Weezer

US rock band. Their nerdy looks and quirky lyrics, combined with their guitar-driven punk, hard rock, and pop-inspired music, made them popular from the mid-1990s to both alternative and mainstream pop music audiences.

Their self-titled debut album (1994), featuring the hit singles ‘Undone – the Sweater Song’, ‘Buddy Holly’, and ‘Say it Ain't So’, was followed by Pinkerton (1996); another self-titled album nicknamed The Green Album (2001), featuring the singles ‘Hash Pipe’ and ‘Island in the Sun’; Maladroit (2002); and Make Believe (2005), featuring ‘Beverly Hills’.

The band was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1992 by Rivers Cuomo (1970– ) on guitar and lead vocals, Jason Cropper (1970– ) on guitar, Matt Sharp (1969– ) on bass, and Pat Wilson (1969– ) on drums. After playing in local clubs for a year they were signed by David Geffen's DGE Records, and the band relocated to New York, where they worked with producer Ric O'Casek, formerly of the 1980s band The Cars. Cropper was replaced by Brian Bell (1968– ) in 1993 and Sharp was replaced by Mikey Welsh (1971– ) in 1998, who in turn was replaced by Scott Shriner (1965– ) in 2001.