What recent artist/band had a "mystery old recording" publicity stunt?

August 6, 2020 9:33 AM

On the Steve Hoffman music forum, on a thread about identifying a mystery cassette tape, one user points out "something similar "turned up" a few years ago that ended up being a deliberate hoax. A new "unknown" retro-sounding band cooked up their scheme with similar mystery tapes. Can't recall any more, sorry. Anti-climactic it was." I feel like I remember hearing about that as well. Obviously not Klaatu (which was in the '70s). Who was it?
posted by Seeking Direction to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Best answer: Phish has a tradition of covering another band's classic album at its Halloween shows. Two years ago, they "covered" an album by a band that didn't exist. The prank was pretty elaborate.
posted by emelenjr at 10:01 AM on August 6, 2020 [2 favorites]

One example of what I think you are talking about (and music that I like a lot) is John Lurie's creation of Marvin Pontiac, as discussed in this New Yorker piece. But that wasn't a publicity stunt really.
posted by sheldman at 10:08 AM on August 6, 2020 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Kosmischer Läufer ?
posted by niicholas at 10:10 AM on August 6, 2020 [2 favorites]

I came here to suggest it might be Kasvot Växt, but emelenjr beat me to it. Here's a link to the Phishbill (.pdf) from that show where you can read all about the band and the album that Phish "covered" that night.
posted by bondcliff at 10:30 AM on August 6, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: It was indeed Kosmischer Läufer! And I remember hearing about the Phish prank as well. I will have to read about Marvin Pontiac too.
posted by Seeking Direction at 10:31 AM on August 6, 2020

https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/03/23/521216130/the-most-expensive-record-never-sold

Billy Yeager sold himself a $18,000 test pressing, because...it gets weird.
posted by andrewzipp at 12:56 PM on August 6, 2020 [1 favorite]