Topic: Good Band Names (Read 38864 times)

jcknbl · « **on:** 29 May 2006, 01:18 »

Again and again I hear how bad certain band names are. Every name people think is either boring or absurdly stupid. So stop complaining and tell me, who has the best band name?

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 May 2006, 03:39 »

I don't know about the best band name, but there's some boring riffrock band whove named themselves 'Default', and I find this incredibly cool and fitting, like they realized they were the basic default setting for a rock band.

Fortnight · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 May 2006, 03:51 »

Devo: It's a band name, it's a theory, it's short, it's catchy!

I'm generally very fond of one word band names, especially just simple nouns. Like Food or Can (unless they mean it as in "I think I can")
I think the ultimate one, for me, is Pavement. I just think that's such a neat word to use as a name for a band. Pavement. Yes!

Inanimated · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 May 2006, 04:05 »

Rush.

I agree with one word band names being cool as long as it's not a "the" band. Technically that's two words I guess.

Kirbo · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 May 2006, 04:56 »

Led Zeppelin
The Talking Heads
Van Halen (What a kick ass last name)

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 May 2006, 06:29 »

Cat Power
Explosions in the Sky
The Flaming Lips
Love
Stars
Spacemen 3
Spiritualized
Tortoise
Acid Mothers Temple and the Cosmic Inferno

penpen17 · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 May 2006, 07:28 »

Mogwai

pig nash · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 May 2006, 07:43 »

Quote from: Kirbo

Van Halen (What a kick ass last name)

or to a lesser extent Z'nuff.

and then you can always spell a word wrong such as:

Bigg Nife
Limozeen
Taranchula

(all jokes by Matthew today will be shamelessly ripped off from www.homestarrunner.com )

Shaft · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 May 2006, 08:23 »

Autechre

It looks cool. Doesn't quite sound as cool as it looks (Ortecker... hmm), but I still with I'd thought of it.

Mikendher · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 May 2006, 08:29 »

Iron & Wine (really smooth sounding)
The Flaming Lips
The Arcade Fire

Kirbo · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 May 2006, 09:09 »

Quote from: pig nash

or to a lesser extent Z'nuff.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the SB reference of the day.

/bow

Cartilage Head · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 May 2006, 09:13 »

Slumber,Arch Enemy,The Tony Danza Tap-Dance Extravaganza.

ALoveSupreme · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 May 2006, 10:01 »

I'm not going to lie. 2 or so years ago, I thought Panic! At The Disco would be a really good band based on the fact that I thought it was a really, really good band name (really, I do). Luckily at the time I was at least smart enough to realize right away it was pure shit... and a dissapointment... why would such a band band have such a good name (in my opinion it's a good name)

Sorry About Dresdin
Benton Falls (it sounds like it has multiple meanings, or something)
The Acacia Strain
Zzzz (I like that no one is sure how to pronounce it. I've heard "Z's" and "Z-Z-Z-Z". The later makes you sound like an idiot, though.)
Libre Non-Stop (DeKalb band)
The Go! Team

Kai · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 May 2006, 10:33 »

See, all those names are names I'd file under terrible.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 May 2006, 11:30 »

The 13th Floor Elevators
Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Parasio U.F.O.
The Band (you can't really fuck with that considering who they are)
Biblical Proof of UFOs
Eagles of Death Metal
Masters of Reality
Mondo Generator
Om
Queens of the Stone Age
Subarachnoid Space

Staralfur · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 May 2006, 11:41 »

Up-C Down-c Left-C-Right-C ABC+Start. (I am not sure if I did this right)
Saxon Shore.
Get Him Eat Him.
Destroyalldreamers.
Built To Spill.
65daysofstatic.

The first one was on a list of worst band names and I was amazed.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 May 2006, 12:41 »

A Gun That Shoots Knives

c'mon how insane do you have to be to call your band that!? and despite being long it somehow rolls off the tongue, i dunno.

Praeserpium Machinarum · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 May 2006, 13:12 »

Kaizers Orchestra(it is important to note that Mr. Kaizer is frequently a character in their lyrics
about the devil, KGB, russian mafia/gangs and his girlfriend Constanze)
Under Byen((Below the City)
Matisyahu
The Pogues(derived from the gaelic pogue mahone which means kiss my ass)
Low(it fits really well for most part, it is just the right name for them)
Sonic Youth(same here)
Cocteau Twins(though it would have been cooler if they were twins)
Ulver
Hedningarna(The Heathens)
Mugison
Bandarbandid(Band of Brides or the Bride Band, it should either mean either, though my icelandic is well, rusty.
They play live dressed as brides btw. When they had a male drummer he did the same)
Gåte(I think it is Riddle in english)
Kitty Wu(from an Auster novel, also they play dark rock'n'roll that is thoroughly despressing in a good way)
The The(call it dumb, it is still an awesome name)

and so on and so forth...

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 May 2006, 13:18 »

Quote from: Praeserpium Machinarum

Sonic Youth(same here)

"insert obvious joke about their age"

IronOxide · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 May 2006, 14:27 »

It would definitely be Anal Cunt.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #20 on:** 29 May 2006, 15:58 »

Quote from: Praeserpium Machinarum

Ulver

Definitely. It's just such a powerful statement. The same with Burzum. You might as well just call yourself 'EVIL'.

Some others:

Acid Bath (It just perfectly describes them. You couldn't imagine them being called anything else)
Alien Vampires
Anorexia Nervosa
...And Oceans (I just love the engimatic feel of it)
Curse of the Golden Vampire
Fall of the Bastards
The Ghastly Ones
Navicon Torture Technologies
Skyclad (Once you listen to the song of the same title)
Zombina and the Skeletones

ALoveSupreme · « **Reply #21 on:** 29 May 2006, 16:08 »

Quote from: Staralfur

Up-C Down-c Left-C-Right-C ABC+Start. (I am not sure if I did this right)

I would consider that a "worst band name ever", but also because isn't there another band called "Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right"? If they are two different bands, it's officially an epiedemic.

Injektilo · « **Reply #22 on:** 29 May 2006, 18:04 »

Godspeed You! Black Emperor
the boy least likely to
Head of Femur
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Everything, Now!

A kid I used to know had a band called Captain! Sound the Alarm which I thought was quite swell as well.

Thrillho · « **Reply #23 on:** 29 May 2006, 18:20 »

Well it's not a band name - although the band name is pretty awesome; The Pariahs - but the best damn album name I've ever heard is:

The Pariahs - Mouthful of Headache.

GENIUS.

The Hammered · « **Reply #24 on:** 29 May 2006, 18:39 »

Mudhoney
(Iggy and) The Stooges (The Psychedelic Stooges sounds pretty good too)
Black Sabbath
Swans
Teenage Jesus and the Jerks
Candlemass
Lightning Bolt

I don't claim to be familiar with all of those bands, but I do like all their names.

Thrillho · « **Reply #25 on:** 29 May 2006, 18:47 »

Gay Dad

Melodic · « **Reply #26 on:** 29 May 2006, 18:54 »

Quote from: Scandanavian War Machine

A Gun That Shoots Knives

c'mon how insane do you have to be to call your band that!? and despite being long it somehow rolls off the tongue, i dunno.

I have never heard of these people, but their name has inspired me to look them up on MySpace. That is, indeed, a tres cool name.

The only name I can think of that jumps out at me is "The Johnsons", which is only funny when they explain the name to you live before a highly-anticipated song. I suppose the name is an inside joke to The Johnsons fans. Meh.

Der Golem · « **Reply #27 on:** 29 May 2006, 19:10 »

Faith No More, Sol Invictus and Stepenwolf are all cool sounding names.
System of a Down is also pretty cool if you read the poem on the back of debut.
Also, there is a local punk band around here called Deathmetal Supersquad, which I think is pretty awesome.

And I'm seconding Mugison, Anal Cunt and Skyclad.

Ps. Leftover Crack.

Azathoth · « **Reply #28 on:** 29 May 2006, 19:12 »

The Psychic Ills
Skywave
The Jesus and Mary Chain
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Sonic Youth
My Bloody Valentine
Slipstream
The Stone Roses

Johnny C · « **Reply #29 on:** 29 May 2006, 21:02 »

I think Interpol is a band whose name perfectly syncs with their sound.

redbeardjim · « **Reply #30 on:** 29 May 2006, 21:22 »

Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

(what do you mean, "Muppets don't count"?.....)

valley_parade · « **Reply #31 on:** 29 May 2006, 21:30 »

My dad's old band: Cobra.

Kings of Leon
Reggie and the Full Effect
Thunderball
Bad Religion
American Analog Set

Liam · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 May 2006, 21:47 »

I can't think of any, so I'm just going to give my suggestions of what names WOULD be cool for a band:

Apostrophe Catastrophe (They'd have to be a really electronic version of The Futureheads)
The Lemonhead Collective
Hopscotch Unit (Twee-pop by nerdy-looking guys with plaid sweatervests)
The Shits and Giggles (Think Frank Zappa fronting a bad punk band)
The Extemporaneities
Scream It Like You Hate That Bitch
The Staples (I don't know why.)
Wilhelm (Another WW1 reference to go along with Franz Ferdinand)

There we have it. I have completely broken the thread's point and now all hell will break loose. It's a mad house, I tell you, a MAD HOUSE!

Synchronicity · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 May 2006, 21:51 »

A Frames
Aquaduct
Architecture in Helsinki
Built to Spill
Idiot Pilot
Love Battery
Math and Physics Club
Mon Frere
Mono in VCF
Mother Love Bone
Mudhoney
Nada Surf
Neutral Milk Hotel
Post Stardom Depression
Screaming Trees
The American Analog Set
The Apples in Stereo
The Decemberists
The Helio Sequence
The Jesus and Mary Chain (I used to think they were called "Jesus and Mary Jane" which would be an even better name)
The Lonely H
The Schoolyard Heros
The Thrown Ups
The Vaselines
Violent Femmes

Rubby · « **Reply #34 on:** 29 May 2006, 22:47 »

Sudden Infant Dance Syndrome!!!!!!!!!!!!
(The exclamation marks are not part of the name I just put them there because I was excited).

normz · « **Reply #35 on:** 29 May 2006, 22:48 »

Blue carousel

it's the name of my mates indie band .... i just find it very catchy and cute

Storm Rider · « **Reply #36 on:** 29 May 2006, 23:36 »

Acid Hades.

This is not an actual band, but my History teacher used the phrase 'Acid Hades Rock' to describe Cathedral when my friend started playing it on his boombox in class. It is now my mission in life to create a musical project that lives up to that title.

Hat · « **Reply #37 on:** 29 May 2006, 23:38 »

Funkadelic.

McTaggart · « **Reply #38 on:** 30 May 2006, 02:37 »

re: Autechre, I always pronouced it(and heard it pronounced) aww-tet-chure. with the chure bit being ch as in chicken.

Other names:
Four Tet
Hrvatski
Calexico

[over the course of this edit spelling was corrected]

Misereatur · « **Reply #39 on:** 30 May 2006, 03:14 »

Blind Idiot God

Best name ever.

Lummer · « **Reply #40 on:** 30 May 2006, 03:51 »

I dunno, I seem the have a thing for "Big Animal names"

like, Mastodon and Gojira (!!), plus my own band is called Kraken.

Inlander · « **Reply #41 on:** 30 May 2006, 04:15 »

I still say "the Unfuckable" is the best band name ever. I think they're from Sydney - don't know who they are, never heard 'em, but I saw their name in the Melbourne gig guide a few weeks ago.

Zaarin · « **Reply #42 on:** 30 May 2006, 04:18 »

If you subtract the Nazi undertones, Joy Division is a really kick arse name for a band.

Lummer · « **Reply #43 on:** 30 May 2006, 04:30 »

Also, a band name which could just as well be the worst:

The Visitors.

I'm putting it in this thread though, simply because the irony of it and their background cracks me up.

They are a crummy punk-band from the town I live in, and in the ten years they've existed, they've only played ONE gig that wasn't in our town, or in the immediate area. Considering how small a country denmark is, it's actually a bit pathetic.

They are all really nice guys, and the drummer is a good friend, but my god they suck.

Sckitzo · « **Reply #44 on:** 30 May 2006, 04:43 »

Cruachan
Therion
The Oddz (not sure why, just hits a good bone in me)
Vader

Kai · « **Reply #45 on:** 30 May 2006, 05:41 »

Quote from: Zaarin

If you subtract the Nazi undertones, Joy Division is a really kick arse name for a band.

Why do you have to subtract the nazi overtones? They're not nazis.

timehat · « **Reply #46 on:** 30 May 2006, 06:40 »

I always thought Slowdive was a fitting bit of imagery. Also, Death. It's just so straightforward.

StupidityKills · « **Reply #47 on:** 30 May 2006, 07:51 »

The name of my imaginary band: Stevie and the Date Rapists.
It's awesome and its mine so nurr.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #48 on:** 30 May 2006, 08:29 »

Quote from: McTaggart

re: Autechre, I always pronouced it(and heard it pronounced) aww-tet-chure. with the chure bit being ch as in chicken.

I've always heard it Aw-tek-er.

Made up names:

Hungry Geisha - I made up that one, I think it sounds really nice
Valhalla - My idea for the ultimate epíc metal band. Probably already taken by 50 other metal bands

Cernunnos · « **Reply #49 on:** 30 May 2006, 08:43 »

i always pronounced autechre like it was french. awww- tek ruh.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Good Band Names (Read 38864 times)

jcknbl

TrueNeutral

Fortnight

Inanimated

penpen17

Mikendher

Staralfur

Praeserpium Machinarum

Injektilo

The Hammered

Azathoth

Synchronicity

normz

Zaarin

Sckitzo

timehat

StupidityKills