramones . It contains some of the most essential pop songs of the '90s, and t...
What is hard to listen to in its naked honesty?

Pinkerton

... the '90s, and transcends the 'mallternative' radio hits of its peers. Pinkerton is both more elegant and more raw, and almost hard to listen to in it...
How many full length albums have the band released?

15

...Formed in 1992, they have released 15 full length albums, 1 covers album, six EPs, and a DVD. They've sold over nine million records in the United Sta...
In what country have they sold over nine million records?

United States

...m, six EPs, and a DVD. They've sold over nine million records in the United States to date. Playing music influenced by alternative bands and power po...
How long after Weezer formed, where did they play their first gig?

Five weeks

...others, they're sometimes viewed as a part of the 90s indie movement. Five weeks after forming, they had their first gig, opening for Dogstar at Raji'...
What was the name of the bar and ribshack they played for?

Raji's

...e weeks after forming, they had their first gig, opening for Dogstar at Raji's Bar and Ribshack on Hollywood Boulevard. Weezer began playing clubs to ...
How many weeks after forming, what was the first gig weezer played?

Five

...ng others, they're sometimes viewed as a part of the 90s indie movement. Five weeks after forming, they had their first gig, opening for Dogstar at Ra...
Where was the band's first gig held?

Raji's Bar and Ribshack on Hollywood Boulevard

...g, they had their first gig, opening for Dogstar at Raji's Bar and Ribshack on Hollywood Boulevard . Weezer began playing clubs to small audiences arou...
What was the name of the label the band was a part of?

DGC

...s around L.A. and recording homemade demos. The band became a part of the DGC label (which later turned into Interscope). It picked up considerable ac...
Which two songs were released as singles?

Undone (The Sweater Song) (also known as Undone The Sweater Song), Buddy Holly, and Say It Ain't So

...siderable acclaim. Tracks Undone (The Sweater Song) (also known as Undone The Sweater Song), Buddy Holly, and Say It Ain't So were released as singles...
What is another name for Weezer?

Goat Punishment

..., see Weezer (disambiguation). Background information Also known as Goat Punishment (19982000) Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S. After signing to G...
What was the name of the band's self-titled debut album?

Blue Album

...1993, Weezer released their selftitled debut album, also known as the Blue Album , in May 1994. Backed by music videos for the singles Buddy Holly, Und...
In what month and year did the Blue Album come out?

May 1994

...eleased their selftitled debut album, also known as the Blue Album, in May 1994 . Backed by music videos for the singles Buddy Holly, Undone The Sweate...
What year was the Blue Album released?

1994

...eased their selftitled debut album, also known as the Blue Album, in May 1994 . Backed by music videos for the singles Buddy Holly, Undone The Sweater ...
Pinkerton was released in what year?

1996

... Album became a multiplatinum success. Weezer's second album, Pinkerton ( 1996 ), featuring a darker, more abrasive sound, was a commercial failure and ...
Who replaced Welsh after the Green Album tour?

Shriner

...tly positive reviews. After the Green Album tour, Welsh was replaced by Shriner . Weezer's fourth album, Maladroit (2002), achieved mostly positive rev...
What was Weezer's fourth album called?

Maladroit

...fter the Green Album tour, Welsh was replaced by Shriner. Weezer's fourth album, Maladroit (2002), achieved mostly positive reviews, but weaker sales....
Maladroit was released in what year?

2002

...fter the Green Album tour, Welsh was replaced by Shriner. Weezer's fourth album, Maladroit ( 2002 ), achieved mostly positive reviews, but weaker sales....
How many times has Weezer's lineup changed since its formation in 1992?

three

...The lineup has changed three times since its formation in 1992. Weezer has sold 9.2 million albums in the US and over 17 million worldwide. After sign...
How many albums have weezer sold in the US and over 17 million worldwide?

9.2 million

... has changed three times since its formation in 1992. Weezer has sold 9.2 million albums in the US and over 17 million worldwide. After signing to Gef...
What was the name of the first self-titled album released in 1994?

The Blue Album

...n 1993, Weezer released their debut selftitled album, also known as The Blue Album , in 1994. Backed by successful music videos for the singles Buddy H...
What was Pinkerton's sound?

darker, more abrasive

...al acclaim. Weezer's second album, Pinkerton (1996), featuring a darker, more abrasive sound, was a commercial failure and initially received mixed re...
What was the name of Weezer's 2001 self-titled album?

The Green Album

... 2001, Weezer returned with another selftitled album, also known as The Green Album , with new bassist Mikey Welsh. Promoted by the singles Hash Pipe a...
Who replaced Welsh after the release of The Green Album?

Scott Shriner

...ercial success and received mostly positive reviews. After the album's release, Welsh left the band and was replaced by current bassist Scott Shriner ....