There’s been some fuss in the indie rock community about the recent name change of the band Viet Cong. Apparently the band was getting a lot of blowback from the Vietnamese community, ending up in shows being cancelled. So who do you think is right in this controversy? What makes a band name objectionable to you, and can intent justify an otherwise bad band name? And have you ever refused to buy an album or attend a show due to a band name?
I recall a punk band in the 1070s called The Very Idea of Fucking Hitler, but I don’t recall any outrage from Jews. Then there were (are?) The Dead Kennedys. Hard to believe a name like Viet Cong would be more controversial than those, but then Vietnamese communities tend to be tight-knit.
The members of Anal Cunt, the Ass Ponys, and the Butthole Surfers think this is all a tempest in a teapot. And so do I.
That was actually in the 1970s. Punk’s not that old. :o
My Lai was the offensive name of a 90s punk band. Butthole Surfers is just silly and the DKs never bothered me.
The members of The Circle Jerks, Bloody Vaginal Discharge, Joy Division, and Rapeman agree with you.
Don’t forget the lads in Anal Smegma.
There’s also Rectal Smegma. :o
R.E.M., that most innocuous of band names, has also performed as Bingo Hand Job, Negro Eyes, and Cans of Piss.
How quickly The Slits have been forgotten…
One of my ex-boyfriend’s favorite band names was The Wallets.
I didn’t “get” that until surprisingly recently. :smack:
Before I read the OP, I was going to say that too far is when the name is costing you money. From the article, it sounds like I was right.
I find names that can’t be Googled, like “The The” or “News” to be offensive, 'cause I can’t find their shit to download for free! 
On the other hand it just got them a ton of free publicity. It may well end up that losing one gig over it was good for them as a group.
You ought to check out some black metal bands and their band logos.
Two of my favorite band names:
Fat and Fucked Up and Useless Pieces of Shit.
I always thought it would be interesting if they combined.
When Butthole Surfers played in Birmingham, AL in the 90’s the radio ads called them the “B-hole Surfers.”
An ex-GF was in an all-female band called Gash.
One of the “extras” from the “Dawn of the Dead” (2004) DVD has music by “The Fucking Champs.” Oh, look, Mommy, it has two meanings, how clever.
I’m feeling incredibly dumb here. Can I get a little help?
Bands choose names ultimately to help sell product.
Simple thing: if a name that is offensive to some appeals to your target audience, often precisely because it is offensive and thus edgy or something, then you might use it. Free speech allows for it. If OTOH those who vote with their wallets and their free speech make it such that using the name is a bad business decision you either stand by your artistic choice (yeah, right … but you are allowed to) or you, of your own free will, choose to change your name. And if you really don’t feel the name adds anything to your product and you had no real reason to choose it and no understanding when you chose it that it would be hurtful to some that you had no desire to hurt or offend, then may decide that the not jerk thing to do is to change it. If the band members are to believed the latter was the case.
Is Barney Rubble & The Cunt Stubble still around? I think they billed themselves as “The Stubbles” for some shows.