Top 10 Wacky Band Names
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Have you ever wondered, why on earth did they call themselves that? When a journalist asked John Lennon why the Beatles were so called, he replied that a man on a flaming pie appeared in a vision and told him what to name the band; an example of John’s surreal humor there. At least an unusual name gets you noticed. Half Man Half Biscuit and Alien Sex Fiend narrowly missed the cut.
10. Gay for Johnny Depp
No deep reason for this band name. They are self-confessed fans of Depp and who can blame them. The hardcore metal outfit from New York City are controversial due to explicit homoerotic lyrics, which often refer to Depp. Their first full length album is titled ‘The Politics of Cruelty’. They are certainly inventive when it comes to titles for their EP records, such as ‘Erotically Charged Dance Songs for the Desperate’ and ‘Blood: The Natural Lubricant (An Apocalyptic Adventure Beyond Sodom and Gomorrah)’. One wonders what Johnny thinks of all the attention.
9. Bowling for Soup
The punk band from Wichita Falls, Texas likes to make people laugh and is known for their funny lyrics. The video for their best known song, ‘Girl All the Bad Guys Want’, shows the band spoofing other bands. Even their name comes from a comedian. They took inspiration from Steve Martin’s routine, ‘Bowling for Sh**’ on his album, ‘Wild and Crazy Guy’.
8. Wet Wet Wet
This Scottish band had chart success in the 80s and 90s, including a Beatles cover, ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ and their version of the Troggs’ song, ‘Love Is All Around’, which was used on the soundtrack of ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’. Lead singer Marti Pellow was a handsome fellow and had one of pop’s finest voices. The band name derives from an admiration for Scritti Politti (another name that could have made the list) and a lyric from the song, ‘Getting, Havin and Holdin’; ‘it’s tired of joking – wet wet with tears’.
7. Duran Duran
The New Romantics were the pin up boys of the 80s. Simon Le Bon and his band mates filled up posters in teenage bedrooms with their big hair. They participated in the Band Aid charity single and in the Philadelphia wing of the Live Aid concert. They also performed the James Bond song for ‘A View to a Kill’. Their big hits were ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, ‘Rio’, ‘The Wild Boys’, and ‘Save a Prayer’. The name comes from the movie based on a comic book, ‘Barbarella’, directed by Roger Vadim and starring Jane Fonda in 1968. Milo O’Shea plays the villain of the piece, Dr. Durand Durand.
6. New Riders of the Purple Sage
This band is a leading exponent of psychedelic country rock and is still active today, having formed in San Francisco in 1969. They have produced numerous albums and endured through many different line-ups. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead was in the original band. The name takes its inspiration from the best selling western novel, ‘Riders of the Purple Sage’, published in 1912 and written by Zane Grey.
5. Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
The Bonzo’s were one of the most original bands to appear in the 1960s. Their songs were styled on music hall and traditional jazz. They also parodied the music scene of the time. The members hailed from British art schools and took their name from a cartoon character called Bonzo the Dog by George Studdy and from the art movement, Dada. They had a hit single in 1968 with ‘I’m the Urban Spaceman’ and performed ‘Death Cab for Cutie’ in the Beatles’ film, ‘Magical Mystery Tour’.
4. Death Cab for Cutie
This name is directly linked to the aforementioned Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. ‘Death Cab for Cutie’ was written by Neil Innes and Vivian Stanshall for the Bonzo’s 1967 album, ‘Gorilla’. The title is taken from an American pulp fiction crime story magazine and the song is sung as a parody of Elvis. The indie rock band from Bellingham, Washington took the name from the Bonzo’s send up. The band’s output includes six studio albums and four EPs.
3. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci
A bit of a mouthful admittedly, but it didn’t do the Welsh band any harm. Their brand of alternative rock produced ten albums from 1991 – 2006. Proud of their homeland, they recorded in the Welsh language as well as in English. The origin of the name is broken down as follows: They took ‘Gorky’s’ as a word evolved from ‘Gawky’, ‘Zygotic’ was randomly chosen from the dictionary (it means something to do with cells) and ‘Mynci’ amused them as an ‘alternative way to spell monkey’.
2. Godspeed You! Black Emperor
The nine members are based in Montreal and are known for their lengthy songs. Their music is not easily defined and is influenced by rock, punk and classical. Following three studio albums and one EP, the band has been on an ‘indefinite hiatus’ since 2003. Not many band names manage to have an exclamation mark. The origin is from a Japanese documentary released in 1976, which features a biker gang called The Black Emperors.
1. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
The six-piece indie rock band from Austin, Texas like to trash their equipment on stage and make a lot of noise (in a good way). The first record was released in 1995 and there have been six studio albums so far. The album covers are lovingly created and are amongst the most artistic. As for the band name origin, they claim that it is taken from an ancient Mayan ritual chant. It is wondered in some quarters however, that they may be pulling our leg.
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Nice video clips as always.
Toad the Wet Sprocket and Natalie Portman’s Saved Head would have been worthy additions.
actually it’s Godspeed! You Black Emperor.
Hi Zako
They have moved that exclamation mark around over the years. According to Wikipedia and their MySpace page – the current name is as I’ve written it. But they could change their minds again.
The drummer of “Trail of Dead” is a close relative and yet I’ve never seen that video for Mistakes & Regrets? I never thought I would say this, but I need to spend more time on Youtube.
Thanks for the clarification, Anne. Apparently! you can add! a exclamation point anywhere!
Dave, I think you can spend a lifetime on Youtube and still not see enough.
Hi Dave
Perhaps you could ask your relative to verify the origin of the band name for us? That would be cool!
I think I need to direct your attention to a band called The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza: http://www.myspace.com/tonydanzatapdanceextravaganza
Hi Brian
Not really my cup of tea but thanks anyway! And not squatting with your spurs on is good advice.
I wonder if senior citizens book them by mistake!
where is Hoobastank on this list??? That’s the dumbest band name I’ve ever heard in my life. And Puddle of Mudd? Also a horrible band name.
Hi Alana
Both good suggestions. I’d not heard of the first one.
My parents always thought I was nuts listening to “Dead Can Dance”, “The Cure”, “Echo and the Bunnymen” and “Cocteau Twins”! You know the Beatles heard their fair share of criticism…but they wouldn’t be the same w/o their name, would they? I love this list…and agree with the commented names, too.
So funny – The Google advertisement at the top of this page was for another weird band name – Cage the Elephant.
Hootie and the Blowfish
I like the names of the bands on this list, really imaginative of the people in the bands to think up these names. There are many bands out there with really thought provoking names.. really makes you wonder what they were on when they named themselves!!
Great list, I truly enjoyed it. Just because they have cool names though, does not mean they are talented in the music department though. Sad but true!!
Thanks Julia
You are so right Gwen!
My fav…
Scraping fetus off the wheel
or kissing the pink
Hi Nerrie
I checked Foetus out – WOW – fantastic.
Some of my favorites:
Fountains of Wayne
They Might Be Giants
Bananarama
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs
Mary Ann and the Professors
Porno for Pyros
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The Faux Hos
Butthole Surfers
Steely Dan (named for a steam-powered,uh-um, sex aid…)
The Sinister Ducks
Squirrel Nut Zippers
The Velvet Underground
Wang Chung
The Mr. T Experience
Veruca Salt
Modest Mouse
Pet Shop Boys
Goo Goo Dolls
Panic at the Disco
Men Without Hats
Fine Young Cannibals
Wall of Voodoo
And how about these oldies from the 1960s?
The Electric Prunes
Chocolate Watchband
Marshmallow Steamshovel
The Strawberry Alarm Clock
Moby Grape
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
(I’m sensing a pattern here–the munchies maybe?)
The Bubble Puppy
Atomic Rooster
The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Lamp of Childhood
Herman’s Hermits
13th Floor Elevators
? and the Mysterians
Terrific list – and some I didn’t know.
Especially like the 60s list. The munchies? Whatever can you mean!!!!!! Ah, memories.
Bibliomaniac – Wow that is a nice list. I’m intrigued by the Peanut Butter Conspiracy the most. So I went to Youtube and behold.
Hi very nice list what about those grindcore bands I used to listen to…
Vaginal diarrhea
Preschool tea party massacre
Aborted
Dying fetus…
I think the first two are the worse ever…
Greetings from Venezuela
Thanks Simon
Truly wonderful names…though I am feeling a little nauseous.
Already mentioned once in the comments, but the 1960’s psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock with the hit Incense and Peppermints is classic.
What?? Come on, nobody mentioned the Tony Danza Tap Dancing Extravaganza . That one must be worthy of the list . Dethklok is a little weird too. Metal fans know what im talkin ’bout.
weirdest band names i have ever heard of were:
The Squirrel Nut Zippers
Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head
Gorilla Biscuits
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
All wonderful bands, btw
The world is even weirder than I thought it was!
iwresteledabearnce and !!!
Here are some of mine
Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Echo and the Bunnymen
Depeche Mode
Ludo
Powerman 5000
and i’m sure i have some more….
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen
Deerhoof
The Firey Furnaces
The Presidents of the United States of America
Steriogram
Tub Ring