It’s not unusual for musicians to secretly play on other people’s music.
Just look at Jimmy Page covertly backing up guitarist Pete Townshend on The Who’s “I Can’t Explain,” Jack White singing as John S. O’Leary on Electric Six’s “Danger! High Voltage” and much – if not all – of what The Wrecking Crew did in the 1960s and 70s.
What’s less often conceded is someone being credited for performing on an album without, you know, actually doing it.
Maybe they joined a band after their latest record was completed yet they still wanted to be seen as a part of the group? Maybe there was some contractual obligation to give them false recognition? Or, maybe the artist simply wanted to fool fans for their own amusement?
Whatever the reason, it’s an intriguingly sneaky thing to do, as the entries on this list demonstrate. Granted, some of them are more debatable and speculative than others, but each one is a fascinating part of the band’s history.
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