# Bands named after public services

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353>\
**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:** 2

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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:** [July 31, 2016, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/21 "2016-07-31T13:19:37Z")

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> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> 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)

[Gun Hill Road](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=%23&ved=0ahUKEwiOvf2a5Z3OAhWEHB4KHePeCPwQ8DUILDAB&usg=AFQjCNF1sHlk2z9QIx28jtvfnGP_UlkifA&sig2=FZo_vA_ZG-g8ZoembnuHhA)

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**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/22 "2016-07-31T15:02:47Z")

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Before joining Jefferson Airplane, Grace Slick fronted a band called [The Great Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Society_(band)).

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**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, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/23 "2016-07-31T15:09:06Z")

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The Streets Department is gonna need equipment:

Buffalo Springfield [http://www.buffalopitts.com/buffalo-springfield-co.html](http://www.buffalopitts.com/buffalo-springfield-co.html)

Phil Dirt and the Dozers [Phil Dirt and the Dozers](https://www.facebook.com/PhilDirtAndTheDozers/)  
And someone to operate them:

The Highwaymen  
Dennis

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**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/24 "2016-07-31T15:42:33Z")

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Kraftwerk (= power station)

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/25 "2016-07-31T17:32:14Z")

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And as it happens, there was a band called [The Power Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Station_(band)).

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/26 "2016-07-31T17:40:17Z")

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There’s a group called [Works Progress Administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration_(musical_group)).

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**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/27 "2016-07-31T17:42:01Z")

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If you’ve got ships steaming into your port, you’re gonna need an [Edison Lighthouse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9XyhFQeob0).

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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:** [July 31, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/28 "2016-07-31T18:10:57Z")

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There was IRS Records…

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**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:** [July 31, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/29 "2016-07-31T18:18:45Z")

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> [@Martian Bigfoot](#):
>
> [Fire Dept.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Dept)

I assume that’s who [the Fireman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fireman_(band)) works for.

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**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/30 "2016-07-31T18:27:01Z")

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Gotta have something for the perverts to do:

[The New Pornographers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxMCaU83QKs)

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**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/31 "2016-07-31T18:48:09Z")

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These guys would run the subway system:

[The Tubes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ_k_VG6Syc)

And if the terrorists are taking over the underground, you need:

[Tubeway Army](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4Z6smOrZw)

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**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, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/32 "2016-07-31T18:50:35Z")

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> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> These guys would run the subway system:
> 
> [The Tubes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ_k_VG6Syc)

[The Subways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Subways)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/33 "2016-07-31T18:53:32Z")

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> [@Martian Bigfoot](#):
>
> [The Subways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Subways)

Looks like we’ll need to take sealed bids.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/34 "2016-07-31T19:31:36Z")

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For symbols of political leadership, the [Dead Kennedys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Kennedys).

And, for getting everyone to sing “Surfin’ Bird”, [The Trashmen.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trashmen)

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**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, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/35 "2016-07-31T19:32:01Z")

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Need somebody to work in your coffee shop? [The Waitresses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waitresses).

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/36 "2016-07-31T19:35:40Z")

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How about fixing your car? [Mike and the Mechanics.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_%2B_The_Mechanics)

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**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/37 "2016-07-31T19:37:06Z")

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The [Paramedics](https://www.facebook.com/theparamedicband/)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/38 "2016-07-31T19:43:46Z")

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To handle funerals: [The Undertakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undertakers_(band)).

To organize the wake: [Funeral Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral_Party).

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**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, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/39 "2016-07-31T19:58:09Z")

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> [@Martian Bigfoot](#):
>
> To handle funerals: [The Undertakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undertakers_(band)).
> 
> To organize the wake: [Funeral Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral_Party).

Don’t forget the [Mortuary](http://www.last.fm/music/Mortuary).

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**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/40 "2016-07-31T20:01:50Z")

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Ministry, not affiliated with the Ministry of Sound, no relation to Ministry of Compulsory Joy. Also The Internet.

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