The Biggest Animal
| "The Biggest Animal" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Demo by Fuzz | |||||
| Album | Yeastmaster Pt. 1 | ||||
| Released | Unreleased | ||||
| Length | 3:13 | ||||
| Label | none | ||||
| Writer(s) | Rivers Cuomo | ||||
| RC# | 65 | ||||
| Status | Released | ||||
| Live debut | November 29, 1991 in Petaluma, CA (60 Wrong Sausages) | ||||
| Last played | May 21, 1992 in West Hollywood, CA | ||||
| Rivers Cuomo song chronology | |||||
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"The Biggest Animal" is a Fuzz demo from 1991.
Appearances
- Alone V: Before Weezer (2020)
Overview
"The Biggest Animal" was first demoed by Rivers Cuomo acoustically in 1990 and with full instrumentation in January of 1991[1]. The latter recording was included on Cuomo's cassette tape demo The Yeastmaster, which compiled demos from 1990 to 1992. The song would be demoed twice more in 1991, once in February and once in March, both times by Fuzz as a full band. This included Patrick Wilson on drums and Scottie Chapman on bass.
Though Fuzz would not last through 1991, "The Biggest Animal" would survive for a short while longer in Weezer's early live sets. During a May 1992 show at the 8121 Club in West Hollywood, Rivers Cuomo would give a nod to Fuzz by introducing the song as being "by one of our favorite bands."[2].
Jason Cropper jokingly referenced the song during a Weezer rehearsal in June 1992, soliciting groans and laughs from the rest of the band when suggested they should practice it.[3].
Cuomo included the song on "The 4 and 5 Star Demos of Rivers Cuomo," a list compiling demos he deems of high quality that he released in July 2008. The song was finally heard when it was leaked and subsequently released as part of the demo compilation Alone V: Before Weezer in November of 2020.
Live performances[4]
- Weezer concert: 03/19/1992
- Weezer concert: 03/30/1992
- Weezer concert: 05/21/1992
- Weezer concert: 06/11/1992
Lyrics
The biggest animal
is walking in the field
so open your door, open your door, open your door
He's takin' what he needs
and he walks on by
walking on by, walking on by, walking right by
So go right down to the riverside now
Open up your door and ya take a big gulp
of the animal, of the animal
He's going for the broke
as a little girl cries
He's banging on your skull!
He's banging on your head!
Known recordings
| Performer(s) | Title | Filename | Date of recording | Recording location | Length | Appeared on | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers Cuomo | The Biggest Animal | 01 The Biggest Animal (Demo).mp3 | December 1990 | 1:08 | Alone V: Before Weezer | ||
| Rivers Cuomo | The Biggest Animal | 05 The Biggest Animal.mp3 | January 1991 | 3:16 | Alone V: Before Weezer | ||
| Fuzz | The Biggest Animal | February 18, 1991 | Fuzz practice | ||||
| Fuzz | The Biggest Animal | March 9, 1991 | Fuzz demo | ||||
| Weezer | The Biggest Animal | February 16, 1992 | TK Productions & Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA | Weezer practice | |||
| Weezer | The Biggest Animal | March 30, 1992 | Whisky a Go Go, West Hollywood, CA | Live performance, taped by Karl Koch | |||
| Weezer | The Biggest Animal | May 21, 1992 | 8121 Club, West Hollywood, CA | Live performance, taped by Karl Koch | |||
| Weezer | The Biggest Animal | June 11, 1992 | 8121 Club, West Hollywood, CA | Live performance, taped by Karl Koch |