Weezer want to rock UK festivals

by Damian Jones
Radio 1 music reporter

Weezer have declared that they would "love" to play this year's Reading and Leeds festivals.

The LA quartet, who are due to release their new self-titled album, also known as the Red Album, on 16 June, told Newsbeat that it would be an exciting challenge to perform at the three day event alongside the likes of headliners Rage Against The Machine, The Killers and Metallica.

"I sure hope we can play Reading and Leeds, I personally would push for us to play there," admitted bassist Scott Shriner.

"I love doing those festivals, it's a blast and I feel like we could go on a lot of different stages there because there is such a good mix of music."

The band last played at the three day festival in 2002 on the main stage behind, The Strokes, Pulp and Jane's Addiction.

Shriner explained: “I don't feel like a lot of people know who we are in Europe and the UK so to get up and play in front of that many people that don't know us is always a really exciting challenge to me.

"I've had all kinds of things thrown at me at these festivals but when you see people who have never heard your music before enjoy themselves there's no better feeling."

"All star" video

The four-piece are renowned for their quirky music videos.

Their most famous is arguably 1995's Buddy Holly, which featured footage of Happy Days spliced with Weezer performing.

They have recently caused a stir on YouTube with their latest video, Pork And Beans.

The clip features a host of YouTube stars including Tay Zonday of Chocolate Rain fame and Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline and has so far had over four million hits.

We all wrote down our goals for this album and singing lead vocals was everybody's kind of goal Scott Shriner

Shriner said: "It was little bit overwhelming having all these YouTube stars in the same room together doing a whole bunch of stuff.

"That guy from Chocolate Rain was really cool and it was great to see all these people made famous on the net for making mistakes have their day in court.

"It was funny when they were in the studio too because they were sharing their stories and experiences amongst themselves.

"It was like a YouTube convention."

Experimental approach

Pork And Beans is the first single to be lifted from their sixth studio album which was produced Red Hot Chili Peppers producer Rick Rubin and Bloc Party producer Jacknife Lee.

The lyrics of the track also reference Timbaland who recently worked with Madonna on her album, Hard Candy.

Shriner told Newsbeat that he was big fan of the producer and he is hopeful Weezer will team up with him one day.

He added: “I think it's awesome that Madonna worked with the likes of Timbaland and I hope we get to work with some of those producers that worked on her album too.

"I really respect them."

The Red Album also sees all the band sharing vocal duties and taking a new experimental approach.

Shriner said: "At the beginning of the recording sessions we had a meeting and we all wrote down our goals for this album and singing lead vocals was everybody's kind of goal.

"It just sounded the most exciting thing to do for us, everyone to sing. I think it's another reason why it's the best Weezer album to date."

Downloading plans

Sessions have gone so well on their current record that the band are already working on a follow up with further recording sessions pencilled in for the autumn.

With the likes of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails embracing the digital revolution by asking fans to name their price or releasing their albums for free, Shriner also said he was hopeful that Weezer would do the same at some stage.

He said: "I really respect Radiohead and Trent Reznor for putting their own music on their own websites and releasing it on their terms."

He continued: "I think it's great that I can go to Nine Inch Nails' website and download the album for free.

"Our plan is to do the same where we can release our own music, sometime in the future."