Before Rivers Cuomo was writing eerily creepy love songs about underage Japanese girls, and dancing around in music videos with muppets, Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson was keeping it cool in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence, NY, Cuomo and Wilson are the only two remaining original members, and with the recent release of their sixth full length album, Weezer (or “The Red Album.” How original, right?), they are leading the group on tour. We sent Wilson an email, and he wrote us back. What a nice guy!
Weezer has been performing together for over fifteen years now. Would you have thought in the mid-90s that you’d still be playing “Buddy Holly” and the other early songs in 2008?
I remember never considering the possibility of failure in those early days, which is probably a good thing! I feel fortunate that we are still able to rock the people and grow our future simultaneously.
In 1994, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Oasis, and Nine Inch Nails all had huge releases, and the same year, Weezer put out their debut. While I’m sure that all of the groups have their own reasons to keep going, what has kept you in the band for so long?
The one thing we all have in common is the desire to make good recordings and play good shows.
You’re from the Buffalo area, but moved out to California after high school. Do you ever long for the eight feet of snow and late-night Mighty Taco out West?
I visit at least once a year to see my family, and I usually pick the correct 15 minutes of optimum weather! I do miss the seasons and the geography.
When the first album came out, a lot of the success of the band came from the first few music videos, particularly the work with Spike Jonze. With the video for “Pork and Beans” blowing up across the internet, and with MTV straying further and further from their initial concept of music television, how have music-videos changed as an art form since you’ve been involved with music? Can they still help out bands?
I think the message is the same, but with different outlets now. As a kid, I remember watching MTV for hours, even through bands I hated, just because I loved my favorite bands so much. That experience is completely different now. You can watch as much of any band you like at any time.
Geffen originally rejected some of the recording sessions for the new album, citing them as not commercial enough. How did this impact the recording of the album, and also, how right are labels usually when they say something like this? Is the band usually apt to go in and re-record?
To be clear, all of the songs we submitted are still on the CD. They just felt like the record would do better with some singles on it, and we agreed. At this point, we can choose to do what we like, and I’m grateful for the record company’s honesty, because it made a more compelling record.
The new album marks your first time singing lead on a Weezer album. Though you’re accustomed to that with your other group, The Special Goodness, were you nervous at all about your voice being featured on such an anticipated album?
At first I was, but when I could see that it was going to be the big beefy rock, I relaxed about it. This is the direction we’re moving in, and we’re all very excited about it.
There are keyboards, intricate harmonies and a lot of other unexpected bells and whistles on the new album. Were these things the group was planning on employing, or were these last minute additions in the studio?
We did have a list of goals for the CD, and one of them was to use a wider palette of instrumentation. I think the only one that didn’t make it was an accordion.
After fifteen years of performing on or under a giant glowing =W=, has your body begun to show any long term affects due to the exposure?
The jury is still out on that depending on whom you ask!
What should we expect on the tour this time around? New stuff, old stuff, Steely Dan covers?
Don’t make me bust out some “Peg” or Yacht Rock! There will be at least one cover, and the show is sure to satisfy.
When I was a senior in high school, I used a quote from you in my yearbook. A quick Google search reveals that I wasn’t the only one that used “Have fun, because not having fun is lame.” Do you have any new words of wisdom to share this time around?
Yes, don’t be afraid to fail consistently. It’s the only way you can get any better.
You’ve had a few kids and grown up. Do you still know how to have fun, or has the transition into lame begun?
Oh no, it’s all fun-time now and I really enjoy having a family with two boys.
Anything else?
Word to the OG’s in Clarence Center.
Weezer will be performing at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on September 30.
