Weezer

Weezer is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1992 and active since then. The group’s core lineup is Rivers Cuomo on vocals and guitar, Patrick Wilson on drums, Brian Bell on guitar and backing vocals, and Scott Shriner on bass and backing vocals. Former members include Jason Cropper, Matt Sharp, Mikey Welsh, Bobby Schneck, Josh Freese, Daniel Brummel and David Elitch. Karl Koch is also closely associated with the band’s early history.

Style and background

The band is usually described as alternative rock, with related labels including alternative pop, geek rock, mainstream rock, pop rock and power pop. Its early sound draws on alternative bands and power pop artists. Weezer begins in Los Angeles when Cuomo joins with Wilson, Sharp and Cropper, with Bell later replacing Cropper during the recording of the first album.

Early releases

Weezer signs to Geffen Records in 1993 and becomes part of the DGC label, later associated with Interscope. Its self-titled debut album, commonly called The Blue Album, appears in 1994 and gains strong critical attention. It includes the singles “Undone (The Sweater Song)”, “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So”, and is produced by Ric Ocasek. The “Buddy Holly” video receives heavy MTV rotation and wins four MTV Video Music Awards for the band and Jonze, along with two Billboard Music Video Awards. The Blue Album later becomes Weezer’s best-selling record and is certified three times platinum in the United States.

The follow-up, Pinkerton, arrives in 1996. It reaches number 19 in the United States and has a darker, more abrasive sound than the debut. The singles “El Scorcho”, “The Good Life” and “Pink Triangle” come from the album. Pinkerton is initially poorly received, but later becomes a cult favourite and is reappraised by Rolling Stone, which later gives it a five-star rating and places it in its Hall of Fame. The album’s title comes from the character Lieutenant Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, and the record is closely tied to that opera’s story.

Line-up changes and return

After Pinkerton, the band pauses touring. Wilson works on The Special Goodness, Sharp continues with The Rentals, and Bell works with Space Twins. Cuomo leaves Harvard, returns to Los Angeles and later forms The Rivers Cuomo Band to try out unreleased material, including songs that are eventually abandoned for Weezer. Sharp leaves the group in 1998, and Mikey Welsh becomes his replacement. The band also uses the name Goat Punishment for some live shows in 2000.

Commercial breakthrough in the 2000s

Weezer’s third album, Weezer, usually called The Green Album, appears in 2001. It gives the band a new mainstream audience through “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun”. “Hash Pipe” is nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. The follow-up album Maladroit arrives in 2002 with Scott Shriner on bass. It has a harder-edged sound and includes “Dope Nose” and “Keep Fishin’”.

In 2004, the band releases Video Capture Device, its first DVD, which compiles music videos, concerts and homemade films. Make Believe follows in 2005 and features the hit “Beverly Hills”, which becomes the band’s first song to reach number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and earns a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song. “Perfect Situation” also reaches number one on the Modern Rock chart. During this period, Weezer tours with the Pixies and with the Foo Fighters on the so-called Foozer tour, which wins Most Creative Tour Package at The 17th Annual Concert Industry Awards. The Winter Weezerland EP appears in 2005.

Later albums and labels

Weezer releases the Red Album in 2008, with Rick Rubin producing and Rich Costey mixing. The record is described as more experimental than earlier releases, with longer songs, synthesizers, TR-808 drum machines, Southern rap, baroque counterpoint and instrument changes between band members. “Pork and Beans” spends 11 weeks at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and its video wins a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video.

Raditude follows in 2009. In December that year, Cuomo is injured in a tour bus crash in upstate New York, and several tour dates are cancelled before the band resumes touring in January 2010. The band leaves Geffen in 2009 and later signs to Epitaph, which releases Hurley in 2010. Death to False Metal also appears in 2010, collecting newly re-recorded versions of unused tracks from across the band’s career. In 2011, the band notes the death of former bassist Mikey Welsh.

Everything Will Be Alright in the End is recorded with Ric Ocasek and released in 2014. It is generally well received and is the band’s best-reviewed album since Pinkerton. The White Album follows in 2016 after the band leaves Republic Records and joins Crush Music. Jake Sinclair produces the album, which draws on Cuomo’s California experiences and his diary writing. The album is nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards.

Recent releases and projects

Pacific Daydream appears in 2017, with “Feels Like Summer” becoming a major alternative radio hit. In 2018, Weezer releases a cover of Toto’s “Africa”, which reaches number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and Toto responds with a cover of “Hash Pipe”. The Teal Album, a covers record, follows in 2019. The band’s self-titled Black Album is produced by Dave Sitek and planned for release in 2019.

OK Human appears in 2021 and is produced by Jake Sinclair. Rivers Cuomo describes it as a piano-and-orchestra-led record with personal songs. Van Weezer also arrives in 2021 and is framed as a guitar-heavy album inspired by Van Halen. In 2022, Weezer releases the SZNZ series of four EPs: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The project is structured around the seasons, with each EP tied to a different mood and historical or aesthetic theme. Spring includes “A Little Bit of Love”; Summer includes “Records”; Winter includes “I Want a Dog”. Autumn does not have a lead single, but “What Happens After You?” receives a video, while Winter is accompanied by a video for “Dark Enough to See the Stars”.

By the 2020s, Weezer remains active and continues to work on a twentieth album, with Rivers Cuomo discussing demo ideas and possible directions for the release.