Formed in Los Angeles in 1992, Weezer is an influential American rock band known for their unique blend of power pop and alternative rock. The band's lineup has remained consistent since 2001, featuring Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner. With over 35 million albums sold globally, including 10 million in the US alone, Weezer's impact on the music scene is undeniable.
The opera "Madama Butterfly" premiered in 1904. It would later go on to influence Weezer's album, Pinkerton.
The name "Weezer" originated from a nickname given to Rivers Cuomo by his father, inspired by a character named "Wheezer" from the 1922 short films Our Gang.
'Nilsson Sings Newman,' released in 1970, was one of the inspirations behind Weezer's 'OK Human.'
The musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" premiered in 1970. It would later go on to influence Weezer's album, Pinkerton, and the unfinished album, Songs from the Black Hole.
In 1970, the album 'Nilsson Sings Newman' by Harry Nilsson was released, which would later become an inspiration for Weezer's 'OK Human' album.
Rivers Cuomo moved to Los Angeles in 1989 and went through several band formations, including Zoom, Fuzz, and Sixty Wrong Sausages, before forming Weezer.
Cuomo, Wilson, Sharp, and Cropper formed Weezer on February 14, 1992.
Weezer played their first show on March 19, 1992, opening for Dogstar, Keanu Reeves' band.
The American rock band Weezer was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1992.
In 1992, Rivers Cuomo began recording demos, some of which would later be released in his compilation albums, "Alone - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo", "Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo", and "Alone III: The Pinkerton Years".
Weezer signed with Geffen Records in June 1993 after Todd Sullivan, an A&R man, heard their demo, The Kitchen Tape.
In 1993, Weezer signed with Geffen Records.
Weezer recorded their debut album, the Blue Album, with producer Ric Ocasek at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Brian Bell replaced Jason Cropper on guitar during recording. The album was released in May 1994.
Weezer's self-titled debut album, also known as the Blue Album, was released in May 1994 and achieved multi-platinum success.
Former Weezer bassist, Matt Sharp, started a band called The Rentals in 1994.
In 1994, Weezer's bassist, Brian Bell, started a band called Space Twins.
Weezer contributed the song "Jamie" to the compilation album "DGC Rarities Vol. 1" in 1994. The album was a compilation of demos, B-sides, and covers recorded by bands on the DGC label.
Weezer took a break from touring for the Christmas holidays in 1994, during which Cuomo began recording demos for their next album.
Matt Sharp, Weezer's bassist, started The Rentals, who released their debut album Return of the Rentals in October 1995.
Cuomo's initial concept for Weezer's next album was a space-themed rock opera called Songs from the Black Hole, but he abandoned it after enrolling at Harvard University in 1995.
The Rentals, formed by former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp, released their album "Return of the Rentals" in 1995.
Weezer released their second album, Pinkerton, on September 24, 1996. The album, named after a character from Madama Butterfly, reflects Cuomo's feelings about touring and success.
Pinkerton received mixed reviews upon release in 1996 and was voted one of the worst albums of the year by Rolling Stone readers.
Weezer's drummer, Patrick Wilson, started his side project, the Special Goodness, in 1996. In the band, he sings and plays guitar and bass.
Weezer's second album, Pinkerton, was released in 1996. Despite its initial mixed reviews, it later gained cult status and critical acclaim.
In July 1997, three sisters, Mykel, Carli, and Trysta Allan, tragically died in a car accident while returning home from a Weezer concert in Denver, Colorado. Mykel and Carli were deeply involved in the Los Angeles music scene, managing Weezer's fan club and handling publicity for several other bands. Their impact on Weezer was profound, inspiring the band to dedicate the "Sweater Song" B-side, "Mykel and Carli," to them.
Following the conclusion of the Pinkerton tour in mid-1997, Weezer decided to go on a hiatus. During this break, the band members pursued individual projects. However, tensions arose, and in 1998, bassist Matt Sharp made the difficult decision to depart from Weezer, citing communication breakdowns and differing perspectives within the band.
In February 1998, Cuomo, Bell, and Wilson reunited in Los Angeles with the goal of commencing work on a new Weezer album.
Following Matt Sharp's departure, Weezer recruited Mikey Welsh, who had previously played with Cuomo in the Boston band Homie, as their new bassist in April 1998.
In November 1998, Weezer, using the pseudonym Goat Punishment, played two unannounced club shows in California. The band's setlist consisted entirely of cover songs by Nirvana and Oasis.
Bassist Matt Sharp officially left Weezer in 1998 due to internal conflicts and communication issues within the band.
Following his return to Harvard, Rivers Cuomo took a hiatus from his studies to delve back into songwriting. He established a new band in Boston, experimenting with different musicians and crafting fresh material. While these songs remained unreleased, bootlegs of their performances circulated among fans. Meanwhile, Patrick Wilson joined Cuomo in Boston, collaborating on another side project known as Homie, which featured members from other prominent bands. Despite recording an album's worth of material, Homie only released one song, "American Girls," featured in the 1998 film "Meet The Deedles."
Matt Sharp left Weezer in 1998 to focus on his band, The Rentals.
Following a period of depression in 1999, Rivers Cuomo engaged in a period of intense songwriting, producing 121 new songs.
The Teen Choice Awards were established in 1999. The awards were designed to honor the year's biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, and television, as voted by teenagers.
Weezer contributed a cover of "Velouria" by The Pixies to the tribute album "Where Is My Mind? A Tribute to The Pixies" in 1999.
Enticed by a lucrative offer to perform at Japan's renowned Fuji Rock Festival, Weezer reunited in April 2000. This pivotal event reignited the band's creative spark and set the stage for a return to productivity.
From April to May 2000, Weezer immersed themselves in rehearsals and demo recordings in Los Angeles, fueled by the momentum gained from their Fuji Rock Festival reunion.
Marking their official return to the stage, Weezer played a series of low-key, unpromoted concerts in June 2000, once again adopting the name Goat Punishment.
Weezer released "Hash Pipe" as the lead single from their upcoming album, "Green Album", in 2000. The song's success was followed by the release of "Island in the Sun," which became a global hit.
In 2001, Weezer's lineup changed to include Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner.
In 2001, Weezer released the Green Album, marking their return with bassist Mikey Welsh.
In 2001, bassist Mikey Welsh left Weezer due to struggles with mental health and substance abuse. Scott Shriner replaced him as the band's bassist.
In 2001, the band Jimmy Eat World released a tribute song titled "Hear You Me" in memory of Mykel and Carli Allan, the sisters who tragically passed away in a car accident after attending a Weezer concert in 1997.
In April 2002, former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp filed a lawsuit against the band. Sharp's lawsuit alleged that he was owed royalties for co-writing several Weezer songs. The lawsuit was settled out of court, resolving the financial and creative disputes between Sharp and his former bandmates.
Weezer's fourth studio album, "Maladroit," was released on May 14, 2002.
Weezer's fourth studio album, 'Maladroit,' was released in 2002.
In 2002, music magazine Spin recognized Weezer's "Maladroit" as the 6th best album of the year, highlighting its musicality and impact.
Weezer's fourth album, Maladroit, was released in 2002.
In 2002, Weezer clashed with their record label, Interscope, over the release of their song "Photograph." Interscope attempted to prevent radio stations from playing the song until an official single was released, leading to tension between the band and the label.
In 2002, Rolling Stone readers voted Pinkerton the 16th greatest album of all time.
Weezer contributed an acoustic version of Green Day's "Worry Rock" to the compilation album "A Different Shade of Green: A Tribute to Green Day" on July 22, 2003.
Brian Bell's band, Space Twins, released their album "The End of Imagining" in 2003.
In 2003, Brian Bell and Patrick Wilson, while still active members of Weezer, pursued their respective musical endeavors. Bell's band, Space Twins, released their album "The End of Imagining," garnering critical praise, including a notable mention as the 7th best album of 2003 by Rolling Stone critic John D. Luerssen. Concurrently, Wilson's band, The Special Goodness, unveiled their album "Land Air Sea," showcasing their musical talents outside of Weezer.
On March 23, 2004, Weezer released their debut DVD, "Video Capture Device." This comprehensive release offered fans a glimpse into the band's journey, from their early days to the "Maladroit" era. The DVD, compiled by Karl Koch, featured a treasure trove of home videos, music videos, commercials, rehearsal footage, live performances, television appearances, and insightful commentary from the band members.
Weezer's debut DVD, "Video Capture Device," achieved gold certification on November 8, 2004, a testament to its popularity and appeal among fans.
Rolling Stone gave Pinkerton a retrospective review in 2004, awarding it five out of five stars and inducting it into their "Hall of Fame."
On May 10, 2005, Weezer released their fifth studio album, "Make Believe." The album, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, received mixed reviews.
Make Believe, Weezer's fifth album, was released in 2005.
In 2005, Weezer's "Beverly Hills" became a hit in the U.S. and worldwide, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also nominated for Best Rock Song at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards.
Rivers Cuomo married Kyoko Ito on June 18, 2006. The wedding was attended by the current members of the band as well as former members Matt Sharp and Jason Cropper.
Brian Bell started a band called The Relationship in 2006. He decided to save material for this band and did not contribute any songs to Weezer's album, Raditude.
In early 2006, Weezer's album "Make Believe" was certified platinum, and "Beverly Hills" was the second most popular song download on iTunes for 2005.
On December 18, 2007, Rivers Cuomo released a compilation album of demos recorded from 1992 to 2007, titled "Alone - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo". The album includes some demos from the unfinished Weezer album "Songs from the Black Hole".
On May 30, 2008, Weezer announced their "Hootenanny Tour," inviting fans to bring their own instruments to play along with the band.
Weezer, also known as the Red Album, was released in June 2008. Described as "experimental", it included longer and non-traditional songs. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and received generally positive reviews.
In October 2008, Weezer released "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)" as the third single from their self-titled album. The song was met with critical praise.
Rivers Cuomo released the second installment of his demo compilation album, "Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo", on November 25, 2008.
On December 4, 2008, the game "Christmas with Weezer" was released. The game by Tapulous featured gameplay similar to Tap Tap Revenge and six Christmas carols performed by Weezer.
The "Christmas with Weezer" EP was released on December 16, 2008, featuring the songs included in the iOS game of the same name.
Weezer released the Red Album in 2008.
In 2008, almost a decade after its initial release, Weezer's "Island in the Sun" experienced a resurgence in popularity, entering the digital song sales charts.
In 2008, Weezer's single "Pork and Beans" reached the top of the charts.
On August 18, 2009, Weezer released "If You're Wondering If I Want You To," the first single from their upcoming album, "Raditude." The song peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Weezer's album "Raditude" was released on November 3, 2009, debuting as the seventh best-selling album of the week on the Billboard 200 chart.
Rivers Cuomo was injured on December 6, 2009, when Weezer's tour bus crashed. Cuomo suffered three broken ribs and internal bleeding. His assistant broke two ribs. Cuomo's wife, baby daughter, and their nanny, who were also on the bus, escaped injury.
Weezer cancelled the remaining 2009 tour dates after a bus crash left Rivers Cuomo and another member of the touring party injured.
Weezer announced in December 2009 that they were no longer with Geffen Records. They later signed with the independent label Epitaph.
Weezer toured with Blink-182 in 2009, with drummer Josh Freese temporarily joining the band. Pat Wilson switched from drums to guitar during the tour, allowing Cuomo to be "more free on stage".
Weezer released Raditude in 2009.
After recovering from injuries sustained in a bus crash, Weezer resumed touring on January 20, 2010.
On March 9, 2010, Weezer appeared on the children's show "Yo Gabba Gabba!" and performed the song "All My Friends Are Insects". The song was included on the soundtrack album for the show, as well as a bonus track for the Weezer album "Hurley".
Weezer co-headlined The Bamboozle in May 2010.
Weezer released their new single, "Represent", on June 11, 2010, as an unofficial anthem for the US Men's soccer team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
On June 23, 2010, US Soccer released a music video for Weezer's song "Represent" on their official YouTube channel.
Weezer's album "Hurley" was released in September 2010 through Epitaph Records. The album's name and cover art are a tribute to the character Hugo "Hurley" Reyes from the television show "Lost."
Weezer performed at the Voodoo Experience festival in New Orleans in October 2010.
In November 2010, Weezer released "Death to False Metal", a compilation album of re-recorded unreleased tracks. The same day saw the release of a deluxe edition of their album "Pinkerton", featuring bonus demos, outtakes, and live recordings.
Weezer recorded a cover of "I'm a Believer" in 2010 for the movie "Shrek Forever After".
Hurley, Weezer's eighth studio album, was released in 2010.
Brian Bell's band, The Relationship, released their self-titled debut album in 2010.
Tragedy struck on October 8, 2011, when former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh was found dead in a Chicago hotel room from a suspected heroin overdose.
On December 12, 2011, Rivers Cuomo, Weezer's frontman, released the third volume of his solo demos and outtakes, "Alone III: The Pinkerton Years", featuring tracks from the band's Pinkerton sessions.
Weezer collaborated with Hayley Williams to record a cover of "Rainbow Connection" in 2011. The song was included on the Muppets cover album, "Muppets: The Green Album".
Weezer covered "You Might Think" by The Cars for the Pixar movie "Cars 2" in 2011. The song was included on the movie's soundtrack.
Setting sail on January 19, 2012, Weezer headlined a four-day rock-themed Carnival Cruise from Miami to Cozumel.
In May 2012, Patrick Wilson, Weezer's drummer, released his fourth record with his side project, the Special Goodness. The album was titled "Natural".
Rivers Cuomo and Scott Murphy of the band Allister released their debut Japanese-language album, "Scott & Rivers", on March 20, 2013.
In January 2014, Weezer began recording with producer Ric Ocasek, known for his work on their albums "Blue Album" and "Green Album".
After rumors of the band being back in the studio, Weezer confirmed the news on March 19, 2014, by posting a clip of a new song on their YouTube channel.
The title of Weezer's upcoming album was revealed to be "Everything Will Be Alright in the End" on June 12, 2014.
Weezer's album "Everything Will Be Alright in the End" was released on October 7, 2014. It garnered generally positive reviews, becoming their best-reviewed album since "Pinkerton".
Weezer released Everything Will Be Alright in the End in 2014.
Weezer released their third single, "King of the World", on January 14, 2016, and announced their upcoming album, the "White Album".
Released on April 1, 2016, Weezer's "White Album" was a concept album exploring themes of gender dynamics, modern dating, and religious imagery, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
Following the release of the "White Album", Cuomo hinted at plans for the "Black Album", aiming for a more mature sound. However, recording was delayed as Cuomo's new material took on a different direction.
Pinkerton was certified platinum in 2016.
Weezer released the White Album in 2016.
In 2016, Weezer embarked on a summer tour with Panic! at the Disco and signed with Atlantic Records through a joint venture with Warner Music Group and Crush Management.
Weezer released "Feels Like Summer", the lead single from their upcoming album, on March 16, 2017. The song received mixed reviews from fans but went on to become their biggest Alternative radio hit in a decade.
Rivers Cuomo and Scott Murphy released their second album in April 2017.
Pacific Daydream, an album by Weezer, was released in 2017.
The Relationship, Brian Bell's band, released their second album, "Clara Obscura", in 2017.
Weezer started working on 'OK Human' in 2017, aiming to blend rock instrumentation with orchestral elements.
On May 29, 2018, Weezer released their cover of Toto's "Africa", a move prompted by a persistent fan campaign on Twitter.
Weezer's "Africa" cover hit number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in August 2018, their first chart-topper since 2008. Toto reciprocated with a cover of Weezer's "Hash Pipe".
Weezer released "California Snow" on September 20, 2018, a song featured in the film "Spell". The track was later included as the closing song on their "Black Album".
On October 11, 2018, Weezer released "Can't Knock the Hustle", the lead single from their forthcoming album.
Taking everyone by surprise, Weezer dropped their covers album, "Teal Album", on January 24, 2019. The album was a commercial hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
Produced by Dave Sitek, Weezer's "Black Album" was released on March 1, 2019. The band also announced a US arena tour with the Pixies, along with international dates.
On September 10, 2019, Weezer announced their participation in the Hella Mega Tour alongside Green Day and Fall Out Boy. The same day, they released "The End of the Game," the first single from their upcoming album 'Van Weezer.'
Producer Ric Ocasek, who had worked with Weezer on several albums, passed away in September 2019.
Weezer recorded a cover of "Lost in the Woods" for the "Frozen II" soundtrack in 2019.
Weezer released the Teal Album, a covers album, and the Black Album in 2019.
In 2019, Weezer recorded a version of "Lost in the Woods" for the 'Frozen II' soundtrack.
On May 6, 2020, Weezer released "Hero," a tribute to essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and announced the delay of their album 'Van Weezer.'
On August 14, 2020, Weezer announced the delay of 'Van Weezer' to May 2021 and released "Beginning of the End" for the 'Bill & Ted Face the Music' soundtrack.
Following the death of Eddie Van Halen, Weezer dedicated their album 'Van Weezer' to him on October 6, 2020.
Rivers Cuomo released thousands of unreleased songs and demos from throughout Weezer's career on his personal website in November 2020.
In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the Blue Album number 294 on The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.
Weezer released the song "It's Always Summer in Bikini Bottom" for "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run" film soundtrack in 2020.
Weezer announced their fourteenth studio album, 'OK Human,' on January 18, 2021.
Weezer released the single "I Need Some of That" on April 21, 2021.
On May 7, 2021, Weezer released their album 'Van Weezer.'
'Van Weezer' was released in May 2021.
In June 2021, Weezer contributed their song "Tell Me What You Want" to the video game "Wave Break". The song is featured in the "Weezy Mode" level.
Weezer contributed a cover of Metallica's song "Enter Sandman" to the compilation album "The Metallica Blacklist" in August 2021.
Weezer released the song "It's Always Summer in Bikini Bottom" for "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run" film soundtrack in 2021.
In 2021, Weezer released OK Human, an orchestral pop album, and Van Weezer, a hard rock-inspired album.
On March 11, 2022, Weezer officially announced 'SZNZ,' a project consisting of four EPs, with the first one, 'SZNZ: Spring,' scheduled for release on March 20.
Weezer debuted "Records," the lead single from 'SZNZ: Summer,' on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on June 20, 2022.
Weezer cancelled their Broadway residency in August 2022 due to high expenses and low ticket sales.
In September 2022, Weezer planned a Broadway Theater residency.
Performing as Goat Punishment, Weezer played 'SZNZ: Winter' for the first time at Troubadour (West Hollywood) on September 19, 2022.
Weezer released "What Happens After You?" from their EP 'SZNZ: Autumn' on September 22, 2022.
Weezer released a music video for "What Happens After You?" on November 29, 2022.
Weezer released "I Want a Dog," the lead single from 'SZNZ: Winter,' on December 9, 2022.
Weezer released 'SZNZ: Winter,' the final EP in the 'SZNZ' series, on December 21, 2022.
Weezer released a series of EPs based on the four seasons in 2022.
Weezer's "Island in the Sun" continued to climb the charts in 2022, reaching a peak position of number 18 on the digital song sales charts.
Weezer planned to release their four-album box-set, 'SZNZ,' in 2022, with each album representing a different season and corresponding emotion.
Weezer appeared in the Netflix film 'Family Switch' in November 2023.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Weezer will embark on the Voyage to the Blue Planet tour, performing their album 'Blue' in its entirety, starting in September 2024.