# Real-life bands with punny names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 8, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818 "2023-11-08T13:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/1 "2023-11-08T13:08:53Z")
Which real-life musical groups have names based on puns? The prototypical example would be **The Beatles** (beat / beetles). Novelty, parody, and cover bands tend to do this a lot, as with **Dread Zeppelin** (who play reggae renditions of Led Zeppelin tunes) and **Petty Theft** (a Tom Petty tribute band). But I’d really like to hear some punny names for serious recording artists that put out original material. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/2 "2023-11-08T13:16:47Z")
The Surfaris. Like the fictional Oneders, I think a “serious” name is usually imposed by a band’s first manager or record label. Lucky for the Beatles, “The Beetles” was even ickier. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/3 "2023-11-08T13:20:52Z")
**Camper Van Beethoven** ---
**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:** [November 8, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/4 "2023-11-08T13:28:16Z")
**Def Leppard** ---
**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:** [November 8, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/5 "2023-11-08T13:37:30Z")
**Led Zeppelin** …maybe. Jimmy page thought it was a pun on “lead balloon” but he may have had the same English teacher as Alanis Morissette. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/6 "2023-11-08T13:51:55Z")
Me First & the Gimme Gimmes ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/7 "2023-11-08T14:49:45Z")
Indie bands used to live doing this. Off the top of my head, there’s **Japancakes** and **The Dandy Warhols**. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/8 "2023-11-08T16:07:43Z")
**Concrete Blonde** **Dead Kennedys** ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/9 "2023-11-08T16:14:46Z")
Where is the line between puns and word play? There are the Brian Jonestown Massacre which is the latter I think. There is also Pete Doherty’s solo project the Babyshambles ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/10 "2023-11-08T16:15:44Z")
A light orchestra is a group somewhat smaller than a symphony orchestra, so **Electric Light Orchestra** is a twist on light orchestra, most of their instrumentation is electric and throw in a light bulb motif and you have chuckles a-plenty. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/11 "2023-11-08T16:21:00Z")
As for a cover bands that’s a thread-worthy topic by itself. More punny ones off the top of my head: AC/DShe (All female AC/DC cover band) Abbaesque Rolling Stoners ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/12 "2023-11-08T16:21:23Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Where is the line between puns and word play? Was wondering the same. Heavens forbid I list a name and have it not make the cut 😉 AlicebanD is both Essex-based frontwoman Alice Walker’s project and a British term for a horseshoe-shaped hair accessory Regrettes is a twist on the existing word, pronounced the same but visually indicating that it’s a group of women Prettiots and Shebrews are both word play by merging stuff. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers is more just alliterative wordplay than playing with word meanings. Also all reinforcing **InternetLegend** ’s comment that indie acts are chock-a-block with this nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/13 "2023-11-08T16:24:06Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > The prototypical example would be **The Beatles** (beat / beetles). Did they “lift” that from (Buddy Holly and) The Crickets? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/14 "2023-11-08T16:26:59Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > AC/DShe (All female AC/DC cover band) Hayseed Dixie (originally an AC/DC bluegrass cover 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:** [November 8, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/15 "2023-11-08T16:31:29Z")
There was a local cover band called **The Next Doors**. The lead singer stayed in character the entire time. He _was_ Jim Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/16 "2023-11-08T16:34:08Z")
Lunachicks Jack Off Jill ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/17 "2023-11-08T16:34:42Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > Concrete Blonde I don’t get the pun. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/18 "2023-11-08T16:37:09Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > > [@peccavi](#): > > > > Concrete Blonde > > I don’t get the pun. - WAG-it’s a play on “platinum blonde”. I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/19 "2023-11-08T16:38:01Z")
Yes, they wanted a name evocative of Buddy Holly and the Crickets. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818/20 "2023-11-08T16:38:24Z")
Thanks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818.md?page=2)