Top 10 Craziest Music Fan Theories That Might Be True
#10: David Bowie Predicted the Rise of Kanye West
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David Bowie fans loved the out-there science fiction concepts that filled the glam rocker's early work. But even Ziggy Stardust diehards will likely shake their heads at the first theory on our list, linking David Bowie with Kanye West. The idea began in 2007, when fans pointed out the “K. West” sign in the cover art for the album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars". Lyrically, the tracks describe an Earth doomed to destruction in five years, until Bowie’s alien alter-ego intervenes. Kanye was born five years after the album’s release … leading fans to conclude that Kanye was in fact the prophesied “Starman”. However, the other fan connections to this theory are basically only convenient coincidences.
#9: Beyonce Pretended to be Pregnant
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Call this next theory "BumpGate." Some fans will do anything to keep their favorite celebrity in discussion, even if that celeb is already world famous. Case in point? Beyonce, who fans made the subject of a far-fetched fan theory while she was pregnant with her first child, Blue Ivy. The rumor stemmed from the singer's appearance on an Australian talk show, specifically how her baby bump seemed to “deflate” when she sat down for an interview. Fans started surmising that Beyonce was wearing a prosthetic stomach, and that a surrogate was carrying the child. The truth was much more realistic, as it was just the folding of Beyonce's dress that caused the commotion.
#8: Andrew W.K. & Dave Grohl Are the Same Person
There isn't enough room here to detail the craziness that is the career of Andrew Wilkes-Krier, a.k.a. Andrew W.K. In particular, there’s a lot of mystery behind the identity of "Steev Mike," a pseudonym used by both Andrew AND someone accusing him of being a fake. But we're here to speculate on the fan theory that the "Party Hard" singer is actually Dave Grohl in disguise. Spoiler alert: he's not, although Grohl did once invite W.K. to open for the Foo Fighters in San Francisco. Alternatively, fans have theorized that Grohl is really "Steev Mike" - the idea behind that he’s some sort of shadowy Svengali who created Andrew W.K. as a Milli Vanilli-esque studio project.
#7: Lorde Is Older Than She Appears
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Lorde's unique delivery and minimalist production style made a lot of ears perk up amongst fans, critics and industry insiders alike. That said, a creative voice so forward thinking just has to be from some sort of crafty musical veteran, right? Well, that's actually the origin behind our next crazy conspiracy theory, that Lorde was not a teenager when her debut, "Pure Heroine" was released in 2013. It all comes down to crazy conjecture, based on the maturity level of her music. There have been a number of blog posts rattling off humorous reasons why Lorde seems to handle herself in a manner that's above her peers. It's all in good fun, of course; hopefully no one actually believes this one.
#6: Subliminal Backwards Messages
It's a tale as old as time: your favorite albums are hiding subliminal messages within those vinyl grooves, with their true intentions revealed should you dare to spin the black circle backwards. These messages could be anything from advocating devil worship and drug use, to something far more sinister. Sadly, this was the basis in an infamous court case involving Heavy Metal legends Judas Priest. In 1991, they had to defend their recording of "Better By You, Better Than Me" against accusations that it drew two young Nevada men to attempt suicide. Not even taking into account that this song in question is a cover song by seventies rockers Spooky Tooth, the truth is that Backwards Messages were all in the listeners' minds.
#5: Jay-Z & the Illuminati
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We've already mentioned Beyonce earlier in our list, so now it's time for her husband to have a turn riding the conspiracy theory train. There are actually a number of fan beliefs about Jay-Z. For example, there’s the claim that he’s an immortal vampire, based on an old photo of a man who bears a strong resemblance to him. Then there’s the one about him being a member of the Illuminati. Yep, like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and just about everyone else who’s famous, Jay-Z supposedly belongs to a powerful cult that secretly runs the world. Ok, so we know that Queen Bey and Jay are mega-icons and all, but they're not RULING THE WORLD....are they?
#4: Elvis Faked His Death
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Often it takes a collective grieving process for fans to get over the deaths of artists they love. It's even more difficult when these idols die young or under tragic circumstances. Perhaps this is why so many fan theories have arisen around deceased musicians. One of the most popular posits that a given musician faked their death, and is still alive. It’s been said of Jim Morrison, Tupac, and most famously, of Elvis Presley. People have been reporting sightings of Elvis alive and well for decades now! Some claim that The King's had to hide from organized crime. Others that he was really an alien - and just went home. That last one is a nice thought, we guess?
#3: Phil Collins Let a Man Drown
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Out of all the conspiracy theories on our list, this one might have the most ardent believers in the modern day. When rappers like Eminem are referencing the tale on songs released in the year 2000, you know this rumor has legs. It all has to do with the Phil Collins' solo track "In the Air Tonight." The song's lyrics are a metaphor for Phil's painful 1980 divorce, but fans for years have taken the words literally, concluding that the former Genesis frontman and drummer let a man drown. Or, in other versions, saw another man letting someone drown, and then shined a spotlight on the guilty party at a concert while singing the song. Either way, it's not true.
#2: Courtney Love Was Involved in the Death of Kurt Cobain
Some theories on this list boast internet chatter to their name, but very few of them have had full scale books and docu-dramas based upon them. Grunge fans grieved when Kurt Cobain killed himself on April 5th, 1994, with many struggling to understand why the beloved figure ended his life in such a violent fashion. Cobain's struggles with addiction were well documented, but it wasn't long before theories rose that there was some sort of conspiracy behind his death. Furthermore, some fingers pointed at Cobain's wife Courtney Love. It’s a conspiracy theory that’s managed to endure for decades. Before we name our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Klaatu Were Actually The Beatles Their Debut Album Was Thought to Be a Beatles Album in Disguise Hotel California Is Satanic Does Church of Satan Founder Anton LaVey Lurk Within the Gatefold LP? Mama Cass Choked on a Sandwich An Offensive Post-Mortem Theory Based on the Singer’s Weight Rebecca Black’s Insight About JFK Is “Friday” Sung From JFK’s Perspective on the Morning of His Death?
#1: Paul Is Dead
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What’s crazier than theories about deceased celebrities being alive? Well, how about the idea that a living celebrity is actually dead? Referred to as "Paul Is Dead," this theory from Beatles fans claims that Paul McCartney died in the late sixties and was replaced by a lookalike. Fans grew obsessed with attempting to find hidden clues within Beatles album art and song lyrics, to the point that many turned these tenuous connections into a morbid hobby. Oh, and did we mention that there's a similar fan theory involving Avril Lavigne? The perils of being famous.
