# Bands named after public services **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353 "2016-07-31T02:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/1 "2016-07-31T02:58:48Z")
I am starting a city where all public services are provided by bands. So far I have the Police and the Postal Service taken care of, so at least we are safe and can get mail. I suppose we have some leadership capabilities from the Presidents of the United States of America. What other bands are named after public services? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/2 "2016-07-31T03:10:13Z")
Pacific Gas & Electric Grand Funk Railroad (from “Grand Trunk Railroad”) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/3 "2016-07-31T03:11:11Z")
Electric Light Orchestra (?) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/4 "2016-07-31T03:14:46Z")
Chicago Transit Authority (before becoming just Chicago) ---
**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:** [July 31, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/5 "2016-07-31T03:23:19Z")
As services are provided, there are sure to be plenty of Men at Work. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/6 "2016-07-31T03:35:08Z")
[Fire Dept.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Dept) ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/7 "2016-07-31T03:35:17Z")
National Health (At least, if British public services count for this.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/8 "2016-07-31T03:46:25Z")
Public Enemy Gotta have something for The Police to do. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/9 "2016-07-31T03:52:50Z")
The Couny Medical Examiners. > **[The County Medical Examiners](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_County_Medical_Examiners)** > > The County Medical Examiners is an American goregrind band who, in their own words, exist for the sole purpose of recreating the sound of early Carcass albums. The band is also known to do no live shows at all. All of the current members have graduated with an MD in medical school or are currently taking medical school classes, hence the name of the band. > The County Medical Examiners were formed in 2001. The band's original line up consisted of Dr. Morton Fairbanks on guitar/vocals, Dr. Jack Put... ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/10 "2016-07-31T03:59:10Z")
[Municipal Waste](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RDGLQuBkaE) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/11 "2016-07-31T04:12:41Z")
Not sure if a public thoroughfare counts as a public service but: [Bronx River Parkway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebRRJPsF_9o) [Harlem River Drive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzt-YHWRhV0) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/12 "2016-07-31T04:21:11Z")
[Parliament](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBWH3OWfT2Y) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/13 "2016-07-31T04:23:17Z")
[The Presidents of the United States of America.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Presidents_of_the_United_States_of_America_(band)) ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/14 "2016-07-31T04:42:06Z")
[FM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_(Canadian_band)) [Weather Report](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Report) ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/15 "2016-07-31T05:22:05Z")
The Trashmen! The bird is the word… Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/16 "2016-07-31T05:31:52Z")
I’m sure the [Boards of Canada](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jTg-q6Drt0) can perform any number of essential bureaucratic services. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/17 "2016-07-31T06:48:50Z")
Queen ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/18 "2016-07-31T08:10:49Z")
I think the band Combustible Edison got inspiration for their name from the utility Consolidated Edison, but I can’t find anything on their name origin to confirm it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/19 "2016-07-31T08:28:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Public Enemy > Gotta have something for The Police to do. I think Interpol has that covered. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2016, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/20 "2016-07-31T10:52:52Z")
[The Collectors](https://g.co/kgs/sO5vN0). (Garbage, OR taxes.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353.md?page=2)