Luther Blissett represents a versatile, “open pop star” identity that has been informally embraced and collectively shared by a multitude of artists and activists spanning Europe and the Americas since 1994. The origins of this pseudonym trace back to Bologna, Italy, in the mid-1994, when a group of cultural activists adopted it to orchestrate an array of urban and media pranks, as well as to explore novel dimensions of authorship and individuality. Stemming from Bologna, this multipurpose moniker radiated outward, finding footholds in other European metropolises like Rome and London, and crossing national borders to places like Germany, Spain, and Slovenia. Even sporadic instances of Luther Blissett’s presence have been noted as far-reaching as Canada, the United States, Finland, and Brazil.
Curiously, the pseudonym was plucked from real-life circumstances, with the decision remaining enigmatic. One former member suggests that the choice was influenced purely by the perceived comedic value of the name. This name found its origins in Luther Blissett, an actual and noteworthy association football player who made his mark with A.C. Milan, Watford F.C., and the English national team during the 1980s. Fast forward to December 1999, the Italian activists who initially propelled the Luther Blissett Project in 1994 chose to lay the name to rest through a symbolic act of ritual suicide, known as seppuku. Notably, after co-authoring the widely successful historical novel “Q” under the guise of “Luther Blissett,” five of these individuals went on to establish the writers’ collective known as Wu Ming.