April Fools! 3 of the Best Pranks Pulled Off By Musicians

Most musicians take their careers very seriously. They seldom have time for pranks amid their creative process. However, a few have taken time out of their busy schedules to get one over on someone. Find three of the best pranks pulled off by musicians, below.

Videos by American Songwriter

Danger Mouse replaces Paris Hilton

Danger Mouse and Paris Hilton are in stark contrast to one another. So, if you were expecting a Hilton album, you’d likely not be satisfied with a Danger Mouse creation. The experimental producer once made this hypothetical a reality by borrowing Hilton’s cover art and replacing her music with his own songs. He took it one step further by replacing her album in stores with his new, bootleg version. We can only imagine listeners’ surprise when they popped that into their cars. It’s quite a complicated prank from a musician, but the reaction was equal to the effort.

Justin Bieber turns the table on TMZ

Musicians have long had a tumultuous relationship with the paparazzi, especially those that have been hounded by them since they were teens. Justin Bieber is one such musician. The musician got his payback though, through the means of a prank. One day, after being particularly fed up with TMZ, Bieber decided to turn the tables on the outlet. He posted his phone number, much to his fans’ glee. Only, when they called “Bieber,” they were directed to the TMZ newsroom. That certainly put a wrench in their operations for a day or so…

George Harrison and the lost Phil Collins drum track

Once upon a time, Phil Collins lent his drum skills to a George Harrison solo track. Though the studio time with a Beatle was likely good enough for Collins, his drum line ultimately didn’t get used. Years later, Harrison brought a new cut of the track to Collins, featuring his lost drum line. Collins was horrified to hear what he had produced: disjointed, off-rhythm conga playing. As it turns out, Harrison had switched the track on Collins. Instead of his playing, another drummer was told by Harrison to play as badly as possible. Though an innocent prank in the long run, Collins was likely terrified for a split second. We know we would be if we thought we ruined a Beatles song.

(Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)