Deseret News interview with Matt Sharp - May 30, 1997

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Print interview with Matt Sharp
Publication Deseret News (Link)
Interviewee Matt Sharp
Interviewer Scott Iwasaki
Date May 30, 1997
Title Weezer Loves To Make Music, But Not Videos
Format Print
External link Weezer Media Archive[citation needed]
Associated concert Weezer concert: 06/05/1997
References See where this interview is referenced on Weezerpedia

Weezer Loves To Make Music, But Not Videos
Author: Scott Iwasaki (Deseret News)
Published: May 30, 1997


Pop-modern-rock band Weezer hates making videos.

"We've always had problems with doing that," said bassist Matt Sharp during a phone call from San Francisco. "I guess we're just scared."

Weezer—Sharp, drummer Pat Wilson and guitarists Rivers Cuomo and Brian Bell—will play the Delta Center as one of the opening bands for No Doubt on Thursday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. Suicide Machines will open the concert.

Sharp said every video the band has shot just made them hate the medium more.

"It started with 'Sweater Song,' and onward every video situation has been a crisis for us," Sharp said. "About 98 percent of the treatment we get from the videos is so bad we just find ourselves embarrassed to watch them."

Then there's the band's difficulty with making democratic decisions.

"We just put things off until the absolute last minute," Sharp said. "Then we're forced to make a hurried decision and go with one of the easier choices."

There was so much hoopla surrounding the "Buddy Holly" video, which featured the band playing at Al's diner from Happy Days fame, that Weezer needed to take some time off to regroup.

"A video can make or break you," Sharp said. "And we don't like that idea."

Still, Weezer also has its music to worry about. The band's new album, Pinkerton, has received mixed reviews. However, Sharp said he's pretty happy with it.

"We've progressed over these couple of years," he said. "At least I have. The bass on the new album has more substance than the last album. I think we tried to record an album that is very close to us and our original sound. It's more natural."

And playing to all sizes of crowds is another natural thing for Sharp. Whether it's in clubs, theaters or arenas, the bassist loves every minute.

"I'm sort of a ham when it comes to performing," he said with a nervous chuckle. "It's fun. And this time around, there's not a lot of pressure. The audience just wants to have a good time, and we don't have to carry the show. We play for about 45 minutes. I can't remember the whole band having as much of a good time in the past than we're having now."

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