Allmusic Weezer biography: Difference between revisions
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Shortly after [[Pinkerton Tour|the tour in support of ''Pinkerton'']] was completed in [[1997]], it appeared as though Weezer had fallen off the face of the planet. Stung by the public's initial reaction to their sophomore effort ([[Rolling Stone]] even named ''Pinkerton'' the Worst Album of 1996) ''[sic]'' the band took time off to regroup and plan their next move. Unhappy with the sluggish rate of the reassessment period, Sharp left the group to concentrate more fully on the Rentals, fueling rumors that Weezer had broken up. But a funny thing happened during Weezer's self-imposed exile -- while their copycat offspring were falling by the wayside ([[Nerf Herder]], [[Nada Surf]]), a whole new generation of [[Emo|emocore]] enthusiasts discovered Weezer's diamond-in-the-rough sophomore effort for the first time, and their audience grew despite not having a new album in the stores. | Shortly after [[Pinkerton Tour|the tour in support of ''Pinkerton'']] was completed in [[1997]], it appeared as though Weezer had fallen off the face of the planet. Stung by the public's initial reaction to their sophomore effort ([[Rolling Stone]] even named ''Pinkerton'' the Worst Album of 1996) ''[sic]'' the band took time off to regroup and plan their next move. Unhappy with the sluggish rate of the reassessment period, Sharp left the group to concentrate more fully on the Rentals, fueling rumors that Weezer had broken up. But a funny thing happened during Weezer's self-imposed exile -- while their copycat offspring were falling by the wayside ([[Nerf Herder]], [[Nada Surf]]), a whole new generation of [[Emo|emocore]] enthusiasts discovered Weezer's diamond-in-the-rough sophomore effort for the first time, and their audience grew despite not having a new album in the stores. | ||
Once Weezer's members wrapped up work on their side projects (Bell with [[Space Twins]]; Wilson with [[the Special Goodness]]), the band recruited former Juliana Hatfield bassist [[Mikey Welsh]] to take the place of Sharp and began working on new material. Before they could enter the recording studio to record their third release, however, Weezer tested the waters by landing a spot on the [[2000]] edition of [[Vans Warped Tour|the Warped Tour]], where they were consistently the day's highlight. Hooking up again with the producer of their 1994 debut, Ric Ocasek, Weezer recorded what would be known as "[[The Green Album]]" (an informal title given by fans, since it was actually their second self-titled release). The album was an immediate hit, debuting at number four in May [[2001]] and camping out in the upper reaches of the charts for much of the spring/summer, during which such songs like "[[Hash Pipe]]" and "[[Island in the Sun]]" became radio and MTV staples, reestablishing Weezer as one of alt-rock's top dogs. During their tour that summer, Welsh fell ill and was replaced by [[Scott Shriner]], also of the band Broken. (Welsh died in Chicago in October [[2011]] at the age of 40.) That fall and winter, the group busied itself with touring alongside bands like [[Tenacious D]] and recording its next album, ''[[Maladroit]]'', which arrived a year after ''The Green Album'''s release. | Once Weezer's members wrapped up work on their side projects (Bell with [[Space Twins]]; Wilson with [[the Special Goodness]]), the band recruited former [[Juliana Hatfield]] bassist [[Mikey Welsh]] to take the place of Sharp and began working on new material. Before they could enter the recording studio to record their third release, however, Weezer tested the waters by landing a spot on the [[2000]] edition of [[Vans Warped Tour|the Warped Tour]], where they were consistently the day's highlight. Hooking up again with the producer of their 1994 debut, Ric Ocasek, Weezer recorded what would be known as "[[The Green Album]]" (an informal title given by fans, since it was actually their second self-titled release). The album was an immediate hit, debuting at number four in May [[2001]] and camping out in the upper reaches of the charts for much of the spring/summer, during which such songs like "[[Hash Pipe]]" and "[[Island in the Sun]]" became radio and MTV staples, reestablishing Weezer as one of alt-rock's top dogs. During their tour that summer, Welsh fell ill and was replaced by [[Scott Shriner]], also of the band Broken. (Welsh died in Chicago in October [[2011]] at the age of 40.) That fall and winter, the group busied itself with touring alongside bands like [[Tenacious D]] and recording its next album, ''[[Maladroit]]'', which arrived a year after ''The Green Album'''s release. | ||
Just before ''Maladroit'''s release, former bassist Matt Sharp sued Weezer, seeking compensation and songwriting credit for songs such as "Undone (The Sweater Song)," "[[El Scorcho]]," and "The Good Life." The band eventually reconciled with Sharp, though he didn't rejoin, and Weezer continued on with the lineup of Cuomo, Bell, Wilson, and Shriner. The limited-edition live EP ''[[Lion and the Witch]]'' appeared in May [[2002]], and Maladroit's "[[Keep Fishin']]" was released as a single. Most of [[2003]] was spent on side projects; Cuomo did some hired-gun songwriting, Bell's band the Space Twins put out ''[[End of Imagining]]'', and Wilson's Special Goodness project issued ''[[Land Air Sea]]''. Weezer returned to the studio in [[2004]], working with [[Rick Rubin]] on their fifth full-length album. ''[[Make Believe]]'' appeared in May [[2005]], prepped by the single "[[Beverly Hills]]," and eventually went platinum in multiple countries. ''[[Weezer (Red Album)]]'' followed in [[2008]] and featured a more collaborative approach, with several band members contributing songwriting ideas and lead vocals to the tracks. One year later, the band returned with ''[[Raditude]]''. Greeted with mixed reviews, ''Raditude'' marked Weezer's last album for Universal. They jumped to the indies in [[2010]], releasing ''[[Hurley]]'' on [[Epitaph]]. The new album was quickly followed by two archival releases: an expanded deluxe edition of ''Pinkerton'', and the outtakes collection ''[[Death to False Metal]]''. | Just before ''Maladroit'''s release, former bassist Matt Sharp sued Weezer, seeking compensation and songwriting credit for songs such as "Undone (The Sweater Song)," "[[El Scorcho]]," and "The Good Life." The band eventually reconciled with Sharp, though he didn't rejoin, and Weezer continued on with the lineup of Cuomo, Bell, Wilson, and Shriner. The limited-edition live EP ''[[Lion and the Witch]]'' appeared in May [[2002]], and Maladroit's "[[Keep Fishin']]" was released as a single. Most of [[2003]] was spent on side projects; Cuomo did some hired-gun songwriting, Bell's band the Space Twins put out ''[[End of Imagining]]'', and Wilson's Special Goodness project issued ''[[Land Air Sea]]''. Weezer returned to the studio in [[2004]], working with [[Rick Rubin]] on their fifth full-length album. ''[[Make Believe]]'' appeared in May [[2005]], prepped by the single "[[Beverly Hills]]," and eventually went platinum in multiple countries. ''[[Weezer (Red Album)]]'' followed in [[2008]] and featured a more collaborative approach, with several band members contributing songwriting ideas and lead vocals to the tracks. One year later, the band returned with ''[[Raditude]]''. Greeted with mixed reviews, ''Raditude'' marked Weezer's last album for Universal. They jumped to the indies in [[2010]], releasing ''[[Hurley]]'' on [[Epitaph]]. The new album was quickly followed by two archival releases: an expanded deluxe edition of ''Pinkerton'', and the outtakes collection ''[[Death to False Metal]]''. | ||