# Band names containing misspelled animal names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557 "2025-05-19T21:22:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/1 "2025-05-19T21:22:24Z")
There was a fad for animal-themed band names in the 60s, which the Internet tells me was started by Buddy Holly and the Crickets. I think there was a sub-fad within it for misspelling the animal name. I can only think of The Beatles, The Byrds, and The Monkees, but I would have sworn there were more. Later examples are Def Leppard, Phish and Gorillaz. Can you think of any others? The rules are, there must be a homophone of an animal name in the band name, as a separate word, and the animal name must be misspelled. The separate word requirement means a band named “Ramoosi” doesn’t qualify even though it has “moos” in it. I’m especially interested in whether there are more examples from the 60s, but any era is fine. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/2 "2025-05-19T23:13:11Z")
Two separate groups cashing in on The Beatles called themselves The Buggs. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/3 "2025-05-19T23:24:29Z")
The Black Crowes RATT ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/4 "2025-05-19T23:28:52Z")
Blue Öyster Cult (note the umlaut over the O) Snoop Dogg FWIW, according to Mickey Dolenz, the Monkees was intentionally misspelled so that they could trademark it. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/5 "2025-05-19T23:36:21Z")
Honorable mention: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/F_dA_wEFfzw/maxresdefault.jpg "The Roches songs") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_dA_wEFfzw) singing roaches whose voices were provided by [The Roches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roches) – a visual pun based on their actual surnames. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/6 "2025-05-19T23:38:59Z")
How about misspelled mythical creatures? The Murmaids were a one-hit wonder with [Popsicles and Icicles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5NDFot98cA) (1964). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/7 "2025-05-19T23:47:23Z")
Jackyl > **[Jackyl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackyl)** > > Jackyl is an American rock band formed in 1991. Their sound has been described as hair metal and southern rock. Their self-titled debut album has sold more than a million copies in the United States with hit singles like "Down on Me" and "When Will It Rain". The band is best known for the song "The Lumberjack", which features a chainsaw solo by lead singer Jesse James Dupree. > In 1992, Jackyl's self-titled debut album was released under Geffen Records, and eventually went platinum. It features... ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/8 "2025-05-19T23:59:50Z")
It took longer than it should have for me to notice that Beatles was a pun, rather than strictly a misspelling. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/9 "2025-05-20T00:12:44Z")
Do The Blackbyrds count? The Byrds were already mentioned, so it seems a bit redundant, but this is a separate band with at least one modest hit in the 70s. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oeyL1yVY_6Q/maxresdefault.jpg "The Blackbyrds ~ Walking In Rhythm") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeyL1yVY_6Q) (Their name apparently was derived from the real-life last name of trumpeter Donald Byrd. Byrd was a teacher at Howard University, where the founding members of the band were students, and he helped them get established, then later acted as a producer for their songs and albums.) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/10 "2025-05-20T00:21:32Z")
My garage band in college (1983) was called the Jag-Wires. I just did a Google search and some band in St. Louis ripped us off. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/11 "2025-05-20T00:51:18Z")
I just figured that out a few months ago 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/12 "2025-05-20T01:00:34Z")
I only recently figured out Bill Haley called his band The Comets after Halley’s Comet, and it’s likely why people mispronounce it to this day. Anyway, I apologise for this interruption, as you were. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/13 "2025-05-20T01:10:20Z")
Another 60s band: **[The Kit Kats](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kit_Kats)** ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/14 "2025-05-20T01:13:10Z")
Wyld Stallyns, the greatest band of all time. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/15 "2025-05-20T01:15:09Z")
🤣 Not the greatest band of all time: W.A.S.P ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/16 "2025-05-20T01:45:25Z")
There’s a psychobilly band called the the Koffin Kats. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/17 "2025-05-20T01:47:40Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Wyld Stallyns, the greatest band of all time. Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/18 "2025-05-20T05:16:40Z")
I have an indie singer on my Spotify named WRENN (band name, not her actual name) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-containing-misspelled-animal-names/1018557/19 "2025-05-20T06:12:05Z")
[Deadmau5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2LFI6abQI4&list=PL4AC6AA0ADEC216F3&index=7) [Tygers of Pan Tang](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyETrecWycI) [Sharkk Heartt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7bIE0AM5oQ) [Wwolves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZFht_QiSag) [Wolvves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFB1U_io1vA) [CHICKN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGeJvzYK9YY)