ROCK FANS STAND AND BELIEVE

Talk about staying power. Stand Up, the latest from ATO/RCA/RMG’s Dave Matthews Band, lived up to its title, ringing up a stellar total of 485k units for one of the biggest rock debuts since the bottom fell out. Now that’s jammin’. At a time when fans are at their most fickle, DMBs fans are standing up and being counted with plastic in their mitts.

And so are the fans of nerd-rock stalwarts Weezer, whose Make Believe (Geffen) powered into retail at a downright macho 203.6k, buoyed by the signature single “Beverly Hills.”

The week’s double-barreled rock explosion continues a recent trend, as the two veteran bands follow close on the heels of Nothing/Interscope’s Nine Inch Nails, who stay in the Top 5 at #5 after last week’s chart-topping debut; Atlantic’s surging Rob Thomas, who’s hanging around at #8; and Columbia/CRG’s Bruce Springsteen, who’s #10 in his third week. And another rock monster will vie for #1 next week

“Another great week for rock,” raves Tower’s Kevin Hawkins as he open-tunes his Strat. “With Dave Matthews Band and Weezer debuting #1 and #2 for us, and with System of a Down hitting this week, there doesn’t look to be any let-up. Matthews has consistently maintained a phenomenal fan base. He’s become a true perennial.”

Speaking of surges, how about Mariah Carey? The diva’s dramatic comeback is going gangbusters as The Emancipation of Mimi (Island/IDJ) passes a million and grabs the #3 position, moving another 170k (down just 13%).

Also going strong is Shady/Aftermath/Interscope franchise 50 Cent, who returns to the Top 5 at #4 on 88k (and Fitty’s off only 14% himself). Another Interscope superstar, Gwen Stefani, is kicking booty on the heels of hot new single “Hollaback Girl,” as she struts to #7. That puts the Gwenster two slots ahead of Asylum/WB MC Mike Jones.

Country heartthrob Dierks Bentley has the week’s third and final Top 10 debut, as his Capitol Nashville release canters in at #6.

Next week looks like a battle of the genres, as System of a Down takes on Toby Keith. That oughta be a good’un.