Pop Music

Right here’s How 40 Iconic Bands Acquired Their Names


It is arduous to think about a few of your favourite bands or musicians with a unique title. However not everyone seems to be born with an ideal stage title, and never each band derives their title from an awesome epiphany. Some musicians discover the inspiration for his or her names in unlikely locations — whether or not their critics, books, and even lawsuits.

From Fleetwood Mac’s decades-old drama to the actual Jane who impressed Jane’s Habit, check out these fascinating tales behind the names of your favourite bands and musicians.

Fleetwood Mac Did not Need Their Bandmates To Name It Quits


Rock band Fleetwood Mac had a rocky begin, and their title displays their try and hold two of the band members from leaving. The band started in 1965 when Peter Inexperienced, Mick Fleetwood, and Jeremy Spencer joined forces. The three got down to discover a everlasting bassist and ended up signing John McVie.

The bassist and the drummer of bands are notoriously underappreciated. Inexperienced wished to you should definitely hold these two gamers round in the event that they ever made it huge, in order that they named the group after drummer Fleetwood and their new bassist McVie. The plan labored as a result of Fleetwood and McVie are the one two remaining authentic members.

Dave Grohl Went Full Conspiracy Theorist With The Foo Fighters


Nerds and conspiracy theorists love the Foo Fighters as a result of they’re named after UFOs. Allied pilots used the time period “foo fighters” to explain mysterious plane that they could not make certain was the enemy.

Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl started the band as a solo venture in 1994 after Kurt Cobain’s premature dying. Grohl has mentioned he was actually into studying about UFOs and that the books had a “treasure trove” of band names. He selected Foo Fighters as a result of he thought the plural may make folks suppose it was extra than simply him within the band.

The Intercourse Pistols Have been Named After Their Sponsor


Like many different bands, The Intercourse Pistols title advanced slowly over a number of years. The unique core of the band was fashioned in 1972 and named The Strand. In between exhibits, the group spent a number of time at an “anti-fashion” S&M clothes retailer owned by Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood known as Intercourse.

In 1974, McLaren grew to become the band’s supervisor. McLaren renamed the group after the store’s title and added Pistols to the top as a result of he mentioned he simply appreciated the sound of it. The title caught and the band embodied the alt-rock punk vibes that it lends itself to.

30 Seconds To Mars Acquired Philosophical


Different rock band 30 Seconds To Mars are smarter than they appear. The title got here after the band members seen an attention-grabbing phrase in a thesis paper the place the creator mentioned that humanity was shifting so quick that they had been principally “thirty seconds to Mars.”

Properly, the band appreciated the phrase and used it to characterize a bunch of concepts. Over time the band members have associated the title to Mars because the god of conflict and mentioned in an interview that the title is “lyrical, suggestive, cinematic, and full of immediacy” similar to their songs.

Frankie (Blue Eyes) Goes To Hollywood


British new wave group, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, started because the Hollycausts however determined they wanted to tone down among the controversies. The band mentioned they practiced in a room the place there was a slicing from the entrance web page of The New Yorker hanging up. The headline on it mentioned “Frankie Goes To Hollywood” in reference to Frank Sinatra, and the remainder is historical past.

Properly, sort of. The band caught with that title and that story for a few years till just lately when a couple of band members mentioned that “Frankie” was impressed by British singer Frankie Vaughan.

Jane’s Habit Was Really About Jane’s Habit


In probably the worst tribute ever, rock band Jane’s Habit was truly named after an actual individual named Jane with an actual drug dependancy. The band’s founder Perry Farrell had a roommate named Jane Bainter. In response to Farrell, when one thing went mistaken in the home, the working joke was guilty it on Jane’s dependancy.

The band additionally used her in for a music, “Jane Says.” The music describes Jane’s real-life issues, her heroin dependancy, and abusive drug-dealing boyfriend. Jane even lent her handwriting to the band’s album art work. For all that inspiration, the actual Jane by no means even noticed a dime.

Daft Punk Loves Their Critics


It is a bit shocking to listen to that one among electronic-pop duo Daft Punk’s most vital influences is The Seaside Boys. The pair cherished them a lot that they started their profession underneath the title Darlin’, which was a Seaside Boys single in 1967.

They started releasing their groundbreaking music within the early Nineties, and never everybody appreciated it. One overview in journal Melody Maker trashed the duo and dubbed their music to be “daft punky thrash.” They thought the commentary was hilarious and selected to run with it and win a bunch of Grammys. Let the haters hate.

Alice Cooper Needed To Throw Off The Followers


“Godfather of Shock Rock” Alice Cooper selected his stage title correctly. Born Vincent Damon Furnier, the singer initially selected the title to entrance the band. Tales have claimed that the spooky group was named after a ghostly spirit that they “met” throughout an Ouija board session.

Cooper himself says that is an city legend that folks solely believed due to the band’s picture. Cooper mentioned that they wished a reputation that did not match with how they sounded. To them, a reputation like Alice Cooper appeared like a grandmother greater than a shock rock band.

Blink-182 Simply Wanted To Keep away from A Lawsuit


Blink-182 bought their title the way in which a shocking quantity of bands do: to keep away from a lawsuit. The band recorded their first album underneath simply the title Blink, however sadly for them, an Irish band had the identical title and had launched an album simply months earlier than them.

Blink was pressured to vary and added the “182” to the top. An city legend says that the 182 stands for the variety of occasions Al Pachino drops the f-bomb in Scarface nevertheless it has by no means been confirmed. By all accounts, the “182” is fairly meaningless.

The Velvet Underground Have been The Unique 50 Shades Of Gray


The Velvet Underground wasn’t very well-known throughout their authentic run between 1964 and 1973 as a result of, in all actually, they had been means forward of their time. The band blended rock with the Avante-Garde, which wasn’t shocking since Andy Warhol managed them for a couple of years.

Their title is as surprising and Avante-Garde for the time too. The band was impressed by a novel known as The Velvet Underground, which explored many grownup themes. In 1967, that was not going to endear the general public, however within the Nineties, they might change into worshipped as pioneers in various music.

Jethro Tull Modified Their Title Every Week


One-of-a-kind blues-rock band, Jethro Tull, bought their title as a result of they could not guide a repeat present. The group was struggling to get invitations again to a venue and started to suppose up a brand new title every week in order that bookers would not comprehend it was the band who performed the weekend earlier than.

They ended up hiring an agent to guide their exhibits till at some point that agent booked the band underneath the title Jethro Tull, after the 18th-century British farmer who invented the horse-drawn seed drill. Tull won’t precisely be the face of rock music, however underneath that title the band booked their first repeat gig and noticed it as an indication to maintain the title.

KISS Is not An Acronym


Anybody that grew up with KISS has a unique thought of what it may stand for. The preferred idea is that it is an acronym for “Knight’s In Devil’s Service.” Others suppose it may stand for “Preserve It Easy, Silly.”

The band members have denied all guesses that the phrase is an acronym. The extra possible model is that they named the band KISS after assembly a member of a band named Lips. Nobody is certain why they selected to capitalize the phrase, however all it has achieved was open up the band to 1000’s of hypotheses.

Queens Of The Stone Age Need To Rock With The Girls Of The World


The choice rock group, Queens of the Stone Age, are notable for interesting to a number of completely different populations. From the midwest bluegrass to ’70s energy rockers, all of the band was lacking was the feminine demographic. In response to the band’s lead singer Josh Homme, their title was a acutely aware selection as a result of “Kings can be too macho.”

The band wished a reputation that might be “heavy sufficient for the boys and candy sufficient for the ladies.” Not precisely probably the most inclusive, however we will not blame them for attempting. It will need to have labored although as a result of they had been even praised by Rolling Stone for his or her skill to attraction to the lots.

The Weeknd Left Dwelling Without end On A Weekend


Chart-topping R&B singer, Abel Makkonen Tesfaye modified his title to The Weeknd for a fairly sentimental motive. The singer instructed a Reddit Ask Me Something that he adopted the title when he was 17 and dropped out of college then left dwelling for good on a weekend.

What concerning the lacking E although? As traditional with singers, it was dropped due to a copyright difficulty. A Canadian band already existed known as The Weekend, so as an alternative of getting to brainstorm a brand new title he simply dropped the E. With out the E the title appears to be like means cooler, so it labored out in his favor.

Individuals Thought Pleasure Division Have been Nazi Sympathizers


It is a shock to many once they hear that Pleasure Division named themselves after part of Nazi focus camps. In WW2, the “pleasure division” of a camp was what Nazi’s known as the realm of focus camps the place all of the youthful ladies had been held in. It’s because most of the officers would go to the realm to assault the younger ladies.

The band mentioned they wished a reputation that associated to WW2 as a result of a number of their dad and mom fought throughout it, they usually wished to pay homage to the battle, however selecting Pleasure Division actually would not look like it was the best choice.

Bob Dylan Simply Knew His Actual Title Would By no means Take Off


Solely the die-hard Dylan followers will know that his final title is not truly Dylan. Born Robert Zimmerman, the singer-songwriter started performing in his late teenagers underneath his authentic title. His biographer wrote that the singer was an enormous fan actor Matt Dillon and selected to undertake his final title. The title was modified from Dillon to Dylan after the singer learn the works of poet Dylan Thomas.

Dylan has all the time been trustworthy that he knew the title given to him was not suited to him. And, let’s be trustworthy, Robert Zimmerman would not have the identical ring to it so it was name to undertake the title change.

The Barenaked Girls Can Thank Bob Dylan For Their Title


Even when you do not know concerning the treasure of Canadian alt-rock, everybody appears to be like twice once they learn this band’s unusual title. Steven Web page and Ed Robertson, the 2 founders of the Barenaked Girls, had been attending a Bob Dylan live performance in Toronto in 1988. The 2 bought bored and started brainstorming some band names to move the time.

Quick-forward a couple of months later, Robertson entered right into a battle of the bands and needed to provide you with a reputation for his makeshift title on the fly, and “Barenaked Girls” stood out in his reminiscence from the Dylan live performance. Web page could not imagine Robertson truly used that title, nevertheless it has served them properly. I imply, what different bands recurrently function an electrical double bass and may pull it off?

Stone Temple Pilots Reverse-Engineered An Acronym


Generally it isn’t the title that comes first, however an acronym. The grunge-rock band signed to their first file deal underneath the title Mighty Joe Younger however the file label wished them to vary it. In response to the band members, they had been impressed by STP Motor Oil and cherished the initials, however wanted to connect some phrases to it.

They performed round with a bunch of choices together with “Shirley Temple’s [expletive]” and “Stereo Temple Pirates” and Smelly Rest room Paper” till they lastly landed on Stone Temple Pilots. So as to add some extra enjoyable, STP can be a slang time period for a psychedelic drug.

Weapons N’ Roses Have been Simply Plain Lazy


The legendary rockers might have had some fairly inventive and masterful songs, however their band title was fairly uncreative. Lead singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin had been within the band Hollywood Rose. Stradlin had a roommate in a band known as L.A. Weapons who wanted a brand new lead singer.

The 2 bands joined forces and mixed the names in Weapons and Roses. They ultimately determined the “and” was too wordy and adjusted it to Weapons N’ Roses. Combining the 2 names may appear lazy however their different concepts weren’t excellent. Some rejected names had been “AIDS” and “Heads of Amazon.”

Duran Duran Was Named After A Attractive Sci-Fi Movie


Duran Duran fashioned in 1978 and started performing small gigs round England. One membership that they performed at usually was known as Barbarella’s, which was named after a 1968 sci-fi movie. Within the movie, Jane Fonda (sure, Jane Fonda) performs Barbarella, a horny house adventurer who’s tasked with discovering the mad scientist who invented a superweapon laser.

That scientist was Mr. Durand Durand. He wasn’t the nicest man and at one level even tried to kill Barbarella by inserting her in a machine that kills the individual with “deadly sexual pleasure.” Perhaps Duran Duran was simply attempting to provide the world extreme pleasure of their music.

Linkin Park’s Title Was A Matter Of Practicality


Linkin Park’s iconic title truly finds its origins in California. The platinum-selling artists named their band after Lincoln Park in Santa Monica. The title was created by Chester Bennington, the beloved lead singer who sadly handed away in July 2017.

Chester would drive previous Lincoln Park on his solution to the studio however discovered that the net area for Lincoln Park was already taken. As an alternative, they altered the spelling. It was merely a matter of practicality.

Arcade Fireplace Acquired Their Title From A Literal Arcade Fireplace…Perhaps


Arcade Fireplace’s title is nearly as impossibly hip because the band’s stay exhibits. Keep in mind once they wished to set a costume code for a rock efficiency? Why not? Frontman Win Butler admitted that he named his stadium indie rock venture after a literal hearth in an arcade. Butler isn’t certain whether or not or not the story is a real one, however in his thoughts, this arcade undoubtedly lit up.

“It’s primarily based on a narrative that somebody instructed me. It’s not an precise occasion, however one which I took to be actual. I might say that it’s in all probability one thing that the child made up, however on the time I believed him,” he instructed Pitchfork.

What The Heck Does Chumbawamba Imply?


Chumbawamba dominated airwaves with their 1997 hit “Tubthumping.” It was sufficient to boost a band constructed on punk beliefs to mainstream success – if just for a second. Tubthumper hit quantity three on the Billboard 200 and bought over 3.2 million data, however the band left many ’90s youngsters questioning, “what the heck does that title imply?”

Chumbawamba’s title could also be one of many largest mysteries of the ’90s, nevertheless it’s truly fairly easy. It’s pure nonsense that was used to label bogs in a membership. The ladies’s room was “wamba” and the lads’s was “chumba.” Chumbawamba featured vocals from women and men, so it is smart.

Vampire Weekend Was Initially The Title Of A Movie Venture


The indie rock band that principally outlined Pitchfork’s sound choice for the higher a part of the early 2000s fashioned at Columbia College. It additionally took that Ivy League sense of dedication to provide you with a reputation. Whereas in faculty, frontman Ezra Koenig was engaged on a movie venture titled Vampire Weekend (this was again when Twilight was tremendous stylish and vampires had been the “it” monster).

The movie adopted a person named Walcot who needed to save Cape Cod from a vampire invasion. Koenig by no means completed his movie, however he did borrow the title for his model new band. Walcot even bought his personal music.

Daft Punk Impressed Phoenix


In the event you like Phoenix, you ought to be kissing the bottom Daft Punk walks on. Although the bands sound nothing alike, Phoenix couldn’t have existed with out the French digital duo – a minimum of not the title. Earlier than Phoenix launched their first album, guitarist Lauren Brancowitz was in a band with Daft Punkers Thomas Bangalter and Man-Manuel de Homem-Christo known as Darlin’.

Darlin’ ultimately broke up and lead Bangalter and Man-Manuel to idiot round with digital music. Brancowitz went on to type an unnamed indie rock venture. When Daft Punk launched Homework, the music “Phoenix” impressed Brancowitz and he adopted the title. Pheonix started releasing singles in 1999 and dropped their debut album United in 2000.

Eddie Vedder’s Grandma’s Jam Impressed The Title Pearl Jam


Nineties rock legends Pearl Jam haven’t been fully upfront over the way in which they landed on their iconic title. Generally it’s reported that the band was named after the peyote jam Eddie Vedder’s great-grandmother used to make. It’s additionally reported that they’re named after NBA star Mookie Blaylock’s nickname. It’s additionally slang for male ejaculation, however Vedder completely denies that one. Vedder claimed they named themselves Pearl Jam merely due to how pearls are made.

“The title is in reference to the pearl itself … and the pure course of from which a pearl comes from. Principally, taking excrement or waste and turning it into one thing stunning,” he mentioned. This isn’t actually correct contemplating pure pearls are fashioned when an irritant (like a parasite) finds its means within an oyster, however who’s going to inform him? He’s a musician, not a marine biologist!

Aerosmith’s Title Was Rejected By Bandmates


Joey Kramer truly got here up with the title Aerosmith earlier than he ever performed with Stephen Tyler or Joe Perry. He was listening to Harry Nilsson’s “Aerial Ballet” together with his girlfriend when the couple determined to ring off cool, fictional band names that had the phrase “aero” in them.

He stumbled upon Aerosmith however the band he was in on the time rejected his thought. As quickly as Kramer joined up with the poisonous twins, he satisfied them to make use of the band title, however he first needed to guarantee them that it didn’t have something to do with Arrowsmith, the Sinclair Lewis novel they learn in highschool.

The Title Def Leppard Occurred Earlier than The Band Even Shaped


Def Leppard rose to fame with their 1981 album Excessive n’ Dry and rapidly grew to become one of many bands to outline Nineteen Eighties hair steel. Hysteria, the band’s fourth album, has been licensed platinum 12 occasions and bought over 25 million copies worldwide. Like Aerosmith, the title Def Leppard occurred earlier than the band Def Leppard occurred.

Throughout English class, singer Joe Elliot wrote critiques of imaginary bands. One among these imaginary bands was known as “Deaf Leopard.” The title sounds fairly darn heavy, so Tony Kenning, the percussionist within the band’s authentic lineup, prompt altering the spelling to make it sound much less punk.

Chvrches Was Drained Of Competing With Jesus In Web Searches


Scottish indie pop band Chvrches is a reputation born within the Web age the place search energy is virtually foreign money. The band picked the title “Church buildings” for the very unglamorous motive many bands select their names – it simply sounds cool. Lauren Mayberry, the venture’s high-energy frontwoman, mentioned their title “has no spiritual connotation, [they] simply thought it sounded cool.” So the place did the “V” come about?

The band was “drained” of competing with Jesus on Web searches, and in Amy Burrows’ single art work for the band, the U already regarded like a V. One swap they usually had been immediately searchable on Google. Downside solved.

The Rolling Stones Have been Impressed By Muddy Waters


Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first met at major college in Dartford, England. Collectively, the pair went on to revolutionize rock music, however they didn’t begin out that means. Earlier than the Rolling Stones ever existed, the band was known as Blues, Inc. They minimize a demo that was mercilessly rejected by EMI and drummer Tony Chapman left to go to artwork college.

It was round this time that the band determined to vary their title. Muddy Waters was a big affect on the band’s blues-tinged rock ‘n’ roll. They determined to call their band after his music “Rollin’ Stone” — and the remainder is historical past.

P!ATD Took Their Title From A Band Known as Title Taken


Panic! At The Disco had a type of names that epitomized Myspace-era emo – the random punctuation and the truth that it was nearly a complete sentence by itself. Some folks imagine the title was taken from “Panic” by the ’80s British pop band The Smiths. This isn’t the case.

In response to singer Brendon Urie (who now stars in Kinky Boots on Broadway), the title comes from “Panic,” a music by the U.S. indie band Title Taken. The lyrics go “Panic on the disco/Sat again and took it gradual/Are you nervous?/Are you shaking?” Relaxation assured, there’s no means an artist as well-versed as Urie doesn’t see the irony in the truth that he took his band title from a band known as Title Taken.

Fall Out Boy Acquired Their Title From The Simpsons


Earlier than Fall Out Boy ever thanked you for the mmrs, the band had been younger musicians and not using a title. They’d the drive, that they had the songs, they usually even performed the exhibits, however the title was an afterthought. It wasn’t till they performed their second gig {that a} fan would rechristen them “Fall Out Boy” after a personality in The Simpsons.

The incident occurred when singer Pete Wentz had modified their title to one thing extra mental for his or her second gig. As quickly as the brand new title rolled off his tongue, a fan screamed, “[expletive] that! No, you’re Fall Out Boy!” It was what it was. Some issues are supposed to be.

Rivers Cuomo Has Bronchial asthma, Begins Weezer


Weezer’s title got here out swinging from the trenches of an elementary college playground. It was a type of endearing insults youngsters so carelessly throw round earlier than they be taught that you simply shouldn’t make enjoyable of individuals (a minimum of to their faces!).

Rising up, singer Rivers Cuomo suffered from bronchial asthma, and consequently, his associates (and certain a couple of playground bullies) would name him “Weezer.” It was a nickname he was unable to shake and the right title for a band so closely rooted in nerd tradition and faculty radio rock. Weezer proves {that a} bully’s insult may simply rework right into a platinum-selling artist with a decades-long profession so long as you have got the suitable spin.

The 1975 Had Almost 10 Different Names


The 1975 went by means of a number of completely different incarnations since frontman Matty Healy assembled the band in 2002. Their most acknowledged former title is Drive Like I Do (and a pair music movies of beforehand launched, pre-1975 tracks are nonetheless floating round YouTube). Additionally they glided by Me And You Versus Them, Without end Having fun with Intercourse, Talkhouse, The Slowdown, and Bigsleep. As Drive Like I Do, the band recurrently carried out Fall Out Boy covers and wrote among the 1975’s largest hits (that sounded barely much less like hits with out the label’s recording finances). The 1975 stumbled upon their eventual title in a guide of beat poetry Healy bought from an artist.

“On the again web page there have been a great deal of suicidal messages and it was dated ‘1st June, The 1975’,” he instructed Fame Journal. “The usage of the phrase ‘The’ previous the date actually caught with me.”

Pink Floyd Combines The Names Of Two Blues Musicians


Pink Floyd is one other artist who’s gone by means of a litany of names. One of the regrettable was “Tea Set” (yup, it will probably all the time be worse). Again when Pink Floyd was known as Tea Set, they discovered themselves on a invoice with a band that had the identical title – what are the chances?

In a pinch, one of many members got here up with another: The Pink Floyd Sound. The title got here from two blues musicians – Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. The band flip-flopped between Tea Set and The Pink Floyd Sound till they lastly settled on The Pink Floyd. “The” wasn’t dropped till the ’70s.

System Of A Down Is Poetic


You don’t ever count on actual, real poetry to be flowing from a rap-rock band like System of a Down, however the band’s guitarist Daron Malakian is definitely a poet. He wrote the very poem that led to the band’s iconic title. The poem was known as “Victims of a Down.”

“It comes from a poem our guitarist, Daron [Malakian], had written known as ‘Victims Of A Down’. He introduced it to us and ‘System’ was chosen as a greater, stronger phrase as a result of it makes it into the ‘complete’ as an alternative of the folks particularly. It’s the society,” mentioned singer Serj Tankian in an interview.

Chubby Checker Needed To Rival Fat Domino


Chubby Checker invented the twist, a dance transfer that’s stored alive on the dance flooring of weddings and bar mitzvahs. The Nineteen Fifties rocker’s dance strikes had been as soon as a reliable craze again within the days when Fat Domino dominated the airwaves.

Ernest Evans considered his title to rival his up to date Fat Domino, who had eleven high 10 hits between 1955 and 1960. Evans already had the nickname “Chubby” and determined to provide himself the surname “Checker.” It was an excellent transfer which helped launch the artist into huge success and pave the way in which for contemporary rock ‘n’ roll.

Lana Del Rey Is not Her Actual Title


Earlier than she was Lana Del Rey, she was Elizabeth Grant. However for Grant, she wished her music to evoke particular emotions, and her title needed to evoke these emotions too. So, the “Summertime Unhappiness” singer envisioned a reputation to form her music round.

“I wished a reputation I may form the music in direction of,” Grant instructed Vogue journal. “I used to be going to Miami rather a lot on the time, talking a number of Spanish with my associates from Cuba – Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamour of the seaside.”

Coldplay Was Virtually Known as Starfish


Coldplay is already an obscure title, however frontman Chris Martin wished the group to be known as Starfish. However when Martin’s fellow pal and musician who was in a band named Coldplay ditched the title, Martin requested if his group may use it.

The unique Coldplay too their title from an anthology of youngsters’s poem known as Youngster’s Reflections: Chilly Play. At present, the second Coldplay has bought greater than 72 million albums worldwide.

Film Subtitles Impressed !!! (Chk Chk Chk)


!!! is already one of many weirder band names on the market, prompting almost everybody to surprise how their title is even pronounced. Unsurprisingly, the origin of the band’s title is simply as obscure because the title itself.

The post-punk group bought their title from the ’80s South African film known as

The Gods Should Be Loopy. Within the fil, the Khoisan language was subtitled utilizing solely a sequence of exclamation factors. The band thought it was attention-grabbing and selected ‘!!!’ consequently. For these questioning, it is pronounced “chk, chk, chk.”



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