In November, Weezer recorded a demo, The Kitchen Tape, including a version of the future Weezer single " Say It Ain't So". Cuomo gave Sharp one year to get the band a record deal before Cuomo accepted a scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley. They took their name from a nickname Cuomo's father gave him. Their first show was on 19 March 1992, closing for Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar. Ĭuomo, Wilson, Sharp, and Cropper formed Weezer on 14 February 1992. Sharp was enthusiastic about the demos, and became the group's bassist and de facto manager. Ĭuomo moved to Santa Monica, California, and recorded dozens of demos, including future Weezer songs "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here" and " Undone – The Sweater Song". Chapman quit after a few early shows the band reformed as Sixty Wrong Sausages, with Cuomo's friend Pat Finn on bass and Jason Cropper on guitar, but soon disbanded. Wilson and Cuomo formed a band, Fuzz, and enlisted Scottie Chapman on bass.
After the group disbanded, Cuomo met drummer Patrick Wilson, and moved in with him and Wilson's friend Matt Sharp. Vocalist and guitarist Rivers Cuomo moved to Los Angeles from Connecticut in 1989 with his high school metal band, Avant Garde, later renamed Zoom. History Formation and first years (1989–1994)
After the Green Album tour, Welsh was replaced by Shriner. With a more pop sound, and promoted by singles " Hash Pipe" and " Island in the Sun", the album was a commercial success and received mostly positive reviews. In 2001, Weezer returned with the Green Album, with new bassist Mikey Welsh. Following the tour for Pinkerton, bassist Matt Sharp left the band and Weezer went on hiatus.
Both the Blue Album and Pinkerton are now frequently cited among the best albums of the 1990s. Weezer's second album, Pinkerton (1996), featuring a darker, more abrasive sound, was a commercial failure and initially received mixed reviews, but achieved cult status and critical acclaim years later. Backed by music videos for the singles " Buddy Holly", " Undone – The Sweater Song", and " Say It Ain't So", the Blue Album became a multiplatinum success. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Brian Bell (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals, keyboards).Īfter signing to Geffen Records in 1993, Weezer released their self-titled debut album, also known as the Blue Album, in May 1994. Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1992.