7 crazy publicity stunts by musicians

One of the tried and true methods of promotion in our culture is the good old fashion publicity stunt. With a little creativity and some big picture thinking, they can cost very little money and have a huge impact. Let’s check out some of the most famous:

1. The Sex Pistols on the Thames

This one is the granddaddy of Musical Publicity Stunts. In 1977, for the release of “God Save the Queen,” the Sex Pistols, at the time on Virgin Records, chartered a boat to sail down the Thames during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee (25 year anniversary), while performing songs from their album. The event was designed by Richard Branson to mock a similar boat trip to be taken by the Queen 2 weeks later. Everyone got arrested, but the Sex Pistols’ album went to number 2 on the charts in England, and is widely believed to actually have gone to number 1, but it was withheld from the public to discourage that kind of behavior.

2. Arcade Fire plays late night in Union Square

In November 2005, lucky fans were able to catch the Arcade Fire playing a casual acoustic set in Union Square…at 2am…covering a New Order song. There were only about 20 people there. Can you imagine how awesome that was for their fans who caught them? They will be fans for LIFE. Not only that, this story only adds to their mystique.

3. Super Furry Animals invade the festivals…with a Tank

In 1996, the English band Super Furry Animals bought a tank. You read that right friends, a motherf@#king tank. They took it on a tour of festivals in England to promote their album. As if driving a tank around a festival wasn’t enough to attract attention, they painted it blue, affixed speakers, and blared techno music as they drove around. And when they were finished with their militant publicity, they sold the tank to the Eagles’ Don Henley who, incidentally, collects tanks.

4. Snoop Dog hands out Christmas presents

After rapper Snoop Dog ran into some trouble, he wanted to clean up his gangster image. He succeeded, by handing out Christmas presents in impoverished communities.

5. Jarvis Cocker – the Brits Awards

In 1996 (evidently a big year for PR stunts in England), Jarvis Cocker of Pulp stormed the stage at the Brit Awards during Michael Jackson’s performance, supposedly in protest of Jackson’s show, which depicted MJ in Christ-like poses, surrounded by a rabbi and a bunch of kids. The press went wild with the event, with people both lauding and berating Cocker. In either case, albums sales skyrocketed.

6. Imperial Stars – 101 Traffic Jam

I hesitate to even include this one because it was irresponsible and dangerous. However, it worked, even though the band will likely serve time. Earlier this year, the band stopped traffic on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles by parking their bus across 4 lanes, got up on their trailer, and started playing their songs. It caused traffic backup for miles, and needless to say, made a lot of people pissed, but got A LOT of attention.

7. U2 – Save the Yuppies

In October 1987, the stock market crashed, bringing to an end to the coke orgy known as the 80’s. On November 11, 1987, U2 gave a free, tongue n cheek “Save the Yuppies” concert in San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza, in the middle of the city’s financial district. Added bonus? Bono isn’t wearing rose-tinted glasses.

So friends, how does this apply to you? When it comes to making a name for yourself, you are limited by only your own creativity and drive. Get crazy, think of something that will capture the attention of the people, and do it. We’ll even write about it here. Fortune favors the bold.

Did I miss any other great publicity stunts? Let me know, or any other reactions, in the comments.