# Band names that prevent a career

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 8, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471 "2008-04-08T16:07:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/21 "2008-04-08T17:29:56Z")

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Nevermind…

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**Author:** ![uncle\_squeegee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b5e925/32.png) [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/22 "2008-04-08T17:30:16Z")

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I remember reading a Mad feature along these lines 20-ish years ago. Most of the ones I recall have been mentioned in previous posts. A couple others were “Five Dollar Beers” and “Poetry Night.” Both of which might actually draw crowds now. If anyone has access to that “Totally Mad” CD ROM set, maybe they can corroborate my memory?

Here’s how dumb I am: During the grunge years, I read about a new band and thought “With a name like that, they’ll go nowhere.” The band: Pearl Jam.

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**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/23 "2008-04-08T17:31:01Z")

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[QUOTE=Cardinal]  
Thanks for paying attention to the request in the very first line.  
[/QUOTE]

Those are actual band names.  
BTW, one of my first bands was call “Subject to Change”. I love that name!

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**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/24 "2008-04-08T17:33:17Z")

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I’m gonna have to say “Happy Rhodes”. If ever there was a name that cried out “cheesy over-the-hill Cowboy singer”, it would be that one. (Well, “Happy Trails” would be worse, but only slightly.)

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**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/25 "2008-04-08T17:39:42Z")

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[QUOTE=Flander]  
Those are actual band names.  
[/QUOTE]  
I know.

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**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/26 "2008-04-08T17:45:06Z")

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Ah man, **OneCentStamp**! I just happened to have your post on my screen when our sweet little volunteer coordinator walked into my office and looked over my shoulder! So much for family-friendly.

That will teach me to read SDMB at work when my office door is open.

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/27 "2008-04-08T17:46:39Z")

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For Rent – See Agent  
The Army Wants You!  
Your Message Here  
Paint Any Car for $49.95  
Eyebrow Threading  
Georgia-Pacific Plywood

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**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/28 "2008-04-08T17:58:24Z")

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For Sale By Owner

Karaoke Night

Private Party

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**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/29 "2008-04-08T18:05:34Z")

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Si, Hablamos Español!

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/30 "2008-04-08T18:09:02Z")

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[QUOTE=Cardinal]  
This is the FAMILY FRIENDLY version!

What band names would mean your fledgling band wouldn’t get bookings from bar and club owners because of confusion and chaos? These names wouldn’t bring in the right business:

Free Beer  
[/QUOTE]  
There actually was a band by that name (actually, three, according to the All-Music Guide). The original had three albums out and chose the name especially to get bigger crowds at their bar gigs.

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**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/31 "2008-04-08T18:10:31Z")

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I’ve always felt that the reason he isn’t big in the USofA is the fact that his name is Robbie Williams.

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**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/32 "2008-04-08T18:10:53Z")

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Amway Superstars

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**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/33 "2008-04-08T18:15:32Z")

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My students suggest:

Fat People Dance

AA Meeting

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**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/34 "2008-04-08T18:26:55Z")

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[QUOTE=Mrs. Cake]  
Ah man, **OneCentStamp**!  
[/QUOTE]  
I know, I know! I’m really sorry. ☹

Please, someone report my post and get it deleted. ☹

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**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/35 "2008-04-08T18:31:24Z")

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Incoming Terrorist Attack

In college, a buddy of mine had a band called “Willis Smoked a Guy”, inspired by the mistaken belief that Todd Bridges (Willis of Diff’rent Strokes) had killed a man. Due to an unfortunate typo, this band was billed in a Battle of the Bands as “Willis Smoked a G **o** y”. Neither of those band names portend a bright future.

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**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/36 "2008-04-08T19:14:49Z")

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Ross Perot Campaign Headquarters

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/37 "2008-04-08T19:54:43Z")

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**Kid Touchers Anonymous**. No way anyone would be caught dead going into that bar.

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**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/38 "2008-04-08T19:57:36Z")

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[QUOTE=Cardinal]  
Thanks for paying attention to the request in the very first line.  
[/QUOTE]

It’s a valid point, though. For a few weeks I had no idea how to announce “Caribou and the.. umm.. F Buttons!” on the air for promo. Lots of promo is difficult with that kind of name. What’s worse is when your band is simply called F.

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/39 "2008-04-08T19:57:48Z")

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You’d think that Biohazard and Municipal Waste would’ve had some problems, but they’re both doing all right.

> [@tdn](#):
>
> > [@JThunder](#):
> >
> > Condemned
> 
> I would totally go see that band. They sound edgy.

I’d eat my hat if there was no metal band named Condemned. [Fortunately, my hat is safe.](http://www.myspace.com/condemneduk) (Fair warning, that’s a link to a MySpace page with sound. Also, I’m not impressed.)

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**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:** [April 8, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-that-prevent-a-career/444471/40 "2008-04-08T19:59:51Z")

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How Do You Hold This Guitar?

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