Levis Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 Some bands have really unusual names. So how's about putting up some of your favourites? And if you have a story that goes with the name, all the better. Eg. I just finished listening to a song by Kitchens of Distinction. Also, a neo-shoegaze band I've heard off and on is called Asobi Seksu - Asobi means 'fun' and Seksu means 'sex' in Japanese so the name translates to 'playful sex' in Japanese slang. They formed in New York and their vocalist is Japanese or of Japanese descent, so that's how they're so well-versed with these colloquialisms. Your turn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I've always found the name Sonic Youth interesting not so much for the name itself, but for the fact that Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore are both 50 now, but Thurston especially, still likes like a lad in his early 20s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 pretty much everything with a Heavy Metal Umlaut sounds hilarious to me eg Leftöver Crack sounds like a really deep saxonian accent the fact that they're doing this to make their names seem more badass makes it even funnier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted October 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 My Bloody Valentine got their name from a Z-grade Canadian slasher film. However, owing to the rising (ugh) popularity of bands with the names My Chemical Romance and Bullet for my Valentine they are often incorrectly regarded (by stupid people) as... emo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 pretty much everything with a Heavy Metal Umlaut sounds hilarious to me eg Leftöver Crack sounds like a really deep saxonian accent the fact that they're doing this to make their names seem more badass makes it even funnier I actually have two of their cds that a friend of mine gave to me, I didn't think anyone hear would've heard of them. Queensrÿche, Hüsker Dü, Mötley Crüe, and Motörhead are also examples of the Heavy Metal Umlaut rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 ^ last.fm played them to me a couple times, that's how I know them and yes, there are also other examples that all sound pretty funny, some more some a bit less ... their names that is, I'm not judging their music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 There is a thread HERE of "Most Ridiculous Band Names", which becomes reasonably entertaining (eventually). My debut contribution to that old thread was this: The following are all genuine bands from the UK punk/indie scene of the 80s/ early 90s and whose records feature in my own collection: Foreheads In A Fishtank Stitched-Back Foot Airman Archbishop Kebab The Dog-Faced Hermans Inspiral Carpets Terminal Cheesecake Pregnant Neck Kitchens of Distinction Flux of Pink Indians Rudimentary Peni Hagar The Womb Jackdaw With Crowbar These are unusual names, without necesssarily being among my favourites. One of my favourite bands- a bunch of wigged-out, pscho-delic punkers from New Jersey- came upon their name when they had to think of something at short notice for their first show and (probably under the influence of drugs) came up with the somewhat unwieldy "Alice Donut Liver Henry Moore" (which is a pun, of sorts). They subsequently abbreviated this to the cute and catchy Alice Donut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted October 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 ah there! I knew there was one, I just couldn't find it when I searched Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viaene Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 "Bullet for my valentine" always sounded strange to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I think I shall never get past the name "Butthole Surfers." I'm sure they called themselves that thinking it was a rebel-sounding cool "tuff" name, but to me it sounds like a group of gay men looking for a date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I like the real name "Moebius" http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dieter+Moebius?anv=Moebius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I think I shall never get past the name "Butthole Surfers." I'm sure they called themselves that thinking it was a rebel-sounding cool "tuff" name, but to me it sounds like a group of gay men looking for a date. Me too Shawna! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 They are funny guys. They probably did choose their name so that they would be mistaken for gay guys looking for a date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 Ostzonensuppenwürfelmachenkrebs The Name of the band, meaning “‘Eastern Zone’ (=East Germany, GDR) soup cubes cause cancer†was a headline of one of many Anti-GDR “articles†in the often criticised German tabloid “Bildâ€. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiphany Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I've always found Radiohead to be kind of odd, but certainly nowhere near the lines of The Butthole Surfers or Ostzonensuppenwürfelmache nkrebs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Radiohead is a reference to a Talking Heads song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 (edited) Whilst browsing in Jumbo Records (my favourite ever record shop) today, I spotted an album by the gloriously-named Kiss the Anus Of A Black Cat, whose name comes from a medieval witchcraft ritual, apparently. I'mchecking them out right now on their Last.FM page., and quite enjoying it, actually. Even though they're from Belgium. 'kin 'ell. I was just listening to one of their songs and thinking "this sounds like a Rudimentary Peni tune, What a rip-off". And, on further checking, it is actually a doom-folk cover version of the very same Rudimentary Peni tune, "Beyond The Tanarian Hills", from their HP Lovecraft-inspired concept album "Cacophany". I'd never even heard of Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat until today. Most often,I wouldn't bother to investigate a band purely on the strength of an eye-catching name. Tonight I did, and find they have covered a tune by my most favouritest but relatively obscure Lovecraftian death-core band. Tell me: what are the chances of that happening? ('cuz my mind is blown). I so very nearly turned them off after the 2nd and 3rd tracks, too, in which case I would never have heard their Peni cover. Edited April 6, 2009 by Guest Add last bit, incredulously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 sounds like witchcraft to me, BF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 (edited) Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is a indie pop band from Springfield, Missouri Edited May 1, 2009 by Guest bold > italics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 (edited) we haven't mentioned Does it offend you, yeah? yet or Giraffes? Giraffes! Edited May 4, 2009 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Giraffes? Giraffes! - is named after a novel by Dave Eggers, so he should get the credit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumboXL Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 How about the UK band Half Man Half Biscuit ? Thanx to this question, I'm gonna find out now whatever kinda music they made. So far I've only had fun with their name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Half Man Half Biscuit are semi-legendary at home (here in the UK), but I fear their humourous lyrics are too reliant on British cultural references to really make sense to anyone else. Their music alone probably isn't quite enough to sustain interest for any length of time. Personally, I like'em, but then, I'm partial to surreal Anglocentric humour atop badly-produced and amateurish indie/punk rock. Don't let me talk you out of it; go ahead and see what you make of'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snikerz Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 blind melon and smashing pumpkins are two that come to mind. but I would choose pumpkins over any band with a food in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted May 12, 2009 Report Share Posted May 12, 2009 Although I've yet to be convinced of their musical greatness, I've always thought And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead had one of the best names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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