Metallica Hoax

A Web hoax so convincing it fooled radio stations and news outlets across the U.S. had the Internet abuzz with rumors on Wednesday that Metallica is suing a Canadian group called Unfaith for 'trademark infringement' over the latter's the use of E and F chords. The fake MTV news story claimed the suit is premised on the band's belief that the pair of chords — without a doubt the most overused in heavy metal — are 'Metallica-branded' and therefore its intellectual property. No such lawsuit exists, of course. Once the denials were issued and the dust settled, the perpetrator of the hoax was revealed to be none other than Unfaith's own lead singer Erik Ashley, who also, uncoincidentally, happens to be the mastermind behind the well-known parody Website that hosted the prank.