Weezer fulfilled its contract with Geffen Records in 2009 and recently talked about plans to move on after 15 years with the label. Now there’s an announcement the band signed with indie label Epitaph Records, also home to punk rock bands like Social Distortion.
Epitaph president Brett Gurewitz announced Weezer was coming into the fold via Twitter on Wednesday night (August 4). He posted: "Rivers, Pat, Brian and Scott, Welcome to Epitaph homies! FT=W="
Frontman Rivers Cuomo confirmed the news later that evening and also revealed the band’s eighth studio album, Hurley, will be released on September 14.
Cuomo talked to Rolling Stone magazine about the band’s decision to join an indie label. He commented: "At this moment in our career, it feels like we don’t need a major label. The major label culture isn’t inline with our values. We like [Epitaph Records’ owner and Bad Religion guitarist] Brett Gurewitz and it feels like a smaller and more appropriate operation for what we like doing at the moment."