The Name Game

Along with figuring out what influences a band to sound (or look) the way it does, how a band gets its name is an equally intruiging puzzle for me. While a lot of bands can brag about killer guitar riffs, snaky bass lines, thundering drums, and let-go-of-my-balls vocals, some of them carry names that, well, doesn't quite arouse your curiosity enough to give them a first listen when you come across their work at the local record store.

Hey, how a band wants to call themselves is their own business. But I must admit, there have been some bands whose music may not necessarily sound great but whose name definitely does. Which always gets me thinking: how the hell did they get their name?

Let's take a look at some of these musical groups who carry unique sobriquets.

1. Sex Pistols

Their name doesn't really make any sense when you first hear it. It was given by their then manager, the notorious Malcolm McClaren. Back when the Pistols were just a bunch of underage punks, McClaren owned a Kings Road clothes shop called Sex where original Pistol bass player Glen Mattlock was an employee. So that explains the first half of the band's name. But what about Pistol? Well, it was said that McClaren's original idea for the band was to be like - get this - "sexy assassins"! LOL! So Sex Pistols it was.

2. The Beatles

What would a discussion on music be without a mention of The Beatles? Beatle lore, handed down through generations of devoted fans, says that "Beatle" was John Lennon's tribute of sorts to a "bug" band he really admired: Buddy Holly and The Crickets. But the bug connection stops there. With his predilection for word play, Lennon changed the spelling of "beetle" to "beatle" to emphasize the concept of the "beat" or pulse that characterized their music. This explanation on the origin of The Beatles' name would have been totally sufficient had not its author (Lennon) come up with a second more whimsical - but equally convincing - story (which I have heard and read about more than once!).

Version 2 of the story behind the name The Beatles also credits Lennon with coming up with the name. But, as described by Lennon, the circumstances that lead to the band's name can be, at best, charitably described as surreal.

According to Lennon, a man appeared to him in dream. He narrated that this man was standing on a flaming pie (yes, a flaming pie!) and told him: "You will be a Beatle, with an 'a'."

Now, since this is John Lennon we're talking about, I guess both versions make equal sense.

3. The Ramones

The origin of the name of this band is anchored on Beatle history, although it was usually considered out of character and uncool for any punk band to have anything to do with The Beatles as such association was said to be bad for their street creds. But I guess The Ramones didn't give a rat's stinking ass about what other people thought was "cool".

So what's the story behind the name?

Well, during their early years, The Beatles undertook a short Scottish tour. This being the early incarnation of the band, they still had with them as original bass player John Lennon's friend Stuart "Stu" Sutcliffe. Paul McCartney, like Lennon, played guitar then.

Anyway, it has been told that during this particular tour, Sutcliffe and McCartney adopted stage names: Stu was Stuart De Staehl while Paul was Paul Ramone. And so it goes that this piece of Beatle history became the springboard from which The Ramones came up with their collective name as well as their individual stage names: Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Tommy Ramone, and any other "Ramone" who would join the band during its long and legendary existence.

4. Duran Duran

The synth-pop band's name was taken from a character from a 60's sci-fi TV show called Barbarella. The character Duran Duran was, if I recall correctly, the villain in that show.

5. R.E.M.

This band from Athens, GA apparently took its name from a stage in the human sleep cycle: Rapid Eye Movement. But some sources cite that the name R.E.M. was derived from a technique used by combat soldiers. I dunno...

So, which version is true?

Who the hell cares?! Bottom line is they were a great band (up to their album Document; everything else that came out after that, I found uninteresting. I especially loathe their played-to-death radio hit Losing My Religion!).


Well, I guess that's all I got for now. I'll try looking up more band name histories. Till then, see ya...