rocks out
09.25.02
Evolution of Rivers
[Stages of life for a geek rock icon]
I really wasn't a big Weezer fan until my sister started listening to their stuff about a year ago. Up until that point, the group had been lumped together in my mind with every other pop rock band that had somehow snagged some airtime and forced its way into my car on the drive to and from school every weekend. But before I knew it, I owned all three of the band's albums and was following the production of the fourth with rabid anticipation. Having celebrated its 10 year anniversary last Valentine's Day, the band has just yesterday released a new EP and is already recording a fifth album.
Weezer is comprised of four very talented individuals. Pat Wilson provides the beat, while Brian Bell lends backup guitar and vocals. Newcomer Scott Shriner has replaced former bassist Mikey Welsh (himself a replacement for founding bassist Matt Sharp), and is every bit as talented as the two, if not moreso. Of course, you can't think of Weezer without one man's face coming to mind: Rivers Cuomo. The band would not be what it is today without Brian, Pat and the group's assorted bassists, but this feature will focus primarily on Rivers and the evolution of the band from his perspective. Plus I think he looks rad.
The primary vocal and guitar talent of Weezer, the unassuming Rivers comes from a quiet Connecticut upbringing. He and his brother formed a band there, Avant Garde, which they took to LA in the hopes of making it big. The band made use of big hair and bright colors, but as America grew out of its heavy metal phase, the visual and musical stylings of the band, later renamed Zoom, were unpopular. The members of the band decided to return to Connecticut -- except for Rivers. After meeting more people and attending more shows, the original members of Weezer gravitated towards each other and formed the band in early 1992. It would be two years of songwriting, rehearsal, and shuffling of members before Weezer's first album was released.
"I got electric guitar / I play my stupid songs / I write these stupid words / And I love every one"
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During this time period, Rivers is first seen sporting his thick, black-rimmed glasses (which are indeed prescribed and not merely cosmetic). Unfortunately, the hair and braces make it difficult for him to pull off the "God of Rock" demeanor that we see today, though this is inconsequential as that's really not what he's going for. The Blue Album debuted in 1994, its double-platinum success prompting a flood of TV appearances by the band. One particular clip of the band performing Undone on Jon Stewart's show from this time period specifically showcases a somewhat awkward performance by the fledgling Weezer. The official video for the song, directed by Spike Jonze, aired alongside the album's other popular tracks, Buddy Holly and Say It Ain't So.
I was entirely uninterested in rock music at the time, harboring the preconceived notion that all rock bands were composed of loud, angry-sounding men who swear a lot and break things during their videos. A musical act that advertised such a rampant geek as its singer/songwriter/shredder would've pulled me in from the get-go. The fact that the band was actually talented wouldn't have hurt things either, though at the time I was entirely of incapable of recognizing it. |
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"You know this is breaking me up / You think that I'm some kinda freak"
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After having his fill of time in the spotlight, Rivers took a break from the band and decided to go to college. Harvard was his school of choice, where he studied Music and English Literature, never abstaining from performing his music in one outlet or another. As you can see, the glasses have been ditched in favor of contacts. Also during this period, Rivers used a good deal of the money earned from the Blue Album to undergo leg surgery. Since birth, Rivers' right leg had been 44 millimeters (about 2 inches) shorter than his left, though through an excruciating procedure of breaking apart the bone and winding screws to stretch his leg (1 millimeter per day for 44 days), Rivers was able to correct his natural imbalance.
The band got back together in 1996 to produce their second album, Pinkerton. This was on a completely different level than the Blue Album, incorporating more emotional lyrics and raw guitar technique. Many see Pinkerton as the beginning of "emo" or emotive rock, but the whole concept of emo is ridiculous; music is itself emotive, communicating feelings is a trait inherent in every song. Regardless of label, Pinkerton was Rivers' chance to open up to the world and show his softer, as well as violent sides. Unfortunately, Pinkerton was both a critical and commercial failure, sending the band into a state of limbo as members began to pursue side projects. Rivers was hit the hardest by this, perceiving Pinkerton's reception as total and utter rejection of his attempt to convey his feelings through his music. |
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"If you want it / You can have it / But you gotta learn to reach out there and grab it"
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Seemingly on a whim, the band decided to partake in the 2000 Warped Tour. Expecting to be booed offstage in favor of the larger, more popular acts, Weezer found that the fans cheered for them loudest of all. During their time apart, Pinkerton had become incredibly popular and spawned a loyal following among and alongside fans of the old Blue Album. The band saw this as a prime opportunity to make a comeback, which they did by producing the Green Album, their third. The album was a commercial success, though some fans seem to deny its existence. Most of the tracks on the Green Album all follow the exact same structure, and the lyrics were, for the most part, trite and poppy. Looking back, Rivers admits that the band was experimenting and that he doesn't care much for the album at all.
Excerpt from a recent interview with Guitar World:
As far as physical appearance, the trademark glasses have returned for good, accompanying a stylish new wardrobe. The band reappears on MTV and gets back into the swing of touring and performing on various late-night shows. Much to some fans dismay, the Green Album receives copious coverage during live performances. Cuomo: I'll Fuck with them sometimes. I'll start to play one of those Pinkerton songs and they start to cheer and then I'll bust into one of my gay pop songs. |
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"Sit down, quiet everybody / Got a long way to go / I told you once before that you better not stop the show"
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Casting off his hardcore dork shell, Rivers embarks on the fourth album, Maladroit, which is to be exactly what the Green Album was not. A much harder rock sound, aggressive guitar solos, and a more natural vibe make the album much easier to listen to. Rivers has grown a beard, which can be said to symbolize his growth from awkward garage rocker to full-on shredder. The music video for Dope Nose, for example, contrasts wonderfully with those of Undone and Say It Ain't So, showcasing a grown-up band whose distinct evolution could not have been predicted back then.
At 32, Rivers is now working on the band's fifth album, which will strive to maintain the band's newly attained level of spirit while injecting songs with the more personal flavor that he knows fans love. The process by which the fifth album is being produced mirrors the fourth -- As the band records new material, it is uploaded, raw and unmixed, to the band's official website. Rivers then watches the site's message boards for thoughts and feedback on the tunes, and constructs the album with the fans' input (Maladroit was even named by a fan). Demos for the fifth album were taken down recently by an angered Geffen (Weezer's label), but with Cuomo acting as manager for the band, victory in the matter was quick.
GW: Are you able to put any barrier at all between you and Weezer? |
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sources/related
Weezer.com
Weezer empire
Weezur
Weez on
Riverscuomo.com