There are a bunch of people I know that, if I say “I got the aXXo version of…,” know exactly who I am talking about. Look up aXXo in google and you get 32 million hits. But no one I know has any idea who aXXo is.
Aussie band TISM never revealed who they were although the facts eventually did come out.
Is this anonymous fame common apart from amongst the serial killer crowd?
Fuck me.
The Stig.
I’m sure some people know his real name, but he’s supposed to be known only as The Stig.
Another band, The Residents. They’ve released over 60 albums in their career, but through eyeball-shaped masks and a lot of care, their real identities are pretty much unknown. It took a fair amount of investigation to have a good guess at who some of the members are, though all deny it.
Moved MPSIMS → Cafe Society
And, Cicero, I’m not sure where you thought you were or what you thought you were adding to the thread, but don’t do shit like this:
Thanks,
twickster, MPSIMS/Cafe Society moderator
Yes, the arc of anonymity for The Residents was similar to that of Klaatu…the difference being that The Residents put out a lot more great stuff, and they’re still denying who they are (Klaatu finally 'fessed up).
I was going to add Klaatu, there was a rumor they were actually the Beatles but that got shot down fast.
The guys in **Daft Punk **aren’t exactly anonymous but you’d have a tough time ever recognizing them since they always appear w/ robot masks.
Few people knowBuckethead.
British graffiti/fine artist Banksy.
Can we include the subgroup of famous people that everyone (here) knows that no one knows that everyone actually pretty much knows?
If so, then Cecil Adams.
was going to be my contribution.
Adam Carolla outside of just being “the man show guy” ??
This is a local one (and his identity is now known) - Cool “Disco” Dan:
He thought he was Britney Spears.
If You Seek Amy
I had heard Adam Corrolla on “Loveline” way before The Man Show.
I thought he was funnier on radio than TV.
Jack Chick
Bentley Little
Thomas Pynchon
Jandek. Dude’s been recording since 1978, has 60 albums and a huge cult following, but no one knows anything about him or who he is. He’s only given two interviews and only played a handful of live shows (which are never advertised in advance and at which he says nothing to anyone, doesn’t even acknowledge the crowd, and just packs up and walks offstage whenever he feels he’s done).
John Twelve Hawks. Not merely one of those “recluse writers,” nobody really knows anything about him. He’s never met his publisher and only communicates via satellite phone and voice scrambler.
Gummo Marx. Everyone who knows from the Marx Brothers knows that Gummo was one, but no one would recognize him on the street.
Steve Ditko
Gary Larson
Over in the Susan Boyle thread, a lot of people were asking “Who is Elaine Paige.” Indeed, Ms. Paige’s last name was initally spelled incorrectly.
