In a recent conversation with Kevan Kenney, Rivers Cuomo shared an intriguing story about Weezer’s hit “Hash Pipe.” Cuomo revealed that before the song became a defining track for the band, he offered it to Ozzy Osbourne, who ultimately turned it down.
Cuomo explained that “Hash Pipe” was unlike anything Weezer had done at the time, and the band didn’t initially see it as a fit for themselves. He said, “I just wrote it and thought, ‘Who should we give this to?’ So I sent it to Ozzy Osbourne, and he passed. Somehow, it ended up making the cut for our third record, became the first single, and we still play it today.”
The song was released as the lead single from Weezer’s 2001 album, The Green Album. Cuomo elaborated on the story in an interview with Guitar World, recalling that Osbourne had once asked if he had any songs to offer. “I just happened to have written ‘Hash Pipe,’” Cuomo said. “He didn’t end up using it. In another reality, it might be interesting to hear him singing that song.”
Although Osbourne didn’t record “Hash Pipe,” Weezer later paid homage to his work by incorporating the iconic riff from “Crazy Train” into their song “Blue Dream” on the album Van Weezer. Cuomo explained that the song initially featured a different riff but noted, “It wasn’t the greatest guitar riff of all time.” Their manager coincidentally suggested using the “Crazy Train” riff, which ultimately shaped the track.
Weezer has remained active with significant milestones in 2024. The band embarked on the Voyage to the Blue Planet tour with Dinosaur Jr. and The Flaming Lips, celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Blue Album by playing it in full. They also released a Super Deluxe Edition of the album on November 1, 2024, solidifying its enduring legacy.
