The Rentals may have started out as a "side-project"
but maybe as fate would have it, bassist Matt Sharp
eventually left Weezer to concentrate his efforts
on The Rentals second release. In 1995 The Rentals
debuted with The Return of the Rentals and found
moderate success with the single Friends of P. Sharp
had recruited fellow Weezer drummer, Pat Wilson along
with the likes of Petra Haden (that Dog), Cherielynn
Westrich, and Rod Cervera for the Rental's first
recording. Together with their moog-synthesizers and
backup female vocal "oooh-oooh's" they created an
original sound that teetered on the brink of 80's new
wave. Matt Sharp was born in Arlignton, Virginia
in 1969. In 1992 he co-founded Weezer which quickly
became a favorite of the Los Angeles club scene.
Two years later the group released their self-titled
debut album on Geffen Records. Featuring the mega hits
Buddy Holly and Undone (The Sweater Song) Weezer was
propelled into the 90's MTV music culture. Their
sophomore album, Pinkerton, was considered a
dissapointment in an economic sense, but provided
Weezer fans with plenty of music to please their
appetites. After the Pinkerton release, Sharp
officially left Weezer to go to work full time on The
Rentals. Altough, this time drummer Pat Wilson didnt
come along for the ride when the Rentals went to Spain
to record their second album, Seven More Minutes.
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