Weezer’s Pinkerton Lawsuit

8 months ago by Alan Cross | January 11, 2010 3:22 pm

Weezer’s second album is called Pinkerton and was released on September 24, 1996.    However, the album ran in to trouble almost immediately. 

First of all, fans who were expecting more music in the style of the “blue” album were disappointed.  Pinkerton was darker and rougher, probably because Rivers Cuomo wrote the material when he was undergoing his painful leg-lengthening treatment.  It was originally a commercial disappointment. 

Second, the Pinkerton Detective Agency, was annoyed.  Even though Rivers named the record after a character in the Puccini opera, Mme Butterfuly, the Pinkerton people thought this was a trademark infringement and an attempt to capitalize on their worldwide reputation.  They slapped Weezer with a court order, suspending sales of the album. 

Weezer’s label went to a higher court and had that order overturned, convincing a judge that the inspiration was the opera, not the detective agency.  One other thing: the album has since been re-evaluated.  Hardcore Weezer fans now say it’s among the band’s best records.

Send to a friend Filed Under: Ongoing History of New Music
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  • heather
    February 4, 2010 at 12:31 am

    Pinkerton stands as my favourite Weezer album. I have never understood why it was so heavily criticized.

    (Reply)
  • heather
    February 4, 2010 at 12:31 am

    Pinkerton stands as my favourite Weezer album. I have never understood why it was so heavily criticized.

    (Reply)
  • xoeiwanhrri
    February 4, 2010 at 6:18 am

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  • Lucas
    February 4, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    I agree, it’s also my favorite album by Weezer. It’s got grit that really works.

    (Reply)
  • rob
    February 7, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    I bought Pinkerton when I was in College in Peterborough ONT. Loved it immediately. Album always reminds me of some great times in the Peter Patch.
    And it is still my fav Weezer album. By far.

    (Reply)
  • Trevor
    February 9, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Among? Is.

    (Reply)
  • Steve
    February 14, 2010 at 7:27 pm

    Pinkerton is their best record to date, in my opinion. I actually haven’t liked a record since and immediately fell in love with this one.

    It remains one of my all-timers…

    (Reply)

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