- Weezer was a last minute addition to the line-up’s first weekend
- Bassist Scott Shriner’s wife was shot by police
- The show went ahead as normal
Weezer played Coachella as planned despite an incident involving bassist Scott Shriner’s wife this week.
The band joined the first weekend of the desert festival’s line-up as a last minute addition, but it seemed like things could be derailed after Shriner’s wife Jillian was shot by police earlier this week. She was also charged with attempted murder.
Read more: Who is Weezer bassist wife Jillian Lauren Shriner?
As a result, a question mark hovered over their set. According to Variety – per several unnamed sources – the band remained committed to performing but there was still the possibility of things changing depending on what happened with the case.
Shriner has commented on the situation. “She’s alright, thank you for asking,” the bassist said, in response to fans asking online, but didn’t go into any further detail. “See you at Coachella,” he added.
What happened to Jillian Shriner this week?
The circumstances surrounding this event were detailed in an official press statement issued by Los Angeles Police Department. It happened as a result of authorities trying to track down hit-and-run suspects. They were believed to have fled the scene of a car crash.
Read more: Why was wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner shot?
The police tracked three hit-and-run suspects to a residential neighbourhood in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles.
After entering a residence, officers “observed a female, later identified as 51-year-old Jillian Shriner, in the yard of a neighbouring residence armed with a handgun.”
Despite being told “numerous” times to drop the firearm, she was shot in the shoulder after pointing it at officers.
Local media reported that Jillian Lauren had opened fire on to one of the suspected hit-and-run suspects, believing they were trying to gain entry to her property.
Jillian Lauren was then charged with attempted murder. According to Variety, she was later released from custody on a reported $1 million bond.
Did Weezer mention the incident at Coachella?
Not really. Frontman Rivers Cuomo may have made an oblique reference to it when greeting the crowd, but it was too vague to be certain.
He later put his arm around Shriner as the bassist sang the chorus of their hit Surf Wax America.
“We were making the Weezer movie back in Los Angeles, but when Coachella called and asked if we could make a surprise appearance, we said ‘Heck yeah.’ It’s so great to be here with all you guys and let out all these emotions,”
