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Weezer

Bio

FORMED: 1993
As one of the most popular groups to emerge in the post-grunge alternative-rock aftermath, Weezer received equal amounts of criticism and praise for their hook-heavy guitar-pop. Drawing from the heavy power-pop of arena rockers like Cheap Trick and the angular guitar leads of the Pixies, Weezer leavened their melodies with doses of '70s metal learned from bands like Kiss. But what set the band apart was their geekiness. None of the members of Weezer, especially leader Rivers Cuomo, were conventional rockers -- they were kids that holed up in their garage, playing along with their favorite records when they weren't studying or watching TV. As a result, their music was infused with a quirky sense of humor and an endearing awkwardness that made songs like "Undone (The Sweater Song)," "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So" into big modern rock hits during 1994 and 1995. All the singles were helped immeasurably by clever videos, which may have made the songs into hits, but they also made many critics believe that the band were one-hits wonders. Perversely, Cuomo began to feel the same way, and decided that the band would not rely on any visual gimmicks for the second album, 1996's Pinkerton. Simultaneously, Cuomo took control of the band, making it into a vehicle for his songwriting. While the album didn't sell as well as their 1994 eponymous debut, it did earn stronger reviews than its predecessor.Cuomo's assumption of the leadership of Weezer wasn't entirely a surprise, since he had been the band's primary songwriter since its inception in 1993. Raised in Massachusetts, Cuomo moved out to Los Angeles to go to college in the late '80s. During high school, he had played with a number of metal bands, but once he arrived in college, he became interested in alternative and post-punk music. By 1993, he had formed Weezer with bassist Matt Sharp and drummer Patrick Wilson. Over the course of the next year, they played in the competitive Los Angeles club scene, eventually landing a deal with DGC during the post-Nirvana alternative signing boom. Three days before the band began recording their debut with producer Ric Ocasek, they added guitarist Brian Bell.Upon completing the record, Weezer went on hiatus temporarily -- Cuomo was studying at Harvard when their eponymous debut record came out. With the support of DGC and a striking, Spike Jonze-directed video, "Undone (The Sweater Song)" became a modern rock hit in the fall of 1994, but what made Weezer a crossover hit was "Buddy Holly." Jonze created an innovative video that spliced the group into old footage from the sitcom Happy Days, and the single quickly became a hit, making the album a multi-platinum hit as well. By the time the album's final single, "Say It Ain't So," was released in the summer of 1995, the group had gone on hiatus, with Cuomo returning to Harvard. During the time off, Sharp and Wilson formed the New Wave revival band the Rentals, which had a hit later that year with "Friends of P."During the hiatus, Cuomo became a recluse, disappearing at Harvard and suffering writer's block. When Weezer reconvened in the spring of 1996 to record their second album, he had written a loose concept album which featured far more introspective material than their debut. Ironically, the band sounded tighter on the resulting album, Pinkerton. Released in the fall to generally strong reviews, the album failed to become a hit, partially because Cuomo did not want to the band to record another series of clever videos. Grudgingly, the remainder of the band contented themselves to be a supporting group for Cuomo, largely because each member had their own solo project scheduled for release within the next year. DGC, however, had the band make one last chance at a hit with "The Good Life," but by the time the single was released, MTV and modern rock radio had withdrawn their support not only to Weezer, but its style of guitar-driven punk-pop in general. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide




News

5/29/01 - Today's adventure took us to the Boston Harbor, or at least somewhere in Boston where there were some boats. The band played their set under a tent on a pier next to all sorts of cargo cranes, contruction equipment, and lots of boats. Then, everyone got on a large cruise vessel and the autograph signing was conducted whilst the boat cruised around the harbor! This was pretty cool. Captain Insano (I'm not making this up) was a fine aquatic pilot, and no one got seasick (though there was plenty of 'green' around...) However, Brian wasn't much into hanging out on the windswept deck afterwards, citing a lack of "sea legs". Pat kept insisting we were in for a "Nor'easter" and complaining that his pegleg was itchy.


Pictures

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Tour

"Hooptie Tour USA" (promotional tour)
May 28 Washington DC - RFK Stadium
May 29 Boston, MA WFNX
May 30 Boston, MA WBCN clam bake
May 31 Wash DC WWDC (DC101)
Jun 4 Philly Y-100 performance
Jun 5 New York, NY: live performance on the Conan O'Brian Show
Jun 6 New York, NY: Virgin Records Times Square
Jun 7th WXRK Performance, "Boat Cruise" to contest winners
Jun 7th MTV Movie Awards Show AIRS
Jun 8 Toronto, ONT Canada - Island Club at Ontario Place Performance
Jun 9 Toronto, ONT Canada

EUROPEAN TOUR
June 15 Finland - Provinssi Rock Festival
June 16 Sweden - Hultsfred Festival
June 18 Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
June 19 Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset
June 21 Dortmund, Germany - Soundgarden (Visions)
June 23 Neuhausen, Germany - Southside
June 24 Scheesel, Germany - Hurricane (Mainstage)
June 25 Amsterdam, Holland - Melkweg Max
June 26 Paris, France - Elysee Montmarte
June 28 Madrid, Spain - Arena
June 29 Barcelona, Spain - Razzamatazz
July 01 Belgium - Werchter Festival
July 03 London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
July 04 London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
July 05 London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
July 07 Manchester, UK - Academy
July 08 Scotland - T in the Park Festival

August - READING FESTIVAL - NOT CONFIRMED!





Albums

Maladroit

01. American Gigolo
02. Dope Nose
03. Keep Fishin'
04. Take Control
05. Death And Destruction
06. Slob
07. Burndt Jamb
08. Space Rock
09. Slave
10. Fall Together
11. Possibilities
12. Love Explosion
13. December

Weezer (2001)

01. Don't Let Go
02. Photograph
03. Hash Pipe
04. Island In The Sun
05. Crab
06. Knock-Down Drag-Out
07. Smile
08. Simple Pages
09. Glorious Day
10. O Girlfriend

Pinkerton

01. Tired Of Sex
02. Getchoo
03. No Other One
04. Why Bother?
05. Across The Sea
06. The Good Life
07. El Scorcho
08. Pink Triangle
09. Falling For You
10. Butterfly

Weezer

01. My Name Is Jonas
02. No One Else
03. The World Has Turned And Left Me Here
04. Buddy Holly
05. Undone - The Sweater Song
06. Surf Wax America
07. Say It Ain't So
08. In The Garage
09. Holiday
10. Only In Dreams






Last time this page was update: 5-30-01

  created by: Di0dE barnes e-mail       5