# Clever Band Names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829 "2001-10-06T21:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/1 "2001-10-06T21:11:39Z")
Around here, we’re always pointing out turns of phrase that would make good band names. How about if we go in the other direction? A lot of bands have straightforward names (like The Dave Matthews Band) or simple, boring ones (like Garbage). What bands have names that actually deserve to be band names? That are clever and witty and insightful and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/2 "2001-10-06T22:28:28Z")
Talking Heads Switchblade Symphony Black Tape for a Blue Girl Panacea Butthole Surfers Virgin 2.0 And One Steely Dan Now I am not claiming these bands are good, just that I think they have cool names. Some of them are good though. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/3 "2001-10-07T01:20:14Z")
There used to be a Dundee band called **Free Beer**. Their name on a poster always guaranteed a good turnout at the gig! ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/4 "2001-10-07T01:28:08Z")
The king of the heap has to be **Camper Van Beethoven** , IMHO. Also… The Magnetic Fields Califone Ladybug Transistor Lucksmiths Red House Painters Trembling Blue Stars The Softies Music these days is astonishingly good, ya know? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/5 "2001-10-07T02:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iguana Boy \* > \*\*There used to be a Dundee band called **Free Beer**. > > Their name on a poster always guaranteed a good turnout at the gig! \*\* My friend’s uncle’s band was named To Be Announced or something like that. I don’t think that’s exactly it, but it was one of those things they put when you don’t know the band that’s gonna play just yet. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Skijumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/6 "2001-10-07T11:30:46Z")
Looking through my collection, some band names I like - Cocteau Twins This Mortail Coil Sneaker Pimps Hooverphonic Throwing Muses Aztec Camera (although technically, it’s just one person) Fairground Attraction Eddi Reader & The Patron Saints of Imperfection Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds The Tindersticks Cowboy Junkies 10,000 Maniacs And a word in for a few local boys - Lilac Saints Ben Harrison & the Electric Penguins The Oddfellows Concave Scream Serene’s Closet ---
**Author:** ![the\_O-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9f8e36/32.png) [@the\_O-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_O-man)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/7 "2001-10-07T12:39:12Z")
> [@](#): > > There used to be a Dundee band called Free Beer. > > Their name on a poster always guaranteed a good turnout at the gig! That’s why “Barenaked Ladies” named their band the way they did. ---
**Author:** ![HairyPotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@HairyPotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HairyPotter)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/8 "2001-10-07T13:21:57Z")
The “Beatles” was a clever pun. ---
**Author:** ![reveille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@reveille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reveille)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/9 "2001-10-07T16:38:18Z")
gangsta bitch barbie well, at least they were, until Mattel threatened to sue… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/10 "2001-10-07T16:39:03Z")
Crash Test Dummies Blue Oyster Cult New Riders of the Purple Sage Hot Tuna Quicksilver Messenger Service ---
**Author:** ![Bboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@Bboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bboy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/11 "2001-10-07T17:16:15Z")
I remember a few clever ones that turned up in a websearch once. Jesus Chrysler Supercar Devastation Wagon Amputatoe ---
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/12 "2001-10-07T18:49:03Z")
Me First and the Gimme-Gimmes Ivory Library Toad the Wet Sprocket They Might Be Giants Dead Can Dance Burnt Toast and Jam Soul Coughing Meat Puppets Corrosion of Conformity Talking to Animals The Jesus and Mary Chain The Soup Dragons Sonic Youth Killdozer Fuzzdolly Fish Karma ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/13 "2001-10-07T20:28:16Z")
The The Butthole Surfers The Dead Kennedys John Cougar Concentration Camp REO Speed-dealer Blind Venetians My personal favorite requires a bit of a set up. They were originally called “The Friends of Dean Martin” and released one album under that name, IIRC. Of course, someone associated with Dean Martin sued, and they had to change their name. Most bands, when forced to change their name, try to keep it as close to the original as they can. Hence, “The Friends of Dean Martin” became… **The Friends of Dean Martinez** ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/14 "2001-10-07T23:02:39Z")
Reaching way, way back… The Mothers of Invention Souxsie and the Banshees Missing Persons The Cramps Rockpile Divinyls X And perhaps the greatest band name of all time: Half Man Half Biscuit ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/15 "2001-10-07T23:30:48Z")
Further Seems Forever Kathleen Turner Overdrive Squirrel Nut Zippers Our Lady Peace (how they got their name is cool) ? and the Mysterians Three Dog Night ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/16 "2001-10-07T23:59:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nocturne \* > \*\*Our Lady Peace (how they got their name is cool) > \*\* Ok, ya got me. How _did_ they get their name? ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/17 "2001-10-08T01:20:24Z")
Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd just because they are my favorite bands. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/18 "2001-10-08T01:59:29Z")
Well, you can’t beat the Japanese for good band names. Their infatuation with [Engrish](http://www.engrish.com) provides endless entertainment. From the Engrish site: Three Michelle Gun Elephant Sound Masturbation Bathtub Shitters Flying Testicle Goddamn Motherfuck Shitass Bitches Some more from [another](http://www.ropesend.com/ropesend_translations/lost_tl/tl1002.html) site: The Infinite Radical Freaks Colored Ricemen Congenital Haemmhoroids Defiance of Shit Bastards ---
**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/19 "2001-10-08T02:11:08Z")
There is a band around these parts called _The Special Guests_, but the _The_ is often left off, so you see posters like this: **Tonight! Our Lady Peace with Special Guests** And until you show up, you have no idea whether it’s _THE_ Special Guests, or if the promoters just didn’t know who they were getting when they booked the concert. How did OLP get thier name, anyways? ---
**Author:** ![Trucido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Trucido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trucido)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829/20 "2001-10-08T03:04:35Z")
I always liked **Clark Kent and His Supermen**. **Our Lady Peace** is named for a poem by Martin van Doren, son of Charles van Doren (think quiz shows). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-band-names/85829.md?page=2)