Why would someone lie about the mortality of another? In the digital age it’s often because they’re seeking some sort of satisfaction, whether it involves web site traffic or simply to see the death hoax go viral, so they can brag about it later. This is a different element entirely than one faking their own death, which they may view as the ultimate escape from financial troubles, crazy spouses, mobster threats, or any entertaining variant of insurmountable trouble that one can get into. In the music industry, viral death hoaxes are much more common than a musician faking his or her own death. In fact, ever since the internet arrived with a bevy of information at our fingertips, faking one’s death has become an even riskier proposition. Try evading the entire internet in addition to the police. There are a vast number of sleuths online, just as there are countless numbers of users who create death hoaxes for their own humor and self-satisfaction.
Musicians are generally permitted to shy away from the public with minimal response; the artistic temperament stereotype suggests an introverted demeanor for sustained artistic production. This applies to most, but if you’re someone like Paul McCartney or Elvis then you would have reporters assigned to prodding you about your whereabouts. In the case of Elvis, who some alleged faked his death to escape the limelight, he would be a great example – if there was ever any sufficient proof he faked his death. As it stands, the Elvis theory is just the result of hopeful Elvis diehards wishing that The King would return. In the alleged death of McCartney, who was the center of the infamous “Paul is dead” hoax in the late ‘60s, some alleged that The Beatles covered up the singer’s demise for the sake of the band’s image. Originally started by college students who were likely a bit too stoned, the rumor took off in light speed and remains an integral part of Beatles lore, despite the fact that McCartney obviously never died. His sustained success is proof of that.
Of course, Elvis never had to deal with hoaxes on the internet. The new generation of stars must cope with the fact that any user-submitted story can gain traction quickly. Just ask Bon Jovi, Miley Cyrus, or Justin Bieber. The internet was convinced Bieber committed suicide at one point, just a year or so after a false rumor that Miley Cyrus died in a car accident. Some of the hoaxes were obviously jokes, like when FunnyJunk.com began the Bieber death hoax in 2010. But others, like the Miley Cyrus car accident hoax, attempted to replicate the layout of authentic news sources like Yahoo to truly convince people that, yes, Hannah Montana had died. It’s easy for adults to take anything posted on the internet with a grain of salt, but the manufacturers of these hoaxes knew very well that their site traffic would be busted open by packs of pre-teens and teens who understandably don’t know much about media, or the cruel intentions of some internet users.
While the majority of users who start hoaxes are either revenue-hungry webmasters or pranksters seeking attention, they can be – in some cases – disgruntled fans. That was the case with Pennsylvania-based musician Jeffrey Goho, who started the late 2011 rumor that Jon Bon Jovi had died. Why? Because Goho was upset that Bon Jovi was focusing on business more than his music. “All I heard was ‘Bon Jovi this,’ ‘Bon Jovi’s starting a restaurant,’” Goho told the Asbury Park Press. “What was the latest one? The Advil commercial? It was like, ‘Jeez, [Bon Jovi] was a household name due to music, not business.’” His frustrations resulted in the birth of that hoax, which he spread on his friend’s Twitter account. And even if it was started out of frustration, there remained plenty of self-serving on Goho’s part. He had publications like Rolling Stone mentioning him by name, and saying that he was a musician. Now Goho can legitimately tell people that he was in Rolling Stone. For Goho and many other hoax manufacturers, frustration can result in their own prominence, which is exactly what they’re aiming for.
Greatest Death Hoaxes in Music History
Why would someone lie about the mortality of another? In the digital age it’s often because they’re seeking some sort of satisfaction, whether it involves web site traffic or simply to see the death hoax go viral, so they can brag about it later. This is a different element entirely than one faking their own death, which they may view as the ultimate escape from financial troubles, crazy spouses, mobster threats, or any entertaining variant of insurmountable trouble that one can get into. In the music industry, viral death hoaxes are much more common than a musician faking his or her own death. In fact, ever since the internet arrived with a bevy of information at our fingertips, faking one’s death has become an even riskier proposition. Try evading the entire internet in addition to the police. There are a vast number of sleuths online, just as there are countless numbers of users who create death hoaxes for their own humor and self-satisfaction.
Musicians are generally permitted to shy away from the public with minimal response; the artistic temperament stereotype suggests an introverted demeanor for sustained artistic production. This applies to most, but if you’re someone like Paul McCartney or Elvis then you would have reporters assigned to prodding you about your whereabouts. In the case of Elvis, who some alleged faked his death to escape the limelight, he would be a great example – if there was ever any sufficient proof he faked his death. As it stands, the Elvis theory is just the result of hopeful Elvis diehards wishing that The King would return. In the alleged death of McCartney, who was the center of the infamous “Paul is dead” hoax in the late ‘60s, some alleged that The Beatles covered up the singer’s demise for the sake of the band’s image. Originally started by college students who were likely a bit too stoned, the rumor took off in light speed and remains an integral part of Beatles lore, despite the fact that McCartney obviously never died. His sustained success is proof of that.
Of course, Elvis never had to deal with hoaxes on the internet. The new generation of stars must cope with the fact that any user-submitted story can gain traction quickly. Just ask Bon Jovi, Miley Cyrus, or Justin Bieber. The internet was convinced Bieber committed suicide at one point, just a year or so after a false rumor that Miley Cyrus died in a car accident. Some of the hoaxes were obviously jokes, like when FunnyJunk.com began the Bieber death hoax in 2010. But others, like the Miley Cyrus car accident hoax, attempted to replicate the layout of authentic news sources like Yahoo to truly convince people that, yes, Hannah Montana had died. It’s easy for adults to take anything posted on the internet with a grain of salt, but the manufacturers of these hoaxes knew very well that their site traffic would be busted open by packs of pre-teens and teens who understandably don’t know much about media, or the cruel intentions of some internet users.
While the majority of users who start hoaxes are either revenue-hungry webmasters or pranksters seeking attention, they can be – in some cases – disgruntled fans. That was the case with Pennsylvania-based musician Jeffrey Goho, who started the late 2011 rumor that Jon Bon Jovi had died. Why? Because Goho was upset that Bon Jovi was focusing on business more than his music. “All I heard was ‘Bon Jovi this,’ ‘Bon Jovi’s starting a restaurant,’” Goho told the Asbury Park Press. “What was the latest one? The Advil commercial? It was like, ‘Jeez, [Bon Jovi] was a household name due to music, not business.’” His frustrations resulted in the birth of that hoax, which he spread on his friend’s Twitter account. And even if it was started out of frustration, there remained plenty of self-serving on Goho’s part. He had publications like Rolling Stone mentioning him by name, and saying that he was a musician. Now Goho can legitimately tell people that he was in Rolling Stone. For Goho and many other hoax manufacturers, frustration can result in their own prominence, which is exactly what they’re aiming for.
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