# Should the New Pornographers change their name ASAP? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181 "2025-04-18T18:06:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/1 "2025-04-18T18:06:09Z")
I posted this elsewhere but figured it might deserve its own thread. The Canadian indie-rock supergroup New Pornographers has been around since the 90s, stubbornly sticking with a name that has probably caused them more grief than it’s worth. (They are a seriously great band, though - check ‘em out!) But today might’ve been the last straw. Their drummer, who has been with them for the last few albums, was arrested after photographing young boys in a Chick-fil-A bathroom. He was arrested and a search warrant executed on his devices found - you guessed it - child porn. Is it possible for the band to continue under its current name? > **[New Pornographers Drummer Joe Seiders Arrested for Possession of Child Porn](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/new-pornographers-joe-seiders-arrested-on-child-porn-charge-1236195147/)** > > The band confirmed that Seiders is no longer a member of the group, writing that "our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions." ---
**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, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/2 "2025-04-18T18:16:58Z")
1. Fire the drummer. 2. Change the band name to “The Old Pornographers.” (In seriousness: if they’ve been able to operate, and succeed, under that name for almost 30 years, and clearly their fan base doesn’t mind the name, I don’t really see how Seider’s arrest changes it.) ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/3 "2025-04-18T18:18:57Z")
The Pornographers formerly known as New. But now the word “pornographer” has an actual horrible real-life association with the group. A name change might be good. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/4 "2025-04-18T18:29:04Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > A name change might be good. The New Pornographers Minus One ---
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/5 "2025-04-18T18:41:19Z")
The New, But Not Actual, Pornographers ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/6 "2025-04-18T18:48:07Z")
I dunno, but maybe [these guys](https://www.discogs.com/artist/683766-The-Chicken-Hawks?srsltid=AfmBOoqw-QwX4B9OMPMIidCC6hCYLeTqLPnA7Twqn_9DmSnJbPvTEkeB) are looking for a new drummer ---
**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 18, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/7 "2025-04-18T18:48:53Z")
Fire the drummer and change the name to The New Photographers. Oh, wait. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/8 "2025-04-18T18:48:57Z")
In spite of the current craze for vinyl, the pornograph is really obsolete. May they should become the CD-Rams. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/9 "2025-04-18T18:59:22Z")
Hey, haven’t we evolved as a group to be better people since [this thread fifteen years ago?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kc-the-sunshine-band-member-imprisoned-for-sex-crime-but-i-cant-stop-giggling/563333) (God, I hope not) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/10 "2025-04-18T22:56:22Z")
They should change it to “The Newt Pornographers” and get _really_ weird. (The amphibian and the politician are both valid focuses, but the girl from _Aliens_ is probably too much of a lateral move from their current problem.) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/11 "2025-04-18T23:01:22Z")
I had no idea that band was still together until I saw a reference to them on the “band’s name change” thread. I just assumed they were a one-hit wonder and that was it. For a while in the mid 1990s, Hootie and the Blowfish toured with Toad The Wet Sprocket. Both bands said that had they had any idea they would become popular, they would have chosen other names. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/12 "2025-04-18T23:01:53Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Is it possible for the band to continue under its current name? Well, it’s inaccurate in the sense that it’s unspecific. Maybe the new name could be the _New Child Pornographers._ ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/13 "2025-04-18T23:35:29Z")
Or they could call themselves The Human Traffickers. Say it a few times - it’s catchy! ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/14 "2025-04-18T23:37:33Z")
Hahaha kiddie pron and chikfila? So weird but call it what it is, child sex abuse material. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/15 "2025-04-18T23:51:32Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The New, But Not Actual, Pornographers Along those lines, “Metaphorical Pornographers” is _almost_ a good band name, but the two words sound too similar to have a nice meaty feel in the mouth. How about “Metaphorical Filthmongers”? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/16 "2025-04-19T01:00:28Z")
They could always go back to being the New Originals. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/17 "2025-04-19T02:00:28Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Fire the drummer and change the name to The New Photographers. Add an S & call 'em The News Photographers …& if they need a new drummer, [I know a guy](https://variety.com/2025/music/news/the-who-fire-zak-starkey-ringo-son-1236370625/) ---
**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 19, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/18 "2025-04-19T02:11:43Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > …& if they need a new drummer, [I know a guy](https://variety.com/2025/music/news/the-who-fire-zak-starkey-ringo-son-1236370625/) 😮 He was the best drummer they had since Moon himself. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/19 "2025-04-19T03:11:10Z")
The Who has the opportunity to do the funniest rock-and-roll thing ever by replacing the son of Ringo Starr with…Pete Best. > **[Pete Best, Original Drummer for the Beatles, Announces His Retirement](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pete-best-original-drummer-the-beatles-announces-retirement-1235941273/)** > > Pete Best has announced his retirement from future public appearances, citing "personal circumstances" as the reason behind his decision. ---
**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 19, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181/20 "2025-04-19T16:16:19Z")
Many years ago Calvin College (Christian) in Grand Rapids, Michigan cancelled a [New Pornographers concert](https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2010/09/pulling_the_plug_on_the_new_po.html) because they got so many complaints from (clueless) people appalled by their name. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-new-pornographers-change-their-name-asap/1017181.md?page=2)