Weezer

Weezer’s self-titled 1994 debut album was a sleeper smash, introducing the world to the Los Angeles band’s distinctive mix of catchy pop and guitar squall. Coming from no indie scene, boasting no discernible “buzz,” the foursome stepped out of their beloved garage and into a recording studio.

They emerged with a set of relentlessly hummable songs in which earnest, off-kilter vocal harmonies sail over bludgeoning power chords. By the summer of 1995, Weezer was certified double platinum. “Let’s face it,” said Matt Pinfield, host of MTV’s “120 Minutes,” “it’s easy to sing along to, and it sticks in your head.” (Billboard, Oct. 1, 1994) Now Weezer is back with their second set, Pinkerton (DGC Records). It’s big and noisy and brimming with melodies, and it demonstrates that the band is still capable of a sweetness rarely found in rock these days.

ABOUT WEEZER

Weezer was formed in Los Angeles in 1992, though none of its members hail from that city. Singer- guitarist and songwriter Rivers Cuomo is from Connecticut, bassist Matt Sharp grew up in Arlington, Va., drummer Pat Wilson comes from Buffalo, N.Y., and guitarist Brian Bell made his way west from Knoxville, Tenn.

After playing L.A. clubs for a few months, the group was signed to DGC Records by A&R rep Todd Sullivan.

Their debut album, Weezer, produced by Ric Ocasek, reached the No. 16 position on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart and remained on the chart for 76 weeks.

Weezer spawned the hits “Undone (The Sweater Song),” which reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, “Buddy Holly” (No. 2, Modern Rock Tracks) and “Say It Ain’t So” (No. 7, Modern Rock Tracks).

The video for “Buddy Holly,” directed by Spike Jonze, spliced Weezer into Al’s Diner on the TV show “Happy Days.” Arguably one of the most popular clips of 1995, it scored four MTV Video Music awards, including Breakthrough Video and Best Alternative Music Video, and two Billboard Music Video Awards, among them Alternative/Modern Rock Clip of the Year.

The band toured relentlessly for roughly a year and a half, playing 250 dates in progressively larger venues and winning fans throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Rivers documented Weezer’s touring experiences and growing popularity in two pieces he wrote for Details magazine (in January and April 1995).

Pinkerton was produced by Weezer and recorded between September 1995 and June 1996 at Sound City, Rumbo Recorders and Hollywood Sound Records in Los Angeles; Fort Apache studios in Boston; and Electric Lady Studios in New York. The album was mixed by Jack Joseph Puig (Black Crowes, Jellyfish, Belly) and released Sept. 24, 1996.