# Band Names: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043 "2006-05-02T02:29:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![What\_s\_That\_Smell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3bc359/32.png) [@What\_s\_That\_Smell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_s_That_Smell)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/61 "2006-05-03T09:20:13Z")
Mary Tyler Morphine Apocalypstick Jehovah’s Waitresses Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program Jesus Chrysler Supercar JFKFC The Diarrhea of Anne Frank New Squids on the Dock ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/62 "2006-05-03T10:01:13Z")
[QUOTE=david973] Names we came up with, but rejected: High Atop Gary Coleman Low Toner and the Feed Jam Save Your Fork There’s Pie [/QUOTE] You rejected Low Toner and the Feed Jam? Are you crazy?!?! One I always remember from the LA Weekly club listings: **Scrotum Pole**. I have no idea what kind of music they played, or if they’re still around. Too bad they didn’t make it big. It would be funny to hear Letterman introduce them. I actually like gratuitous umlauts. It’s a tipoff that it might be up my alley. Motörhead Förever! ---
**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 3, 2006, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/63 "2006-05-03T10:11:20Z")
Bands I like, that I checked out partly because of the name: Honolulu Mountain Daffodils Shelleyan Orphan 10 000 Maniacs Fields of the Nephilim The Wolfgang Press Einsturzende Neubauten “Band” I like for its everchanging name: Foetus - AKA Scraping Foetus off the wheel, You’ve got foetus on your breath, etc. Bands with a name incongrous to its (early) sound, that I really like: The Pixies The Swans Local Shoutouts go to: Springbok Nude Girls (it’s a70s-80s SA thing) Ladysmith Black Mambazo The Attic Muse ---
**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 3, 2006, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/64 "2006-05-03T10:16:04Z")
Oops, I forgot one local one: Fokofpolisiekar, which directly translates as “Fuck-off Police Car”, but more in the sense of a “Fuck You!” Police car ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/65 "2006-05-03T11:02:49Z")
The Good: Buffalo Springfield The Jimi Hendrix Experience Martha & The Vandellas The Lemon Fabs Fountains of Wayne The Bee Gees (it works on so many levels) The International Submarine Band Big Audio Dynamite The Ben Folds Five The Wailers The Drifting Cowboys The Not so Good: Uriah Heep The Who Oasis Elvis, Scotty & Bill The Clash Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch (however Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five is a great name) mm ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/66 "2006-05-03T11:04:25Z")
Oh and can I add The Bad Seeds to the list of great and The Birthday Party to the list of the lame, in a Nick Cave “win some, lose some” scenario mm ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/67 "2006-05-03T15:04:50Z")
[QUOTE=What’s That Smell?] The Diarrhea of Anne Frank [/QUOTE] Uh, that’s a bad band name example, right? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/68 "2006-05-03T15:21:35Z")
[QUOTE=Arien] Uh, that’s a bad band name example, right? [/QUOTE] I was just quickly scrolling throught this thread and when I saw “The diarrhea of Anne Frank” I busted out laughing. Now that I see it was posted by someone named **What’s that smell?** , I’m convulsing with silent laughter 😛😛😛 ---
**Author:** ![Arrimus\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@Arrimus\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrimus_2)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/69 "2006-05-03T15:31:34Z")
GOOD: Disneyland After Dark Little Blue Crunchy Things BAD/UGLY: Meat Loaf ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/70 "2006-05-03T16:10:51Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] _The Who_ is a great name because they could’ve gone through an entire career without spending more than 20 seconds coming up with a name for any one album. And you know the first time you heard of them you played a little Abbott and Costello routine in your head. Admit it. [/QUOTE] I don’t remember who did it, but years ago I heard a Abbott and Costello-type routine based on the bands _The Who_, _Guess Who_ and _Yes_. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/71 "2006-05-03T16:12:09Z")
[QUOTE=mamboman] The Good: Big Audio Dynamite [/QUOTE] Yes … BAD is good! ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/72 "2006-05-03T16:38:15Z")
[QUOTE=whitetho] I don’t remember who did it, but years ago I heard a Abbott and Costello-type routine based on the bands _The Who_, _Guess Who_ and _Yes_. [/QUOTE] i believe it was Lenny & Squiggy. But not in character. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/73 "2006-05-03T19:02:07Z")
[QUOTE=whitetho] I don’t remember who did it, but years ago I heard a Abbott and Costello-type routine based on the bands _The Who_, _Guess Who_ and _Yes_. [/QUOTE] On **Eight Is Enough**? ---
**Author:** ![Vevila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@Vevila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vevila)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/74 "2006-05-03T19:28:32Z")
**Oingo Boingo** gets my vote for good band name. Of course, they started out as The Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo, shortened it Oingo Boingo, then ended as simply Boingo. More good band names: **The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy** **The Men They Couldn’t Hang** **Tangerine Dream** **Midnight Oil** ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/75 "2006-05-03T19:49:56Z")
Originally Posted by whitetho I don’t remember who did it, but years ago I heard a Abbott and Costello-type routine based on the bands The Who, Guess Who and Yes. [QUOTE=Yookeroo] On **Eight Is Enough**? [/QUOTE] I think it was a comedy album in the late 60s or early 70s. The routine was a promoter or DJ talking about the acts at an upcoming concert. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/76 "2006-05-03T20:11:38Z")
[QUOTE=Vevila] **Oingo Boingo** gets my vote for good band name. [/QUOTE] I was gonna mention them, but not for having a good name. Don’t get me wrong, they’re one of my all time favorites. That’s the problem; I feel like a dweeb saying" I love “Oingo Boingo” Fellow fans get what an appropriate name it is, but everyone else assumes they’re some kind of lame novelty act or something. ---
**Author:** ![Yeeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/96bed5/32.png) [@Yeeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeeter)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/77 "2006-05-03T21:28:36Z")
Good: Faith No More L. A. Ramblers Cracker Tool Bad: Animal Bag - makes me think of dog nuts. Lillian Axe - you’d think (and be right) of a bad 80s hair band, or a Molly Hatchet ripoff. Stryper - Stupid name AND bad spelling. Camper Van Beethoven - nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Yeeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/96bed5/32.png) [@Yeeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeeter)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/78 "2006-05-03T21:30:20Z")
Good: Faith No More L. A. Ramblers Cracker Tool Mr. Bungle Bad: Animal Bag - makes me think of dog nuts. Lillian Axe - you’d think (and be right) of a bad 80s hair band, or a Molly Hatchet ripoff. Stryper - Stupid name AND bad spelling. Camper Van Beethoven - nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Yeeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/96bed5/32.png) [@Yeeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeeter)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/79 "2006-05-03T21:34:45Z")
oops. Mods if you would care to delete the first version of my post (the one without Mr. Bungle) that would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043/80 "2006-05-04T01:23:30Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > I think The Who is one of the all time names. Simple, short, and a bit of a mindbender. It requires an out of the box thinking to recongnize that this might be something besides a verbal mistake. Let me tell you, though, Microsoft Word DOES NOT like the fact that I’m writing an essay about the Who. The whole damn thing is green and squiggly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/355043.md?page=5)