Weezer

Weezer (IPA: /ˈwizɚ/) is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1992. Initially, the band consisted of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, guitar), Patrick Wilson (drums, backing vocals), Matt Sharp (bass, backing vocals), and Jason Cropper (guitar, backing vocals). Jason Cropper was later replaced by Brian Bell. Matt Sharp was subsequently replaced by Mikey Welsh who was later replaced with Scott Shriner.They have released six full-length albums, three EPs, and a DVD. Weezer has sold more than six million records in the US to date.

The band is most known for singles such as "Undone - The Sweater Song", "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So" from its eponymous debut album Weezer; "El Scorcho", from Pinkerton; "Hash Pipe" and "Island in the Sun" from 2001 album Weezer; "Beverly Hills", "We Are All on Drugs" and "Perfect Situation" from Make Believe; and most recently "Pork and Beans" and "Troublemaker" from the band's third eponymous album Weezer.

Weezer recorded its debut album with producer Ric Ocasek at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. During the recording, Jason Cropper left the band and was replaced by Brian Bell, then bassist for the band Carnival Art. The band released Weezer in May 1994. "Undone—The Sweater Song" was released as the first single. The music video was directed by Spike Jonze. Filmed in an unbroken take, it featured Weezer performing on a sound stage with various amusing studio antics, including a pack of dogs swarming the set. The video became an instant hit on MTV.

Jonze also directed the band's second video "Buddy Holly". The video featured footage from the television sitcom Happy Days spliced with the band performing in a remade "Arnold's Diner", a familiar setting from the series. The video achieved heavy rotation on MTV[7] and went on to win Jonze and the band four MTV Video Music Awards, including Breakthrough Video and Best Alternative Music Video, and two Billboard Music Video Awards. The clip is also featured on the installation CD for the Microsoft Windows 95 computer operating system. A third single, "Say It Ain't So", followed. Weezer is currently certified triple platinum in the United States, making it Weezer's all-time best seller.

Many modern bands such as Ciks, Ash, Jimmy Eat World, Fountains of Wayne, Dashboard Confessional, The Ataris, Ozma, Ultimate Fakebook, The Used, Hellogoodbye, Relient K, Bloodhound Gang, The All-American Rejects, Good Charlotte, The Pink Spiders, The Academy Is..., Say Anything, The Calgary Sun, Biffy Clyro, Something Corporate, The Stereo, The Fall of Troy, Nerf Herder, Hoobastank, The Anniversary,Saves the Day, Rye Coalition, Tera Melos, Thursday, The Get Up Kids,Motion City Soundtrack, and Ludo and Taking Back Sunday have been compared to Weezer or named them as an influence.

Weezer themselves have listed several influences, among them KISS (with direct references in the song, "In the Garage"), Cheap Trick, Nirvana (who was their labelmate for a very brief time before Kurt Cobain's death), and Pixies (especially early on in their career). Early Weezer demos, such as "Paperface", have very obvious ties musically to the Pixies and Nirvana. Also, the song, "Susanne" originally read, "Even Kurt Cobain and Axl Rose" , instead of "Even Izzy, Slash, and Axl Rose", changed after Cobain's death. There is also a direct reference to "Nevermind" in "Heart Songs", a track found on the "Red Album". As a side project, Weezer also briefly played Nirvana and Oasis covers under the stage moniker "Goat Punishment". In 1998, Weezer covered "Velouria" by the Pixies for a Pixies tribute album, and in 2005 briefly got to tour with their idols for a few dates. Green Day has also been said to be an influence (there is a direct lyric about Green Day in the song, "El Scorcho"), and it has been acknowledged that the two bands are friends with one another and enjoy each other's music. Weezer also contributed the song "Worry Rock" to Different Shade Of Green: A Green Day Tribute.