# Musical groups for whom a name change was a good idea. . .or a bad one **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 17, 2025, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138 "2025-04-17T15:56:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/21 "2025-04-17T20:16:11Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Green Jellÿ was originally Green Jello, but the makers of Jell-O pudding sent them a cease-and-desist letter for trademark infringement. I think the same thing happened to cause Chicago Transit Authority to shorten it to just “Chicago” to avoid legal issues. Before that they were The Big Thing. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/22 "2025-04-17T20:20:55Z")
Jethro Tull went through a lot of name changes. Since they were a bit out there musically, they often found it difficult to get repeat gigs, so they kept changing their name so that they wouldn’t be recognized. They changed names so often that once the band even saw a poster and didn’t realize that the band in the poster was them. When they finally did get a repeat job, they were like “That’s great. Who were we?” Wikipedia lists the names Navy Blue, Ian Henderson’s Bag o’ Nails, and Candy Coloured Rain, but there were many more. Their booking agent was a bit of a history buff, and inserted a few historical names into the mix. When the name Jethro Tull finally stuck, the band didn’t even realize that it was a historical name until later. Ian Anderson later said that he would have chosen something less historical if he would have been given the chance. I think we should all be grateful that Ian Henderson’s Bag o’ Nails wasn’t the name that finally got the callback. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/23 "2025-04-17T20:22:40Z")
Jayne County & the Electric Chairs, a relatively obscure '70s punk band, was called Wayne County & the Electric Chairs before its eponymous singer transitioned. Before that, they were the Backstreet Boys, which would’ve caused some confusion if they’d stuck with the name for another 20 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/24 "2025-04-17T20:24:43Z")
_The Band_ was originally called the _Hawks_ (after Ronny Hawkins). ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/25 "2025-04-17T20:31:51Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Seems like this is a thread for bands who changed their name _before_ they hit it big, but my first thought was Jefferson Airplane changing their name to Jefferson Starship. > > I always figured it was a cheesy 80s attempt to try to make the band more modern and relevant for the latter years of the 20th century, which it may have been in part, but looking it up just now the main reason was [legal fighting over the rights to the band name.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Starship#1984-1985:_Kantner_departs_and_transition_to_Starship) I thought they changed the name because they planned to record and release the worst song in modern history (_We Built This City_) and didn’t want to stain their legacy. The band Tesla was once called City Kidd. I wonder if they are considering another name change due to current events. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/26 "2025-04-17T20:37:05Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > The band Tesla was once called City Kidd. I wonder if they are considering another name change due to current events. Kidd Rock, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/27 "2025-04-17T20:38:59Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I thought they changed the name because they planned to record and release the worst song in modern history (_We Built This City_) and didn’t want to stain their legacy. According to Wikipedia, Jefferson Airplane reformed as Jefferson Starship in 1974. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/28 "2025-04-17T20:48:15Z")
I always liked the original “Chicago Transit Authority” vs “Chicago”. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/29 "2025-04-17T20:48:38Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > According to Wikipedia, Jefferson Airplane reformed as Jefferson Starship in 1974 Yeah, there was no legal dispute at that time. Jefferson Airplane ended when Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady left. Marty Balin was already gone. Kantner had used the Jefferson Starship moniker for his cast of thousands that backed him on his 1970 solo album. So the remainder of Airplane went into Starship with a new guitarist and bass player. Balin also came back as a “guest” on the first album then re-joined the band. Jefferson Starship became Starship when Kantner left and prevented the remaining people from using the full name. As far as other changes, thought the Iveys to Badfinger was an improvement, Iveys was too wimpy and kind of passe. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/30 "2025-04-17T20:56:30Z")
> [@solost](#): > > my first thought was Jefferson Airplane changing their name to Jefferson Starship. > > I always figured it was a cheesy 80s attempt to try to make the band more modern and relevant for the latter years of the 20th century, which it may have been in part, but looking it up just now the main reason was [legal fighting over the rights to the band name.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Starship#1984-1985:_Kantner_departs_and_transition_to_Starship) > [@Jay\_Z](#): > > > [@Odesio](#): > > > > According to Wikipedia, Jefferson Airplane reformed as Jefferson Starship in 1974 > > Yeah, there was no legal dispute at that time. Jefferson Airplane ended when Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady left. Marty Balin was already gone. Kantner had used the Jefferson Starship moniker for his cast of thousands that backed him on his 1970 solo album. So the remainder of Airplane went into Starship with a new guitarist and bass player. Balin also came back as a “guest” on the first album then re-joined the band. > > Jefferson Starship became Starship when Kantner left and prevented the remaining people from using the full name. Oh yeah, I misread the wiki article I linked to. The subhead I linked to, “ **1984-1985: Kantner departs and transition to Starship** ” threw me. It meant, the transition from ‘Jefferson Starship’ to just ‘Starship’, not from ‘Jefferson Airplane’ to ‘Jefferson Starship’, which indeed happened in the 70s. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/31 "2025-04-17T20:58:57Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Jethro Tull went through a lot of name changes. Since they were a bit out there musically, they often found it difficult to get repeat gigs, so they kept changing their name so that they wouldn’t be recognized. They changed names so often that once the band even saw a poster and didn’t realize that the band in the poster was them. When they finally did get a repeat job, they were like “That’s great. Who were we?” The Butthole Surfers similarly went through a lot of names early on, including “Ed Asner Is Gay”, “9cm Worm Makes Own Food”, “Fred Astaire’s Asshole”, “The Right To Eat Fred Astaire’s Asshole”, “The Inalienable Right To Eat Fred Astaire’s Asshole”, and “the Dick Clark Five”. I guess they decided to stick with the only one that would let them get on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/32 "2025-04-17T21:04:25Z")
Spinal Tap started out as The Originals, the New Originals, and then the Thamesmen. 😜 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/33 "2025-04-17T22:14:23Z")
The Van Halen brothers named their band Genesis before they found out there was some British group with that name. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/34 "2025-04-17T22:21:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Before it was The Jimi Hendrix Experience, it was Jimmy James and The Blue Flames. That was a different group from the Experience. Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding came along later. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/35 "2025-04-17T22:34:33Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > At one time, the New Originals were named The Originals. Prior to that, various members were in The Lovely Lads and The Creatures. They’re currently in the “Where are they now?” file. Didn’t they then become the Thamesmen? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/36 "2025-04-17T22:37:49Z")
I forget. Are they the ones whose drummer died? ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/37 "2025-04-17T22:50:26Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Black Sabbath was originally the Polka Tulk Blues Band. Yeah. While I’m not much of a Black Sabbath fan, the new name was certainly a better choice. I, however, am a Black Sabbath fan 🙂 . After they were the Polka Tulk Blues Band, they changed their name to Earth, which caused a problem when they were booked at an event which was apparently quite formal. It turns out that there was another band called Earth. So, one day, when in their rehearsal space, across the street from a repertory theatre, they noticed a long line of people lining up for the 1964 horror movie “Black Sabbath”. Either that time or some other time, one of the members wondered “if people are willing to pay to see scary movies, would they be willing to pay to listen to scary music?”, or something of that nature. And thus we were blessed 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/38 "2025-04-17T22:51:02Z")
Don’t even get me started on Mouse Rat. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/39 "2025-04-17T22:54:14Z")
Nobody in the Marshall Tucker Band is named Marshall Tucker. When the band was forming, someone found that name on a receipt somewhere, and they went with it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/40 "2025-04-17T22:55:52Z")
Around the time I graduated from high school in 1981, there was a central Iowa-based blues-rock band called Hawks (not The Hawks) that generated quite a bit of interest. They never achieved huge success, but they did release at least one critically acclaimed album. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138.md?page=3)