Weezer is the alternative rock band from the early 1990s that has had as much speaking to the fans with their music as alienating them at times. Still, in this somewhat abusive musical relationship, the fans and critics have repeatedly lauded just praise upon the band from Los Angeles. Weezer albums and certainly Weezer tickets continue to sell as the audience that adored them in the 1990s and the new audience that first heard them in the 21st century are still abuzz with excitement to see this band that perhaps best epitomizes the generations that have grown up over the last two decades.

As the group is now, Rivers Cuomo plays lead guitar, sings, and plays keyboard. Brian Bell plays rhythm guitar, the keyboard, and will offer backup vocals. Scott Shriner plays bass, keyboard, and sings backup. Pat Wilson plays drums, guitar on occasion, and sings backup. Josh Freese has joined Weezer on tour as a drummer since 2009. Like any modern rock band, the group has gone through its share of lineup changes. Jason Cropper was the original guitarist when the band formed in 1992, but left a year later and was replaced by Brian Bell. Matt Sharp was with Weezer at its formation too. The bassist left in 1998 after the band's second album. Mikey Welsh stepped in as the next bassist, but left in 2001 after suffering a mental breakdown that has been attributed to many stresses in his life. Scott Shriner has been playing bass since he left.

Weezer officially lists its first practice date, February 14, 1992, as its birth. The band played together for 16 months, opening for Dogstar (Keanu Reeves' band) as their first gig. Geffen Records offered them a record and contract and the band began its musical ascent. Weezer, the eponymous debut album also known as the Blue Album, released in May 1994. The album has been selling ever since and its singles still garner radio play. It has gone triple platinum in the U.S.; double platinum in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand; and platinum in the UK. The best known song off the album, "Buddy Holly," went gold and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard singles charts, yet remains perhaps the best known of Weezer's catalog.

The band toured constantly as a band that could appeal to the popular crowd as counter cultural and as a nerd rock band for the 1990s. The touring wore on the group, so they took a break in December 2005. Cuomo, the dominant creative force, took the time to plot the course of the next album. Pinkerton came out on September 24, 1996. The commercial response left the record label wanting much more. This was not simply the typical sophomore slump. This was the first proof of the true colors of the Cuomo and, by extension, Weezer. Panned by fans for its much darker tone, the album put the future of the group at risk. Simply put, Cuomo created and played music for himself and not his fans.