Did Weezer Rip Off "The Sweater Song" From Metallica?
In an intimate interview with Rolling Stone last week, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo opened up about a number of Weezer topics, including how he might have stolen the musical arrangement for “The Sweater Song” from a little band called Metallica.
Cuomo elaborated on how he didn’t realize until years later that his “Sweater Song” was “almost a complete rip-off” of the Master of Puppets classic "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)." He explained to Rolling Stone the true origins of The Blue Album anthem:
”‘The Sweater Song’ was the first Weezer song I ever wrote, back in 1991,” Cuomo says. “I was trying to write a Velvet Underground-type song because I was super into them, and I came up with that guitar riff. I just picked up that acoustic guitar and the first thing I played was that riff. It wasn’t until years after I wrote it that I realized it’s almost a complete rip-off of 'Sanitarium' by Metallica. It just perfectly encapsulates Weezer to me — you’re trying to be cool like Velvet Underground but your metal roots just pump through unconsciously.”
I guess I can hear it. What about you?
Weezer – “The Sweater Song”
Metallica – "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
Source: Jason LaVeri/Getty Images
