Hearing this story on the radio this morning, I was struck by two thoughts.
- Girls Aloud is a shit name for a band
- Pissed on by a Panda is a great name for a band
What this shows, is that I don't listen to the radio properly because a Panda would totally take a Koala.
I then was thinking that although Girls Aloud is a lousy name for a band, it's really tough thinking of good band names for poppy girl and boy bands. I tried, and it took me at least 30 miles to come up with anything half way decent.
- Girl Band: "Stardust". It's twinkly and sparkly and would not make a bad name for a girl group (Runners up: "Girl Thang" and "The Pom Pom Girls")
- Boy Band: "The O Boys". It's kind of a play on "Oh Boy". (Runners up: "The Hard Boys")
- Rock Band: "Spartacus". From the quote "I am Spartacus" which I really like. (Runners up: "The chocolate covered ash cans" (which is my Dads favourite name for a band that doesn't exist))
- Death Metal Band: "Splinter". It sounds a bit rough and hard but is cool without being over done. (Runners up: "Sphincter")
It's way easier coming up with rock band names, than poppy girl and boy band names. Although most of them sound dense (Hear'Say), to come up with a catchy name that the public will like, is really tough. Twice as tough if you try without using the words "boy", "girl" or "babes" in the name.
Give it a try, see if you can come up with some band names in the 4 categories above. What are your favorite names for bands that don't exist. What have you heard that you've thought "That would be a great name for a band?"
1. Gordon
Stardust? LOL.
Not that I’m claiming to be any better at this than you but STARDUST? As in Alvin?? ;-)
The things I hear that I think would make a great name for a band are usually silly things like “Dancing Kippers” or somesuch.
I think this post is just proof that you definitely chose correctly by NOT going ‘into’ music… LOL
2. Adrian
Stardust, as in glittery magical dust that falls from stars … Who’s Alvin?
You and my Dad would come up with similar band names.
The reason I didn’t go into music was the fact I can’t sign, hold a note, keep a rhythm and I still don’t understand what a ‘key’ is.
3. Chris
I decided this morning that “Cycling in the snow and the ensuing ice-cream headache” would be an awesome name for an album.
You could always go for the electronic-band-naming scheme of picking an arbitrary word and an arbitrary number: 808 State, Front 242, Apollo 440, Electribe 101, etc.
4. Gordon
I can’t sign either. My sister took classes once though, and I know how to sign drunk and biscuit and “fuck you”… not very handy.
Anyway, what’s that got to do with music?
5. Adrian
Sing dammit. Surely you can read sevitz by now?
6. Adrian
And I can sign “fuck you” too, although I’m not sure if it is offical sign language.
7. matthew
‘Stardust’ is not a good name for a girl band, not if you’re Irish anyway. ‘The O Boys’? Err… no comment. ‘Spartacus’ is kinda ok, but I wouldn’t call my band that. ‘Splinter’ just reminds me of the sensei in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Chris, 808 State is actually derived from a popular drum machine in the 80’s, the Roland TR-808.
I didn’t pick up on the sign/sing thing either! I thought you meant sign as in sign autographs, but then I realised that doesn’t make any sense.
Here we go…
Ok they all suck, but at least I tried! #3 was the name of a band I was in in school, which had a lifespan of approximately a week and a half, by which time we realised we sucked ass.
8. annie
At college, our friends’ rock band was called “Pit” just so their record could be called “Pitiful”. Can I pass on the others? I fully accept the difficulty.
9. GrumpyOldMan
Girl Band: Jail Bait /Barely Legal
Boy Band: Rent Boys
Rock Band: Toxic Waste, although I think tat might have already been used.
Death Metal Band: victoria Chipman. I believe death band like Marilyn Manson have names combining famous chicks and mass killers
As for Pissed on by a Pander, that’s got to be a Punk band.
10. Stuart
I’ve never been in a band, but my high school physics teacher’s high school rock band was called ‘Uranium Cabbage’.
Which is great.
11. Chris
matthew: Given my status as legendendary dance producer extraordinaire, I’m well aware of where 808 State’s name comes from :) It just occurred to me that an unusually large number of dance/electronic acts seems to follow that naming scheme.
The band I was in at school was variously called The Backbeat (oh how original), Overdose, Herbgarden and Scott Taylor And His Mates Making Far Too Much Noise In The Music Room After School. There was also the infamous Rumbo’s Undulating Fart Knockers which, once, even nearly had a rehearsal, but we decided to go to the pub instead.
12. matthew
Apologies for not knowing of your legendary status Chris!
I think Rumbo’s Undulationg Fart Knockers beats Splat Cat And The Funky Chicken Quartet, but I’m quite modest.
We didn’t go to the pub though, because we were too shit.