Is Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood holed up Brazil awaiting the end of the world? That's the somewhat absurd claim recently made by Brazilian Tourism Minister Eduardo de Oliveira Coelho, who says Greenwood is staying in a hotel in the Sao Luiz do Paraitinga section of Sao Paulo while counting down the days until Dec. 21, the final date date on the Mayan calendar and thus the day some people believe will mark the end of the world.

The band's management company, Courtyard Management, today denied the tourism minister's claim, adding that Greenwood isn't even in Brazil at this time. But Coelho told the Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo (via British tabloid the Daily Mail) that Greenwood entered Brazil in early December, and that his Radiohead bandmates would be joining him in the country soon. He also claimed Greenwood was giving free music classes to Brazilian youth and would extend his stay if the world doesn't end on Dec. 21.

The owner of the hotel told Folha de Sa Paulo that "the reason why he's here is to get away, because hotels like this preserve the privacy of guests and he does not want publicity." Oh well, so much for that whole no-publicity wish. Guess it doesn't really matter though if the world is ending next week, does it?

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