The Biggest Animal

From Weezerpedia
"The Biggest Animal"
The Biggest Animal cover
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
"The Answer Man"
(RC# 65)
"The Biggest Animal"
(RC# 66)
"Bored and Boring"
(RC# 67)

"The Biggest Animal" is a Fuzz demo from 1991.

Appearances

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]

Lyrics

Handwritten lyrics for "The Biggest Animal"

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
about this table

See also

References