What’s The Worst Band Name, Like, Ever?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Puddle Of Mudd? Toad The Wet Sprocket? Or one of those terrible emo groups called things like Car Parked Selfishly or Boy Raised By Chimps? Martin Aston referees MOJO's Terrible Band Name Smackdown. What's in a band name? An explanation, a badge, a cri de coeur? A window, perhaps, onto an artist's soul. Those most cherished of acts have a name indivisible from their DNA--The Velvet Underground, Led Zeppelin, The New York Dolls, The Smiths, The Clash. I only mention this because I was recently sent an EP from Surrey emo band, You Me At Six--arguably as pointless a band name as it gets. It made me think of Manic Street Preachers Nicky Wire's rant against mimsy shoegazers Slowdive--"worse than Hitler," he opined.

Lazy art can get to you like that. Now, I know there can only be one Beatles, one Mercury Rev, one ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. But with the entire lexicon at their fingertips, You Me At Six is clearly not a band name that looks to the stars. Unlike, say, the enlightening They Came From The Stars, I Saw Them--themselves victims of Crappy Band Name hate blogs I encountered while researching this monograph.

Shoegaze was defined by its one-word band names--Blur, Lush, Ride, Spin. Repetitive, yes, but you can see the intention: to mirror the music's gauzy textures. At the other end of the bluster spectrum, emo band names extol the art of saying nothing, importantly: Christie Front Drive, Bring Me The Horizon, Hot Water Music, Dogs Die In Hot Cars--make up your own shameful version at The Emo Band Name Generator.

At least an inexcusable name can be constructive. I know without hearing a note that I'll never enjoy Scouting For Girls or The Pigeon Detectives. A flick through a gig guide last week turned up the following bands that I can happily avoid--Apples For Everyone, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Bill Posters Will Be Band, My Tiger My Timing.

Chronic monikers can also be intriguing. Had I not known indie feys Grab Grab The Haddock, winners of BBC Radio #1's Worst Band Name poll of 2003, I'd have wondered what music deserved such risible baggage. Runners-up were Spandau Ballet, which expertly nailed New Romantic pretension, while the fact Crispy Ambulance came third also shows how the crux of a great name escapes some folk.

I haven't even begun to recount the horrors of the goth/industrial scene (hi, Anaal Nathrakh! you are named after a spell uttered by the wizard Merlin in John Boorman's 1981 film Excalibur that means "serpent's breath"). But it's not only rock; rap has its share of name shame. Calling yourself after a cotton bud, Q-Tip? Chali 2na, what were you thinking?

News just in: Nickel Eye is the solo project of The Strokes' bassist Nikolai Fraiture. From names sunk by puns to those calculated to annoy (Does It Offend You, Yeah?) and unintentionally induce yawns (sorry, The Milk & Honey Band), there are many reasons to get riled. I haven't decided which category the following fit into, but I know, on a cranky day, they're worse than Hitler: Puddle Of Mudd. Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Baboon Torture Division. Enuff Z'Nuff. Bowling For Soup. Dysfunkshun Junkshun. Mr Mister. Toad The Wet Sprocket. Crazy Town. The Hobbits Of The Shire. Keane.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/mojo/718/...name-like-ever/

[Jenn! 918]

Ugh, I hate music snobs!

[Sister Fracas 5]

make up your own shameful version at The Emo Band Name Generator.

I just HAD to do this... LOL

The Emo Band Name Generator

Go find some other sad little emo kids, pick up some instruments, and start practicing, because youre emo band's name is:

Projected Tantric Signifigance

[AlHayatZween 2]

Limp Bizkit.

Why would a bunch of guys ever want to associate themselves with something limp?

Edited December 3, 2008 by AlHayatZween

[Mononoke28 135]

Wham!

One of my faves when I was in high school but yeah, that name blows.

Diana

[jundp 191]

I like the band's music, but I hate the name: Death Cab for Cutie.

What does that even mean?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ugh, I hate music snobs!

[Mononoke28 135]

Another fave of mine: Barenaked Ladies.

That name's just stupid.

Diana

[Sister Fracas 5]

Another fave of mine: Barenaked Ladies.

That name's just stupid.

waits for Almaty, Charles, etc responses to that...

[Mononoke28 135]

This reminds me, a few years ago I went to Best Buy to buy a Barenaked Ladies' CD among other things. When I went up to the cashier he said:

Kid: I like them.

Me: What?

Kid: Barenaked ladies.

Me: You like bare naked ladies?

Kid: Uh... no, I mean I like the band.

Me: But you don't like naked ladies?

Kid: Yeah I do.

Me: Oh! You do!

Kid: I mean the band.

Me: But not the ladies.

Kid: ... never mind.

Diana

[Amby 490]

My friend Kristoph was in a band called YPF...stood for your parents f*cking (not joking)

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Although I like the band Incubus - their name just doesn't fit.

[Mononoke28 135]

New Kids on the Block. Especially now that they're all like middle aged.

Diana

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Pet Shop Boys

Edited December 3, 2008 by TävôLuDô

[Mononoke28 135]

The Beatles. Come on, admit it.

Diana