Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1992. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals).
Weezer has been described as alternative rock, powerpop, pop rock, pop punk, emo, indie rock, emo pop, geek rock, melodic metal and pop. The members of Weezer have listed influence including them Kiss (with direct references in the song "In The Garage"), Nirvana, Pixies, The Cars (whose member Ric Ocasek has produced several Weezer records), Pavement, Oasis, The Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and Wax. Cuomo credited The Beach Boys as a major influence, specifically Pet Sounds; Bell described Weezer's sound as "Beach Boys with Marshall stacks". Operas and musicals such as Madama Butterfly (1904) and Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) influenced Pinkerton and Songs From The Black Hole.