# 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:** 3
**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, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/41 "2025-04-17T23:24:19Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I guess they decided to stick with the only one that would let them get on the radio. I think The Butthole Surfers were the type of band who never had any desire nor expectation of having mainstream success. I think “Pepper” becoming a hit was just as surprising to them as it was everyone else. ---
**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, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/42 "2025-04-17T23:28:40Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I think The Butthole Surfers were the type of band who never had any desire nor expectation of having mainstream success. According to the Wikipedia article, the singer once told Rolling Stone that if he could go back in time and pick a different name, he would’ve gone with “I’m Going To Shit In Your Mom’s Vagina”, so that sounds about right. On the topic of radio-friendly names, Lemmy originally wanted Motörhead to be called “Bastard” but was told by his manager they’d never get on the radio with a name like that, so he decided to go with the name of the song he’d written for Hawkwind before they fired him for getting arrested with a baggie of meth while crossing from the US to Canada. (Meth actually wasn’t yet illegal in Canada at the time, but the customs agents mistook it for cocaine, and the delay caused by his detention caused them to miss several shows.) ---
**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, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/43 "2025-04-17T23:32:29Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > 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. Similarly, Greta Van Fleet was the name of a woman who lived near the Kiszka brothers in their hometown of Frankenmuth, MI. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/44 "2025-04-17T23:45:14Z")
When Pearl Jam first got together, they called themselves Mookie Blaylock, after a professional basketball player they liked. When they got signed to a record deal, they changed it to Pearl Jam. I imagine being named after a well-known person would have caused legal issues. ---
**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, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/45 "2025-04-17T23:47:23Z")
I heard that Casey Kasem introduced them as B.H. Surfers. ---
**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, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/46 "2025-04-17T23:49:51Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > I imagine being named after a well-known person would have caused legal issues. It worked out just fine for Lynyrd Skynyrd. > **[Leonard Skinner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Skinner)** > > Forby Leonard Skinner (January 11, 1933 – September 20, 2010) was an American high school gym teacher, basketball coach, and businessman from Jacksonville, Florida. He is known in popular culture as the eponym of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd; Skinner was the band members' teacher. > Skinner was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1933 and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1951. He attended Jacksonville Junior College on a basketball scholarship before being drafted into the U.S. Army. Af... ---
**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:** [April 18, 2025, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/47 "2025-04-18T00:06:26Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It worked out just fine for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not really a great comparison. Even by the time that the band which would become Pearl Jam briefly named themselves after Mookie Blaylock, in 1990, he was already pretty well-known as a basketball player: Blaylock had been a consensus All-American while playing for the University of Oklahoma in 1989, and had been drafted in the first round of the NBA draft by the Nets. Blaylock went on to play thirteen seasons in the NBA, and was named to the league’s All-Defense team six times. Lynyrd Skynyrd, on the other hand, took their name from their high school gym teacher; he was by no means a “well-known person” when they based their name on him. The only reason that Mr. Skinner became well-known was that a famous rock band was named after him. ---
**Author:** ![theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theater_in_a_crowded_fire)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/48 "2025-04-18T00:22:42Z")
Love them or hate them, and even as a fan I get how cheesy they are, but we all have to admit Creed worked much better as a band name than the one they used for some of their first performances- Naked Toddler. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/49 "2025-04-18T00:27:38Z")
Country rock pioneers Poco originally wanted to call themselves Pogo, but Walt Kelly objected. Soft White Underbelly went through several other name changes before deciding on Blue Oyster Cult. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/50 "2025-04-18T00:28:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > 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. I remember reading an interview with Micky Dolenz in _Playboy_ in the mid 1980s (my college roommate had a subscription). In it, Dolenz was asked about newer bands that he liked; his reply included something along the lines of: “Butthole Surfers. Shame about the name, though.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/51 "2025-04-18T06:45:57Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Jethro Tull went through a lot of name changes. Their first single was credited to Jethro Toe on its label, apparently due to the disc factory mishearing Tull. Their record company wanted Free to call themselves The Heavy Metal Kids, which I belive some other group ended up as. _Phew_. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Soft White Underbelly went through several other name changes before deciding on Blue Oyster Cult. _Dammit!_ As a consolation prize, they’ve sometimes claimed their name was an anagram of their favourite brew Cully Stout Beer, but that was a retcon - they were named by Sandy Pearlman to fit in with his mythos, often referenced in songs he wrote for them too. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/52 "2025-04-18T06:52:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The Beatles went through a variety of names, starting with The Quarrymen, then Johnny and the Moondogs ( 😬), The Rainbows (nope) and then The Beatals, The Silver Beetles, and The Silver Beatles, before finally ending up with The Beatles. You forgot the ever-forgettable JAPAGE 3. ---
**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 18, 2025, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/53 "2025-04-18T07:03:21Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > 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”. They also briefly went by “Heaven and Hell” in the late 2000s during the last reunion of the Dio-Iommi-Geezer-Appice lineup, when Iommi and Ozzy were engaged in a legal battle over the name and they wanted to differentiate themselves from the classic lineup. I saw that version of the band live in 2007/2008 or so and it was a great show - they only did songs from the four albums Dio recorded with the group, but they did some amazing renditions of “I” and “Children of the Sea”. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/54 "2025-04-18T11:58:50Z")
Naming your band after the Japanese film _The Pornographers_ is a bold move. Unfortunate, though, under certain circumstances. Carl Newman didn’t deserve this. > **[Drummer for indie rockers the New Pornographers arrested over child sexual...](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/18/joe-seiders-drummer-for-the-new-pornographers-arrested-over-child-sexual-abuse-images)** > > Joe Seiders in custody following search of home, vehicle and phone, after allegedly attempting to film child in California restaurant restroom ---
**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 18, 2025, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/55 "2025-04-18T12:08:26Z")
‘The Goo Goo Dolls’ is a terrible band name, IMO. But before that they had an even worse name: Sex Maggots. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/56 "2025-04-18T12:22:44Z")
Weren’t they calling themselves simply “Starship” when they released that catchy tune? ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/57 "2025-04-18T12:23:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I saw that version of the band live in 2007/2008 or so and it was a great show - they only did songs from the four albums Dio recorded with the group, but they did some amazing renditions of “I” and “Children of the Sea”. I have their “Live from Radio City” DVD and you’re right, it is amazing. And “The Devil You Know” is amazing too. I saw the Ronnie James Dio and Vinnie Appice lineup in Ottawa in '81 or '82 and that was a great show. ---
**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 18, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/58 "2025-04-18T12:56:31Z")
Brave Belt became Bachman-Turner Overdrive, a much stronger and more distinctive name, usually shortened to the much cooler BTO. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/59 "2025-04-18T13:05:29Z")
The Tradewinds sound like a lite jazz combo that should be performing at the Ramada Inn. I haven’t read the entire thread but if it hasn’t already been mentioned Chicago changed its name from the earlier Chicago Transit Authority. The band heard from the real CTA one day suggesting a name change would be in order if they didn’t want to lawyer up. Probably a good decision to change the name ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-groups-for-whom-a-name-change-was-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/1017138/60 "2025-04-18T13:13:25Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Mabel Greer’s Toyshop I feel like that band basically went defunct and morphed into a new 5 piece while technically under that name. They weren’t founded by a Yes member, but Squire replaced one of their driving forces and brought in the original Yes line-up. Yes is to Mabel Greer’s Toyshop what Led Zeppelin is to the Yardbirds. [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=2) [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=4)