How Jason Cropper became the 'Pete Best' of Weezer

On May 10, 1994, Weezer released their self-titled debut, popularly known as the “Blue Album,” which went on to sell 3 million copies and establish the Rivers Cuomo-fronted L.A. indie-rockers as one of the most important and enduring bands of the 1990s alt-rock revolution. But shortly before that landmark album’s record release, founding guitarist Jason Cropper learned his girlfriend, Amy, was pregnant – and that bombshell, along with growing tensions between him and then-bassist Matt Sharp, led to his abrupt dismissal from Weezer.