Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Rivers Cuomo
Oct 10, 2022
Rivers Cuomo, lead singer of Weezer and Harvard alum, shares his unique journey from rock tours to academic pursuits. He dives into his love for Beethoven, his experience with leg surgery, and the band's latest project, SZNZ. The chat takes a humorous turn as they reflect on aging and nostalgic moments from the early 2000s, including Weezer's iconic TV debut. Amidst playful banter, they discuss the challenges of sustaining a music career and the evolving creative landscape.
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Weezer's First TV Appearance
- Rivers Cuomo recalls Weezer's first TV appearance on Conan O'Brien's show in 1994.
- Conan was impressed by their unique performance of "Sweater Song."
Sweater Song Inspiration
- Rivers Cuomo wrote the "Sweater Song" riff inspired by the Velvet Underground but later realized its similarity to Metallica's "Sanitarium".
- He shared this with Lars Ulrich, who was cool about it.
Beethoven's Influence
- Rivers Cuomo now plays Beethoven sonatas nightly on his Discord server.
- He finds Beethoven's music emotionally resonant, unlike Mozart, which he can't get into.