# Bands that are or became numerically inconsistent **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494 "2017-12-14T14:04:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/61 "2017-12-16T14:46:56Z")
[Opera IX](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_IX) has never had more than five members. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/62 "2017-12-16T14:53:17Z")
While ABBA’s name is from the initials of the four leading members (Anni-Frid, Benny, Bjorn, and Agnetha), they always had seven or more backing musicians ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/63 "2017-12-16T15:12:30Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Five for Fighting is one guy. I think the name refers to five _minutes_ for fighting. A hockey penalty. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/64 "2017-12-16T15:23:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I can think of two things wrong with the Band Name “Barenaked Ladies.” You do know that they record at least one song on every album while naked? ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/65 "2017-12-16T17:49:21Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > No. No we are not. > > I also wasn’t looking for just any band name with a number in it. But that seems to be the direction we’re going now… How about British punk band **Gang of Four** who started (obviously) as a four piece but (ignoring session musicians) over time became a trio, a duo and (arguably) a solo artist? TCMF-2L ---
**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:** [December 16, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/66 "2017-12-16T21:41:43Z")
[“The 101 Strings orchestra included 124 string instruments”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_Strings) ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/67 "2017-12-18T19:46:33Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > At least they were still a trio. > > The modern-day prog band [3,](http://theband3.com/) however, has four members (though they did start out as a trio.) Speaking of modern prog, there’s 4/3 DE TRIO. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/68 "2017-12-19T03:46:49Z")
A friend and I did the local coffee houses as a duo. We called ourselves **Rocco and the Four Speed Dual Quad Posi-Traction 409s"**. I don’t know if that counts or not. The last band I was in, 4 of us, we were **Four Jacks and a Jill** for a week. Oh, no women in the group either. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/69 "2017-12-19T18:37:28Z")
**Two Nice Girls**. Depending on the time, either 3 or 4 women. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/70 "2017-12-19T18:38:29Z")
These aren’t numeric, but both are STILL a good examples of a successful group that held on to an outdated name long after an important member had quit. 1. The pop trio _ **Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds** _ had two #1 hits in the Seventies. Pianist Tom Reynolds left early and was replaced by Alan Dennison. But even with Dennison on keyboards, they continued using the name Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds! 2. Fast Eddie Clarke of Motorhead formed a new band with bassist Pete Way of UFO. They called the band _ **Fastway** _, which combined both their names. But… Pete Way had a fight with Clarke and left before recording a note. Fastway continued with that name… but without Way. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/71 "2017-12-24T18:54:03Z")
Since the Monkees resurgence in the 80’s they’ve mostly been down a member or two. (Usually Mike, too busy with his business interests, then Davy died, RIP) ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/72 "2017-12-24T19:18:34Z")
Not a big band or anything, but the **Brett Domino Trio** has only had two members for most of its existence. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/73 "2017-12-24T20:01:31Z")
I think AKB48 was originally intended to have only 48 members, but it currently has over 120 members, and is the largest pop group in the world. Its sister acts, such as HKT48, JKT48 and NMB48, don’t necessarily have 48 members either. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/74 "2017-12-24T21:02:26Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I think AKB48 was originally intended to have only 48 members, but it currently has over 120 members, and is the largest pop group in the world. Its sister acts, such as HKT48, JKT48 and NMB48, don’t necessarily have 48 members either. The wiki on AKB48 has got to be one of the most confusing things I’ve ever read. Spoilered because pictures of 120 japanese girls might raise eyebrows: [AKB48](http://akb48.wikia.com/wiki/AKB48) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/75 "2017-12-24T22:13:15Z")
China’s Twelve Girls Band has thirteen girls. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/76 "2017-12-24T22:21:46Z")
UB40 has never had more than eight members. (They’re currently down to six.) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/77 "2017-12-25T14:26:14Z")
Run-DMC is a trio and not, lets see, 500 from a thousand plus one hundred … ??? Not again.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494/78 "2017-12-28T01:20:32Z")
A double inconsistency: the Korean girl group 4Ten currently has 3 members. It has had 4 and 5 members in the past. However, the “TEN” in the name doesn’t really mean the number 10, except as a pun. The group has the alternate name POTEN, which is short for the English word “potential”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-are-or-became-numerically-inconsistent/804494.md?page=3)