# Worst band names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888 "2007-11-27T05:54:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/81 "2007-11-28T10:00:35Z")
My Friend The Chocolate Cake Oh, and: Not Drowning Waving The Spazzys run a close third! ---
**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:** [November 28, 2007, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/82 "2007-11-28T10:22:52Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Any band that uses the Heavy Metal umlaut that _isn’t_ Blue Öyster Cult. [/QUOTE] Or Spın̈al Tap. My vote goes to Cradle Of Filth. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/83 "2007-11-28T13:42:52Z")
[QUOTE=Mark Ryle] Bangles. I like some of their music but am ashamed to admit it because of the name Bangles. [/QUOTE] They were originally The Bangs, but there was another band out there with the name so their label recommended they go with adding a couple of letters. But they never really liked it either, especially the Petersen sisters… And, boy - you really like the name Beatles don’cha? 😃 Don’t get me wrong - I love the name and the ingenuity behind it - how the “a” makes is more music-focused, but it still evokes The Crickets, etc. I love everything about it - except the sound. When I say the word Beatles it sounds the same as beetles. Bugs. Reading it is a whole 'nother matter - that keeps the magic intact…if that makes any sense… ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/84 "2007-11-28T13:46:23Z")
**The Beach Boys**. It was horribly misleading and limiting, considering what the band became. Their magnum opus, _Pet Sounds_, doesn’t contain a single song about surfing, fast cars, or being true to your school. I sometimes wonder if their name caused them to not be taken as seriously as they deserved to be, or not receive the respect they should have. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/85 "2007-11-28T17:36:57Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] The Beach Boys. … I sometimes wonder if their name caused them to not be taken as seriously as they deserved to be, or not receive the respect they should have. [/QUOTE] I’m all right with Beach Boys because the surfing and car songs were the time of their greatest energy. “Pet Sounds” influenced Paul McCartney but only in the sense of putting into his head the idea of a theme album and so being precursor to Sgt. Pepper. The pure energy of _Surfin’ USA_ and _Fun Fun Fun_, IMHO, is the Beach Boys’ legacy. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/86 "2007-11-28T17:40:30Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] They were originally The Bangs, but there was another band out there with the name so their label recommended they go with adding a couple of letters. But they never really liked it either, especially the Petersen sisters… [/QUOTE] Bangles is unfortunate, no doubt. Not much difference between Bangles and Beatles by letter count and first and last three letters. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/87 "2007-11-28T17:56:24Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Don’t get me wrong - I love the name and the ingenuity behind it - how the “a” makes is more music-focused, but it still evokes The Crickets, etc. I love everything about it - except the sound. When I say the word Beatles it sounds the same as beetles. Bugs. Reading it is a whole 'nother matter - that keeps the magic intact…if that makes any sense… [/QUOTE] Try saying it in a heavy Liverpool accent. I think The Beatles and The Beach Boys both kinda fall into the category of “Bands who outgrew their names, but by then it was too late to change.” ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/88 "2007-11-28T18:50:10Z")
Buddy Holly’s **Crickets** weren’t called that until they played back their first garage demos, and they heard a cricket that was hiding in the garage. For a while, it was funny to say that **Def Leppard** was Sir Raymond Leppard’s son. **Hoobastank** is allegedly the band’s name for the rank wine at the bottom of a water pipe, after a lot of smoking. Now that you know that, it’s still pretty disgusting. **Caterwaul** was an accurate name for that band. I must have been pretty loaded the night I heard them on USA network and decided they sounded good. **Dirty John’s Hot Dog Stand** was an album a friend dragged home just because he liked the name. The band name was the best thing about the album. **Butthole Surfers** have had a good run, despite a name few 13-year-olds could say to their parents. Some band names are just intentionally icky. **Garbage** and \*\*Meat Puppets \*\* come to mind. Several bands are named as words for penis or semen. Seems like there’s some girl groups named for vaginas, but I can’t recall them right now. ---
**Author:** ![sandytravis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@sandytravis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandytravis)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/89 "2007-11-28T18:57:38Z")
i’ll try and do this without letting the actual music of the bands bias my opinion… Nickelback !!! Panic! At the Disco Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Goo Goo Dolls Eminem Pearl Jam Red Hot Chili Peppers Trapt Hootie and the Blowfish Nashville Pussy The The Sum 41 ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/90 "2007-11-28T19:29:59Z")
[Iron & Wine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_%26_Wine): I really like his music, but that name sucks. Especially since, in my opinion, he had an obvious option that sounds much cooler: “Sam Beam”. At least he didn’t go with “Beef, Iron & Wine”, which would have been far worse. There is a local band here called [Shout Out Out Out Out](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shout_Out_Out_Out_Out). I find that name really irritating. I don’t know if their fans have a nickname for them, but I would get pissed off if I ever had to talk to anybody about them. [Dayglo Abortions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayglo_Abortions): Another example of shitty name, even shittier music. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/91 "2007-11-28T19:31:25Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] Several bands are named as words for penis or semen. Seems like there’s some girl groups named for vaginas, but I can’t recall them right now. [/QUOTE] Maybe [The Slits](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slits)? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/92 "2007-11-28T20:02:33Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] Several bands are named as words for penis or semen. Seems like there’s some girl groups named for vaginas, but I can’t recall them right now. [/QUOTE] The Slits Hole The Breeders ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/93 "2007-11-28T20:15:24Z")
[QUOTE=sandytravis] i’ll try and do this without letting the actual music of the bands bias my opinion… Nickelback !!! Panic! At the Disco \ [/QUOTE] PATD would be a much better name if they got rid of that useless ! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/94 "2007-11-28T20:17:09Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Hey, **Mr. Dibble** , I have **Mötörhead** holding for you on Line 1. They want to kill you. 😉 [/QUOTE] _Arriviste_ bastards! [QUOTE=couple of people] Spın̈al Tap. [/QUOTE] More comedy act than band - they don’t count. Don’t get me wrong, I like both bands when in the mood, but the only post-BÖC bands that get a pass are Hüsker Dü and any Scandiwegian non-metal bands. It doesn’t make you look hard, or Teutonic, or portentous. Pretentious is more like it. Devoid of originality. Don’t get me started on y’s for i’s… ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/95 "2007-11-28T20:19:52Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] The Slits Hole The Breeders [/QUOTE] Also: The Muffs ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/96 "2007-11-28T20:23:45Z")
Boy, this is a looong way into this thread for me to be the first to mention: **Scraping Foetus off the Wheel** That’s the correct spelling, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/97 "2007-11-28T20:27:00Z")
[QUOTE=It’s Not Rocket Surgery!] Boy, this is a looong way into this thread for me to be the first to mention: **Scraping Foetus off the Wheel** That’s the correct spelling, by the way. [/QUOTE] Isn’t there a Doper by that name? ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/98 "2007-11-28T20:56:26Z")
[QUOTE=winterhawk11] Isn’t there a Doper by that name? [/QUOTE] Not anymore. He changed it to **Scraping Linguistics Off the Wheel**. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/99 "2007-11-28T21:28:05Z")
Another vote for Hoobastank–ugh! Red Hot Chili Peppers. :rolleyes: My brother calls them the Dead Cold Silly Peckers, which is a better name, IMO! And then there’s Was (Not Was). Too much trying to be clever with a band name only winds up making them sound stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888/100 "2007-11-28T22:29:47Z")
Driving home one weekend through New Orleans, the radio station was listing what bands were playing where locally. The one I will remember forever? [Dick Delicious and the Tasty Testicles](http://www.dickdelicious.com/) I remember thinking to myself, yep, that’s something I want on my resume. From 95 to 98 I was a testicle… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-names/427888.md?page=6)