History of Weezer in Timeline
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1992. The band's lineup since 2001 includes Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner. Weezer has achieved significant commercial success, selling 10 million albums in the US and over 35 million globally.
1904: Influence of Madama Butterfly
In 1904, Madama Butterfly was released. The opera influenced Pinkerton and Songs from the Black Hole.
1970: Inspiration from Nilsson Sings Newman
In 1970, Harry Nilsson released Nilsson Sings Newman, which was a source of inspiration for Weezer's OK Human album.
1970: Influence of Jesus Christ Superstar
In 1970, Jesus Christ Superstar was released. The musical influenced Pinkerton and Songs from the Black Hole.
1989: Cuomo Moves to Los Angeles
In 1989, Rivers Cuomo moved to Los Angeles from Connecticut with his high school metal band, Avant Garde.
February 14, 1992: Weezer Formation
On February 14, 1992, Cuomo, Wilson, Sharp, and Cropper officially formed Weezer.
March 19, 1992: First Show
On March 19, 1992, Weezer played their first show, opening for Dogstar.
1992: Demos Recorded by Cuomo
From 1992 to 2007, Rivers Cuomo recorded demos that later appeared on "Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo".
1992: Weezer Formation
In 1992, Weezer was formed in Los Angeles, California.
June 1993: Signing with Geffen Records
In June 1993, Weezer signed with Geffen Records after their demo was heard by Todd Sullivan.
1993: Signing with Geffen Records
In 1993, Weezer signed with Geffen Records.
1993: Unused Recordings Spanning from 1993
In November 2010, Weezer released a compilation album, Death to False Metal, composed of re-recorded versions of unused recordings spanning from 1993 to 2010.
May 1994: Release of the Blue Album
In May 1994, Weezer released their self-titled debut album, known as the Blue Album, which received critical acclaim.
1994: Bell Starts the Space Twins
In 1994, Brian Bell started his side project, the Space Twins.
1994: Early Work on Songs from the Black Hole
In 1994, Rivers Cuomo began recording demos for Weezer's next album, originally conceived as a space-themed rock opera called Songs from the Black Hole.
1994: Weezer Contributes to "DGC Rarities Vol. 1"
In 1994, Weezer contributed the song "Jamie" to DGC Rarities Vol. 1, a compilation album.
1994: Throwback to the Band's First Albums
The Weezer album released on April 1, 2016 serves as a throwback to the band's first two albums, Weezer (1994) and Pinkerton (1996).
October 1995: The Rentals Release Debut Album
In October 1995, Matt Sharp's side project, The Rentals, released their debut album, Return of the Rentals, which also featured Patrick Wilson on drums.
1995: Rentals Release "Return of the Rentals"
In 1995, Matt Sharp's band, The Rentals, released their album Return of the Rentals.
1995: Development of Songs from the Black Hole
Throughout 1995, Weezer continued to develop the concept for Songs from the Black Hole through intermittent recording sessions.
September 24, 1996: Release of Pinkerton
On September 24, 1996, Weezer's second album, Pinkerton, was released.
1996: Wilson Forms the Special Goodness
In 1996, Patrick Wilson started his side-project, the Special Goodness, where he sings and plays guitar and bass.
1996: Initial Reception of Pinkerton
In 1996, Pinkerton sold poorly and received mixed reviews.
1996: Release of Pinkerton
In 1996, Weezer's second album, Pinkerton, was released featuring a darker, more abrasive sound.
1996: First Australian Tour Since 1996
In early 2013, Weezer brought its Memories Tour to Australia, their first Australian tour since 1996.
1996: Throwback to the Band's First Albums
The Weezer album released on April 1, 2016 serves as a throwback to the band's first two albums, Weezer (1994) and Pinkerton (1996).
March 1997: Rivers Cuomo Meets Future Wife Kyoko Ito
Rivers Cuomo and Kyoko Ito met in March 1997, and later married on June 18, 2006.
July 1997: Death of Mykel and Carli Allan
In July 1997, sisters Mykel, Carli, and Trysta Allan died in a car accident after a Weezer show.
1997: Loss of Fan Club Team Members
In 2013, Koch did a "Memories" slide show at the Gibson amphitheater in Los Angeles (And most likely many other venues around the U.S.) The slide show consisted of photos of gigs over the years and highlighted the loss of their fan club team members Mykel and Carli Allan in 1997.
1997: End of Pinkerton Tour and Hiatus
In mid-1997, Weezer completed the Pinkerton tour and went on hiatus.
February 1998: Reunion and New Bassist
In February 1998, Cuomo, Bell, and Wilson reunited in Los Angeles and hired Mikey Welsh as their new bassist.
November 1998: Goat Punishment Shows
In November 1998, the band played two club shows with a substitute drummer in California under the name Goat Punishment.
1998: Matt Sharp Leaves Weezer
In 1998, Matt Sharp left Weezer due to differences with the band members.
1998: Cuomo Forms Homie
In 1998, Rivers Cuomo formed a new band called Homie with a changing lineup of Boston musicians.
1999: Cuomo's Songwriting
By 1999, Rivers Cuomo had written 121 songs following a period of depression and experimentation.
1999: Weezer Covers "Velouria" for Pixies Tribute Album
In 1999, Weezer contributed a cover of The Pixies' song "Velouria" to the tribute album Where Is My Mind? A Tribute To The Pixies.
April 2000: Reunion for Fuji Rock Festival
In April 2000, Weezer reunited after accepting an offer to perform at the Fuji Rock Festival.
May 2000: Rehearsals and Demos
From April to May 2000, Weezer rehearsed and demoed new songs in Los Angeles.
June 2000: Return to Live Shows and Warped Tour
In June 2000, Weezer returned to live shows and joined the American Warped Tour for nine dates.
2001: Jimmy Eat World Tribute Song
In 2001, Jimmy Eat World released "Hear You Me", dedicated to Mykel and Carli Allan.
2001: Mikey Welsh Leaves Weezer
In 2001, Mikey Welsh left Weezer due to health reasons and was replaced by Scott Shriner.
2001: Return with the Green Album
In 2001, Weezer returned with the Green Album, featuring a more pop-oriented sound.
2001: Band Lineup Change
Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner.
April 2002: Matt Sharp Lawsuit
In April 2002, former bassist Matt Sharp sued Weezer, alleging he was owed money for cowriting songs.
May 14, 2002: Maladroit Album Release
On May 14, 2002, Weezer released their fourth album, Maladroit, which was a harder-edged version of their pop-influenced music and featured 1980s-style guitar solos. The album received generally positive reviews, but its sales were not as strong as the Green Album.
2002: Rolling Stone Reader Poll
In 2002, Rolling Stone readers voted Pinkerton the 16th greatest album of all time.
2002: Maladroit Rated Highly by Music Publications
In 2002, Spin rated Maladroit as the 6th best album of the year. Also in 2002, a Rolling Stone reader's poll voted it the 90th greatest album of all time.
2002: Comparison to Maladroit
In 2002, Weezer released Maladroit, an album which was compared to Van Weezer.
2002: Interscope Controversy
In early 2002, Interscope sent a letter to radio stations requesting the song be pulled and shut down Weezer's audio/video download webpage.
July 22, 2003: Weezer Covers "Worry Rock" for Tribute Album
On July 22, 2003, Weezer contributed an acoustic cover of Green Day's "Worry Rock" to A Different Shade of Green: A Tribute to Green Day.
December 2003: Start of Recording for Make Believe Album
From December 2003 to the fall of 2004, Weezer recorded a large amount of material with producer Rick Rubin for a new album, which would be released in the spring of 2005. Early recording efforts were made available to the public on the band's website.
2003: Space Twins Release "The End of Imagining"
In 2003, Brian Bell's band, the Space Twins, released their album, The End of Imagining.
2003: Space Twins and Special Goodness Release Albums
In 2003, prior to recording their 4th album, Brian Bell's Space Twins released The End of Imagining, and Patrick Wilson's The Special Goodness released Land Air Sea.
March 23, 2004: Video Capture Device DVD Release
On March 23, 2004, Weezer released their first DVD, Video Capture Device, which chronicles the band's history from its beginnings through the Maladroit Enlightenment Tour. The DVD includes home video footage, music videos, commercials, rehearsals, concert and television performances, and band commentary.
November 8, 2004: Video Capture Device DVD Certified Gold
On November 8, 2004, the Video Capture Device DVD was certified gold.
2004: Recording for Make Believe Album
From December 2003 to the fall of 2004, Weezer recorded a large amount of material with producer Rick Rubin for a new album, which would be released in the spring of 2005. Early recording efforts were made available to the public on the band's website.
2004: Rolling Stone Re-evaluation of Pinkerton
In 2004, Rolling Stone gave Pinkerton a new review, awarding it five out of five stars and adding it to the "Rolling Stone Hall of Fame".
May 10, 2005: Make Believe Album Release
On May 10, 2005, Weezer released their album Make Believe, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album received mixed reviews from critics.
2005: "Beverly Hills" Success and Nominations
In 2005, "Beverly Hills" became a hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, and its video was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.
2005: Release of Make Believe
In 2005, Weezer released Make Believe, which received mixed reviews, but included the hit single "Beverly Hills".
June 18, 2006: Rivers Cuomo Marries Kyoko Ito
On June 18, 2006, Rivers Cuomo married Kyoko Ito, whom he had known since March 1997. The wedding was attended by current and former Weezer members.
2006: Bell Starts The Relationship
In 2006, Brian Bell started a new band called the Relationship.
2006: Make Believe Certified Platinum
In early 2006, Make Believe was certified platinum. Also in 2006, the song, "Beverly Hills" was the second most popular song download on iTunes for 2005.
December 18, 2007: Release of "Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo"
On December 18, 2007, Rivers Cuomo released Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, a compilation of his demos from 1992 to 2007.
May 30, 2008: "Hootenanny Tour" Unveiled
On May 30, 2008, Weezer revealed the "Hootenanny Tour", inviting fans to bring their own instruments to play along with the band during the performances.
June 2008: Red Album Release
In June 2008, Weezer released their self-titled album, also known as the Red Album. The album was described as "experimental" and included non-traditional songs.
October 2008: "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" Announced as Third Single
In October 2008, Weezer announced that "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)" would be the third single from the Red Album. The song was met with critical praise.
November 25, 2008: Release of Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
On November 25, 2008, Rivers Cuomo released Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo.
December 4, 2008: Release of "Christmas with Weezer" Game
On December 4, 2008, Tapulous released the game Christmas with Weezer, featuring gameplay similar to Tap Tap Revenge.
December 16, 2008: Release of "Christmas with Weezer" EP
On December 16, 2008, Weezer released a digital EP titled Christmas with Weezer, featuring Christmas carols performed by the band.
2008: Release of the Red Album
In 2008, Weezer released the Red Album, featuring the hit single "Pork and Beans".
2008: "Island in the Sun" Joins Digital Sales
In 2008, the song "Island In the Sun" joined the digital song sales.
August 18, 2009: "If You're Wondering If I Want You To" Release
On August 18, 2009, Weezer released the first single from their upcoming album, "If You're Wondering If I Want You To".
November 3, 2009: Raditude Album Release
The album Raditude was released on November 3, 2009, debuting as the seventh best-selling album of the week on the Billboard 200 chart.
December 6, 2009: Cuomo Injured in Tour Bus Crash
On December 6, 2009, Rivers Cuomo was injured when his tour bus crashed in Glen, New York, due to black ice. Cuomo suffered three broken ribs and internal bleeding.
December 2009: Weezer Leaves Geffen Records
In December 2009, it was revealed that Weezer was no longer with Geffen Records, but that new material would still be released.
December 2009: Weezer Cancels Remaining 2009 Tour Dates
On December 6, 2009, Rivers Cuomo was injured when his tour bus crashed in Glen, New York, due to black ice, and Weezer cancelled the remaining 2009 tour dates the following day.
2009: Release of Raditude
In 2009, Weezer released Raditude, which featured more modern pop production.
2009: Weezer Tours with Blink-182
In 2009, Weezer toured with Blink-182. Josh Freese temporarily joined Weezer on drums for the tour, while Pat Wilson switched to guitar to allow Cuomo more freedom on stage.
January 20, 2010: Weezer Resumes Touring After Bus Crash
On January 20, 2010, Weezer resumed touring after having to cancel dates in December 2009 due to a bus crash that injured Rivers Cuomo.
March 9, 2010: Weezer on Yo Gabba Gabba!
On March 9, 2010, Weezer appeared on Yo Gabba Gabba! and performed "All My Friends Are Insects".
May 2010: Co-Headlining The Bamboozle
In May 2010, Weezer co-headlined The Bamboozle.
June 11, 2010: Release of "Represent"
On June 11, 2010, Weezer released "Represent", an unofficial anthem for the US Men's soccer team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
June 23, 2010: "Represent" Music Video Release
On June 23, 2010, US Soccer released a music video for Weezer's "Represent" on their YouTube channel.
August 2010: Weezer at Reading and Leeds Festival
In August 2010, Weezer performed at the Reading and Leeds Festival.
September 2010: Hurley Album Release
In September 2010, Weezer released the album Hurley through Epitaph Records. The album's name comes from the character Hugo "Hurley" Reyes from the television show Lost.
September 2010: Weezer Begins Working on Ninth Studio Album
Weezer began working on their ninth studio album in September 2010 with the intent of a 2011 release, but the year ended without seeing a release.
October 2010: Weezer at Voodoo Experience
In October 2010, Weezer performed at the Voodoo Experience festival in New Orleans, LA.
November 2010: Death to False Metal Album Released
In November 2010, Weezer released a compilation album, Death to False Metal, composed of re-recorded versions of unused recordings from 1993 to 2010. A deluxe version of Pinkerton was also released on the same day.
2010: The Relationship Releases Debut Album
In 2010, The Relationship, Brian Bell's band, released their self-titled debut album.
2010: Release of Hurley
In 2010, Weezer released Hurley, featuring more modern pop production.
October 8, 2011: Mikey Welsh Found Dead
On October 8, 2011, former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh was found dead in a Chicago hotel room.
December 12, 2011: Alone III: The Pinkerton Years Released
On December 12, 2011, a third volume of Cuomo's solo Alone series, titled Alone III: The Pinkerton Years, consisting of demos and outtakes from the Pinkerton sessions, was released.
January 19, 2012: Weezer Headlines Rock-Themed Carnival Cruise
On January 19, 2012, Weezer headlined a four-day rock-themed Carnival Cruise from Miami to Cozumel.
May 2012: Special Goodness Releases "Natural"
In May 2012, Patrick Wilson released his fourth record, Natural, with the Special Goodness.
March 20, 2013: Release of "Scott & Rivers"
On March 20, 2013, Rivers Cuomo and Scott Murphy released Scott & Rivers, a Japanese-language album.
2013: Memories Tour in Australia
In early 2013, Weezer brought its Memories Tour to Australia, their first Australian tour since 1996. The band played its first two albums in full at several venues.
January 2014: Recording with Producer Ric Ocasek
In January 2014, Weezer began recording with producer Ric Ocasek, who had produced the "Blue Album" and the "Green Album".
March 19, 2014: New Song Clip Posted on YouTube
On March 19, 2014, Weezer posted a clip of a new song on their official YouTube account, confirming rumors of the band being in the studio.
June 12, 2014: Album Title Revealed: Everything Will Be Alright in the End
On June 12, 2014, Weezer revealed that the title of their upcoming album would be Everything Will Be Alright in the End.
October 7, 2014: Everything Will Be Alright in the End Album Release
On October 7, 2014, Weezer released the album Everything Will Be Alright in the End to generally favorable reviews, becoming the band's best-reviewed release since Pinkerton.
2014: Release of Everything Will Be Alright in the End
In 2014, Weezer released Everything Will Be Alright in the End, returning to a rock style.
October 26, 2015: "Thank God for Girls" Single Release
On October 26, 2015, Weezer released a new single, "Thank God for Girls", through Apple Music and to radio.
January 14, 2016: "King of the World" Single Release and "White Album" Announcement
On January 14, 2016, Weezer released a third single, "King of the World", and announced the "White Album".
April 1, 2016: Weezer (White Album) Released
The White Album was officially released on April 1, 2016, and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
October 2016: Cuomo Discusses Plans for "Black Album"
In October 2016, Rivers Cuomo discussed plans for Weezer's next album, provisionally titled the "Black Album", indicating it would explore "more mature topics".
2016: Pinkerton Certified Platinum
In 2016, Pinkerton was certified platinum.
2016: Weezer & Panic! at the Disco Summer Tour
In 2016, Weezer performed on the Weezer & Panic! at the Disco Summer Tour with Panic! at the Disco. The band later signed to Atlantic Records.
2016: Release of the White Album
In 2016, Weezer released the White Album, returning to a rock style.
March 16, 2017: Release of "Feels Like Summer"
On March 16, 2017, Weezer released "Feels Like Summer" as the lead single from their upcoming album, receiving mixed reviews but achieving significant Alternative radio success.
April 2017: Second Scott & Rivers Album Released
In April 2017, Rivers Cuomo and Scott Murphy released their second album as Scott & Rivers.
2017: The Relationship Releases "Clara Obscura"
In 2017, Brian Bell's band, The Relationship, released their second album, Clara Obscura.
2017: Release of Pacific Daydream
In 2017, Weezer released Pacific Daydream, returning to a mainstream pop sound.
2017: Beginnings of "OK Human"
In 2017, Weezer started to work on OK Human, combining rock instrumentation with a 38-piece-orchestra.
May 29, 2018: Weezer Releases Cover of "Africa"
On May 29, 2018, Weezer released their cover of Toto's "Africa" after a Twitter campaign, which later became a number-one hit.
August 2018: "Africa" Reaches Number One
In August 2018, Weezer's cover of "Africa" reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, marking their first number-one single since 2008.
September 20, 2018: Release of "California Snow"
On September 20, 2018, Weezer released "California Snow" as a single for the film Spell.
October 11, 2018: Release of "Can't Knock the Hustle"
On October 11, 2018, Weezer released "Can't Knock the Hustle", the lead single from their upcoming album.
January 24, 2019: Release of the Teal Album
On January 24, 2019, Weezer surprised fans with the release of the Teal Album, a collection of cover songs that became a commercial success, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
March 1, 2019: Scheduled Release Date of "Black Album"
March 1, 2019, was the scheduled release date for Weezer's "Black Album", produced by Dave Sitek, and was accompanied by announcements of a U.S. arena tour with the Pixies and international dates.
September 10, 2019: Announcement of Hella Mega Tour and Release of "The End of the Game"
On September 10, 2019, Weezer announced the Hella Mega Tour with Green Day and Fall Out Boy, and released "The End of the Game" as the opening single from their upcoming album, Van Weezer.
September 2019: Death of Ric Ocasek
In September 2019, Ric Ocasek, who produced several Weezer albums, passed away.
2019: Weezer Records "Lost in the Woods" for Frozen II
In 2019, Weezer recorded a version of "Lost in the Woods" for the film Frozen II, which was included on the soundtrack album.
2019: Release of the Teal Album and Black Album
In 2019, Weezer released the Teal Album (covers) and the Black Album.
May 6, 2020: Release of "Hero" and Delay of Van Weezer
On May 6, 2020, Weezer released the single "Hero" as a tribute to essential workers and announced the delay of their album, Van Weezer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 14, 2020: Announcement of Van Weezer Delay and Release of "Beginning of the End"
On August 14, 2020, Weezer announced that the Van Weezer album had been delayed to May 2021 and released the single "Beginning of the End" as part of the Bill & Ted Face the Music soundtrack.
October 6, 2020: "Van Weezer" Album Dedicated to Eddie Van Halen
On October 6, 2020, Weezer dedicated the "Van Weezer" album to Eddie Van Halen following his death.
November 2020: Cuomo Releases Unreleased Songs and Demos
In November 2020, Rivers Cuomo released thousands of unreleased songs and demos from Weezer's career on his website for purchase and download.
2020: Recognition by Rolling Stone
In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the Blue Album number 294 on The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.
January 18, 2021: Announcement of "OK Human" Album
On January 18, 2021, Weezer announced their fourteenth studio album, "OK Human", with a release date of January 29.
January 29, 2021: Release of OK Human
On January 29, 2021, Weezer released the album OK Human, with "All My Favorite Songs" as the lead single.
April 21, 2021: Release of "I Need Some of That"
On April 21, 2021, Weezer released "I Need Some of That" as the fourth single from Van Weezer.
May 7, 2021: Release of Van Weezer
On May 7, 2021, Weezer released the album Van Weezer, drawing comparisons to their album Maladroit.
May 2021: Rescheduled Release Date for Van Weezer
May 2021 was the rescheduled release date for the album Van Weezer, coinciding with the Hella Mega Tour.
June 2021: Weezer Contributes to Wave Break
In June 2021, Weezer contributed the song "Tell Me What You Want" to the video game Wave Break, featured in a special level called "Weezy Mode".
August 2021: Weezer Covers Metallica's "Enter Sandman"
In August 2021, Weezer contributed a cover of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" to The Metallica Blacklist compilation album.
2021: Release of OK Human and Van Weezer
In 2021, Weezer released OK Human, which featured an orchestral pop sound, and Van Weezer, inspired by hard rock.
March 11, 2022: Announcement of SZNZ EPs
On March 11, 2022, Weezer announced SZNZ, a series of four EPs based on the seasons.
June 20, 2022: Weezer Performs on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
On June 20, 2022, Weezer appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and debuted "Records", the lead single from SZNZ: Summer.
September 2022: Broadway Residency Cancelled
In September 2022, Weezer's planned Broadway Theater residency was cancelled due to high expenses and poor ticket sales.
September 19, 2022: Performance at Troubadour as Goat Punishment
On September 19, 2022, Weezer performed at the Troubadour in Hollywood under the name Goat Punishment, debuting SZNZ: Winter.
September 22, 2022: Release of "What Happens After You?"
On September 22, 2022, Weezer released the single "What Happens After You?" from SZNZ: Autumn.
December 9, 2022: Release of "I Want a Dog"
On December 9, 2022, Weezer released "I Want a Dog", the lead single from SZNZ: Winter.
December 21, 2022: Release of SZNZ: Winter
On December 21, 2022, Weezer released SZNZ: Winter, along with a music video for "Dark Enough To See The Stars".
2022: Release of SZNZ
In 2022, Weezer released SZNZ, a series of EPs based on the four seasons.
2022: "Island in the Sun" Peaks on Digital Charts
In 2022, the song "Island in the Sun" peaked at No. 18 in the digital song sales.
November 2023: Weezer Appears in "Family Switch"
In November 2023, Weezer made an appearance in the Netflix film "Family Switch".
June 2024: Tour of the UK and Ireland with Smashing Pumpkins
In June 2024, Weezer commenced a tour of the UK and Ireland alongside Smashing Pumpkins.
November 1, 2024: Release of "Super Deluxe Edition" of Blue Album
On November 1, 2024, Weezer released the "Super Deluxe Edition" of the Blue Album, commemorating its 30th anniversary.
October 18, 2025: Performance at When We Were Young Festival
On October 18, 2025, Weezer is scheduled to perform at the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas.
