Rant: Band names

[Radbird]

fun dot is a pretty stupid name, IMO.

[Gashouse]

I think My Morning Jacket is a stupid name. I like the music, but dumb name.

[heyzeus]

There are copious examples of bands that made it big despite ridiculous or lengthy band names. I don't think that preordains anything.

The alternative-rock explosion of the 90s is replete with names that are either intentionally weird, or long, or both.

-Much was made of how odd a name "Pearl Jam" was, and the retelling of the backstory about Eddie's grandma making a hallucinogenic jam that involved pearls.

- Nine Inch Nails. Stone Temple Pilots. Alice in Chains. Three of the biggest bands in the world for a long time, with intentionally weird and multi-word names. Presidents of the United States of America, an absurd band and band name that did pretty well for awhile.

There are plenty of older bands that did well with awkward or long names too. Sly and the Family Stone. Third Man mentioned the Velvet Underground. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Creedence Clearwater Revival. The Jesus and Mary Chain (for you, Third Man!).

The fact is, very few bands ever get signed to a major label; fewer still will have even one hit song. Maybe .01% of bands ever do well enough to make a living as a band. So when a band with a patently absurd name like Toad the Wet Sprocket has a few hit songs on the radio then fades away, is it because their name was dumb? Or because it's really, really hard to have even one hit song, much less follow it up with more? And did they get more mass-attention in the first place because of that name?

[Jocephus]

i personally don't think there is anything to it. i'd liken it to chemistry in baseball. it might be there, but it's like .001% of the whole worth.

its the music man, the music that makes people like them.


the band i played in during high school and college was named "utopian soul" - whats the verdict man!?!

[heyzeus]

That's a [expletive] band name, and the reason you're not a major rock star today.

Just kidding. It's because you guys sucked.

Also, this came off as mean spirited. I'm sorry Jocephus. I like you.

[Jocephus]

we did suck. we did play once at the bottleneck in lawrence ks which is a good venue for music...but it was on an open mic night and we were the last band before 1 or 2am. but it was fun.

the guitarist was actually the first child at ku med center to receive a heart transplant at age 3. then his kidneys failed him and he died at like, 25. then the band broke up.

http://www.kumed.com/medical-services/h ... nt-history

i should post some of our music to youtube/here. weezer-esque band i guess. lot of fun.

[lukethedrifter]

There are band names that can doom you to a smaller audience, sure.
[expletive], for example, or Nashville [expletive]. And the band I listed above, which is a band that has gotten rave critical reviews, trended at SXSW.

and then you have the name Foo Fighters

[heyzeus]

Seriously though, Toad the Wet Sprocket has to be the worst band name of all time. That's why they're no longer a band.

[Radbird]

Death Cab for Cutie anyone??

[JackofDiamonds]

BRB, going to go rock out to some Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears.

U2? Boooo. Creedence Clearwater Revival? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Jefferson Starship? Mmmhmm, yep.