Weezer: 'We ripped off Metallica'

Weezer have reportedly admitted to ripping off a Metallica track on one of their biggest singles.

Frontman Rivers Cuomo confessed that the band's 1991 breakthrough 'Undone - The Sweater Song' is largely reminiscent of Metallica's 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)'.

Speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone on the 18th anniversary of the single, Cuomo revealed that the band had originally tried to write a song inspired by The Velvet Underground, but years later realised it sounded exactly like Metallica's 1986 hit.

Cuomo explained: "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.

"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."

He continued: "It wasn't until years after I wrote it that I realised 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."

As previously reported, Weezer are due to release new album Raditude on October 27.