Who doesn’t love a saucy little internet rumor? These six infamous rock music myths have since been debunked, but they were widely believed to be true for years by fans and non-fans alike. Let’s take a look at a few rock music myths that got a bit out of hand and have since been debunked.
1. “KISS” Is a Satanic Acronym
This one wouldn’t be too hard to believe. These hard rock legends definitely leaned into the Satanic Panic of their heyday and weren’t afraid to be controversial. However, the band name “KISS” is not an acronym for “Knights In Satan’s Service”, as one widespread rumor alleged.
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Shortly before they retired in 2023, the band made an appearance on the Howard Stern Show. There, band member Paul Stanley said that the rumor was not true. Originally, KISS was called “Wicked Lester”. They simply decided to change the name to KISS because Peter Criss used to be in a band called “Lips”. KISS seemed like a decent alternative because it could be understood in almost any language.
2. Alice Cooper Bit off the Head of a Live Chicken
Ozzy Osbourne (accidentally) bit the head off a live bat, but did Alice Cooper actually bite the head off of a live chicken? The answer to that question is… no, he did not. Cooper did not bite the head off of a chicken and drink its blood during an early-career concert.
What did happen is a chicken somehow ended up onstage with Cooper in 1969. An audience member allegedly threw it onto the stage. It was tossed back, the crowd got ahold of it, and among all of the trampling and probably moshing, the animal unfortunately died. Cooper wasn’t involved at all.
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3. The Beatles Smoked Weed at Buckingham Palace
This would be really funny if it were true. A decades-old rumor once alleged that The Beatles took a little “smoke break” after picking up their MBEs at Buckingham Palace in 1965. Funnily enough, John Lennon himself started the rumor. A little while later, Lennon admitted that he was too afraid to be high in front of the Queen of England, though the band did discuss the possibility beforehand.
4. Michael Jackson Owned the Elephant Man’s Remains
For those not super well-versed in 19th-century English history, the “Elephant Man” was a real person named John Merrick who became the subject of scientific and medical intrigue in the late 1800s. He had a serious (alleged) case of Proteus syndrome, which left him with significant facial and body differences. He was mistreated most of his life and was exhibited in a freak show in London before he died at the age of 27.
So, did pop star Michael Jackson actually own Merrick’s bones and keep them at his Neverland Ranch? Nope… not at all. Merrick’s remains were destroyed during a World War II air raid. However, Jackson was allegedly very interested in the historical figure.
5. The White Stripes Were Siblings
When The White Stripes first started out in the 1990s, they told the press that the band’s members (Jack White and Meg White) were siblings. However, the Detroit Free Press ended up outing the duo as a formerly married couple shortly after they hit it big in 2001. The Whites divorced in 2000 and were never siblings to begin with.
A lot of people still think the now-disbanded rock duo were both siblings and married. It’s not entirely clear why the band engaged in the rumor that they were brother and sister, though Jack White has said in the past that he didn’t think anyone would take them seriously as a divorced couple.
6. Marilyn Manson Had a Rib Removed
When it comes to debunked myths from rock and roll history, this one has been debunked probably about a million times. And yet, there are still some people out there who firmly believe that controversial former rock star Marilyn Manson had a rib surgically removed on purpose. Manson has shot down this particular rumor multiple times since the late 1990s.
Photo by George Freston/Fox Photos/Getty Images
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