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CNN.com article - October 26, 2005
More school, celibacy for Weezer singer
Wednesday, October 26, 2005; Posted: 8:36 a.m. EDT (12:36 GMT)
NEW YORK (Billboard) -- Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo is heading back to Harvard University in February, with plans to graduate in June with a degree in English, according to a recent chat session on AOL Music.
Cuomo returned to Harvard at the beginning of the year after an eight-year-hiatus, but has spent the bulk of 2005 recording and touring in support of Weezer's latest Geffen album, "Make Believe."
The group is winding down its fall outing with Foo Fighters, after which it will play seven shows in Japan through December 22 in Tokyo. It is unclear if there will be any activity in the Weezer camp next year while Cuomo is back at school.
During the chat, Cuomo revealed further details about his devotion to meditation as well as his vow of celibacy, which he began June 13, 2003.
"I decided to try celibacy because I heard it would help the meditation, and I tried meditation because I heard it would help with the music," he said. "So, it all really comes back to the music.
"Listen to 'Make Believe' and compare it to the previous album, 'Maladroit,' " he continued. "I know I can hear a difference in my singing. My voice just sounds much more sensitive and dynamic now. I also notice a difference in the lyrics. I'm much more open and communicative about my emotions now."
Cuomo said he believes his own personal transformation has rubbed off on the other members of Weezer.
"You might wonder what my meditation practice has to do with the other members' contributions, but I think my meditation has allowed me to be a better collaborator in the studio," he said. "I don't have so much fear that I won't get my way. I don't have so much anger if people have opposing opinions and generally I'm much more happy and comfortable in collaborative situations. So I think the guys finally got an opportunity to really shine on this album."
"Make Believe," boosted by the singles "Beverly Hills" and "We Are All On Drugs," has shifted 790,000 copies in the United States since its May release, according to Nielsen SoundScan, a significant improvement over 2002's "Maladroit," which has sold 590,000 to date.
