Weezer

Weezer (IPA: /ˈwizɚ/) is a Grammy nominated American rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1992 by Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, guitar), Patrick Wilson (drums, backing vocals), Matt Sharp (bass, backing vocals), and Jason Cropper (guitar, backing vocals), with the last two replaced by Mikey Welsh and Brian Bell, respectively. Mikey Welsh was later replaced with Scott Shriner. They have released six full-length albums, three EPs, and a DVD; the first album was later re-released as a remastered deluxe edition in 2004. Weezer recently released their sixth album on June 3, 2008.

They have sold more than 7 million records to date in the US.

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...", instead of "Even Izzy, Slash...", 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".