It's past 12 PM GMT, so most news should be outside the realm of April Fools' Day pranks, right?
However, with April 1st still ongoing in many time zones, musicians are known to prank both fans and, occasionally, media outlets. From a crust-punk band's fake perfume launch to an elaborate album re-recording hoax, musical pranks range from simple to hilarious, and sometimes controversial.
From a crust-punk band's fake perfume launch to an elaborate album re-recording hoax, musical pranks range from simple to hilarious, and sometimes controversial. "Did you fall for any of these pranks, or what's your favourite musical mischief from years past?
1. Danger Mouse X Paris Hilton (2006)
This prank was a stroke of subversive genius. Danger Mouse, known for his experimental hip-hop and mashups, created a CD-R titled Paris Hilton that contained his own original music, completely different from the pop sound expected from Paris Hilton. He then, with the help of some accomplices, replaced the actual Paris Hilton album in several record stores with his own creation. The resulting confusion and hilarity stemmed from music critics reviewing his avant-garde work as if it were Hilton's, leading to some incredibly entertaining and wildly inaccurate reviews. | Getty Images
2. Hanson's Slipknot Covers (2011)
The idea of Hanson, the squeaky-clean pop trio behind MMMBop, tackling the aggressive, masked metal of Slipknot was so absurd that it was instantly funny. They announced an album of Slipknot covers, playing on their established image and the polar opposite genre of Slipknot. The internet exploded with reactions, from disbelief to morbid curiosity. The prank cleverly exploited the contrast between the two bands' images and fan bases. | Getty Images
3. Trent Reznor's Hip-Hop Album (2009)
Trent Reznor, the mastermind behind Nine Inch Nails, is known for his dark, industrial sound. The idea of him collaborating with Timbaland, a prominent hip-hop producer, on a Strobelight hip-hop album was a jarring and unexpected concept. It played on Reznor's serious image, and the contrast to Timbaland's very different style. | Nine Inch Nails
4. Angst by Coldplay - A Perfume of Existential Dread (2010)
Coldplay, known for their often melancholic and introspective lyrics, leaned heavily into their "serious" image for this April Fools' Day prank. The prank wasn't just a simple announcement; it was a fully realized marketing campaign. They created detailed descriptions of the fragrance, filled with flowery, pretentious language that parodied the often-over-the-top descriptions found in perfume advertisements. The descriptions spoke of "notes of urban decay," "the subtle scent of unfulfilled dreams," and "the lingering aroma of a Tuesday afternoon." | Getty Images
5. Abbey Road removes crossing (various years)
This prank that every few years does the rounds typically manifests as a social media post, often appearing to be from an official source or a news outlet. The post announces that the iconic zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios in London, made famous by The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album cover, is scheduled for removal. | Getty Images
6. Justin Bieber Punks TMZ (2013)
Justin Bieber, often the target of TMZ's relentless paparazzi coverage, turned the tables on the gossip site. He tweeted a phone number, claiming it was his personal line and that he would be taking fan calls. The number, however, belonged to TMZ's newsroom, resulting in a deluge of calls that overwhelmed their switchboard. This prank was a clever act of revenge, and a funny way to get back at the tabloid media. | Getty Images