POPPING OFF: Sub Pop Records, the Seattle...

POPPING OFF: Sub Pop Records, the Seattle label that launched Nirvana, has dropped punk band the Dwarves after the group perpetrated a hoax that its guitarist had died in a bar fight in Philadelphia in April. A label spokesman says that singer Blag Dahlia provided convincing information about the supposed death of the musician, who uses the moniker Hewhocannotbenamed. Sub Pop even sent flowers to people Dahlia had named as the guitarist’s family, and received a thank-you note in return.

“People who had known the band were calling me crying, and I was spending a half hour on the phone with them convincing them it was true, since I had been convinced it was true,” says Sub Pop spokesman Nils Bernstein.

When the hoax was revealed, Sub Pop at first accepted the explanation that it was a legitimate “punk” media prank. But, sensitive after the drug-related deaths last year of Seattle musicians Charlie Ondras from the band Unsane and Stefanie Sargent from 7 Year Bitch, the company decided it will sever ties after the release of the Dwarves’ new album, “Sugarfix,” later this month.

The members of the Dwarves were unavailable for comment.