Band name meanings/bands original names

[Baldseagull]

Keane were named after a person who is miserable and has an over inflated sense of their own self importance. And is shite.

 

[joeinbrighton]

Jethro Tull were named after the man who invented the seed drill.

 

[SouthCoastOwl]

Jethro Tull were named after the man who invented the seed drill.

Also a close escape because Ian Anderson had considered calling the band Robin Hood.

Lynryd Skynyrd - named after one of the band's math [sic] teacher, Leonard Skinner (obviously better at maths than they were spelling).

Fairport Convention - named after Simon Nicol's parents house in North London.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer - No idea where the hell they got that ridiculous name from.

Marillion - Named after the interminably boring Tolkien novel The Silmarillion.

Haze - Named after the brand of air freshener that they had to use in their rehearsal studio, due largely in part to their vegetarian diets.

 

[Superphil]

I seem to recall that Ian Dury and the Blockheads were called Kilburn and the High Roads (or something like that).

That was his first band, had nominal success with "Rough Kids"

 

[Trufflehound]

Pogue Mahone, which is Irish Gaelic for kiss my arse.

Not exactly, but it is a phonetic corruption of the Gaelic, which is: Póg mo Thóin

 

[Notters]

Pearl Jam - Mookie Blaylock. Also rumoured to be named after the act of sex though probably not true.

 

[Superphil]

Pearl Jam - Mookie Blaylock. Also rumoured to be named after the act of sex though probably not true.

Mother Love Bone was another earlier incarnation of Pearl Jam

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I seem to recall that Ian Dury and the Blockheads were called Kilburn and the High Roads (or something like that).

Absolutely correct apart from being two completely different bands. Same vocalist though in Ian Dury.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Hatfield and the North - Early 1970's progressive rock/Canterbury Scene - named after a road sign

Deacon Blue - named after a Steely Dan track, I believe.

 

[Trufflehound]

Not so much an original name as a pseudonym, but REM often played secret tour warm-up gigs as Bingo Hand Job.

 

[Trufflehound]

I saw a band called The Pack support Skids in 1979. A few months later they were performing on TOTP as Theatre of Hate.

 

[Superphil]

I saw a band called The Pack support Skids in 1979. A few months later they were performing on TOTP as Theatre of Hate.

Saw the Stuart Adamson Band support Alice Cooper at the Brighton Centre in 1982, they lasted one more night and then were chucked off the tour as they were terrible. A short while later they 'became' Big Country. Saw them supporting Bowie some years later, still terrible.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

I am not sure if it's an urban myth, but is heard that REM's Everybody Hurts was written by michael stripe after the death of Kurt Cobain.

 

[BadFish]

U2 went under the name of Feedback early in their career too. Bono took his stage moniker from the name on the shop front of a hearing aid shop in Dublin near to where he lived, with his actual name being Paul Hewson.

Also, on the subject of original names, Queen were originally called Smile and Oasis originally went by the name of The Rain until Noel Gallagher joined the band.

Named after the Beatles B side If i am not much mistaken

 

[Trufflehound]

I am not sure if it's an urban myth, but is heard that REM's Everybody Hurts was written by michael stripe after the death of Kurt Cobain.

Since it was released 2 years before Cobain died, I find that a little hard to believe,.

 

[BadFish]

Sorry poor taste

 

[Prince Monolulu]

I am not sure if it's an urban myth, but is heard that REM's Everybody Hurts was written by michael stripe after the death of Kurt Cobain.

Nope, believe was this

 

[FamilyGuy]

The high numbers - The Who
North London Invaders - Madness

I believe that The High Numbers were called "The Who" originally, so it should say: The Who - High Numbers - The Who

 

[FamilyGuy]

I believe that The High Numbers were called "The Who" originally, so it should say: The Who - High Numbers - The Who

My Bad, just seen several people who have already posted this ! Doh!

 

[Pevenseagull]

Steely Dan

Deacon Blue were named after a song by a metal dildo