Rivers Cuomo Wants to Work w/ Lady Gaga, Fred Durst

I’ve honestly had nightmares about being blasted on Carrie Brownstein’s NPR blog, so I did feel for Rivers Cuomo when the former Sleater-Kinney guitarist/singer called Weezer the “ultimate novelty band” and asserted that they must hate their fans and/or have a “contempt for music.” Ouch. In an interview with Jam! Showbiz, Cuomo reacts to the haters claiming he’s a hater, but then drops a dream collaboration list that will likely make for some prime blog bait (for said haters).

“The thing that pisses me off is when critics say that it’s all a big joke,” Cuomo said. “When they say I’m intentionally making fun of certain kinds of music, or I’m making fun of my fans, or I hate my fans, or I hate music. I hear these kinds of things all the time, and it’s so frustrating for me because I put so much work into the records. No one would put that much effort into a joke!”

Rivers goes on to insist that “Beverly Hills” is not satire, but a “completely sincere” exploration of his “craving for celebrity,” that his Katy Perry collaboration is no big deal, and that he does, in fact, have a list of people he wants to work with (on his computer). On said .doc?

“Some of the names you might know are Fred Durst, Lady Gaga, The Killers, Karen O, Brian Wilson…”

I’ve been something of a Weezer apologist these days, but srsly, Rivers, Fred Durst? It’s not that Fred Durst isn’t an effective nu-metal rapper/singer/badass or that Lady Gaga isn’t a human hit machine (and possible genius), but we should probably set you up with someone your own speed, so to speak. You know, a lovable, nerdy rocker perhaps. Or… I’ve got it… Ted Leo! You two would be so cute.