I think it was
Johnny Cougar --> John Cougar --> John Cougar Mellencamp --> John Mellencamp
I first heard him when he was John Cougar. We share a birthday so when I turned seventeen (after holding onto sixteen as long as I could) and got two goldfish, I had to name them Jack and Diane.
I seem to recall Paul McCartney releasing a song under the band name “Susie and the Red Stripes” back in the mid-70s or so.
Not sure if Linda or Wings were with him on that one, nor can I remember the name of the song. Can anybody recall it?
Public Affection - LIVE
Operation Ivy - Greenday
Marky Mark and the funky bunch - Marky Mark
“Seaside Woman”, by Suzy and the Red Stripes, got to #59 in the US. (“Suzy” was Linda McCartney, the “Red Stripes” were Wings").
As pldennison mentioned, Pure Prairie League came out with “Amy.” Vince Gill was a member and he went on to great things in the Country genre. I guess that doesn’t count for the OP, though.
Wow, didn’t realize there were so many.
I’ll ship this off to IMHO for the complete list.
(but first I’ll edit the thread title)
[Edited by manhattan on 02-01-2001 at 06:18 PM]
Hotlegs --> 10cc
With good reason. Hotlegs’ hit “Neanderthal Man” is one of the worst hit songs of all time. 10cc definitely had some big hits, like “I’m Not In Love.”
Tyrannosaurus Rex --> T. Rex
Changed from a folk band to more rock.
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band --> Bonzo Dog Band
Dude! No way!
Also, didn’t the Rascals change their name to The Young Rascals at some point?
Actually Operation Ivy changed to Rancid.But it really wouldn’t fit here cos i think it was only like 2 of the original band.
Grand Funk Railroad = Grand Funk
Not really sure which name they used first, though.
Dinosaur —> Dinosaur Jr. after being legally threatened by a group of old rockers from SF known as Dinosaur.
For awhile, Bush went by Bush X in Canada due to another Bush. Finally, the original Canadian Bush gave Bush X the rights to go by just Bush the world over. And every one lived happily ever after. Except those who had to listen to Gavin Rossdale bellow.
Green Jello -----> Green Jelly
Dunno if it was REALLY because the Jell-O company sued them, but that’s the way I heard it.
Also…not really sure about this, but didn’t Metallica originally call themselves ‘Vertigo’?
Thrash
Johnny and the Moondogs --> Silver Beetles --> Beatles
How about Stone Temple Pilots?
Scott Weiland and Robert DeLeo, met and started a band called Swing. They found Eric Kretz and Robert’s brother Dean, and called themselves Mighty Joe Young. Right before Core was to be released, they found that there was another performer by that name. So they took some inspiration from a motor oil logo and came up with three names, Stinky Toilet Paper, Shirley Temple’s Pussy, and Stereo Temple Pirates. The last name was changed into Stone Temple Pilots.
Scared Straight -> Ten Foot Pole (they were attracting straightedge crowds with the old name)
? -> Goo Goo Dolls (They originally signed with Metal Edge record, label of Cannibal Corpse, et al., I forget the old name)
The Thamesmen --> The Originals --> The New Originals[sup]1[/sup] --> Spinal Tap
[sup]1[/sup]There was already another band called "The Originals, so they changed their name to “The New Originals”. When the original “The Originals” broke up, the new “The New Originals” were going to change their name back to “The Originals” but they figured “Why bother. I mean, what’s the point?”.
If I’m not mistaken, they also went by “The Quarrymen” moniker for a bit.
\
And the flip side to the single was called “B side to Sea Side”
Keith
Other way around.
And Grand Funk Railroad was first.
And of course Sonic Youth supposedly released an album as “Ciccone Youth” in mock tribute to Madonna–not that that really counts.