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Black Sabbath also went under Earth before the final name. Interestingly, a later band called Earth from Seattle would come about, named in tribute to Black Sabbath's previous name. Kurt Cobain actually recorded a demo with the Seattle Earth.
Nirvana was also Ted Ed and Fred.....Bliss ...Throat Oyster......Skid Row...(yea before THAT Skid Row) and drum roll please......::;:;:;:;:;:;:; 💩 FECAL MATTER 💩
Dylan Carlson fronted Earth he was Kurt's best friend before he was ever famous. Dy)an easy also a huge drug dealer @t one time and lived with a few big time dealers including Caitlyn Moore who was rumored to be K
Van Halen was known as Genesis early on, but of course they eventually found out that name was taken. They also were known as Mammoth, and of course Eddie's son has more recently taken the name for his own project.
Slayer's original name was Dragon Slayer, which would certainly appeal to the D&D crowd, but probably wouldn't quite convey the sheer brutality of their sound as well as simply Slayer does.
I love that Lemmy wanted to call his new band Bastard. Absolutely describes the uncompromising music and lifestyle. He changed it to Motorhead (the last song he wrote in his previous band Hawkwind) when it was noted that he would never get on Top of the Pops with the name Bastard.
Could you imagine an alternative universe where Muse didn’t actually change their original band name from “Rocket Baby Dolls” to Muse. That would be a weird alternate reality if the albums they were behind (Absolution, Black Holes And Revelations, etc) had the “Rocket Baby Dolls” name on them instead.
I know I already sort of said this on the community post, but just imagine a crowd chanting along to Space Dementia at a Rocket Baby Dolls concert. No one would be able to take that seriously. Also, the weird thing is that it’s actually a really cool sounding name for a female-led punk band or something, just not for a space-themed prog rock band with heavy metal and classical influences, consisting of all dudes.
The Who were originally called The Detours, but there was another band with the same name, so they had to change their name. Pete Townsend originally wanted the band to be called The Hair, but his housemate Richard Barnes liked "the who" because it had a "pop bunch". Roger Daltrey liked the name too, and on Valentine's Day 1964, they became The Who.
I thought every time someone came up with a possible name, said name was met with the response "The Who?" ... and eventually, they just went with "The Who".
I heard it was a reference to Pete Townsend’s grandma. “Grandma, what do you think of The Beatles?” “The Who?” And somehow that stuck out of the story or happened enough for them to embrace the name.
Paramore actually had two original band names before they decided on Paramore. The first one was Astrophel which they actually played their first show under that name, then the other name was Drop Dead, Gorgeous which they were gonna play an outdoor festival with that name but changed it to Paramore last second so their merch still had the old name on it.
I’m surprised you didn’t go for any of the other nirvana band names, like “Poo Poo Box”, “Fecal Matter,” or “Whisker Biscuit.” Those are the gems I remember.
I believe Aaron Lewis, Wes Scantlin & Fred Duuuuhhhrsst all called dibs on them in case their court ordered lobotomies (somehow) make things worse down the road
Seether was originally called Saron Gas in South Africa and released one album under the name. When they moved to the States the record label made them change it since it was a synonym to the deadly Sarin Gas. It was 2001-2002 time period and terrorism was top of mind for many folks. They named their band after a song from Veruca Salt. Likely a change for the better imo.
"Oasis" was originally called "The Rain" until Noel Gallagher joined the band. You could also make the case that "Foo Fighters" was originally called "Late!" because back when Dave Grohl was still in Nirvana, he released a solo demo tape called "Late! Pocketwatch". Two of the songs later became Foo Fighters songs (Winnebago and Friend of a Friend), while Color Pictures of a Marigold (later renamed Marigold) became a Nirvana song.
Journey was originally named Golden Gate Rhythm Section, but they decided to change their name by doing a radio promotion where the fans suggested what the band should be named. It failed miserably, but one of their roadies suggested the name Journey and the rest is history…
I never hear you talk a lot about CCR. There barely made it up my top 5 for top 5 bands of all time! They combined rock with a lot of country and added some blues influences into their sound which I find to be very remarkable. Although Bayou Country is a really solid album, they made an excellent 3 album run from Green River to Cosmo's Factory. The hits off of those albums are excellent and the deep cuts are some of the best that any band ever had. I would love to say that they're my favorite southern rock band, but they're not since they weren't from the South. They were, of course from California. Great band, but that last spot in the top 5 is currently held by The Jam, one of my all time favorite bands and I also had to have a metal band up there as well, with Iron Maiden at the number 4 spot. Their 80s material cannot be denied at all.
Alice Cooper was originally the Earwigs, then the Spiders, then Nazz and finally Alice Cooper, which was the name of the band, but people kept incorrectly assuming vocalist Vince Furnier's name was "Alice Cooper" and he eventually just adopted it as his stage name.
I did sound and tour managed Rainbow Butt Monkeys. We actually did 2 Western Canadian tours in the summer of "95. We supported Sven Gali on their tour (moving west). We then hooked up with Bootsauce in BC and supported them going eastward back to Ontario. Even back then (at around 20 years old) they had really good songs, were tight as hell and put on a great show. Very proud of their success.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about Def Leppard before. It’s nice to see them mentioned on this channel, they’re one of my favorite bands ever!
Linkin Park went through not one, but two name changes before sticking with Linkin Park The first was Xero, which was around until their original vocalist left and was replaced with Chester. When Chester joined the band, the name was changed from Xero to Hybrid Theory. However their label told them to change the name again, because of another group called Hybrid. After some consideration with other names, the band became Linkin Park, but even that was a second choice name because they wanted to be called Lincoln Park, however they couldn't get an internet domain with that name, so they changed it to Linkin Park, as they could get an internet domain with that name
Solo act fun fact: an artist with the name of David Jones had to use another name as a member of The Monkees was already Davy Jones. So David Jones went by a different last name, inspired by a type of knife. (specifically a bowie knife)
David Knife? Sounds like a modern-day indie rapper… (Funnily enough, when he first started to get buzz, some people thought he picked his stage name to rip off Mick Jagger, since a “jagger” is also a type of knife)
I like to think that there's an alternate universe out there where the original names became the final names. Imagine listening to "Creep" by On a Friday or "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Pen Cap Chew.
90's Conan: Ladies and gentlemen, making their national television debut with their new single: "No Sleep till Brooklyn", please welcome...The Young Aborigines!!!! Entire audience both young & old: .......DAFUQ IS THIS?!
Honestly, I tend to forget how people feel about Finger Eleven, but if there's at least one positive about them, it's that I always looked forward to hearing Good Times on the SSX3 soundtrack, and playing that game in general.
How do you even think of that last name and think "yeah, this is a good idea"? Since my dad is a fan of Creed I immediately walked into the living room to show him, he had no words.
What would intrigue me more is to hear any and all names rejected before deciding on "Dying Fetus"..... Then again, it leaves zero ambiguity for first time listeners...Seriously, my Grandfather was already in tears executing a rosary death grip a full minute before playing "Homicidal Retribution"
Quick facts before Peter Steele called the band Type O Negative, they were originally called Repulsion but they later found out there was the first grindcore band named "Repulsion"...
@@HenritheHorse Supposedly, all of the band members got tattoos of what would have been their Subzero logo before they found out there was already a band with that name. Peter came up with their classic name after hearing a PSA for blood donation on the radio, which specifically mentioned that blood type O- was in short supply.
Another name that Van Halen was going to choose was “Genesis” but that name was already taken due to a band of that name was already taking off in the United Kingdom, which is ironic because of how both Van Halen and Genesis was very popular in the seventies and eighties when they changed lead vocalists (David Lee Roth/Peter Gabriel and Sammy Hagar/Phil Collins) and released an album which nearly ended the careers of those two respective bands (Van Halen 3 and “Calling All Stations”) after changing lead vocalists for a second time from other rock bands in 1997 and 1998(Gary Cherone from Extreme and Ray Wilson from Stiltskin). Also Luke I’ve said it many times but I’d love to see you take on CAS in a future “Regretting the Past” episode.
Evanescence originally called Childish Intentions and Stricken The word "evanescence" means "a disappearance or dissipation, like vapor". They apparently disliked their previous name and wanted something better. They also wanted to do some artwork (with whatever name they chose) and decided to look under E. They liked the word and definition, likening it to the temporal nature of life. Coldplay originally called Starfish Green Day originally called Sweet Children (according to Livermore, this was done to avoid confusion with another local band Sweet Baby. The band adopted the name Green Day, due to the members' fondness for cannabis.The phrase, "Green day", was slang in the Bay Area, where the band originated, for spending a day doing nothing but smoking marijuana) The Cranberries originally called the Cranberry Saw Us When Dolores O'Riordan joined she recommended shortening it. They were originally named 'Cranberries Saw Us' (as in Cranberries Sauce). When Dolores O'Riordan joined she recommended shortening it. Oasis originally called The Rain After Gallagher joined the group, the band's name was changed to Oasis, which was inspired by a place where Inspiral Carpets played, the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon. Queen originally called Smile Bulsara suggested the group should be renamed to "Queen". The others were uncertain at first, but he said, "it's wonderful, dear, people will love it". At the same time, he decided to change his surname to Mercury, inspired by the line "Mother Mercury, look what they've done to me" in the song "My Fairy King" Nickelback originally called Village Idiot Later, they changed their name to Nickelback because Mike Kroeger while giving change to a customer at Starbucks, would say, “Here's your Nickel back.” Radiohead originally called On A Friday Radiohead" was taken from the song "Radio Head" on the Talking Heads album True Stories (1986). The Cure originally Easy Cure The name was later shortened to The Cure because frontman Robert Smith felt the name was too American and "too hippyish". Blink 182 originally called Blink The band was originally going to just be named Blink, however this was already taken. To avoid legal dispute, they added 182 to the end. Linkin Park originally Xero and Hybrid Theory
The Beatles were originally called The Quarrymen after the high school that John Lennon had attended (Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool) and went under a few other monikers like Johnny & the Moondogs and The Silver Beetles/Beatles, but if I can add my own band that I have with some friends we originally named ourselves The Crush (after the Paramore song Crush Crush Crush, who my friend (our lead singer) is a huge fan of) before going with our current name of Resting Bitch Face/RBF because we thought it seemed more punk and plus it just sounded badass
The Quarrymen were a completely different band. Early names used by the actual Beatles were "Johnny and the Moondogs" and later either "The Silver Beetles" or "Long John and the Silver Beetles"
This one's crazy. Hoobastank... you know Hoobastank. Back in the day, they used to go by... HOOBUSTANK! Very different! They released one demo tape and one independent album before being signed to a major label. Their older sound can be best described as "the Incubus at home"
Fun fact John Cooper is actually not a big fan of the name Skillet he said in an interview that his pastor at the church he was going to in the 90s came up with the name he said the only reason he and his former band mates in the 90s stuck with the name Skillet because it caught on with their growing fanbase at the time
- Madness were originally called the North London Invaders and “Morris and the Minors” (👀) before they chose Madness from a Prince Buster track - Stone Temple Pilots were originally called Mighty Joe Young but they had to change it as another band already had that name - Alice In Chains were originally called “Fuck” and “Diamond Lie” before they settled on Alice In Chains. I saw an interview clip with Sean and Jerry where they said they had an idea of selling condoms with “Fuck the band” on them 😂😂 ETA: didn’t know that was Blink-182’s original name. I had heard that they originally went by “blink” but had to change it to add the number at the end because IIRC another band in Ireland already had that name
- Morris and the Minors is a reference to a classic British car... but still... (there was a British comedy band in the late 80s called Morris Minor and the Majors) - Alice in Chains came up with their classic name while they were watching a rerun of The Honeymooners.
Sweet Children is still written on the rafters at 921 Gilman. One of the coolest venue for young groups to play. I am 66 but have kids that have taken me to shows there.
My ultimate example of name change is The Goo Goo Dolls which regardless of your feelings about it is better than the original band name, The Sex Maggots. Talk about a name that really wouldn't have worked with their songs
for anyone who needs a better understand of the CCR part, a golliwog was a dutch doll back in the early 20th century. the doll was a racist depiction of a black person that had a big afro and red lips. I apologize for knowing this
Luke the spook - A Golliwog is not a Dutch doll. You are actually referencing the title of an illustrated children’s book “Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwog.” My parents were British so of course I actually had a Golliwog doll. As I grew up I came to realize that this doll might be offensive to darker skinned people. I was over at a co-worker’s house and was shocked to see that he had a collection of Golly’s as he called them. I was confused because he was from Barbados’s. I gave him my Golliwog doll.
Fun fact: Led Zeppelin used to be the New Yardbirds, and Deep Purple was Roundabout originally. Can you imagine Heavy Metal’s formation being accredited to The New Yardbirds, Roundabout, and The Polka Tulk Blues Band?
Screaming Abdabs sounds like the name of an early Pink Floyd album. “Duck Tape” isn’t a play on words but the correct name . What we call “duct tape” today was invented back in World War II as “duck tape” because it was made from water-resistant duck cloth. Somehow, people started calling it “duct tape” back in the 1960s, and eventually that’s the name that stuck, even though using “duct tape” on actual ducting is a terrible idea. The heat from an HVAC system melts the glue and breaks down the fabric.
I have a funny childhood memory with Barenaked Ladies. My brother was an older teen, and I was still 11 or something. We had family over one day, and one of my cousins, who was 10,, ran to my aunt and yelled "Mama! Cousin's got barenaked ladies in his room!" he was just energized from the song "One Week" and wanted to tell his mom about it. My brother probably shouldn't have told him the name of the band. You should have seen the reaction from the adults XD
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Greg Graffin tell Graham in one of Loudwire's Wikipedia interviews that before settling on Bad Religion they went under the name Vaginal Discharge for a while? 😂🤢
Thank you so much for this video. It was a lot of fun to hear some of the original names for some of the bands we know. I was laughing so hard at one point - Naked Toddler - that I almost fell out of my chair. Great video, extremely hilarious commentary!
I know Deep Blue Something were originally Leper Messiah, inspired by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. For a while they even referred to their fans as Lepers. The story I've heard (though can't verify it's accuracy) is that they were attracting a very heavy metal crowd to shows with that name, which wasn't exactly ideal for a pop rock band. They then were brainstorming names and someone said Deep Blue something, with the something to be filled in later, but it ended up sticking (again, just what I remember hearing).
The 'Black Sabbath' name is actually disputed in origin. The band Coven (who by strange coincidence also had a member named Oz Osborne) were pretty sure Black Sabbath had been named after one of their songs. Sabbath denied this for a long time but the story eventually changed to 'that might have subconsciously influenced the decision'. Knowing Sabbath there's a chance they weren't even being deceptive and simply can't remember fully but considering early Sabbat's sound had a lot of Coven's influence in it it's hugely unlikely they weren't familiar with that song.
Van Halen was also under the moniker: Mammoth at one point.. Eddie’s son Wolfgang has now begun to use that moniker with his solo outings. And I thought creeds first name was actually SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEX
I once heard an interview with Eddie Vedder that their name was derived from a grandmother named Pearl and she would make her own jams and he always loved the way "Pearl Jam" sounded.
I once read Eddie Vedder saying absolutely no truth behind that story. Story was his grandmother (pearl) made a Jam that would make you trip like any psychedelic.
Technically not the original name, but one of the bands that eventually coalesced into Avenged Sevenfold was called Mad P0rno Action. Kinda wonder what things would've been like if they'd kept THAT name.
@@matthewlabbe8395 I think it was only Zacky V's band? Rev was in Pinkly Smooth at that point but A7X are made up of the spare bits of like 4-5 bands that hung out a lot it seems...
Type O Negative originally had 2 different names that they recorded and played under, but were forced to change when they realized there existed bands that already had those names: first was Repulsion, and then Subzero. In fact, the Subzero logo would survive as an early logo for Type O, the Zero with the minus sign inside of it. When looking for a replacement for Subzero, Peter saw a needed ad in the paper for "Needed: Type O Negative Blood," and the rest was history.
I remember Peter frampton's behind the music where he said he was in a band called Free Beer. I think a lot of bands have used that name just to get people to come see them.
lol I remember the days before Finger Eleven's name change. I grew up in the Niagara Region of Ontario and Rainbow Butt Monkeys won the 97.7 rock search, which meant the band and their name got mentioned a lot on that radio station. It felt weird when the band changed their name to Finger Eleven, like they were trying to grow up, or something.
If you think Beastie Boys' original band name was stupid, the title of their debut album, "Licensed To Ill" was changed due to the original title seeming homophobic. I won't say what it is, look it up.
I think it's kind of funny because it's making fun of the type of person who would say that but the satire doesn't immediately come across. Like how Fight For Your Right was adopted by the people it was making fun of.
australian band crowded house was originally called the mullanes, but they changed the name to crowded house which referenced the lack of space at their home in hollywood hills. another interesting aussie band name change was icehouse's original name being flowers!
"Sweet Children" singing about smoking out reminds me of Sonic Youth singing about the correct direction to pass after your puff-puff in a toking circle
One of my favorite early band names was Muse, whose original band name was "Rocket Baby Dolls." Somehow, I can't imagine _Black Holes and Revelations_ coming from a band called Rocket Baby Dolls. What's more, it was apparently named after an obscure Japanese porn.
Oasis were originally The Rain. It was when Liam joined that he changed it, inspired by an Inspiral Carpets tour poster in his childhood bedroom which listed the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon as a venue. Sadly, it was recently closed down, due to COVID.
Australian synth-pop band Icehouse (Great Southern Land, Man of Colours) was originally named Flowers. Their first album, the first single on the album, and the first video (which got a lot of controversy due to it's horror themes) were all called Icehouse. From the second album, so was the band.
If only we lived in a world where rat salad was Van Helen's name. Imagine the memes. Just the image of wiggles singing "Rat salad, yummy yummy!" Is now living rent free in my head lol
On a Friday, I like it. My daughters band is Monday at 4.30 because when they started during the freshman year in high school they would rehearse on Monday around 4.30. They have become quite the local band. They’re all 19 now and play local gigs and parties. Actually kind of good but have no desire to do more. Just having fun and earning a little beer money during college. All girls and a bit pop punk with a Little Rock n Roll.
One band name that is quite interesting is Winger, who were originally called Sahara. Not interesting from the choice of name, but for the fact it actually appears on their debut album as the artwork was done when they were still called Sahara and nobody changed it, just slapping the Winger logo on it instead. (can't remember for sure, but think it turned out there was a band by that name already, which necessitated a name change) On the subject of 80s hair metal you also have: Great White = Dante Fox Motley Crue = Christmas (well kinda. they never actually used it as Sixx was the only one who liked it) Stryper - Roxx Regime Poison - Paris Twisted Sister - Silver Star
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Keep it up man!
REM was originally called Cans of Piss, I believe. I have no words.
@@BrandonCroker eeewwwww
Muse Used to be Called “Rocket Baby Dolls.”
Thousand Foot Krutch used to go by the name Oddball in the very early years of their career
Black Sabbath also went under Earth before the final name. Interestingly, a later band called Earth from Seattle would come about, named in tribute to Black Sabbath's previous name. Kurt Cobain actually recorded a demo with the Seattle Earth.
Earth was where I thought Luke was going before he revealed what it actually was. I didn’t know about the other name
Nirvana was also Ted Ed and Fred.....Bliss ...Throat Oyster......Skid Row...(yea before THAT Skid Row) and drum roll please......::;:;:;:;:;:;:;
💩 FECAL MATTER 💩
Kiss was Wizard
Nickelback was Humpty Dump and the Smumpkins
Dylan Carlson fronted Earth he was Kurt's best friend before he was ever famous. Dy)an easy also a huge drug dealer @t one time and lived with a few big time dealers including Caitlyn Moore who was rumored to be K
I actually like the Obelisk as a band name. I think it sounds kind of mysterious and it makes me think of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
It really isn't bad at all. Kinda more befitting a prog-type band, though...
Agreed, but Obelisk is better than The Obelisk. Or since it's The Cure maybe Dark Obelisk.
Van Halen was known as Genesis early on, but of course they eventually found out that name was taken. They also were known as Mammoth, and of course Eddie's son has more recently taken the name for his own project.
they were also known as Mammoth as well changed to Genesis, then found out about the Genesis with Phil Collins and changed again to Van Halen
Weren't they also known as Trojan Rubber Company?
@@TimmyTickle I think when Alex and Eddie were kids that was their bands name, also the Broken Combs haha
Slayer's original name was Dragon Slayer, which would certainly appeal to the D&D crowd, but probably wouldn't quite convey the sheer brutality of their sound as well as simply Slayer does.
The only other possible name for Slayer is Fuckin' Slayer.
Probably would have pissed off Lina Inverse, though.
Dragon Slayer sounds like a good name for a power metal band.
The Goo Goo Dolls being called The Sex Maggots always sticks out to me. I can’t imagine a band sound less like The Sex Maggots than the goo goo dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls don’t really sound like the Goo Goo Dolls.
I love that Lemmy wanted to call his new band Bastard. Absolutely describes the uncompromising music and lifestyle. He changed it to Motorhead (the last song he wrote in his previous band Hawkwind) when it was noted that he would never get on Top of the Pops with the name Bastard.
The NWOBHM staple band SAXON had a comercially unacessible early moniker as well: SON-OF-A-BITCH!!
Could you imagine an alternative universe where Muse didn’t actually change their original band name from “Rocket Baby Dolls” to Muse.
That would be a weird alternate reality if the albums they were behind (Absolution, Black Holes And Revelations, etc) had the “Rocket Baby Dolls” name on them instead.
I know I already sort of said this on the community post, but just imagine a crowd chanting along to Space Dementia at a Rocket Baby Dolls concert. No one would be able to take that seriously.
Also, the weird thing is that it’s actually a really cool sounding name for a female-led punk band or something, just not for a space-themed prog rock band with heavy metal and classical influences, consisting of all dudes.
What's more, according to the members, "Rocket Baby Dolls" was taken from the name of an obscure Japanese porn.
@@TheHappySpaceman In other words… something that a Muse fan would watch
@@TimmyTickle ...As a Muse fan, that's rude but not entirely unwarranted LMAO
Chester Bennington’s side project band Dead By Sunrise was originally named Snow White Tan. I’m more than glad they didn’t stick with that name
I remember checking them out when I was in high school I thought they were meh but I did like one song
Also, Linkin Park first were known as Xero, then Hybrid Theory, and finally being named Linkin Pauk.
"Snow White Tan"? Is that a Ziggy Stardust reference?
The Who were originally called The Detours, but there was another band with the same name, so they had to change their name. Pete Townsend originally wanted the band to be called The Hair, but his housemate Richard Barnes liked "the who" because it had a "pop bunch". Roger Daltrey liked the name too, and on Valentine's Day 1964, they became The Who.
I thought every time someone came up with a possible name, said name was met with the response "The Who?" ... and eventually, they just went with "The Who".
I heard it was a reference to Pete Townsend’s grandma.
“Grandma, what do you think of The Beatles?”
“The Who?”
And somehow that stuck out of the story or happened enough for them to embrace the name.
They were the High Numbers before The Who.
@@thatoneguybones8036 The Guess Who is a different band, famous for American Woman. They're Canadian.
Paramore actually had two original band names before they decided on Paramore. The first one was Astrophel which they actually played their first show under that name, then the other name was Drop Dead, Gorgeous which they were gonna play an outdoor festival with that name but changed it to Paramore last second so their merch still had the old name on it.
Did they name themselves (Drop Dead Gorgeous) after the Republica song?
@@danwest9767 I’m unsure about that
@@danwest9767 Paramore (at least early Paramore) don’t seem like the type of band who would list Republica as an influence
Drop Dead Gorgeous is also a post hardcore band from the same era.
Hearing a song called "Hot For Teacher" or "Ain't Talkin' About Love" by a band called "Rat Salad" would be creepy AF.
It would have been even creepier under another of their previous names: Trojan Rubber Company
I’m surprised you didn’t go for any of the other nirvana band names, like “Poo Poo Box”, “Fecal Matter,” or “Whisker Biscuit.” Those are the gems I remember.
I was wondering if he was gonna say Fecal Matter
I believe Aaron Lewis, Wes Scantlin & Fred Duuuuhhhrsst all called dibs on them in case their court ordered lobotomies (somehow) make things worse down the road
Truth is they really were a poopoo box full of fecal matter
Dain Bramage
Throat Oyster 🦪
Seether was originally called Saron Gas in South Africa and released one album under the name. When they moved to the States the record label made them change it since it was a synonym to the deadly Sarin Gas. It was 2001-2002 time period and terrorism was top of mind for many folks. They named their band after a song from Veruca Salt. Likely a change for the better imo.
And they eventually covered said song (although searching for it can be a pain in the ass)
"Oasis" was originally called "The Rain" until Noel Gallagher joined the band.
You could also make the case that "Foo Fighters" was originally called "Late!" because back when Dave Grohl was still in Nirvana, he released a solo demo tape called "Late! Pocketwatch". Two of the songs later became Foo Fighters songs (Winnebago and Friend of a Friend), while Color Pictures of a Marigold (later renamed Marigold) became a Nirvana song.
And let's not forget that Dave famously *hates* 'Foo Fighters' and wishes he had chosen literally any other name.
Blur were originally called Seymour, but their label hated it and made them pick a new one from a list of label-approved names
These bands aren't exactly creative when it comes to band names
Pearl Jam's first album is called Ten because that was Mookie Blaylock's jersey number and there is a vinyl release that's the color of a basketball.
Journey was originally named Golden Gate Rhythm Section, but they decided to change their name by doing a radio promotion where the fans suggested what the band should be named. It failed miserably, but one of their roadies suggested the name Journey and the rest is history…
I never hear you talk a lot about CCR. There barely made it up my top 5 for top 5 bands of all time! They combined rock with a lot of country and added some blues influences into their sound which I find to be very remarkable. Although Bayou Country is a really solid album, they made an excellent 3 album run from Green River to Cosmo's Factory. The hits off of those albums are excellent and the deep cuts are some of the best that any band ever had. I would love to say that they're my favorite southern rock band, but they're not since they weren't from the South. They were, of course from California. Great band, but that last spot in the top 5 is currently held by The Jam, one of my all time favorite bands and I also had to have a metal band up there as well, with Iron Maiden at the number 4 spot. Their 80s material cannot be denied at all.
CCR is easily one of the greatest rock artists of all time.
Alice Cooper was originally the Earwigs, then the Spiders, then Nazz and finally Alice Cooper, which was the name of the band, but people kept incorrectly assuming vocalist Vince Furnier's name was "Alice Cooper" and he eventually just adopted it as his stage name.
literally skimmed through just to make sure Finger Eleven was here. Good list!
I did sound and tour managed Rainbow Butt Monkeys.
We actually did 2 Western Canadian tours in the summer of "95.
We supported Sven Gali on their tour (moving west).
We then hooked up with Bootsauce in BC and supported them going eastward back to Ontario.
Even back then (at around 20 years old) they had really good songs, were tight as hell and put on a great show.
Very proud of their success.
You mentioned (rightly so) the most ridiculous of Pink Floyd's previous names, but one they used prior to that was Megadeath.
Shit, is that why Mustaine dropped the 'a'?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about Def Leppard before. It’s nice to see them mentioned on this channel, they’re one of my favorite bands ever!
Yeah, Def Leppard are a great band. I didn’t know they were called Atomic Mass, but it wouldn’t have been a bad name.
Linkin Park went through not one, but two name changes before sticking with Linkin Park
The first was Xero, which was around until their original vocalist left and was replaced with Chester. When Chester joined the band, the name was changed from Xero to Hybrid Theory. However their label told them to change the name again, because of another group called Hybrid. After some consideration with other names, the band became Linkin Park, but even that was a second choice name because they wanted to be called Lincoln Park, however they couldn't get an internet domain with that name, so they changed it to Linkin Park, as they could get an internet domain with that name
Solo act fun fact: an artist with the name of David Jones had to use another name as a member of The Monkees was already Davy Jones. So David Jones went by a different last name, inspired by a type of knife. (specifically a bowie knife)
He was also in a band called The Hype, so U2 is in very good company indeed.
Except that particular knife was named after Jim Bowie, pronounced "Boo-wee", not "Bo-wee", as Mr. Jones prefered.
David Knife? Sounds like a modern-day indie rapper…
(Funnily enough, when he first started to get buzz, some people thought he picked his stage name to rip off Mick Jagger, since a “jagger” is also a type of knife)
I like to think that there's an alternate universe out there where the original names became the final names. Imagine listening to "Creep" by On a Friday or "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Pen Cap Chew.
90's Conan: Ladies and gentlemen, making their national television debut with their new single: "No Sleep till Brooklyn", please welcome...The Young Aborigines!!!!
Entire audience both young & old: .......DAFUQ IS THIS?!
or "With Arms Wide Open" by Naked Toddler 🤦
@@SunDedGon Actual Aborigines in the audience: immediately start complaining and trying to get the band cancelled
Or Every Morning by the Shrinky Dinks
Honestly, I tend to forget how people feel about Finger Eleven, but if there's at least one positive about them, it's that I always looked forward to hearing Good Times on the SSX3 soundtrack, and playing that game in general.
How do you even think of that last name and think "yeah, this is a good idea"? Since my dad is a fan of Creed I immediately walked into the living room to show him, he had no words.
What would intrigue me more is to hear any and all names rejected before deciding on "Dying Fetus"..... Then again, it leaves zero ambiguity for first time listeners...Seriously, my Grandfather was already in tears executing a rosary death grip a full minute before playing "Homicidal Retribution"
Surprised you didn’t mention that Muse was originally called Rocket Baby Dolls.
And Bullet for my valentine uesd be called jeff killed John
On A Friday absolutely sounds like a name for a post-hardcore band who listen to way too much Radiohead. Ever the trendsetters.
Reminds me of At the Drive In.
I was convinced for a second that it actually *was* a metalcore band.
Quick facts before Peter Steele called the band Type O Negative, they were originally called Repulsion but they later found out there was the first grindcore band named "Repulsion"...
Subzero too
@@HenritheHorse Supposedly, all of the band members got tattoos of what would have been their Subzero logo before they found out there was already a band with that name.
Peter came up with their classic name after hearing a PSA for blood donation on the radio, which specifically mentioned that blood type O- was in short supply.
The Sex Maggots comes to mind. No, it's not early Slipknot, it was The Goo-Goo Dolls.
Tony Iommi’s knock on the Polka Tulk blues band is the most British thing I’ve ever heard
Another name that Van Halen was going to choose was “Genesis” but that name was already taken due to a band of that name was already taking off in the United Kingdom, which is ironic because of how both Van Halen and Genesis was very popular in the seventies and eighties when they changed lead vocalists (David Lee Roth/Peter Gabriel and Sammy Hagar/Phil Collins) and released an album which nearly ended the careers of those two respective bands (Van Halen 3 and “Calling All Stations”) after changing lead vocalists for a second time from other rock bands in 1997 and 1998(Gary Cherone from Extreme and Ray Wilson from Stiltskin).
Also Luke I’ve said it many times but I’d love to see you take on CAS in a future “Regretting the Past” episode.
Luke said in a recent Patreon post that there are no plans for any more RTPs
Evanescence originally called Childish Intentions and Stricken The word "evanescence" means "a disappearance or dissipation, like vapor". They apparently disliked their previous name and wanted something better. They also wanted to do some artwork (with whatever name they chose) and decided to look under E. They liked the word and definition, likening it to the temporal nature of life.
Coldplay originally called Starfish
Green Day originally called Sweet Children (according to Livermore, this was done to avoid confusion with another local band Sweet Baby. The band adopted the name Green Day, due to the members' fondness for cannabis.The phrase, "Green day", was slang in the Bay Area, where the band originated, for spending a day doing nothing but smoking marijuana)
The Cranberries originally called the Cranberry Saw Us When Dolores O'Riordan joined she recommended shortening it. They were originally named 'Cranberries Saw Us' (as in Cranberries Sauce). When Dolores O'Riordan joined she recommended shortening it.
Oasis originally called The Rain After Gallagher joined the group, the band's name was changed to Oasis, which was inspired by a place where Inspiral Carpets played, the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon.
Queen originally called Smile Bulsara suggested the group should be renamed to "Queen". The others were uncertain at first, but he said, "it's wonderful, dear, people will love it". At the same time, he decided to change his surname to Mercury, inspired by the line "Mother Mercury, look what they've done to me" in the song "My Fairy King"
Nickelback originally called Village Idiot Later, they changed their name to Nickelback because Mike Kroeger while giving change to a customer at Starbucks, would say, “Here's your Nickel back.”
Radiohead originally called On A Friday Radiohead" was taken from the song "Radio Head" on the Talking Heads album True Stories (1986).
The Cure originally Easy Cure The name was later shortened to The Cure because frontman Robert Smith felt the name was too American and "too hippyish".
Blink 182 originally called Blink The band was originally going to just be named Blink, however this was already taken. To avoid legal dispute, they added 182 to the end.
Linkin Park originally Xero and Hybrid Theory
Imagine what all the jokes would have been if Nickelback had kept their original name...
The Beatles were originally called The Quarrymen after the high school that John Lennon had attended (Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool) and went under a few other monikers like Johnny & the Moondogs and The Silver Beetles/Beatles, but if I can add my own band that I have with some friends we originally named ourselves The Crush (after the Paramore song Crush Crush Crush, who my friend (our lead singer) is a huge fan of) before going with our current name of Resting Bitch Face/RBF because we thought it seemed more punk and plus it just sounded badass
I thought the Quarrymen was a completely different band to the Beatles?
The Offspring were originally called "Manic Subsidal"
The Beatles were the Quarrymen, and Led Zeppelin was the New Yarbirds
And the "New Yardbirds" went on to become much better remembered than the old Yardbirds.
The Quarrymen were a completely different band.
Early names used by the actual Beatles were "Johnny and the Moondogs" and later either "The Silver Beetles" or "Long John and the Silver Beetles"
I only know a few of those.
It was a fun to watch.
I learned a lot of new information.
Thanks and keep it up.
Great video.
This one's crazy. Hoobastank... you know Hoobastank. Back in the day, they used to go by... HOOBUSTANK! Very different! They released one demo tape and one independent album before being signed to a major label. Their older sound can be best described as "the Incubus at home"
Nirvana were also briefly known as Skid Row (this was before the Sebastian Bach Skid Row was a thing).
Makes sense since "skid row" was Seattle slang for "the sticks"
Gary Moore was in a band called Skid Row in the 70s.
Fun fact John Cooper is actually not a big fan of the name Skillet he said in an interview that his pastor at the church he was going to in the 90s came up with the name he said the only reason he and his former band mates in the 90s stuck with the name Skillet because it caught on with their growing fanbase at the time
It's memorable though and looks good when stylized. It doesn't fit with their sound very well though.
- Madness were originally called the North London Invaders and “Morris and the Minors” (👀) before they chose Madness from a Prince Buster track
- Stone Temple Pilots were originally called Mighty Joe Young but they had to change it as another band already had that name
- Alice In Chains were originally called “Fuck” and “Diamond Lie” before they settled on Alice In Chains. I saw an interview clip with Sean and Jerry where they said they had an idea of selling condoms with “Fuck the band” on them 😂😂
ETA: didn’t know that was Blink-182’s original name. I had heard that they originally went by “blink” but had to change it to add the number at the end because IIRC another band in Ireland already had that name
- Morris and the Minors is a reference to a classic British car... but still... (there was a British comedy band in the late 80s called Morris Minor and the Majors)
- Alice in Chains came up with their classic name while they were watching a rerun of The Honeymooners.
I remember that REM when they first started used to go by Cans of Piss.
Sweet Children is still written on the rafters at 921 Gilman. One of the coolest venue for young groups to play. I am 66 but have kids that have taken me to shows there.
My ultimate example of name change is The Goo Goo Dolls which regardless of your feelings about it is better than the original band name, The Sex Maggots. Talk about a name that really wouldn't have worked with their songs
Would have kinda worked for their first couple albums when they were punk
@@Andrew-to5hb that was the idea and then they went a different direction
There was also a brief period where Black Sabbath was called "Earth." Or so I'm told.
Yeah, that was their original name and I still like how it sounds but Black Sabbath does have a bit more of a ring to it
Seeing Strong Bad reminds me of the Death Metal Strong Bad Email episode. Gonna rewatch that. Good vid,man. Highly entertaining.
Don't forget Weezer was originally called Weeze before Rivers joined the band.
for anyone who needs a better understand of the CCR part,
a golliwog was a dutch doll back in the early 20th century. the doll was a racist depiction of a black person that had a big afro and red lips.
I apologize for knowing this
Luke the spook - A Golliwog is not a Dutch doll. You are actually referencing the title of an illustrated children’s book “Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwog.” My parents were British so of course I actually had a Golliwog doll. As I grew up I came to realize that this doll might be offensive to darker skinned people. I was over at a co-worker’s house and was shocked to see that he had a collection of Golly’s as he called them. I was confused because he was from Barbados’s. I gave him my Golliwog doll.
Fun fact: Led Zeppelin used to be the New Yardbirds, and Deep Purple was Roundabout originally. Can you imagine Heavy Metal’s formation being accredited to The New Yardbirds, Roundabout, and The Polka Tulk Blues Band?
Screaming Abdabs sounds like the name of an early Pink Floyd album.
“Duck Tape” isn’t a play on words but the correct name . What we call “duct tape” today was invented back in World War II as “duck tape” because it was made from water-resistant duck cloth. Somehow, people started calling it “duct tape” back in the 1960s, and eventually that’s the name that stuck, even though using “duct tape” on actual ducting is a terrible idea. The heat from an HVAC system melts the glue and breaks down the fabric.
It's funny how circular that name is
I once heard that STP was supposed to stand for "Shirley Temple's Pu**y", before eventually settling on the now-familiar "Stone Temple Pilots".
I have a funny childhood memory with Barenaked Ladies. My brother was an older teen, and I was still 11 or something. We had family over one day, and one of my cousins, who was 10,, ran to my aunt and yelled "Mama! Cousin's got barenaked ladies in his room!" he was just energized from the song "One Week" and wanted to tell his mom about it. My brother probably shouldn't have told him the name of the band. You should have seen the reaction from the adults XD
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Greg Graffin tell Graham in one of Loudwire's Wikipedia interviews that before settling on Bad Religion they went under the name Vaginal Discharge for a while? 😂🤢
OMG!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂
Head Cheese is also one they used for a short time
Thank you so much for this video. It was a lot of fun to hear some of the original names for some of the bands we know. I was laughing so hard at one point - Naked Toddler - that I almost fell out of my chair. Great video, extremely hilarious commentary!
I know Deep Blue Something were originally Leper Messiah, inspired by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. For a while they even referred to their fans as Lepers. The story I've heard (though can't verify it's accuracy) is that they were attracting a very heavy metal crowd to shows with that name, which wasn't exactly ideal for a pop rock band. They then were brainstorming names and someone said Deep Blue something, with the something to be filled in later, but it ended up sticking (again, just what I remember hearing).
Yeah, i'm not surprised that the name Leper Messiah attracted metalheads, since it's one of the heavier songs on Master Of Puppets
Yeah but what Breakfast At Tiffany's?
Atomic Mass sounds like the name of a thrash metal band (like Nuclear Assault).
There is actually a Romanian band called Free Beer (Bere Gratis).
I learned about Wicked Lester from Family Guy. Yaaaay...
Black Sabbath went under Earth. for a long enough time, longer than The Polka Tulk Blues Band I believe.
Blue Oyster Cult’s original name was Soft White Underbelly. The Allman Brothers Band were once named The Allman Joys.
The 'Black Sabbath' name is actually disputed in origin. The band Coven (who by strange coincidence also had a member named Oz Osborne) were pretty sure Black Sabbath had been named after one of their songs. Sabbath denied this for a long time but the story eventually changed to 'that might have subconsciously influenced the decision'. Knowing Sabbath there's a chance they weren't even being deceptive and simply can't remember fully but considering early Sabbat's sound had a lot of Coven's influence in it it's hugely unlikely they weren't familiar with that song.
Coven is an amazing band, still active and not getting enough love and recognition imo
Van Halen was also under the moniker: Mammoth at one point.. Eddie’s son Wolfgang has now begun to use that moniker with his solo outings. And I thought creeds first name was actually SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEX
I once heard an interview with Eddie Vedder that their name was derived from a grandmother named Pearl and she would make her own jams and he always loved the way "Pearl Jam" sounded.
I once read Eddie Vedder saying absolutely no truth behind that story.
Story was his grandmother (pearl) made a Jam that would make you trip like any psychedelic.
I heard it was a random neighborhood lady named Pearl lol
Some of those were hysterical!! Fun stuff.
Technically not the original name, but one of the bands that eventually coalesced into Avenged Sevenfold was called Mad P0rno Action. Kinda wonder what things would've been like if they'd kept THAT name.
Was the Rev involved in that one? Sounds like a named he’d come up with lol
@@matthewlabbe8395 I think it was only Zacky V's band? Rev was in Pinkly Smooth at that point but A7X are made up of the spare bits of like 4-5 bands that hung out a lot it seems...
Type O Negative originally had 2 different names that they recorded and played under, but were forced to change when they realized there existed bands that already had those names: first was Repulsion, and then Subzero. In fact, the Subzero logo would survive as an early logo for Type O, the Zero with the minus sign inside of it. When looking for a replacement for Subzero, Peter saw a needed ad in the paper for "Needed: Type O Negative Blood," and the rest was history.
I thought it was a radio PSA that Peter heard?
I remember Peter frampton's behind the music where he said he was in a band called Free Beer. I think a lot of bands have used that name just to get people to come see them.
lol I remember the days before Finger Eleven's name change. I grew up in the Niagara Region of Ontario and Rainbow Butt Monkeys won the 97.7 rock search, which meant the band and their name got mentioned a lot on that radio station. It felt weird when the band changed their name to Finger Eleven, like they were trying to grow up, or something.
The obelisk is a cool name btw but I do like the cure more for the band
But just one word.... OBELISK ......Too many artists in history using "THE". It's pointless filler
Imagine just wanting to see a music video on CZcams and your mom finds "Naked Toddler" in your search history.
Okay but a band ever came around called "Screaming Abdabs On A Friday", I'd def bought their records
Quarter Flash was originally known as Seafood Mama.
If you think Beastie Boys' original band name was stupid, the title of their debut album, "Licensed To Ill" was changed due to the original title seeming homophobic. I won't say what it is, look it up.
Yeah, that album was great but it was definitely a good call to change it
I think it's kind of funny because it's making fun of the type of person who would say that but the satire doesn't immediately come across. Like how Fight For Your Right was adopted by the people it was making fun of.
To be fair to Pink Floyd, "Screaming Abdabs" seems to fit better with the Syd Barrett aesthetic than what they later became known for after he left.
australian band crowded house was originally called the mullanes, but they changed the name to crowded house which referenced the lack of space at their home in hollywood hills. another interesting aussie band name change was icehouse's original name being flowers!
The offspring used to be "maniac subsidle" or something like that for a while before their first album
The 90s band Live used to play a bar where I worked, but at the time, the band's name was Public Affection.
"Sweet Children" singing about smoking out reminds me of Sonic Youth singing about the correct direction to pass after your puff-puff in a toking circle
One of my favorite early band names was Muse, whose original band name was "Rocket Baby Dolls." Somehow, I can't imagine _Black Holes and Revelations_ coming from a band called Rocket Baby Dolls. What's more, it was apparently named after an obscure Japanese porn.
So basically… something a Muse fan would watch?
Oasis were originally The Rain. It was when Liam joined that he changed it, inspired by an Inspiral Carpets tour poster in his childhood bedroom which listed the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon as a venue. Sadly, it was recently closed down, due to COVID.
And Blur were originally Seymour
Our band was “The Barenaked Bundys” also FREE BEER was originally a hardcore band from LA.
Sounds like a Married With Children-themed porno
Australian synth-pop band Icehouse (Great Southern Land, Man of Colours) was originally named Flowers. Their first album, the first single on the album, and the first video (which got a lot of controversy due to it's horror themes) were all called Icehouse. From the second album, so was the band.
Van Halen was also known as Mammoth.
Slayer's first name was Dragonslayer I think.
You know a term is bad when the first thing that comes up is Jim crow
Man screw that manager that almost named CCR the golliwogs
Muse used to be called rocket baby dolls
If only we lived in a world where rat salad was Van Helen's name. Imagine the memes. Just the image of wiggles singing "Rat salad, yummy yummy!" Is now living rent free in my head lol
I like how in the chart at the beginig Capt. Beefheart and Frank Zappa are marked by a question mark instead of a (sub)genre.
Plan 9 (now Breaking Benjamin)…not a bad name at all but I don’t see them charting as well if “So Cold” was still under that name.
Free Beer was my idea for my bands name for one gig back in the early 90's.
Bruce Springsteen early backing band was once named Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom. The Bangles were named the Bangs.
"Come on in here" being said from the painting in Strong Mad's closet gives me less gibblies than Pink Floyd being named "Screaming Abdabs".
King's X, formerly known as Sneak Preview.
On a Friday, I like it. My daughters band is Monday at 4.30 because when they started during the freshman year in high school they would rehearse on Monday around 4.30. They have become quite the local band. They’re all 19 now and play local gigs and parties. Actually kind of good but have no desire to do more. Just having fun and earning a little beer money during college. All girls and a bit pop punk with a Little Rock n Roll.
Simple Minds were originally known as Johnny and the Self Abusers
One band name that is quite interesting is Winger, who were originally called Sahara. Not interesting from the choice of name, but for the fact it actually appears on their debut album as the artwork was done when they were still called Sahara and nobody changed it, just slapping the Winger logo on it instead. (can't remember for sure, but think it turned out there was a band by that name already, which necessitated a name change)
On the subject of 80s hair metal you also have:
Great White = Dante Fox
Motley Crue = Christmas (well kinda. they never actually used it as Sixx was the only one who liked it)
Stryper - Roxx Regime
Poison - Paris
Twisted Sister - Silver Star
the idea of kane in his big red machine days coming to the ring to a song by a band called “rainbow butt monkeys” is hilarious