Fugazi frontman death hoax

Ian Mackaye - vocalist of Fugazi and Minor Threat, and the composer of legendary track Straight Edge - was the subject of a strange internet hoax last week when a MySpace bulletin was posted on October 2 announcing the frontman was dead.

The message claimed the singer "passed away today in a Baltimore hospital room" after being "struck by a car" after a Fugazi show in New Jersey. MacKaye was then allegedy rushed to the St Agnes Hospital emergency room and "pronounced dead at 6am." The news spread quickly across the internet, with even MacKaye's Wikipedia entry being changed to announce his demise.

However, fans soon began questioning the inconsistencies in the report, including the fact that New Jersey is around 150 miles from Baltimore and that Fugazi have been on a hiatus since 2002. Local newspaper the Baltimore Sun then put rest any rumours by contacting the hospital in question, and then easily reaching a healthy MacKaye on the phone.

"I am alive," he said. "I am happy to report that I am not dead."