Weezer

Formed in Los Angeles in 1992 around Rivers Cuomo, Weezer initially emerged on the American alternative scene with melodic rock fueled by power pop, distorted guitars and songwriting that mixes self-mockery, melancholy and very direct choruses. The quartet released Weezer in 1994, often called the "Blue Album", followed by Pinkerton in 1996, a more tense and intimate record that marked a turning point in their approach. After a break in the late 1990s, Weezer returned with Weezer in 2001, nicknamed the "Green Album", and went on to build a prolific discography combining alternative rock, pop rock and more conceptual formats, notably Make Believe (2005), Everything Will Be Alright in the End (2014), OK Human and Van Weezer (2021), and the SZNZ series in 2022. The band has seen several changes at bass — from Matt Sharp to Mikey Welsh and then Scott Shriner — while Cuomo, Brian Bell and Patrick Wilson remain the steady core. On stage, Weezer has moved since the 1990s between rock venues, major festivals and international tours.