# Band names that don't fit their style **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576 "2014-06-25T01:55:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/21 "2014-06-25T05:56:06Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Surely you jest. > > Kiss originally (after Wicked Lester) thought that “Fuck” would be a good band name, but realized the commercial limitations with such a name, and so settled on “Kiss.” > > ETA: It’s not an acronym at all. Wait, you mean it doesn’t stand for Kings In Satan’s Service? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/22 "2014-06-25T06:05:50Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Wait, you mean it doesn’t stand for Kings In Satan’s Service? 😉 No, no. It was _Knights_ in Satan’s Service. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/23 "2014-06-25T06:15:33Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Wait, you mean it doesn’t stand for Kings In Satan’s Service? 😉 I first heard it as Kids in Satan’s Service. And then Knights in Satan’s Service. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/24 "2014-06-25T06:34:27Z")
This was the whole point of Kittie (all-woman metal band) coming up with that name. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/25 "2014-06-25T12:34:49Z")
Nine Inch Nails sounds like death metal. I don’t know much of their work, but I’m pretty sure they’re much softer than that – correct me if I’m wrong on that. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/26 "2014-06-25T13:33:56Z")
Acid House Kings [do not play acid house](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vIwjaOyZWk). ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/27 "2014-06-25T13:39:32Z")
> [@Trick\_Rider](#): > > The name “Cowboy Junkies” has always sounded to me like it should belong to a hardcore country-punk band. On the other hand, ”Old 97s" sounds like a boring old country group that my grandpa would have listened to, not a rocking alt-country band. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/28 "2014-06-25T13:52:37Z")
No one in They Might be Giants was over seven foot tall ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/29 "2014-06-25T14:07:47Z")
The Pixies sound like they should be an 80s girl band. The Violent Femmes sound like some kind of female punk band. Not an all male alt-rock band from Milwaukee. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/30 "2014-06-25T14:10:41Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Nine Inch Nails sounds like death metal. I don’t know much of their work, but I’m pretty sure they’re much softer than that – correct me if I’m wrong on that. I don’t think I’d consider them soft with lyrics like “Head like a hole, black as your soul, I’d rather die, than give you control” or “I want to f\*ck you like an animal, I want to feel you from the inside” ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/31 "2014-06-25T14:17:00Z")
Death Cab for Cutie. Ben Gibbard said, “The name was never supposed to be something that someone was going to reference 15 years on. So yeah, I would absolutely go back and give it a more obvious name.” ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/32 "2014-06-25T14:29:22Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > _Nirvana_ sounds like a new-age whale music type band. Ditto **Soundgarden**. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/33 "2014-06-25T14:34:25Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > Extreme ??? Extreme is one of the most approriate band names ever. It not only describes their talent and playing style but also their versatility in being able to transition from one “extreme” to another. Also, it derived from Gary Cherone and drummer Paul Geary previously being in a band called “The Dream” and then referred to themselves as “Ex-Dream” > [@](#): > > Nor did the Moody Blues ever record many blues songs. But they more than made up for it in Moodiness. 🙂 > [@JKellyMap](#): > > Nine Inch Nails sounds like death metal. I don’t know much of their work, but I’m pretty sure they’re much softer than that – correct me if I’m wrong on that. I’s say you’re wrong. NIN is generally an electro-industrial rock/metal band, I think most would agree the name is quite suitable. For anyone who hasn’t seen this yet. It’s a fitting tribute. [This is a Trent Reznor Song.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSXE5np_Tk) ---
**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:** [June 25, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/34 "2014-06-25T14:49:38Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > No one in They Might be Giants was over seven foot tall ☹ It says they _might_ be. Which means they might not be too. Perfectly accurate. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/35 "2014-06-25T14:58:49Z")
**Deftones**. To me, anything -tones implies ska. Deftones are great, but the name belies the moody, atmospheric metal. **Slaughter**. Yeah, I know it’s the guy’s name. Still, such a tough name deserved better than a second-rate hair metal band. **Unwritten Law**. Coming up in punk rock, that name sounds like it should have been a band of hard-ass straight edge skinheads from New York or Boston. Someone who would have been playing bills with Gorilla Biscuits or Cro-Mags. Nope, they’re the poor man’s Green Day. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/36 "2014-06-25T14:59:17Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > No one in They Might be Giants was over seven foot tall ☹ Now, now, the name isn’t We Might Be Giants. 🙂 Since we don’t know who the “they” is, they indeed _might_ be giants. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/37 "2014-06-25T15:11:28Z")
**dEUS** should be a black metal band, but they play pretty guitar alt rock. Same deal with **Overlord**. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/38 "2014-06-25T15:19:28Z")
Would **Cherry Poppin’ Daddies** qualify? I was surprised when I heard their music. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/39 "2014-06-25T15:22:53Z")
Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen don’t sound too country-rock to me. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576/40 "2014-06-25T15:28:05Z")
**Mushroomhead**. Name sounds like a neo-hippie jam band. Band sounds (and looks) like Slipknot. **Savage Garden**. Name sounds like a slightly goth-y New Romantic band from the 80s. Band sounds like Air Supply lite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-dont-fit-their-style/691576.md?page=3)