Weezer's Famous Rock Star Harvard Grad Sues Beer Giant

Rivers Cuomo doesn't want you to associate the good Weezer name with Elvis Presley, Bon Jovi, Devo or Less Than Jake.

Weezer filed a lawsuit last Friday against beer giant Miller Brewing Company for using the band's widely recognizable name without permission in a series of "grossly misleading and deceptive" print advertisements published in several publications, including Rolling Stone, in late 2004. Young And Rubicam, Miller's advertising agency, has also been named as a defendant.

One of the ads that earned the band's ire is a two-page layout featuring a slew of concert ticket stubs from Weezer, the above-mentioned acts and Audioslave, who filed a similar lawsuit against Miller last year. The images in the layout were placed under the heading "Rock Without the Souvenir. That's Like Beer Without Taste."

Weezer's suit says that they "did not, and do not, consent to" the promotion of alcoholic beverages. Aside from Weezer's "promotion" of Miller beer, the band state that their reputation has been "further damaged" by the ads because their name has been associated with other bands and musical performers with whom they "do not want to be associated with in any advertisement."

The lawsuit seeks damages equal to three times the revenue that Miller generated as a result of the ads, an amount which is believed to be in the millions of dollars. Cuomo would also be entitled to damages equal to three times Miller's revenue, as he's the sole owner of Weezer's name and trademark.

Weezer are currently on indefinite hiatus after last year's release of Make Believe, their fifth full-length record.