Comments on: Relix Magazine- When Horrific Band Names Happen to Good Music

By: Nawel

Nawel — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:53:31 +0000

Nice subject. It reminds me of a movie a I saw years ago, a short film in black & white, can’t remember the name, but it was about this alcoholic guy whose only job was to give names to bands. He ranted about how this was an art, and that there was only one possible name for a band, and one name only… a unique name that fitted the band, and so on…
By the end of the film he starts to become erratic and coming up with weird names like Unwashed Bums, and finally some guys kick the shit outta him because he said their band’s name was Bloody Pieces of Shit. He walks out of the bar, and while he wanders off, we can see in the back of the scene, some theater marquee announcing a gig by Unwashed Bums and Bloody Pieces of Shit…

If anyone knows the name of that film, post it here… it would be sweet to know.

By: romina

romina — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:11:42 +0000

i actually thought of a good name for a band..the jehovahs and …the vaticans. Also the plates. Classics.

By: FMJ

FMJ — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:18:09 +0000

While I couldn’t agree more with the majority of this article, especially since I suffer from this particular affliction of great band/worst name(my band was even mentioned in Spin magazine a few years ago on a list of some of the worst band names of all time), I have to point out one mistake.
Prince changed his name to be unmarketable on purpose. He was so disatisfied with his label, who would not release him from his 10 album deal(on record as one of the worst record deals ever signed) that he went to war with them by changing his name to something almost unmarketable, then took it even further by making it an unpronouncable symbol, and wearing the word “slave” on his cheek in marker.
As soon as he was done with the deal he changed his name back to Prince, stopped wearing “slave” on his cheek & began selling more incredible music, distributed soley through his own website & is making ungodly sums of money by not dealing with industry leeches.
While he may have lost a few fans with what was perceived to be strange or erratic behavior, with the quality & originality of the music he makes those fans will be back in droves. Because they will miss him long before he misses any of them.
Other than that, fantastic article.

By: Jess

Jess — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:41:33 +0000

We picked the name SUGARCANE MUTINY. We’re gonna stick with it, but nobody gets the joke (it’s a generational thing). My parents LOVED “The Caine Mutiny,” a film from the 50’s starring Humphrey Bogart. We thought we’d be clever and merge two phrases, kinda like Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Betty Ford Falcons, or Earl Greyhound. Problem is, nobody in the clubs has ever heard of the Bogart flick! So while the name still has a lot going for it — a nice tension between the sweetness of sugar and the violence of mutiny — the original intent is lost.

At least we RAWK!

By: cs

cs — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:25:27 +0000

don’t forget The SPAM ALLSTARS!!!

By: Jane Armstrong

Jane Armstrong — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:33:20 +0000

“When horrific band names happen to good music” is a fantastic topic and could possibly make a good band name. I was in a band with the unfortunate name of “Funk Sponge” once and although I’m a hell artist, I could not make this look good on a poster.
…and I totally agree about the Artist Formerly Known as Prince!! He alienated ME and, b4 this, I thought he was ‘up there’ as high as God.

I finely found a name that suits me and rings well off the tounge- “BADjane”. What do you think?

Jane