July 11, 2012
Great Band Names And Their Origins
The legendary rock band Led Zeppelin acquired their name from comments made that the band would probably "go down like a lead balloon," a reference to the Hindenburg disaster. Lynyrd Skynyrd took their name from a high-school gym teacher (Leonard Skinner) who ridiculed the band members about the length of their hair. The Rolling Stones borrowed their name from the lyrics of "Mannish Boy," a song by bluesman Muddy Waters.
Irish rock band U2's name is a combination of the U.S. spy plane and lead singer Bono's desire to form a bond with their audience, as in "you too." Pete Townshend's grandmother, afflicted with impaired hearing, frequently referred to contemporary bands as "the Who?" Three Dog Night took their name from an Australian legend referring to the number of dogs needed to stay warm during a night spent in the Outback.
Jim Morrison borrowed the title of an Aldous Huxley novel, The Doors of Perception for the name of the iconic late 60s band. Quirky Southern rockers the B-52s adapted their band's name from a beehive hairdo called the "B-52." John Lennon, a fan of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, incorporated "beetles," along with an alternative spelling to pay homage to the new "beat" music to name The Beatles.
Perhaps the simplest band name involves Bob Dylan's group. The object of much criticism due to Dylan's decision (at the time) to go "electric," his backing musicians decided to call themselves simply, The Band.
Irish rock band U2's name is a combination of the U.S. spy plane and lead singer Bono's desire to form a bond with their audience, as in "you too." Pete Townshend's grandmother, afflicted with impaired hearing, frequently referred to contemporary bands as "the Who?" Three Dog Night took their name from an Australian legend referring to the number of dogs needed to stay warm during a night spent in the Outback.
Jim Morrison borrowed the title of an Aldous Huxley novel, The Doors of Perception for the name of the iconic late 60s band. Quirky Southern rockers the B-52s adapted their band's name from a beehive hairdo called the "B-52." John Lennon, a fan of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, incorporated "beetles," along with an alternative spelling to pay homage to the new "beat" music to name The Beatles.
Perhaps the simplest band name involves Bob Dylan's group. The object of much criticism due to Dylan's decision (at the time) to go "electric," his backing musicians decided to call themselves simply, The Band.
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