Weezer have released the third single from their upcoming 20th studio album, using humour and self reflection to examine the music industry’s appetite for nostalgia while recreating one of the band’s most recognisable music videos.
by Paul Cashmere
Weezer have released ‘C.E.O.’, the latest preview of their forthcoming self-titled album, widely referred to as The Gold Album, accompanied by a video that satirises the pressure veteran artists face to revisit their past successes. The clip recreates elements of the band’s landmark 1994 video for ‘Undone (The Sweater Song)’, while featuring an extensive cast of celebrity cameos and industry in-jokes.
Rather than simply revisiting an earlier era, ‘C.E.O.’ directly addresses the commercial expectation that established artists continue to mine familiar ground. The song opens with the line, “Crankin’ out another ’90s jam, wish I could do something new,” immediately framing the track as both commentary and homage.
That theme extends throughout the accompanying video. Actors Rob Riggle and Rob Huebel portray record executives determined to push frontman Rivers Cuomo into recreating the iconic ‘Undone (The Sweater Song)’ clip that helped launch Weezer’s career more than three decades ago. Huebel’s executive character argues that audiences are “hungry for nostalgia” while insisting they want “the old with a new twist.”
The production deliberately mirrors the original video’s concept before introducing a series of increasingly absurd twists. Curry Barker, director of the recent horror film Obsession, appears on screen as the fictional music video director, although the clip itself was directed by Brendan Walter and Jasper Graham.
As the band performs on a gold-coloured soundstage, Barker becomes dissatisfied with the performance and orders live bees to be released into the studio. The sequence echoes the memorable use of dogs in the original Spike Jonze directed ‘Undone (The Sweater Song)’ video from 1994.
When Weezer abandon the set, the fictional executives quickly assemble a replacement version of the band featuring professional skateboarder Tony Hawk alongside actors Michael Peña, Giovanni Ribisi, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, internet personality Dax Flame and Jay Renshaw appearing as his character Chit, who steps into Cuomo’s role. The succession of cameo appearances reinforces the video’s playful examination of nostalgia, celebrity culture and entertainment industry expectations.
‘C.E.O.’ is the third song released from Weezer’s upcoming self-titled album, officially known by fans as The Gold Album. The record will be released on 21 August through Reprise/Warner Records and represents the band’s 20th studio album.
The project follows 2021’s OK Human and Van Weezer, while continuing the band’s long-running tradition of issuing self-titled albums distinguished by colour. Recording sessions paired Weezer with producers Klas Åhlund and Kenneth Blume, formerly known as Kenny Beats. According to previously released album notes, Blume set out to make what he described as “the most violent Weezer album ever.”
The album also marks a notable songwriting milestone for the group. Rivers Cuomo and drummer Pat Wilson co-wrote a song together for the first time since the band’s 1994 debut album, while three of the band’s four members contributed to the songwriting across the project.
Before ‘C.E.O.’, Weezer released ‘Shine Again’ and ‘We Might As Well Be Strangers’, the latter featuring Karly Hartzman of Wednesday. Together the three singles have introduced an album that appears to balance melodic pop songwriting with reflection on the band’s own legacy after more than 30 years.
That legacy was already front of mind during 2024’s Return To The Blue Planet tour, when Weezer celebrated the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut, commonly known as The Blue Album, by performing it in full. The new single continues that conversation by questioning whether audiences and the music business expect artists to remain defined by their earliest successes.
Alongside the release of ‘C.E.O.’, Weezer have expanded their international touring schedule. The band’s previously announced North American arena run, titled Weezer: The Gathering, will be followed by dates in Japan before arena performances across the United Kingdom and Europe in 2027. The Shins and Silversun Pickups will support the North American shows, while Taking Back Sunday will join the band for the Japanese and European dates.
Tour Dates
9/08, Sacramento, CA, Golden 1 Center
9/09, San Francisco, CA, Chase Center
9/11, Portland, OR, Moda Center
9/12, Vancouver, BC, Rogers Arena
9/13, Seattle, WA, Climate Pledge Arena
9/15, West Valley City, UT, Maverik Center
9/16, Denver, CO, Ball Arena
9/20, Saint Paul, MN, Grand Casino Arena
9/22, Chicago, IL, United Center
9/23, Detroit, MI, Little Caesars Arena
9/25, Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
9/26, Laval, QC, Place Bell
9/27, Boston, MA, TD Garden
9/29, Philadelphia, PA, Xfinity Mobile Arena
9/30, Brooklyn, NY, Barclays Center
10/02, Washington, DC, Capital One Arena
10/03, Charlotte, NC, Spectrum Center
10/04, Raleigh, NC, Lenovo Center
10/06, Columbus, OH, Nationwide Arena
10/07, Milwaukee, WI, Fiserv Forum
10/09, Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena
10/10, Atlanta, GA, State Farm Arena
10/11, Orlando, FL, Kia Center
10/13, Sunrise, FL, Amerant Bank Arena
10/14, Tampa, FL, Benchmark International Arena
10/16, Houston, TX, Toyota Center
10/17, Dallas, TX, American Airlines Center
10/18, Austin, TX, Moody Center ATX
10/20, Phoenix, AZ, Mortgage Matchup Center
10/21, San Diego, CA, Viejas Arena
10/23, Las Vegas, NV, T-Mobile Arena
10/24, Los Angeles, CA, Crypto.com Arena
2/12, Tokyo, Japan, Garden Theater
2/13, Tokyo, Japan, Garden Theater
2/15, Kyoto, Japan, Roam Theater
2/16, Osaka, Japan, Zepp Bayside
2/18, Nagoya, Japan, Portbase
5/12, Dublin, Ireland, 3Arena
5/14, Newcastle, UK, Utilita Arena
5/15, Manchester, UK, Co-op Live
5/17, Leeds, UK, First Direct Arena
5/19, Glasgow, UK, OVO Hydro
5/21, Birmingham, UK, Utilita Arena
5/22, London, UK, Alexandra Palace
5/23, Cardiff, UK, Utilita Arena
5/25, Paris, France, Zenith
5/26, Amsterdam, Netherlands, AFAS Live
5/29, Oslo, Norway, Spectrum
5/30, Stockholm, Sweden, Hovet
6/01, Helsinki, Finland, Veikkaus
Ticket Details
North American dates feature The Shins and Silversun Pickups.
Japan, UK and European dates feature Taking Back Sunday.
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