Ireneparalegal
03-14-2007, 08:00 PM
A great, informative article from my local newspaper:
A band just wants notice. And its name can make for a powerful first impression — good or bad.
Researching the origins of band names — and the chronicling of rock music lore can be notoriously unreliable — yields stories that range from the mysterious (Mars Volta, based in part on a term used by Federico Fellini in a book he wrote on film) to the simple (Kansas, because, you know, they live there). Some pay tribute to songs (the Rolling Stones, after Muddy Waters' "Rollin' Stone") or musicians (Pink Floyd, after blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council).
Some names just fall together. Guns N' Roses was named after the previous bands of founders Traci Guns (L.A. Guns), and Axl Rose (Hollywood Rose). Mötley Crüe was set to name itself "Christmas" when they heard a passerby describe them as a ? you guessed it. The Replacements were originally the Impediments, but changed when their drunken, rowdy behavior on stage got them banned from local clubs.
Opening the dictionary was like striking gold for Incubus. Turns out incubus is the name of a mythological demon that seduces women while they sleep to spawn more incubi.
Some great bands become famous in spite of uninspired names (the Beatles and Beach Boys come to mind). One of the great names, Led Zeppelin, came about, ironically, when Who drummer Keith Moon joked that the group would go over "like a lead zeppelin."
Others border on the macabre. Well-dressed and highly groomed English '80s band Spandau Ballet reportedly used a reference to the spasms of executed Nazi war criminals at Spandau Prison. Then there's provocative choices, like the new disco faves Scissor Sisters, who named themselves after a lesbian sex position. And could any name have offended Middle America more than punk favorites the Dead Kennedys?
Adam Dolgins' 1998 book "Rock Names From ABBA to ZZ Top," will tell you that Chaka Kahn's old band Rufus simply named itself after the "Ask Rufus" column in the very unfunky magazine Popular Mechanics. The Foo Fighters were named after supposed aliens spied by military pilots during World War II. The Talking Heads were inspired by both television newscasters and circus and carnival acts that had "talking heads." Whatever that means.
Some lucky musicians have even been in more than one of these bands. Bad Religion guitarist Brian Baker may hold the record, for membership in bands with great names, including Minor Threat, Dag Nasty and the Meatmen. And various members of Jefferson Airplane have gone on to be in some of the worst named bands of all time (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship, Starship).
Enough history and perspective. Let's skip the hors d'oeuvres and get right to the Meat (Puppets) of it all.
FITTING NAMES:
Metallica: As if this needs an explanation.
The Supremes: And they were.
Manic Street Preachers: Manic socialists who did plenty of preaching.
Black Sabbath: The kings of doom. No name has better fit a band.
The Clash: When they ran out of topics with which to clash, they clashed with each other.
Bad Religion: And you thought that cross with the red line through was just a cute logo.
Was (Not Was): Don Was couldn't make up his mind.
Black Flag: You know, we're punks. We're flag-waving anarchists. Then we do movies with Charlie Sheen.
AMUSING NAMES:
Mr. T Experience: Even when listening to their fine music, I can't get the Mr. T line from "Rocky III" out of my head. "My prediction? Pain ..."
Eagles of Death Metal: Unlike the other Eagles, they promise no lame comeback tours at $135 a pop.
Alien Sex Fiend: The name that horrified so many alien parents.
Limbomaniacs: Obviously they were musically flexible.
Pop Will Eat Itself: And it has.
The Flying Burrito Brothers: A name that could've only been born at midnight on a Saturday in the parking lot of some greasy restaurant.
Queens of the Stone Age: Named after an insult about them.
Space Monkey: Peter Tork, astronaut.
Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash: There are more of us than you know.
She Wants Revenge: Don't they all?
The Flaming Lips: Why even speculate?
The Jesus Lizard: In case there is a hell, let's reserve comment.
Somebody, somewhere, is offended
The Dead Kennedys: One of the few names that got your attention like a good slap in the face.
Brian Jonestown Massacre: This would be another one.
John Cougar Concentration Camp: One more.
Circle Jerks: Wordplay can be challenging.
Cannibal Corpse: Wouldn't that mean they'd just been eaten?
Suicidal Tendencies: Underrated name, underrated band.
W.A.S.P (We Are Sexual Perverts): Let's assume it's accurate.
Scissor Sisters: No, it's your job to explain this to your kids.
Dead Milkmen: Surprisingly, the Milkmen's union never said a word.
N.W.A. (*****z With Attitude): And they did.
Butthole Surfers: Don't even think about it. No, really.
The Sex Pistols: And they never earned an audience with the Queen.
Jesus and Mary Chain: Almost as rowdy — and offensive — as the Sex Pistols.
Steely Dan: Look it up.
10CC: Same here.
The Slits: No chance.
A band just wants notice. And its name can make for a powerful first impression — good or bad.
Researching the origins of band names — and the chronicling of rock music lore can be notoriously unreliable — yields stories that range from the mysterious (Mars Volta, based in part on a term used by Federico Fellini in a book he wrote on film) to the simple (Kansas, because, you know, they live there). Some pay tribute to songs (the Rolling Stones, after Muddy Waters' "Rollin' Stone") or musicians (Pink Floyd, after blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council).
Some names just fall together. Guns N' Roses was named after the previous bands of founders Traci Guns (L.A. Guns), and Axl Rose (Hollywood Rose). Mötley Crüe was set to name itself "Christmas" when they heard a passerby describe them as a ? you guessed it. The Replacements were originally the Impediments, but changed when their drunken, rowdy behavior on stage got them banned from local clubs.
Opening the dictionary was like striking gold for Incubus. Turns out incubus is the name of a mythological demon that seduces women while they sleep to spawn more incubi.
Some great bands become famous in spite of uninspired names (the Beatles and Beach Boys come to mind). One of the great names, Led Zeppelin, came about, ironically, when Who drummer Keith Moon joked that the group would go over "like a lead zeppelin."
Others border on the macabre. Well-dressed and highly groomed English '80s band Spandau Ballet reportedly used a reference to the spasms of executed Nazi war criminals at Spandau Prison. Then there's provocative choices, like the new disco faves Scissor Sisters, who named themselves after a lesbian sex position. And could any name have offended Middle America more than punk favorites the Dead Kennedys?
Adam Dolgins' 1998 book "Rock Names From ABBA to ZZ Top," will tell you that Chaka Kahn's old band Rufus simply named itself after the "Ask Rufus" column in the very unfunky magazine Popular Mechanics. The Foo Fighters were named after supposed aliens spied by military pilots during World War II. The Talking Heads were inspired by both television newscasters and circus and carnival acts that had "talking heads." Whatever that means.
Some lucky musicians have even been in more than one of these bands. Bad Religion guitarist Brian Baker may hold the record, for membership in bands with great names, including Minor Threat, Dag Nasty and the Meatmen. And various members of Jefferson Airplane have gone on to be in some of the worst named bands of all time (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship, Starship).
Enough history and perspective. Let's skip the hors d'oeuvres and get right to the Meat (Puppets) of it all.
FITTING NAMES:
Metallica: As if this needs an explanation.
The Supremes: And they were.
Manic Street Preachers: Manic socialists who did plenty of preaching.
Black Sabbath: The kings of doom. No name has better fit a band.
The Clash: When they ran out of topics with which to clash, they clashed with each other.
Bad Religion: And you thought that cross with the red line through was just a cute logo.
Was (Not Was): Don Was couldn't make up his mind.
Black Flag: You know, we're punks. We're flag-waving anarchists. Then we do movies with Charlie Sheen.
AMUSING NAMES:
Mr. T Experience: Even when listening to their fine music, I can't get the Mr. T line from "Rocky III" out of my head. "My prediction? Pain ..."
Eagles of Death Metal: Unlike the other Eagles, they promise no lame comeback tours at $135 a pop.
Alien Sex Fiend: The name that horrified so many alien parents.
Limbomaniacs: Obviously they were musically flexible.
Pop Will Eat Itself: And it has.
The Flying Burrito Brothers: A name that could've only been born at midnight on a Saturday in the parking lot of some greasy restaurant.
Queens of the Stone Age: Named after an insult about them.
Space Monkey: Peter Tork, astronaut.
Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash: There are more of us than you know.
She Wants Revenge: Don't they all?
The Flaming Lips: Why even speculate?
The Jesus Lizard: In case there is a hell, let's reserve comment.
Somebody, somewhere, is offended
The Dead Kennedys: One of the few names that got your attention like a good slap in the face.
Brian Jonestown Massacre: This would be another one.
John Cougar Concentration Camp: One more.
Circle Jerks: Wordplay can be challenging.
Cannibal Corpse: Wouldn't that mean they'd just been eaten?
Suicidal Tendencies: Underrated name, underrated band.
W.A.S.P (We Are Sexual Perverts): Let's assume it's accurate.
Scissor Sisters: No, it's your job to explain this to your kids.
Dead Milkmen: Surprisingly, the Milkmen's union never said a word.
N.W.A. (*****z With Attitude): And they did.
Butthole Surfers: Don't even think about it. No, really.
The Sex Pistols: And they never earned an audience with the Queen.
Jesus and Mary Chain: Almost as rowdy — and offensive — as the Sex Pistols.
Steely Dan: Look it up.
10CC: Same here.
The Slits: No chance.