# Bands with letters in their names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 22, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776 "2017-03-22T17:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/21 "2017-03-22T19:03:46Z")
ELO Electric Light Orchestra ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/22 "2017-03-22T19:07:11Z")
Mentioned in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/23 "2017-03-22T19:10:40Z")
A couple of others, gleaned from songs on my iPhone: [O.A.R.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.A.R.) (short for “Of A Revolution”) [REO Speedwagon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REO_Speedwagon) (name taken from an [early truck model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REO_Speed_Wagon); REO were the initials of [Ransom Eli Olds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransom_E._Olds)) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/24 "2017-03-22T19:14:30Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > TCMF-2L But what do _those_ letters and number mean? Hmmm? 😃 ---
**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:** [March 22, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/25 "2017-03-22T19:14:43Z")
The **Average White Band** were often known as the **AWB** and used that for an album title. Apparently the **James Brown’s** backing band (themselves known as the **JBs** ) recorded a track in tribute to an **AWB** song and gave themselves the credit **AABB** for Above Average Black Band. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/26 "2017-03-22T19:16:32Z")
\*\*MxPx \*\* “MxPx began in July 1992 with the name Magnified Plaid. Initially, the band started playing music inspired by Descendents, Black Flag and other punk rock bands. Mike Herrera, Yuri Ruley, and Andy Husted were classmates at Central Kitsap High School in Silverdale, Washington and were 15 years old when they formed the band. The name was a tribute to the original guitarist’s fascination with plaid shirts but did not fit on the band’s posters. Consequently, the name was abbreviated to M.P. But in Yuri Ruley’s handwriting, periods appeared as Xs, and since he made up the show posters for the band, the four-letter moniker stuck.” **NOFX** “In 1983, guitarist Eric Melvin met bassist/vocalist Mike Burkett (Fat Mike) and started the band under the name NO-FX, after a Boston hardcore punk band called Negative FX.” **SNMNMNM** “The group’s name is a condensation of “Seamus 'n Matt 'n Mark 'n Matt”.” ---
**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:** [March 22, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/27 "2017-03-22T19:16:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > But what do _those_ letters and number mean? Hmmm? 😃 It’s a secret. TCMF-2L (But they are not random.) ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/28 "2017-03-22T19:20:09Z")
TSO - Trans-Siberian Orchestra BOC - Blue Oyster Cult ---
**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:** [March 22, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/29 "2017-03-22T19:21:16Z")
American R&B girl group **TLC**. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/30 "2017-03-22T19:27:39Z")
Y&T (Yesterday and Today) ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/31 "2017-03-22T19:30:03Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Yes, but my point is that that’s not pronouncing it _as a word_\*—it’s pronouncing the individual letters. (As if you pronounced ABBA “aybeebeeay.”) Andy Partridge has said that, when naming the band, “XTC” was seen as a “shorthand way of writing ‘ecstasy’” ([cite](https://books.google.com/books?id=R857BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=xtc+ecstasy+partridge+shorthand&source=bl&ots=vfxfFl9KuP&sig=-vlKB3YuQu2AxAh1PsMZeIN22dI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimhMO67erSAhXjslQKHV3vDIAQ6AEIHjAC#v=onepage&q=xtc%20ecstasy%20partridge%20shorthand&f=false)). There’s probably some gray area between it being an acronym and an initialism. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/32 "2017-03-22T19:30:49Z")
One final post. The **GTOs** or **Girls Together Outrageously** were a girl group associated with **Frank Zappa**. There was an Australian band called **WTO** ( **World Trash Orchestra** ) who became **GTO** ( **Global Trash Orchestra**.) For good measure there have also been at least two songs called **GTO**. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/33 "2017-03-22T19:43:12Z")
[UTFO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTFO) [EPMD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPMD) [OXO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OXO_(band)) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/34 "2017-03-22T19:44:22Z")
Does **PDQ Bach** work? Were they even a band? Am I really _that_ lazy? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/35 "2017-03-22T19:50:28Z")
The very Australian [TISM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENnAa7rqtBM). Both of these only use the acronym/initialism normally: AFI - A Fire Inside T.S.O.L. - True Sounds of Liberty Atari Teenage Riot is sometimes ATR. One hit wonder MARRS M.I.A. Flat-earther B.o.B. Murs The D.O.C. N.E.R.D. > [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > Bachman-Turner Overdrive frequently used the BTO acronym in album titles (usually live albums or best-of compilations) "It’s BTO. They’re Canada’s answer to ELP. Their big hit was TCB. That’s how we talked in the '70s. We didn’t have a moment to spare. " -Homer Simpson. In a later episode he heckles them to "play no new crap, and skip to the “Working Overtime” chorus. > [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > KISS - Knights in Satan’s Service, of course Urban legend, isn’t it? > [@control-z](#): > > [S.O.D.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhzLM_zR8Jo) You forgot S.O.D. side project (so side project of a side project), M.O.D. Respectively, Stormtroopers of Death and Method of Destruction. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/36 "2017-03-22T19:56:51Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [MFSB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MFSB) – Mother Father Sister Brother (officially). Whose biggest hit was TSOP. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/37 "2017-03-22T19:58:32Z")
U.K. ( a British progressive rock supergroup originally active from 1977 until 1980). ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/38 "2017-03-22T20:05:54Z")
Here’s an Indian band called XLNC. I have no idea what [Mere Yaar Ne](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-SkpxkMxb8) means but I love this song. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/39 "2017-03-22T20:17:28Z")
Oh, and apparently [TLC](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TLC_(group)) doesn’t stand for Tender Loving Care but for Tionne" **T** -Boz" Watkins, Lisa “ **L** eft Eye” Lopes and Rozonda “ **C** hilli” Thomas. I learned something new today! ---
**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:** [March 22, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776/40 "2017-03-22T20:33:54Z")
[MC5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC5) – short for “Motor City Five” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-letters-in-their-names/782776.md?page=3)