Revenge of the Nerds

''There was always this Internet contingent that was rabid about Weezer,'' says drummer Pat Wilson, ''but I didn't know how that would translate in the real world. It seems we're more popular than when we stopped playing.'' The hiatus, Wilson says, was due to the search for a new bassist (ex Juliana Hatfield band member Mikey Welsh) and interband tensions after the ''Pinkerton'' tour: ''We just hated each other.'' Things have cooled down enough that Weezer hope to record a new CD this fall for a spring 2001 release, and want to make another video with Jonze. And as for the more out there musings about how Cuomo spent his downtime? ''He definitely was showering,'' assures Wilson. Weez would hope so.