Weezer 'offered' $10m to split up

A group of frustrated music fans want Weezer to break up, and they're willing to pay them. Claiming the band has never improved on their 1996 album Pinkerton, the organisers of a new campaign hope to raise $10m to convince Weezer to pack it in and stop "disappointing" fans. "This is an abusive relationship," the project's creator said. "It needs to [end]."

"I'm tired of it," James Burns explained to Seattle's the Stranger. "Every year, Rivers Cuomo swears that he's changed, and that [Weezer's] new album is the best thing that he's done since Pinkerton, and what happens? Another pile of crap like Beverly Hills or I'm Your Daddy." Instead of leaving snarky comments on the internet, Burns is urging like-minded haters to put their money where their mouths are. "I beg you, Weezer," he said. "Take our money and disappear."

Burns has a long way to go. At the time of writing, he has raised a grand total of $273 (£172) toward his $10m (£6.3m) goal. But if Guardian readers suddenly flock to the campaign, remortgaging their homes to banish Weezer for good, it could conceivably work out. The band's drummer, Patrick Wilson, commented on Twitter: "If they can make it 20[million dollars]," he wrote, "we'll do the 'deluxe breakup.'"

According to Burns, Weezer's musical entropy doesn't just affect fans – it affects everyone. "I have never been a fan of this band," he said. "I think that they are pretty much horrible ... [But Weezer fans] are our brothers and sisters, our friends, our lovers ... I am tired of my friends being disappointed year after year."

Weezer's latest album, Hurley, may or may not have been named after a brand of clothing. It is out now.