What's in a Band Name?

In order to create a legacy, one must be memorable. People might forget about the awards, the names of all the members or the number of hits you’ve produced, but the band name is infamous. It lives on long after the music. The band name is the sole identity for the band, as it encompasses the personality and style into one label.

With so many legendary rock & roll groups, the best strategy for setting yourself apart is through a unique and recognizable band name. Rock groups tend to personalize their name in a way that leaves the common public wondering: “What does it mean?”

This frustrating question has gotten to me a time or two before. I’m always wondering why these legendary groups have chosen such weird and unrelated names as a face for their music. For example, Marvin Lee Aday chose to go by Meat Loaf when sharing his music with the world. Completely unrelated and … somewhat unappealing, Meat Loaf doesn’t showcase his legend.

John Darling, author of The Book of Bands, compiled a list of some of the most legendary and noteworthy rock & roll groups to explain the origin of their name. This book helped me understand the personal explanation for why bands chose their name. I’ll share a few of the more interesting ones.

AC/DC

While vacuuming one day, Margaret Young was thinking of names for the new band her siblings, Angus and Malcom, had recently formed. Looking down at the back of the vacuum cleaner, she read that it ran on AC/DC current.

The Foo Fighters

During the World War II era, Air Force flyers had several encounters with strange UFOs that were described as balls of light or fire. Later, these unexplained balls of light were dubbed Foo Fighters from the French word ‘feu’ – which means fire. The band adopted this name as their own.

Matchbox 20

While working in a restaurant, drummer Paul Doucette waited on a man wearing a sports shirt with the number 20 on it. The shirt was so heavily covered with patches, the only recognizable word on it was ‘matchbox’. Doucette came up with the name Matchbox 20 and decided to use it for his band’s name.

These are only a few examples of the stories behind the names. It’s important to note that some groups chose not to give a reason or explanation for their band name. Groups such as ZZ Top and Maroon 5 have kept fans guessing for years. Whether for personal reasons or whether there isn’t a story to tell, it’s possible that one day we might find out. If not, it only adds to the legend.

 

References

Darling, John 2000, ‘What’s in a Name?: The Book of Bands’, Xlibris Publishing