Tough Pigs News Extra
updated July 9, 2002
The Muppets meet Weezer
MTV.com -- June 25, 2002
by Gideon Yago
Reprinted entirely without permission
Update:
Click
here to see
the full Keep Fishin' video!
Weezer have teamed up with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, Pepe the King Prawn and the rest of the Muppets in their video for Keep Fishin', the band's second single from Maladroit.
In the clip, Weezer are guests on The Muppet Show, and, Muppets being Muppets, hilarity ensues. The Keep Fishin' video features a Muppet chorus singing backup, running commentary from Statler and Waldorf, a trip to Bunsen and Beaker's lab, and some "quality time" spent backstage with Miss Piggy, according to a spokesperson for the Jim Henson Company.
Keep Fishin' was directed by veteran Weezer auteur Marcos Siega, the man behind the Dope Nose, Hash Pipe and Island in the Sun (Version 1) videos. Weezer, Siega and the Henson Company staff shot the clip June 18-19 at a Manhattan Beach, California, soundstage.
For Weezer, working with Henson Studios was a chance to live out a childhood
fantasy. "Being a guest on The Muppet Show was a childhood dream we
all shared, so we were ecstatic when the Muppets agreed to be in our video for Keep
Fishin'," Weezer said in an official statement. "The Muppets can
really rock!"
The Muppets themselves praised the band. "Weezer fit right in," Kermit the Frog said in a statement. "They're rock stars, they're used to being around animals, bears and egotistical pigs." Weezer now join the ranks of such musicians as Elton John, Alice Cooper, Debbie Harry and John Denver, who've all been guests on The Muppet Show.
To celebrate All Access Week, the video will premiere on MTV2 as part of a half-hour special that goes behind the scenes of the Keep Fishin' shoot. That special premieres July 14.
[ Here's some quotes and photos from the Weezer.com site: ]
Miss Piggy: "As a superstar, moi knew it was only a matter of time
before I would be asked to star in my own music video. And how could I say no to
Weezer, with the adorable Rivers, Scott, Brian and Patrick begging me to be
their muse."
Kermit the Frog: "It was wonderful returning to the set of The Muppet Show to tape Weezer's new music video for Keep Fishin'. I know I speak for all the Muppets when I say it was great working with such a talented band. I just hope Pat has recovered from Miss Piggy's extra attention -- both the kissy kissys and the karate chops, sheesh."
Pat Wilson: "The video was so insane and cool that it's only
starting to sink in..."
Weezer.com: "The first edit of the Keep Fishin' video showed up at the studio on Monday [ June 24th ], and everyone had the preliminary viewing to much amusement and awe. All witnesses agreed that for a rough edit it looked pretty darn good; there were some great moments captured and it seems like this video is going to live up to the hype..."
