Weezer

Weezer was formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by Rivers Cuomo (vocals and guitar), Jason Cropper (guitar), Matt Sharp (bass), and Patrick Wilson (drums). Raised in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s with the goal of pursuing a career in music. Before Weezer, he was part of heavy metal bands, but gradually began incorporating influences from alternative rock and power pop.

After writing songs and playing at small clubs in Los Angeles, the group signed a contract with Geffen Records. During the recording of their first album, Jason Cropper left the group and was replaced by Brian Bell, who would become a permanent member of the band.

In 1994, the group released its debut album, Weezer (Blue Album), produced by Ric Ocasek, lead singer of The Cars. The album established the band as one of the leading names in 1990s alternative rock, driven by songs such as “Undone (The Sweater Song),” “Say It Ain’t So,” and “Buddy Holly.” Years later, the latter song was covered in Portuguese by the Brazilian band Bidê ou Balde.

The second album, Pinkerton, was released in 1996, featuring a rawer, more personal, and emotional approach. Songs like “El Scorcho,” “The Good Life,” and “Butterfly” defined the album. Initially, the album received less commercial and critical acclaim than the debut album, and Rivers Cuomo himself spent several years expressing dissatisfaction with the result. Over time, however, Pinkerton was reevaluated and became a cult classic, cited as an influence by numerous indie rock, emo, and alternative rock bands.

After the Pinkerton tour, Weezer entered a period of relative inactivity. Matt Sharp left the group for good in 1998 and continued his work with The Rentals. He was replaced by Mikey Welsh, a musician who had previously worked with Juliana Hatfield.

After five years without releasing an album, the band returned in 2001 with Weezer (Green Album), once again produced by Ric Ocasek. The album featured songs like “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun” and marked a return to the band’s more direct and melodic sound. Later in 2001, Mikey Welsh left the group and was replaced by Scott Shriner, who became the longest-serving bassist in Weezer’s history.

With Shriner in the lineup, the band released Maladroit in 2002. Three years later, Make Believe was released, an album that includes “Beverly Hills” and “Perfect Situation.” In September 2005, the band performed its first show in Brazil as the headliner at the Curitiba Rock Festival.

In the following years, the band maintained a steady pace of releases, with Weezer (Red Album) (2008), Raditude (2009), and Hurley (2010).

In 2014, Weezer reunited with Ric Ocasek on Everything Will Be Alright in the End, an album that revived elements characteristic of the band’s early work. Two years later, Weezer (White Album) was released, once again marked by the guitars, melodies, and vocal harmonies associated with the band’s classic era.

In 2017, the band released Pacific Daydream, adopting a sound closer to contemporary pop. In January 2019, Weezer (Teal Album) was released, an album consisting entirely of covers of songs by other artists. Among them are “Africa” by Toto; “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears; “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurythmics; “Take On Me” by A-ha; and “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson.

Shortly thereafter, in March 2019, the band released Weezer (Black Album), featuring original material and a sound more oriented toward pop and electronic music.

In January 2021, Weezer released OK Human, an orchestral album recorded with dozens of musicians and inspired by chamber pop arrangements. A few months later, in May, Van Weezer was released, an album in which Rivers Cuomo and his bandmates revisited the hard rock and heavy metal influences that shaped the lead singer’s musical upbringing.

In 2022, the band developed the SZNZ project, divided into four EPs inspired by the seasons: SZNZ: Spring, SZNZ: Summer, SZNZ: Autumn, and SZNZ: Winter. Each release explored different musical characteristics, forming one of the most ambitious projects in the group’s discography.

Continuing the tradition of releasing self-titled albums identified by the colors of their covers, the band released Weezer (Gold Album) on August 21, 2026. The album marked a return to heavier guitars and elements associated with the band’s classic sound. Among its ten tracks are “Say Yes,” “Shine Again,” “C.E.O.,” “The LA Sound,” and “We Might as Well Be Strangers,” a collaboration with the American band Wednesday, on which Rivers Cuomo shares vocal duties with Karly Hartzman.