Rivers Cuomo: Difference between revisions
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==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
[[Image:Rivers Cuomo - 1978 School Picture.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cuomo's 1978 school photo]] | [[Image:Rivers Cuomo - 1978 School Picture.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cuomo's 1978 school photo]] | ||
Rivers Cuomo was born on [[June 13]], 1970 in Manhattan to [[Frank Cuomo]], of Italian descent,<ref>Collinge, Miranda. "[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/29/popandrock Rivers Cuomo]" ''The Guardian''. 28 June 2008.</ref> and [[Beverly Shoenberger]], of German-English descent. According to Rivers, his mother claims that he was so-named because she first heard the sound of a river outside her hospital window after his birth, while his father claims that Rivers was named after three soccer players from the [[Wikipedia:1970_FIFA_World_Cup|1970 FIFA World Cup]]: Brazilian player [[Wikipedia:Rivellino|Roberto Rivellino]], and Italian players | Rivers Cuomo was born on [[June 13]], 1970 in Manhattan to [[Frank Cuomo]], of Italian descent,<ref>Collinge, Miranda. "[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/29/popandrock Rivers Cuomo]" ''The Guardian''. 28 June 2008.</ref> and [[Beverly Shoenberger]], of German-English descent. According to Rivers, his mother claims that he was so-named because she first heard the sound of a river outside her hospital window after his birth, while his father claims that Rivers was named after three soccer players from the [[Wikipedia:1970_FIFA_World_Cup|1970 FIFA World Cup]]: Brazilian player [[Wikipedia:Rivellino|Roberto Rivellino]], and Italian players {{Wikipedia|Gigi Riva}} and {{Wikipedia|Gianni Rivera}}.<ref name="acename">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110105082734/http://members.shaw.ca/ridd2/threads/riverscuomo/02-12-RCBOARD1.html his middle name...]" Cuomo posting as "ace" on ''The Cuomo Board'', ca. 2002.</ref><ref>''The Kelly Clarkson Show'' "Brooke Shields/Weezer" (S5.E139) Air date: 15 May 2024.</ref> Shoenberger gave Rivers no middle name in order to permit him to choose his own (which he never did).<ref name="acename" /> Rivers was, according to his younger brother, [[Leaves Cuomo|Leaves]], almost named "Apple" (most likely because he was born in New York City).<ref name="riversedge">Luerssen, John D. ''Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story''. 2004. ECW Press</ref> | ||
Rivers lived the first few years of his life at the | Rivers lived the first few years of his life at the {{Wikipedia|Rochester Zen Center}} in upstate New York, where his parents first met.<ref name="yogamag">"[https://integralyogamagazine.org/music-and-spirituality-a-real-connection/ Music and Spirituality: A Real Connection]" ''Integral Yoga Magazine''</ref> Frank Cuomo was a musician who notably played percussion on the 1971 album ''{{Wikipedia|Odyssey of Iska}}'' by jazz saxophonist {{Wikipedia|Wayne Shorter}}. Frank left the family when Rivers was four years old, and was largely absent from Rivers' youth. Shoenberger moved with Rivers and Leaves to [[Yogaville]] East in Pomfret, Connecticut, where they lived until 1981.<ref name="yogamag" /> Shoenberger married [[Steven Kitts]] in 1976. At Yogaville, Rivers was given the name Rama by the Indian guru [[Swami Satchidananda]].<ref>[https://rivers-words.livejournal.com/ Archived journal posts] by rivers-words</ref> When Yogaville relocated to Virginia, the Kitts family remained in Connecticut, moving to Storrs/Mansfield area, where Cuomo lived for the remainder of his adolescence.<ref>"[https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Mansfield Mansfield]" ''[[Riverpedia]]''</ref> | ||
Cuomo has described himself as a "very somber child." Said Cuomo, "My teacher asked my mother what was wrong with me because I never looked happy. So, my mother advised her to say, 'Let me see that smile,' and then I would smile. So she did that -- in front of the whole class. She got the whole class to turn around, look at me and say, 'Let me see that smile.'"<ref group="lower-alpha">Cuomo would later reference this in the [[Weezer]] song "[[Feels Like Summer]]."</ref><ref>Daley, David. "Happy [cancelled] Days" ''Alternative Press''. January 1997. [[Alternative Press interview with Weezer - January 1997|Weezerpedia transcript]]</ref> While attending Mansfield Middle School and E.O. Smith High School, Rivers and Leaves Cuomo went by the more "ordinary" names Peter and James Kitts, respectively. | Cuomo has described himself as a "very somber child." Said Cuomo, "My teacher asked my mother what was wrong with me because I never looked happy. So, my mother advised her to say, 'Let me see that smile,' and then I would smile. So she did that -- in front of the whole class. She got the whole class to turn around, look at me and say, 'Let me see that smile.'"<ref group="lower-alpha">Cuomo would later reference this in the [[Weezer]] song "[[Feels Like Summer]]."</ref><ref>Daley, David. "Happy [cancelled] Days" ''Alternative Press''. January 1997. [[Alternative Press interview with Weezer - January 1997|Weezerpedia transcript]]</ref> While attending Mansfield Middle School and E.O. Smith High School, Rivers and Leaves Cuomo went by the more "ordinary" names Peter and James Kitts, respectively. | ||
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Cuomo was greatly interested in soccer from a young age, initially wanting to be a professional soccer player when he grew up.<ref>U.S. Soccer "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK8vvrcbTmM Studio 90: Rivers Cuomo Interview]" ''YouTube''. 24 June 2010.</ref> "...because I rarely saw my dad as I was growing up, I romanticized everything about him. One of the things I romanticized was his passion for soccer; I tried to cultivate it in myself. I took my first step trying to kick a soccer ball." Cuomo also played on a boy's soccer team.<ref>Rivers Cuomo "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMiLwwjK-0w&t=120s Rivers Cuomo - Lover in the Snow]" ''YouTube''. 16 June 2009.</ref> However, in 1981, Cuomo learned that he had been born with a congenital femoral deficiency in his right leg. Though his legs were of equal length at birth,<ref name="ilizarov">"[https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Ilizarov%20Procedure Ilizarov Procedure]" ''[[Riverpedia]]''</ref> by the time of his diagnosis in 1981, Cuomo's right femur had grown 1¼ inches shorter than his left,<ref>[[Beverly's letter|Letter by Beverly Shoenberger]], May 1981</ref> reaching a 2-inch differential at his full height.<ref name="ilizarov" /> Cuomo's interests later pivoted to music. | Cuomo was greatly interested in soccer from a young age, initially wanting to be a professional soccer player when he grew up.<ref>U.S. Soccer "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK8vvrcbTmM Studio 90: Rivers Cuomo Interview]" ''YouTube''. 24 June 2010.</ref> "...because I rarely saw my dad as I was growing up, I romanticized everything about him. One of the things I romanticized was his passion for soccer; I tried to cultivate it in myself. I took my first step trying to kick a soccer ball." Cuomo also played on a boy's soccer team.<ref>Rivers Cuomo "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMiLwwjK-0w&t=120s Rivers Cuomo - Lover in the Snow]" ''YouTube''. 16 June 2009.</ref> However, in 1981, Cuomo learned that he had been born with a congenital femoral deficiency in his right leg. Though his legs were of equal length at birth,<ref name="ilizarov">"[https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Ilizarov%20Procedure Ilizarov Procedure]" ''[[Riverpedia]]''</ref> by the time of his diagnosis in 1981, Cuomo's right femur had grown 1¼ inches shorter than his left,<ref>[[Beverly's letter|Letter by Beverly Shoenberger]], May 1981</ref> reaching a 2-inch differential at his full height.<ref name="ilizarov" /> Cuomo's interests later pivoted to music. | ||
[[Image:Rivers Cuomo - Guild Flying Star.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cuomo as a teenager]]Cuomo was first exposed to American rock band [[Kiss]] at age 7.<ref name="manofsteel">Beaujour, Tom. "Man of Steel" ''Guitar World''. March 1995. [[Guitar World interview with Rivers Cuomo - March 1995|Weezerpedia transcript]]</ref> "This little girl came through the ashram for a visit, and she brought a Kiss record, ''Rock and Roll Over''. She came over to our house, and while we played the Kiss record, we recorded ourselves running around in circles as the tape played. It was like, 'this kicks ass.'"<ref>"[https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rivers-cuomo/id1678378239?i=1000612593978 Rivers Cuomo]" ''This Little Light'' (podcast). 2023 </ref><ref>Coffman, Tim. "[https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/how-kiss-changed-rivers-cuomos-life-forever/ How KISS changed Rivers Cuomo’s life forever]" 12 June 2023. ''Far Out Magazine''.</ref> Cuomo later joined the Columbia Record Club and bought every Kiss album he could,<ref>Edwards, Gavin. "Rivers' Edge" ''Details''. February 1997. [[Details interview with Rivers Cuomo - February 1997|Weezerpedia transcript]]</ref> eventually bonding over his love of Kiss in the sixth grade with friend [[Justin Fisher]], the son of a friend of his mother's.<ref name="riversedge" /> Cuomo was first inspired to learn guitar after witnessing classmates perform "[[Wikipedia:Metal Health (song)|Metal Health]]" by | [[Image:Rivers Cuomo - Guild Flying Star.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cuomo as a teenager]]Cuomo was first exposed to American rock band [[Kiss]] at age 7.<ref name="manofsteel">Beaujour, Tom. "Man of Steel" ''Guitar World''. March 1995. [[Guitar World interview with Rivers Cuomo - March 1995|Weezerpedia transcript]]</ref> "This little girl came through the ashram for a visit, and she brought a Kiss record, ''Rock and Roll Over''. She came over to our house, and while we played the Kiss record, we recorded ourselves running around in circles as the tape played. It was like, 'this kicks ass.'"<ref>"[https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rivers-cuomo/id1678378239?i=1000612593978 Rivers Cuomo]" ''This Little Light'' (podcast). 2023 </ref><ref>Coffman, Tim. "[https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/how-kiss-changed-rivers-cuomos-life-forever/ How KISS changed Rivers Cuomo’s life forever]" 12 June 2023. ''Far Out Magazine''.</ref> Cuomo later joined the Columbia Record Club and bought every Kiss album he could,<ref>Edwards, Gavin. "Rivers' Edge" ''Details''. February 1997. [[Details interview with Rivers Cuomo - February 1997|Weezerpedia transcript]]</ref> eventually bonding over his love of Kiss in the sixth grade with friend [[Justin Fisher]], the son of a friend of his mother's.<ref name="riversedge" /> Cuomo was first inspired to learn guitar after witnessing classmates perform "[[Wikipedia:Metal Health (song)|Metal Health]]" by {{Wikipedia|Quiet Riot}} at a school assembly.<ref>Leatham, Thomas. "[https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/rivers-cuomo-how-weezer-got-their-name/ Rivers Cuomo explains the true story behind how Weezer got their name]" ''Far Out''. 6 February 2023.</ref><ref group="lower-alpha">The influence of "Metal Health" by Quiet Riot is referenced in the Weezer tracks "[[Heart Songs]]" ("Quiet Riot got me started with the banging of my head") and "[[I Need Some of That]]" (which cribs the drum intro from "Metal Health")</ref> "I just couldn’t believe that kids my age were playing these real instruments and playing this song I loved... it just blew my mind! And so I got my own guitar shortly after that, and I started learning all the metal songs of the day."<ref>Gardner, Josh. "[https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/weezers-rivers-cuomo-talks-the-white-album-channelling-james-hetfield-and-his-enduring-love-of-guitar-641477 Weezer's Rivers Cuomo talks The White Album, channelling James Hetfield and his enduring love of guitar]" ''MusicRadar''. 18 August 2016.</ref> Cuomo received his first guitar on his fourteenth birthday, in 1984.<ref name="cor">http://weezerpedia.com/catalogofriffs.html</ref> Cuomo's first band was a Kiss cover band, called [[Fury]], consisting of himself and [[James Kitts|his brother]] on guitar, Justin Fisher on bass, and [[Eric Robertson]] on drums. | ||
==Music career== | ==Music career== | ||
===Early career=== | ===Early career=== | ||
[[Image:Avant garde.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Avant Garde]]Cuomo and Fisher performed in several bands throughout the 80s, covering songs by bands such as Metallica, [[Yngwie Malmsteen]]<ref>Kandell, Steve. "Rivers Cuomo." ''Blender''. January/February 2006. ([[Blender interview with Rivers Cuomo - Jan/Feb 2006|Transcript/scans]])</ref>, and [[Fates Warning]]<ref name="riversedge" />, with Cuomo even taking guitar lessons from Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos.<ref name="manofsteel" /> In 1985, the pair formed the [[Wikipedia:Glam metal|glam metal]] band [[Avant Garde]], recruiting classmate [[Bryn Mutch]] on drums and brothers [[Kevin Ridel|Kevin]] and [[Eric Ridel]] on lead vocals and guitar, respectively. The band recorded three demo tapes between 1987 and 1989. In 1987, Cuomo attended a five-week music program at the | [[Image:Avant garde.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Avant Garde]]Cuomo and Fisher performed in several bands throughout the 80s, covering songs by bands such as Metallica, [[Yngwie Malmsteen]]<ref>Kandell, Steve. "Rivers Cuomo." ''Blender''. January/February 2006. ([[Blender interview with Rivers Cuomo - Jan/Feb 2006|Transcript/scans]])</ref>, and [[Fates Warning]]<ref name="riversedge" />, with Cuomo even taking guitar lessons from Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos.<ref name="manofsteel" /> In 1985, the pair formed the [[Wikipedia:Glam metal|glam metal]] band [[Avant Garde]], recruiting classmate [[Bryn Mutch]] on drums and brothers [[Kevin Ridel|Kevin]] and [[Eric Ridel]] on lead vocals and guitar, respectively. The band recorded three demo tapes between 1987 and 1989. In 1987, Cuomo attended a five-week music program at the {{Wikipedia|Berklee College of Music}} in Boston, where he met Texas native [[Michael Stanton]], who later moved to Connecticut to replace Eric Ridel.<ref name="riversedge" /> In 1989, the band relocated to Los Angeles and changed their name to "Zoom," recording another demo tape in early [[1990]]. Zoom played their final show in March of that year before their ultimate dissolution. | ||
After the members of Zoom were evicted from their apartment, Cuomo moved in with a girlfriend and got a job working for Tower Records in Anaheim, California in [[1990]] before transferring to the company's Sunset Strip that summer.<ref>"[https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Tower%20Records Tower Records]" ''[[Riverpedia]]'' 4 September 2020.</ref> While working for Tower Records, Cuomo first met [[Pat Finn|Patrick Finn]], who encouraged Cuomo to write and sing his own songs and exposed him to bands that would later greatly influence his songwriting, like [[Nirvana]], [[the Beach Boys]], and the [[Pixies]].<ref name="30thoral">Wood, Mikael. "[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-03-25/weezer-blue-album-oral-history-30th-anniversary-rivers-cuomo Weezer’s Blue Album at 30: The inside story of the debut that launched L.A.’s nerdiest band]" ''Los Angeles Times''. 25 March 2024.</ref> Finn introduced Cuomo to future [[Weezer]] bandmates [[Patrick Wilson]], [[Jason Cropper]], and [[Matt Sharp]], in addition to [[Karl Koch]]. | After the members of Zoom were evicted from their apartment, Cuomo moved in with a girlfriend and got a job working for Tower Records in Anaheim, California in [[1990]] before transferring to the company's Sunset Strip that summer.<ref>"[https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Tower%20Records Tower Records]" ''[[Riverpedia]]'' 4 September 2020.</ref> While working for Tower Records, Cuomo first met [[Pat Finn|Patrick Finn]], who encouraged Cuomo to write and sing his own songs and exposed him to bands that would later greatly influence his songwriting, like [[Nirvana]], [[the Beach Boys]], and the [[Pixies]].<ref name="30thoral">Wood, Mikael. "[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-03-25/weezer-blue-album-oral-history-30th-anniversary-rivers-cuomo Weezer’s Blue Album at 30: The inside story of the debut that launched L.A.’s nerdiest band]" ''Los Angeles Times''. 25 March 2024.</ref> Finn introduced Cuomo to future [[Weezer]] bandmates [[Patrick Wilson]], [[Jason Cropper]], and [[Matt Sharp]], in addition to [[Karl Koch]]. | ||
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[[Image:Very early weezer.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Weezer's earliest incarnation. From L—R: [[Jason Cropper]], [[Patrick Wilson]], Rivers Cuomo, [[Matt Sharp]]]]Following the dissolution of 60 Wrong Sausages, Cuomo and Wilson expressed a shared interest in moving toward the type of songs that bands like [[Nirvana]] and the [[Pixies]] were recording. "There was so much anxiety about authenticity at the time," said Cuomo, "and we’d all just made this radical transformation from being metalheads to being alternative. You didn’t want anyone to find out what you looked like 12 months ago."<ref name="30thoral" /> The two resolved to [[The 50 Song Project|attempt to write fifty songs]] between the two of them before pursuing a new band project.<ref name="rechist2">[[Recording History - Page 2|Weezer Recording History - Page 2]]</ref> "We wanted to write a bunch of tunes before we even played together," said Cuomo,<ref name="manofsteel" /> "so that we could have an idea of where we were heading before we started wasting our time and money paying for a rehearsal studio. I didn't want to get back into a band until I felt like I had a bunch of songs that were good and that had cohesive style. So I just wrote songs and didn't play at all for a long time." Though the two did not make it to fifty songs, future Weezer tracks such as "[[Undone - The Sweater Song]]," "[[My Name Is Jonas]]," and "[[The World Has Turned and Left Me Here]]" were written during this period.<ref name="rechist2" /> In January of 1992, Wilson shared a tape of the duo's material with [[Matt Sharp]] while the latter was living in Berkeley.<ref name="riversedge" /> Sharp was so impressed that he insisted on being Cuomo's bass player, resolving to move back to Los Angeles. "Rivers was able to articulate something that up to that point had been elusive for me," said Sharp, "I thought, ‘I’m doing this, no matter what has to be done to make it happen.'"<ref name="rollingstone25" /> Cuomo was greatly validated by Sharp's confidence. "It confirmed all my greatest hopes for myself." said Cuomo, "Knowing he felt so strongly about the songs was all the confidence I needed."<ref name="rollingstone25" /> | [[Image:Very early weezer.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Weezer's earliest incarnation. From L—R: [[Jason Cropper]], [[Patrick Wilson]], Rivers Cuomo, [[Matt Sharp]]]]Following the dissolution of 60 Wrong Sausages, Cuomo and Wilson expressed a shared interest in moving toward the type of songs that bands like [[Nirvana]] and the [[Pixies]] were recording. "There was so much anxiety about authenticity at the time," said Cuomo, "and we’d all just made this radical transformation from being metalheads to being alternative. You didn’t want anyone to find out what you looked like 12 months ago."<ref name="30thoral" /> The two resolved to [[The 50 Song Project|attempt to write fifty songs]] between the two of them before pursuing a new band project.<ref name="rechist2">[[Recording History - Page 2|Weezer Recording History - Page 2]]</ref> "We wanted to write a bunch of tunes before we even played together," said Cuomo,<ref name="manofsteel" /> "so that we could have an idea of where we were heading before we started wasting our time and money paying for a rehearsal studio. I didn't want to get back into a band until I felt like I had a bunch of songs that were good and that had cohesive style. So I just wrote songs and didn't play at all for a long time." Though the two did not make it to fifty songs, future Weezer tracks such as "[[Undone - The Sweater Song]]," "[[My Name Is Jonas]]," and "[[The World Has Turned and Left Me Here]]" were written during this period.<ref name="rechist2" /> In January of 1992, Wilson shared a tape of the duo's material with [[Matt Sharp]] while the latter was living in Berkeley.<ref name="riversedge" /> Sharp was so impressed that he insisted on being Cuomo's bass player, resolving to move back to Los Angeles. "Rivers was able to articulate something that up to that point had been elusive for me," said Sharp, "I thought, ‘I’m doing this, no matter what has to be done to make it happen.'"<ref name="rollingstone25" /> Cuomo was greatly validated by Sharp's confidence. "It confirmed all my greatest hopes for myself." said Cuomo, "Knowing he felt so strongly about the songs was all the confidence I needed."<ref name="rollingstone25" /> | ||
Cuomo, Wilson, Cropper, and Sharp formed the band that would later be dubbed [[Weezer]] in February of [[1992]], rehearsing for three days at T.K. Productions & Rehearsal Studios in west Los Angeles. The band performed their first concert the following month, at [[Weezer concert: 03/19/1992|Raji's on Hollywood Boulevard]], performing in support of headliner [[Dogstar]] (a band notable for featuring actor | Cuomo, Wilson, Cropper, and Sharp formed the band that would later be dubbed [[Weezer]] in February of [[1992]], rehearsing for three days at T.K. Productions & Rehearsal Studios in west Los Angeles. The band performed their first concert the following month, at [[Weezer concert: 03/19/1992|Raji's on Hollywood Boulevard]], performing in support of headliner [[Dogstar]] (a band notable for featuring actor {{Wikipedia|Keanu Reeves}} on bass).<ref>[[Historic event: 03/19/1992]]</ref> Hours before the show, Raji's promoter, Lawrence Mann, asked Cuomo what name to put on the bill.<ref>Lauden, S.W. ''[[Generation Blue|Generation Blue: An Oral History of the Hollywood Geek Rock Scene in the 1990s & 2000s]]''. 2024. Remember the Lightning LLC</ref> Without consulting the other members, Cuomo answered with "Weezer,"<ref>Koch, Karl. ''[[Weezine Issue 17 - Tales of Weezer]]''. 2021</ref> a childhood nickname given to him by his father after the character "Wheezer" ({{Wikipedia|Bobby Hutchins}}) from ''[[Wikipedia:Our Gang|The Little Rascals]]''.<ref>"[https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/My%20dad%27s%20nicknames%20for%20people%20and%20things My dad's nicknames for people and things]" ''[[Riverpedia]]''</ref><ref>Leatham, Thomas "[https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/rivers-cuomo-how-weezer-got-their-name/ Rivers Cuomo explains the true story behind how Weezer got their name]" ''Far Out''. 6 February 2023.</ref> | ||
Weezer recorded multiple demos and played numerous shows around Los Angeles before signing to [[Geffen Records]] on [[June 25]], [[1993]].<ref name="rechist4">[[Recording History - Page 4|Weezer Recording History - Page 4]]</ref> The band's [[Weezer (The Blue Album)|eponymous debut album]] was recorded later that year and released the following spring, on [[May 10]], [[1994]]. Over the course of 1994, however, Cuomo became lonely and disillusioned with the lifestyle of constant touring. He began formulating a potential concept album based on this disillusionment, later dubbed ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''.<ref name="thepinkertondiaries">Cuomo, Rivers. ''[[The Pinkerton Diaries]]''. [[2011]]. Self-published.</ref> Later in the year, Cuomo began applying at colleges with the intent of studying musical composition. | Weezer recorded multiple demos and played numerous shows around Los Angeles before signing to [[Geffen Records]] on [[June 25]], [[1993]].<ref name="rechist4">[[Recording History - Page 4|Weezer Recording History - Page 4]]</ref> The band's [[Weezer (The Blue Album)|eponymous debut album]] was recorded later that year and released the following spring, on [[May 10]], [[1994]]. Over the course of 1994, however, Cuomo became lonely and disillusioned with the lifestyle of constant touring. He began formulating a potential concept album based on this disillusionment, later dubbed ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]''.<ref name="thepinkertondiaries">Cuomo, Rivers. ''[[The Pinkerton Diaries]]''. [[2011]]. Self-published.</ref> Later in the year, Cuomo began applying at colleges with the intent of studying musical composition. | ||
On [[April 14]], [[1995]], Cuomo underwent an operation to correct his congenital femoral deficiency. The surgery involved breaking his femur and fitting it with a metal brace (called an | On [[April 14]], [[1995]], Cuomo underwent an operation to correct his congenital femoral deficiency. The surgery involved breaking his femur and fitting it with a metal brace (called an {{Wikipedia|Ilizarov apparatus}}). Said Cuomo, "Each day I would turn some screws on the rods so that they would extend and increase the space in the break in my bone. After 6 months, the bone was supposed to be totally filled in and they would take off the metal frame. Two months in I was back out on the road with Weezer, stumbling around with a cane."<ref name="ilizarov" /> Cuomo required an additional surgery in January of [[1996]].<ref name="ilizarov" /> | ||
===Boston=== | ===Boston=== | ||
[[Image:Rivers Harvard ID.JPG|250px|right|thumb|Cuomo's Harvard student ID]]{{Small quote box|There appears to be some sort of brewing here—with regards to men's self-image. Our natural tendencies were repressed by the peace and love crap of my parents' generation; these tendencies were perverted and relieved in maladjusted ways. In the past 10 years, several voices—Howard Stern, [[Joe Matt]]—have had the courage to uncover these tendencies—and found large audiences of sympathizing men. These individuals are struggling to uncover and assimilate their urges in a way that does them justice. There is a large element of shame and self-deprecation in uncovering these urges. But always an unflinching desire to know the self. Who am I? Who is man? What is man? What am I?|Rivers Cuomo; journal entry; [[March 12]], [[1996]]<ref name="thepinkertondiaries" />}} | [[Image:Rivers Harvard ID.JPG|250px|right|thumb|Cuomo's Harvard student ID]]{{Small quote box|There appears to be some sort of brewing here—with regards to men's self-image. Our natural tendencies were repressed by the peace and love crap of my parents' generation; these tendencies were perverted and relieved in maladjusted ways. In the past 10 years, several voices—Howard Stern, [[Joe Matt]]—have had the courage to uncover these tendencies—and found large audiences of sympathizing men. These individuals are struggling to uncover and assimilate their urges in a way that does them justice. There is a large element of shame and self-deprecation in uncovering these urges. But always an unflinching desire to know the self. Who am I? Who is man? What is man? What am I?|Rivers Cuomo; journal entry; [[March 12]], [[1996]]<ref name="thepinkertondiaries" />}} | ||
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[[Image:Kerrang-april2002-weezer01.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Cuomo on the cover of ''Kerrang!'', 2002]] | [[Image:Kerrang-april2002-weezer01.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Cuomo on the cover of ''Kerrang!'', 2002]] | ||
Dissatisfied with his management, Cuomo sought to manage the band himself. He had dinner with | Dissatisfied with his management, Cuomo sought to manage the band himself. He had dinner with {{Wikipedia|Fat Mike}}, frontman of the self-managed band {{Wikipedia|NOFX}}, who encouraged Cuomo not to pay someone a percentage.<ref name="riversedge" /> Immediately following the release of ''the Green Album'', Weezer fired their management, Atlas/Third Rail, and longtime manager [[Pat Magnarella]] (who subsequently sued).<ref>Pollack, Marc, and Simutis, David. "[https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=274861&title=UNDER-NEW-MANAGEMENT UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT: You Need A Scorecard To Keep Track, So We've Provided One]" ''Hits Daily Double''. 3 July 2001.</ref><ref>[https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/TAC/2001-21%20Rivers%20Cuomo%20et%20al%20v%20Atlas%20Third%20Rail%20mgmt%20inc.pdf RIVERS CUOMO, an individual; PAT WILSON, an individual; BRIAN BELL, an individual; and MIKEY WELSH, an individual; collectively and professionally known as “WEEZER” vs. ATLAS/THIRD RAIL MANAGEMENT, INC., a California corporation; and PAT MAGNARELLA, an individual]</ref> According to [[Karl Koch]], the firing was a "statement of intent" and Cuomo felt that the band didn't need management, and could simply fund their next album with their own money and pay themselves back when the album sold.<ref name="vaultdive1">[https://archive.org/details/wfc-vault-dive-1 Weezer Fan Club Vault Dive #1]</ref> "I sought to cultivate the same ruthless practicality in my business that I had achieved in my music." Cuomo later reflected in an essay,<ref name="whativebeenupto" /> "I studied the lives of Napoleon and David Geffen, Machiavelli’s ''The Prince'', and contemporary texts on leadership and management. I gradually took over all of the business responsibilities from our manager and managed the band completely by myself. My performing, writing, and recording continued but were now joined by my business activities, all of which together I viewed as converging on the one goal of 'world domination'." | ||
Within weeks of the release of ''Green'', Weezer began recording new demos for the follow-up album. Cuomo shut out record label [[Geffen]] from the recording process, and the band financed and produced the record themselves, sharing in-progress recordings with fans online during studio sessions and sending CDs with finished songs to radio stations without the label's foreknowledge.<ref name="vaultdive1" /> From [[2002]] to [[2003]], Cuomo also became the manager for the band [[AM Radio]] (fronted by Cuomo's longtime friend and [[Avant Garde]] alum, [[Kevin Ridel]]).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190402175147/http://riverscuomo.com/bio/ riverscuomo.com bio]</ref><ref>Wiederhorn, Jon. "[https://www.mtv.com/news/tajjm8/weezers-rivers-cuomo-helps-am-radio-dress-for-success Weezer's Rivers Cuomo Helps AM Radio Dress For Success]" ''MTV''. 26 June 2003.</ref>Using this leverage, the band was able to renegotiate their contract, but the finished album, ''[[Maladroit]]'', under-performed, selling less than a million copies. Cuomo's behavior also became pointedly antagonistic, demanding a publicist exit his tour bus and walk back to the hotel before consenting to [[Kerrang! article - April 27, 2002|an interview for ''Kerrang!'']] and referring to fans as "little bitches" in [[Guitar World interview with Rivers Cuomo - May 2002|an interview for ''Guitar World'']]. He also began interacting with fans on internet message boards under the handle 'ace.'<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120610003630/http://www.members.shaw.ca/ridd2/ Curated archive of Weezer forum threads]</ref> Cuomo has referred to this period as his nadir.<ref>"Maladroit Preview 2021-12-27 14.38.mp3" ''[[Alone VIII: The Maladroit Years]]''</ref> "The end of 2002 was a period of just massive self-indulgence," he said in [[2010]],<ref name="louderweirdo">Brannigan, Paul. "[https://www.loudersound.com/features/weezer-how-rivers-cuomo-learned-how-to-embrace-life-following-a-near-death-experience “I know some people think I'm a weirdo. I'm working on it.” How Weezer's Rivers Cuomo learned how to embrace life following a near-death experience]" ''Louder''. 30 May 2024.</ref> "I was out at a Hollywood club one night doing who knows what with who knows whom, and when the club closed down I knew some people there so I was allowed to stay inside with a few friends as everyone else was ushered out onto the street. So I was just inside the door when suddenly there was all this commotion outside, and some people got dragged back into the club. They'd just been shot and they were bleeding and in obvious agony. So I was standing there in the midst of these downed people and I was thinking, This isn't where I want to be, there's got to be a better lifestyle to support my creativity." | Within weeks of the release of ''Green'', Weezer began recording new demos for the follow-up album. Cuomo shut out record label [[Geffen]] from the recording process, and the band financed and produced the record themselves, sharing in-progress recordings with fans online during studio sessions and sending CDs with finished songs to radio stations without the label's foreknowledge.<ref name="vaultdive1" /> From [[2002]] to [[2003]], Cuomo also became the manager for the band [[AM Radio]] (fronted by Cuomo's longtime friend and [[Avant Garde]] alum, [[Kevin Ridel]]).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190402175147/http://riverscuomo.com/bio/ riverscuomo.com bio]</ref><ref>Wiederhorn, Jon. "[https://www.mtv.com/news/tajjm8/weezers-rivers-cuomo-helps-am-radio-dress-for-success Weezer's Rivers Cuomo Helps AM Radio Dress For Success]" ''MTV''. 26 June 2003.</ref>Using this leverage, the band was able to renegotiate their contract, but the finished album, ''[[Maladroit]]'', under-performed, selling less than a million copies. Cuomo's behavior also became pointedly antagonistic, demanding a publicist exit his tour bus and walk back to the hotel before consenting to [[Kerrang! article - April 27, 2002|an interview for ''Kerrang!'']] and referring to fans as "little bitches" in [[Guitar World interview with Rivers Cuomo - May 2002|an interview for ''Guitar World'']]. He also began interacting with fans on internet message boards under the handle 'ace.'<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120610003630/http://www.members.shaw.ca/ridd2/ Curated archive of Weezer forum threads]</ref> Cuomo has referred to this period as his nadir.<ref>"Maladroit Preview 2021-12-27 14.38.mp3" ''[[Alone VIII: The Maladroit Years]]''</ref> "The end of 2002 was a period of just massive self-indulgence," he said in [[2010]],<ref name="louderweirdo">Brannigan, Paul. "[https://www.loudersound.com/features/weezer-how-rivers-cuomo-learned-how-to-embrace-life-following-a-near-death-experience “I know some people think I'm a weirdo. I'm working on it.” How Weezer's Rivers Cuomo learned how to embrace life following a near-death experience]" ''Louder''. 30 May 2024.</ref> "I was out at a Hollywood club one night doing who knows what with who knows whom, and when the club closed down I knew some people there so I was allowed to stay inside with a few friends as everyone else was ushered out onto the street. So I was just inside the door when suddenly there was all this commotion outside, and some people got dragged back into the club. They'd just been shot and they were bleeding and in obvious agony. So I was standing there in the midst of these downed people and I was thinking, This isn't where I want to be, there's got to be a better lifestyle to support my creativity." | ||
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===Collaborations with other artists=== | ===Collaborations with other artists=== | ||
{{Main|Rivers Cuomo discography#Other contributions}} | {{Main|Rivers Cuomo discography#Other contributions}} | ||
Cuomo has collaborated with numerous other artists as both a songwriter and singer. Cuomo co-wrote [[the Rentals]] song "[[My Head Is in the Sun]]" with Rentals frontman (and former Weezer bassist) [[Matt Sharp]]. Cuomo wrote lyrics for the song "[[Stupid Girl]]," the most successful single by [[Wikipedia:Cold (band)|Cold]] and the only one to crack the ''Billboard Hot 100''. Cuomo also co-wrote and sang on the song "[[I Suck]]" from the debut album by | Cuomo has collaborated with numerous other artists as both a songwriter and singer. Cuomo co-wrote [[the Rentals]] song "[[My Head Is in the Sun]]" with Rentals frontman (and former Weezer bassist) [[Matt Sharp]]. Cuomo wrote lyrics for the song "[[Stupid Girl]]," the most successful single by [[Wikipedia:Cold (band)|Cold]] and the only one to crack the ''Billboard Hot 100''. Cuomo also co-wrote and sang on the song "[[I Suck]]" from the debut album by {{Wikipedia|Mark Ronson}}. | ||
Before re-recording it as a Weezer song, Cuomo offered the song "[[Love Is the Answer]]" to American rock band | Before re-recording it as a Weezer song, Cuomo offered the song "[[Love Is the Answer]]" to American rock band {{Wikipedia|Sugar Ray}} for their [[2009]] album ''{{Wikipedia|Music for Cougars}}''. The same year, Cuomo collaborated on the song "[[Pick U Up]]" with singer {{Wikipedia|Adam Lambert}}. | ||
Cuomo's song "[[Magic]]," co-written with [[Dr. Luke]] and | Cuomo's song "[[Magic]]," co-written with [[Dr. Luke]] and {{Wikipedia|B.o.B}} and performed by the latter, peaked at number 10 on the ''Billboard Hot 100''. | ||
===Scott & Rivers=== | ===Scott & Rivers=== | ||
{{Main|Scott & Rivers}} | {{Main|Scott & Rivers}} | ||
In 2008,<ref>"[https://qetic.jp/interview/scottandrivers-feature/243378/ 【インタビュー】スコット＆リバースが刻んだJ-POPへの深い愛情。「第二の故郷」で掴んだ彼らの自由とは]" 9 May 2017. </ref> Cuomo first met musician [[Scott Murphy]] (of the band | In 2008,<ref>"[https://qetic.jp/interview/scottandrivers-feature/243378/ 【インタビュー】スコット＆リバースが刻んだJ-POPへの深い愛情。「第二の故郷」で掴んだ彼らの自由とは]" 9 May 2017. </ref> Cuomo first met musician [[Scott Murphy]] (of the band {{Wikipedia|Allister}}) after telling his record company that he was looking for a collaborator on a Japanese album.<ref>"[https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Scott%20%26%20Rivers Scott & Rivers]" ''[[Riverpedia]]''</ref> The two formed the Japanese-language pop duo [[Scott & Rivers]], releasing [[Scott & Rivers (album)|their first album]] in [[2013]]. The duo's follow-up, ''[[Nimaime]]'', was released in [[2017]]. | ||
===Acting=== | ===Acting=== | ||
Cuomo appears as himself in the short film/music video "[[Cocaine Blues]]" by American psychedelic rock band [[Wikipedia:The Warlocks|the Warlocks]]. He also makes a brief cameo appearance in the music video for "[[Murder (You Know It's Hard)]]" by [[Wikipedia:The Crystal Method|the Crystal Method]], directed by [[Marcos Siega]] (who also directed the music video for Weezer's "[[Hash Pipe]]"). | Cuomo appears as himself in the short film/music video "[[Cocaine Blues]]" by American psychedelic rock band [[Wikipedia:The Warlocks|the Warlocks]]. He also makes a brief cameo appearance in the music video for "[[Murder (You Know It's Hard)]]" by [[Wikipedia:The Crystal Method|the Crystal Method]], directed by [[Marcos Siega]] (who also directed the music video for Weezer's "[[Hash Pipe]]"). | ||
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Cuomo has a voice cameo as "Dr. Haskell" in the [[2018]] film ''[[Spell]]''. He plays the character "Lake" in the 2023 Netflix film ''The Family Switch''. | Cuomo has a voice cameo as "Dr. Haskell" in the [[2018]] film ''[[Spell]]''. He plays the character "Lake" in the 2023 Netflix film ''The Family Switch''. | ||
In 2015, Cuomo helped to produce a television pilot by | In 2015, Cuomo helped to produce a television pilot by {{Wikipedia|Psych}} creator {{Wikipedia|Steve Franks}} titled ''[[DeTour]]'', about a rock star returning to school after a period of intense writer's block (loosely based on his own experience attending Harvard). Cuomo made a cameo appearance in the pilot as "Professor Kitts." The pilot was not picked up.<ref>Kaye, Ben. "[https://consequence.net/2015/07/tv-sitcom-about-rivers-cuomos-life-will-never-air/ TV sitcom about Rivers Cuomo’s life will never air]" ''Consequence of Sound''. 10 July 2015. </ref> | ||
In 2020, Cuomo developed a pitch for a television pilot in which he would portray a fictionalized version of himself, who performs with Weezer and lives as a family man while also secretly being an alien from outer space.<ref>stupidsuck1010. "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1VYsjmsjRI 5-22-20 Rivers Cuomo Zoom w Yalun Tu- Buddy Holly I Don't Know How to Love Him, I Admire You So Much]" ''YouTube.'' 22 May 2020.</ref> | In 2020, Cuomo developed a pitch for a television pilot in which he would portray a fictionalized version of himself, who performs with Weezer and lives as a family man while also secretly being an alien from outer space.<ref>stupidsuck1010. "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1VYsjmsjRI 5-22-20 Rivers Cuomo Zoom w Yalun Tu- Buddy Holly I Don't Know How to Love Him, I Admire You So Much]" ''YouTube.'' 22 May 2020.</ref> | ||
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Cuomo has been a vegetarian since childhood<ref>"[https://thebadpennyblog.com/2010/09/17/weezers-rivers-cuomo-in-2002-i-think-i-had-a-falling-out-with-the-fans/ Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo In 2002: ‘I Think I Had A Falling Out With The Fans’" ''The Bad Penny''.</ref><ref name="latimesspreadsheet">Wood, Mikael. "[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-rivers-cuomo-weezer-teal-album-black-album-20190222-story.html Being Rivers Cuomo: Why Weezer’s frontman put his life into a spreadsheet]" 22 February 2019. ''Los Angeles Times''</ref> though he briefly experimented with eating meat in his early thirties.<ref>[https://www.weezerpedia.com/w/index.php?title=Rivers_Cuomo&curid=2&diff=120964&oldid=119914 Weezerpedia edit by User:Rivers]</ref> Cuomo has considered himself an atheist throughout his life.<ref name="whativebeenupto" /> Though he practices Vipassana, a Buddhist form of meditation, he does not consider himself a Buddhist,<ref name="yogamag" /> and does not publicly ascribe to any particular religion. He lent financial support to the 2007 film ''The Dhamma Brothers'' about a prison meditation program in Alabama.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20071224182903/http://www.frizzylogic.org/fl/2007/07/11/the-dhamma-brothers/ The Dhamma Brothers]" ''FrizzyLogic'' 11 July 2007. Archived by ''Wayback Machine''</ref> | Cuomo has been a vegetarian since childhood<ref>"[https://thebadpennyblog.com/2010/09/17/weezers-rivers-cuomo-in-2002-i-think-i-had-a-falling-out-with-the-fans/ Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo In 2002: ‘I Think I Had A Falling Out With The Fans’" ''The Bad Penny''.</ref><ref name="latimesspreadsheet">Wood, Mikael. "[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-rivers-cuomo-weezer-teal-album-black-album-20190222-story.html Being Rivers Cuomo: Why Weezer’s frontman put his life into a spreadsheet]" 22 February 2019. ''Los Angeles Times''</ref> though he briefly experimented with eating meat in his early thirties.<ref>[https://www.weezerpedia.com/w/index.php?title=Rivers_Cuomo&curid=2&diff=120964&oldid=119914 Weezerpedia edit by User:Rivers]</ref> Cuomo has considered himself an atheist throughout his life.<ref name="whativebeenupto" /> Though he practices Vipassana, a Buddhist form of meditation, he does not consider himself a Buddhist,<ref name="yogamag" /> and does not publicly ascribe to any particular religion. He lent financial support to the 2007 film ''The Dhamma Brothers'' about a prison meditation program in Alabama.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20071224182903/http://www.frizzylogic.org/fl/2007/07/11/the-dhamma-brothers/ The Dhamma Brothers]" ''FrizzyLogic'' 11 July 2007. Archived by ''Wayback Machine''</ref> | ||
On [[November 1]], [[2019]], Cuomo performed songs at Yangapalooza!, a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate | On [[November 1]], [[2019]], Cuomo performed songs at Yangapalooza!, a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate {{Wikipedia|Andrew Yang}}. Cuomo did not explicitly endorse Yang.<ref>Hogan, Mark and Bloom, Madison. "[https://pitchfork.com/news/heres-what-happened-during-rivers-cuomos-yangapalooza-set/ Here’s What Happened During Rivers Cuomo’s Set at the Andrew Yang Rally in Iowa]" ''Pitchfork''. 1 November 2019.</ref> | ||
==Discography== | ==Discography== | ||