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Fan Lists Himself As a Band's Family Member On Wikipedia To Sneak Backstage (theguardian.com)

AmiMoJo writes: A music fan in Melbourne managed to sneak his way backstage at a gig this week by editing a band's Wikipedia page on his phone. David Spargo was attending a show by Australian duo Peking Duk when he had a "lightbulb-above-the-head kind of moment." After editing Peking Duk's Wikipedia entry to list him under "family," he approached a security guard with his ID, saying he was the step-brother of band member Reuben Styles and producing his phone as proof. "I stood out there for five minutes and I started to think this isn't going to work," Spargo told The Guardian. "Then Reuben pops his head out and is like, 'hey bro, come on in.'"

48 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. So it DIDN'T work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So then, it didn't work. After five minutes of laughing they decided to meet the guy who thought it actually would. Then for some reason the Guardian ran a story about it (slow news day?) and for some even more inexplicable reason it ended up on Slashdot.

    1. Re: So it DIDN'T work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Inexplicable? You haven't been on Slashdot for a while then.

    2. Re:So it DIDN'T work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Its about having big balls -- the bold reap rewards.

      We've got a lot of big talkers around here. This guy actually walked the walk instead of just pretending to be bold from the safety of his mom's basement. The band admired the guy's chutzpah and rewarded him for it. That's the lesson here.

    3. Re:So it DIDN'T work by DarkOx · · Score: 3, Funny

      It worked in the sense he got to meet the band!

      I agree though, clearly the pretext itself failed. Obviously Reuben Styles decided he wanted to meet someone audacious enough to edit wikipedia and pretend to be his step-brother. So I say good for both of them.

      Step-brother / brother was a questionable choice. I don't think I have ever met anyone who can't name the siblings and step siblings, paternity claims and such aside.

      On the hand had he claimed to be a second cousin or something. That might fly with some people. I have known a lot of far flung families that are not very close where someone might not be able to name the children of their cousins, especially easy to image if their parent came from a large family or if their aunts or uncles had a large family.

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    4. Re:So it DIDN'T work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      So the Trump-Hitler school of politicking then?

    5. Re:So it DIDN'T work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I got backstage to meet my favourite band (Anacrusis) back in the 90s. I had just attended a course at one of IBM's many offices, and was still wearing my IBM ID badge. I folded my ticket in half, slipped it in the badge, and nodded confidently to the bouncer as I walked past him. Then I walked into the first room and asked where the band were. They told me, but then I got cocky and told them how I'd got in. Turns out these were all bouncers. They said "give me one good reason why I don't kick your ass and throw you out". Never talked so fast in my life.

      I got to meet the band, but I didn't get a write-up in the Guardian about it, so this guy has twice as much chutzpah as I did :)

    6. Re:So it DIDN'T work by TWX · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm starting to think that the popular 1988 song from Living Colour is more a documentary set to music than a satire unfortunately...

      --
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    7. Re:So it DIDN'T work by TWX · · Score: 2

      Someone further removed wouldn't have had any chance to be let in. Granted, on the face of it this didn't work either (any security guard better not let someone in that's not on the approved list) but someone further removed than direct household member wouldn't be granted access as a matter of course.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    8. Re:So it DIDN'T work by Rob+Earl · · Score: 1

      Perhaps he just trusts wikipedia more than his own memory. I bet he wouldn't be the first person in a band to forget something like his sister getting married!

    9. Re:So it DIDN'T work by DarkOx · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They told me, but then I got cocky and told them how I'd got in.

      Lesson don't drop your pretext before you have met the objective.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    10. Re:So it DIDN'T work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > So the Trump-Hitler school of politicking then?

      Yeah, sneaking backstage at a concert is just like the holocaust.

    11. Re:So it DIDN'T work by TWX · · Score: 5, Funny

      Its about having big balls -- the bold reap rewards.

      We've got a lot of big talkers around here. This guy actually walked the walk instead of just pretending to be bold from the safety of his mom's basement. The band admired the guy's chutzpah and rewarded him for it. That's the lesson here.

      Heh. I got myself off of a particular telemarketing firm's call list a while back; they were actually a local company pushing "the go green campaign" and I was able to glean enough information out of the caller to figure out the name of the real company. I used that information to find the name of the owner on Linked In and I then used his name to find his contact information, based on some stuff he'd handed out at a trade show or something. I called him at dinner time on his personal phone and we had a little chat about his company calling despite my repeated insistence that they stop; never heard from them after that ever again.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    12. Re:So it DIDN'T work by KGIII · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Bordering on off-topic but tangentially related, I followed the link to the article and, I confess, I read it. I am sorry. I didn't really mean to but there was nothing posted and I'm not a first post kind of guy normally. Anyhow, it led me (by curiosity) to an "interesting" article on transhumanism. It turns out, it's not what I was expecting and I learned something. I mean something other than they're batshit insane.

      http://www.theverge.com/a/tran...

      That, I think, would have made a better article than this. We could actually have an interesting discussion concerning that. It's a long, but not bad, read. I know, 'tis off-topic (and I'll post as me so you can happily mod me as such as I certainly deserve it) but it is kind of interesting. If I weren't so lazy, I'd submit it. Maybe someone else is interested in it? I'm not so good at that summary thing.

      Did I mention they're batshit crazy? They've even got in-fighting and a presidential candidate but it would appear that not many people like him. He has a family and they tolerate him. It's a whole bowl of insanity but it's all very much tech related. It's all about tech, it seems. That and living forever. Oh, and batshit crazy seems to be mandatory. I'd ride around on the bus with him but that's because I'm easily amused. Hell, I'd even donate to his cause to ride around with him if I had time.

      Anyhow, if you're bored and want something really tech related then there's an interesting article. I'd never looked into it but I always thought transhumanism was what those furry and vampire people were into. It turns out they're just people who want to augment their body with tech and, mostly, live forever.

      I guess I'm not sorry for the OT post (if I was sorry, I'd not do it) but yeah, it's a far more interesting subject than someone editing Wikipedia and getting into a back-stage after-party using mostly social engineering and the people who were there actually opting to tolerate it. I expected it to be a not-so-attentive security guard opting to let them through without checking but it turns out that they did and that the band members let them get away with it. It's not really as exciting as it might have been and will teach me to not read the article. In all fairness, I was bored while awaiting some uploads to finish. FTP is still ungodly slow.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    13. Re:So it DIDN'T work by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 4, Funny
      It did work.

      Don't believe me? OK, Just give me five minutes and then check Wikipedia.

      --
      sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    14. Re:So it DIDN'T work by aitikin · · Score: 1

      That would be brother-in-law, not step brother...

      --
      "Don't meddle in the affairs of a patent dragon, for thou art tasty and good with ketchup." ~ohcrapitssteve
    15. Re:So it DIDN'T work by SumDog · · Score: 2

      It doesn't seem clear in the article? Did the guard believe him or did he and the bank members just think it was funny enough to let him in?

      I really hope most of the world realized that anyone can edit Wikipedia at any time.

    16. Re:So it DIDN'T work by malditaenvidia · · Score: 1

      Mike Godwin strikes again.

    17. Re:So it DIDN'T work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Its about having big balls -- the bold reap rewards.

      We've got a lot of big talkers around here. This guy actually walked the walk instead of just pretending to be bold from the safety of his mom's basement. The band admired the guy's chutzpah and rewarded him for it. That's the lesson here.

      Ah, this might be a minor point here, but if you're looking to showcase the rewards of actually leaving Mom's basement, you're probably talking to the wrong forum.

      Wait, no, that's not quite right. You are talking to the wrong forum.

    18. Re:So it DIDN'T work by TWX · · Score: 1

      Might've been me. I have shared it once before.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    19. Re:So it DIDN'T work by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      I don't think I have ever met anyone who can't name the siblings and step siblings, paternity claims and such aside.

      My mom remarried when I was a teenager. My "new dad" was older and had several children from his previous two marriages. To this day, I don't really know how many step-siblings I actually have, much less what their names are.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    20. Re:So it DIDN'T work by AntiSol · · Score: 1

      Generally this is true, but every rule has an exception. Iggy Pop is one. I'm sure he's actually a robot sent back from the future.

    21. Re:So it DIDN'T work by Lord+Flipper · · Score: 1

      I had a terrific, once in a lifetime, ruse that I pulled to get 4 backstage passes and ten comps in the audience, for the Police, playing The Theatre St-Denis in Montreal, back in the Summer before their Synchronicity LP was released. Too long, and involved (typing wise) for here, but if I can sort out whether I'll be able to link to a pastebin, from here on /. then I'll pop back in with it. It's a fun read, though, I guarantee it!

    22. Re:So it DIDN'T work by doccus · · Score: 1

      The Rolling Drains? Dead Zeppelin? The Beached Boys? And let's not forget the thousandth "Who" (gives a F#@k) reunion .. I mean .. that singer still has a range of 0.15 octaves... Man.. Thank god for You Tube 60s retro videos

  2. US President by mrthoughtful · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yea, I tried that and they didn't let me into the White House or call me Mr President.

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    1. Re:US President by Coisiche · · Score: 1

      I call shenanigans, I'm almost certain that there would be no internet access to post that at Guantanamo Bay.

    2. Re:US President by ITRambo · · Score: 1

      I apologize for that oversight Mr. President.

    3. Re:US President by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

      They have real cops there and not the rent a cops you see at events / malls.

    4. Re:US President by MatthiasF · · Score: 1

      Dude, I told you... you can't wear an afro and expect people to think you're half-jewish.

      It doesn't work that way.

    5. Re:US President by malditaenvidia · · Score: 1

      Probably something to do with not being black.

    6. Re:US President by max99ted · · Score: 1

      Should have brought a disassembled clock with you :)

      --

      Please stop APK.. you're only hurting yourself.

  3. Ah, memories by Kierthos · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Many years ago, a guy got backstage at a Grateful Dead concert by doing a "Pizza for Jerry Garcia" bit. (It helped that he had a couple pizzas.)

    Apocryphally, someone tried a similar gag with Richard Nixon when he was running for President, and the Secret Service was not amused.

    --
    Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
    1. Re:Ah, memories by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 2

      >> a guy got backstage at a Grateful Dead concert by doing a "Pizza for Jerry Garcia" bit. (It helped that he had a couple pizzas.)

      It also helped that stoners are known to get the munchies. Nixon, not so much.

    2. Re:Ah, memories by slashdice · · Score: 1

      That trick also works with blowjobs and heroin.

      --
      Copyright (c) 1990 - 2014 Dice. All rights reserved. Use of this comment is subject to certain Terms and Conditions.
    3. Re:Ah, memories by mridoni · · Score: 1

      Many years ago I was working as a motorbike messenger (Italy), and I discovered that you could enter almost every office or building if you had some envelope or parcel, and a likely-sounding name or department to deliver it to.

    4. Re:Ah, memories by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      Apocryphally, someone tried a similar gag with Richard Nixon when he was running for President, and the Secret Service was not amused.

      The pizza's had anchovies

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    5. Re:Ah, memories by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The pizza's had apostrophes

      FTFY

    6. Re:Ah, memories by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      That trick also works with blowjobs and heroin.

      Yeah, go the guard at a backstage door and say "pizza for a blowjob" and see how far you get.

    7. Re:Ah, memories by Minwee · · Score: 1

      Apocryphally, someone tried a similar gag with Richard Nixon when he was running for President, and the Secret Service was not amused.

      Things were looking good at first, but it turns out that there wasn't really a "Woodward and Bernstein's Pizza Palace" in that city.

  4. Re:The world has become Tlön by Rei · · Score: 1

    I will remove this post from Slashdot by means of closing my browsing tab. You're free to repost a new copy of it with a hacked timestamp when I return.

    --
    Nothing says 'welcome to the neighborhood' like a gunny sack full of dead squirrels.
  5. WikiPedia by QuietLagoon · · Score: 1

    The encyclopedia that anyone can edit with information that may or may not be accurate.

  6. Mr. Robot by Curunir_wolf · · Score: 2

    This was a stunt they pulled in the show "Mr. Robot" (highly recommended, BTW), except it wasn't to meet a band. They were trying to sneak into a secure corporate facility, and the main character, Elliot, just shows up asking for a tour. Of course he's told they only do that by appointment, so he just says "You should look me up." After the old dufus tour guide checks his tablet and finds a detailed Wikipedia post about the young technical genius entrepreneur worth billions of dollars, he runs after him and offers him the tour.

    Of course that kind of stunt doesn't work when you have actual competent security, but every place has vulnerabilities.

    --
    "Somebody has to do something. It's just incredibly pathetic it has to be us."
    --- Jerry Garcia
    1. Re:Mr. Robot by EdwardFurlong · · Score: 1

      I thought of this as well, in a way some of this is not difficult to believe considering the never ending shares of made up crap on Facebook, all of it I can tell right away is an outright lie or missing most of the story. Zuckerberg is giving a thousand dollars to a thousand facebook users, share for a chance to win! Racist judge gives kid 60 years for driving with suspended license! With a little bit of effort you could probably convince people of just about anything.

    2. Re:Mr. Robot by Whorhay · · Score: 1

      The comedian Whitney Cummings shared a story on some late night show once about arriving at the airport late and without ID or something. The guy at the ticket counter was stonewalling until she convinced him to google her to prove who she was. He very shortly escorted her through security and got her on her plane apologizing the whole way for not recognizing her, professing to be a huge fan. While on her flight she realized he had miss spelled her name on the boarding pass, and had apparently mistaken her for a porn star with a similar name.

  7. In other news by skovnymfe · · Score: 2

    In other news, an Australian band has been caught red handed paying news outlets for advertising under the guise of a stupid as fuck news article with no content what so ever. Go kill yourself slashdot. Seriously.

  8. other methods: ENG camera, "press" pass by k6mfw · · Score: 1

    I was talking with someone that when you have a large ENG shoulder camera (no, not some old thing from 1980s, but a new one like Panasonic with P2 cards), they will think you are with media. This person was saying he works at a TV station and one time he wanted to attend a concert but also get a good spot. So he borrowed a dead camera and also grabbed a mic. Him and his girlfriend approach the concert, guard was welcome to let them in. In fact the guard wanted to be interviewed so he can be on the news. So the both of them played the part, she as the anchor and he as the ENG guy, with a dead camera. And they had a great time at the concert.

    Another I heard is this guy wanted to get into a swanky nightclub where you are either a celebrity or previous invite. So he went across the street into bathroom of a restaurant, saw a dispenser with a label PRESS. He peeled off the label, fashioned with some business cards a makeshift Press Pass ID card. He briefly showed the bouncer he is news media, and was let in. Few seconds later the bouncer just thought, "wait, something was not right about that badge." The guy was gone.

    --
    mfwright@batnet.com
    1. Re:other methods: ENG camera, "press" pass by KingMotley · · Score: 1

      Yeah, taken from an old three stooges episode. And it worked for the first two, unfortunately, the third had a id labelled PULL.

  9. Re:The world has become Tlön by mrthoughtful · · Score: 1

    It is only as Tlön begins to imagine us that we become aware of our own existence.

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