Rivers Cuomo: "We Ripped Off 'The Sweater Song' From Metallica"

In a new interview, Rivers Cuomo described the writing of one of Weezer's most beloved songs, "Undone (The Sweater Song)." He explained:

'The Sweater Song' was the first Weezer song I ever wrote, back in 1991. I was trying to write a Velvet Underground-type song because I was super into them, and I came up with that guitar riff. I just picked up that acoustic guitar and the first thing I played was that riff. And it just feels so classic to me, even now when the band starts to play it, it just takes over the energy in the room and you're just transported into the world of Weezer. It wasn't until years after I wrote it that I realized it's almost a complete rip-off of 'Sanitarium' by Metallica. It just perfectly encapsulates Weezer to me -- you're trying to be cool like Velvet Underground but your metal roots just pump through unconsciously."

Weezer's next record, Raditude, is due out October 27, 2009.