Middletown Resident Rockets to International Fame

The alternative rock group Weezer released a new album (Raditude) this month, with a cover photo that has catapulted Sidney the dog into fame and glory. Sidney, whose National Geographic photograph was previously reproduced in The Eye, shares a house in the South Farms district of Middletown with cats Pancho and Charlie, fellow canine Lily, and humans Jason and Lucy. Pancho can be seen in the background of the image, hiding under the ottoman. Jason Neely is Sidney's photographer, publicist, and pooper scooper.

In case you are as ignorantly un-hip as I am, let me be the first to tell you that Weezer is one of those 'wildly popular' bands with numerous hits; their 2001 Green Album, was a top 5 in the pop album charts, and their single "Beverly Hills" reached #1 on the modern rock charts in 2005. Sidney has heard their music, Neely said that Weezer is a band he listens to often.

Weezer has promoted their new album, Raditude, extensively this month, including two appearances on The David Letterman Show, and a profile on National Public Radio. Weezer's efforts on behalf of their album have generated interest from around the world for Sidney, and he has been celebrated in a series of mock album covers.

The Middletown Eye was not the first to interview Sidney. Fox61 News filmed him in its Hartford Studio, and MTV came to Sidney's home to film him for a segment in which he will be posing questions (subtitled) to the lead singer of Weezer, Rivers Cuomo.

Sidney was born in Gainesville, Florida, in January of 2006; his mother was due to be put down, and gave birth to Sidney after being rescued by a local girl. Neely said, "He was a crazy puppy, oh my gosh... would run circles around the apartment." Sidney moved with Neely from Florida to Connecticut a couple of years ago.

Sidney still has a lot of energy, and when I arrived at his house for the interview, he greeted me with non-threatening, but frenetic (and loud), enthusiasm. Fortunately, after I sat down at the kitchen table, he too settled down, and submitted happily to having his head and face rubbed. In addition to face, ear, and neck massages, Sidney's hobbies include jumping, running, barking, eating, and going for walks. He particularly enjoys the Wethersfield Dog park.

Neely said that Sidney's jumps were always impressive, but when he smelled dried pig ears enter the house one day, he really started to take off. Neely grabbed his camera, and took photographs while Sidney jumped up and down in anticipation of getting something new to chew on. Neely said he submitted one of the first of those photographs to National Geographic for their Your Shot competition.

National Geographic selected the photograph of Sidney for their September issue, and featured it in a two-page spread in a special Your Shot issue. Neely said that Weezer's record label, Interscope, contacted him in September to ask for permission to use the photograph as cover art. Apparently the band had evaluated many different images, but none could top Sidney in mid-air.

The selection of the Sidney photograph by National Geographic has also had an impact on the work of Jason Neely. Neely, who works in the Blackstone Library in Branford, has been taking photographs for a number of years. However, he said that being published in National Geographic stimulated him to take the craft of his photography much more seriously than he did before.

Neely's photography can be seen on his frequently updated Flickr page. His pictures feature bright and contrasting colors, and strong geometric lines. He has posted dozens of gorgeous photographs of Middletown icons, including Eli's, KidCity, St. Johns Church, the Main Street Firehouse, and the Connecticut. Some of his photographs are available for purchase through his Flying Dog Photography web page.