March 27, 2025 | Jesse Singer

The Surprising Stories Behind These Great Band Names


What's In A Band Name

Pretty much the first questions any new band asks themselves is "what should we be called?" The band name is a super important part of being in a music group and picking that name isn't always obvious. So, where did some of the band names that we've all come to know and love come from? You might be surprised...

Bee Gees

While many of us have always assumed that the name comes from the "B" and "G" initials of the Brothers Gibb—the BGs it’s referencing are actually band member Barry Gibb, radio DJ Bill Gates, and speedway driver Bill Goode.

Grayscale Publicity photo of the musical group Bee GeesAtco Records, Wikimedia Commons

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The Beatles

There are multiple stories about how The Beatles got their name. One story posits that the name was suggested by Stuart Sutcliffe as a tribute to Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Although, it has also been reported that the name came from the Marlon Brando film, The Wild Ones, in which the rival motorcycle gang is called the Beetles.

Black and white group photographs of the BeatlesWikimedia Commons, Picryl

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Ramones

It might seem obvious that the band got its name from the surname of the members: Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone, and Tommy Ramone. But those aren't their real names. The guys each took on a Ramone pseudonym after coming up with the band name—a name they chose because "Paul Ramone" was the alias Paul McCartney used to use when booking hotel rooms.

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Ramones in 1977Danny Fields, Wikimedia Commons

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Radiohead

They had been calling themselves On a Friday—but after signing with Parlophone records, they were smartly told to change their name. So, they chose Radiohead, after the Talking Heads song "Radio Head"—which they called the "least annoying song" on the True Stories album.

Members of the English rock band Radiohead perform Td GardenKenny Sun, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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AC/DC

You probably know what the band name is referencing, but did you know who came up with it? It was actually Malcolm and Angus Young's sister who came up with the name. After seeing the AC/DC written on an electric sewing machine she said, "why not AC/DC?".

Australian rock band AC/DC perform in Madridwww.vacacionesbulgaria.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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ABBA

Sure, we all know that the name is an acronym for the first names of the band members: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. However, did you ever wonder why it's written in all CAPS like that? Well, that's because when they came up with the name, there was already a canned fish company using the name Abba. They asked, and were given permission, to use ABBA.

Members of the Swedish band ABBA at RotterdamFernando Pereira/Nationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The Rolling Stones

Nope, it wasn't the Dylan song or the rock magazine (which obviously wouldn't make sense in an historic timeline either)—The Rolling Stones named themselves after the Muddy Waters song, "Rollin' Stone".

The Rolling Stones performing at Summerfest in Milwaukee in 2015Jim Pietryga, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Bachman–Turner Overdrive

The Canadian rock band was formed by Randy Bachman, Robbie Bachman, Tim Bachman, and Fred Turner. So, it's not hard to see where they got the Bachman–Turner part from. But, where did the "overdrive" come from? That came from the title of a magazine—And The guys all agreed it sounded cooler than just Bachman–Turner.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive performing live in Örebro, Sweden 1991Håkan Henriksson, CC BY 3.0,Wikimedia Commons

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Air Supply

Air Supply founding member Graham Russell actually saw the name in a dream 5 years before the soft-rock duo were even signed to a record contract.

Air Supply On Stage, Hard Rock Casino Sacramento, January 20, 2023Mkp20000, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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3 Doors Down

We would love to tell you that drummer/vocalist Brad Arnold, bassist Todd Harrell, and guitarist Matt Roberts lived three doors down from each other when they started the band—but the group's moniker isn't that obvious. It is pretty simple though. 

As a new group, they were touring around when, driving through Foley, Alabama, they saw a sign on a building that read "Doors Down" (there were a bunch of letters that had fallen off). Given that they were three in the band they came up with 3 Doors Down.

Members of the band 3 Doors Down perform live in Laredo, TexasJustin Allen Hundsnurscher, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Pixies

Guitarist Joey Santiago actually just picked this one out at random from a dictionary. The band liked it and they appreciated the definition: "mischievous little elves".

American alternative rock band Pixies on stage in 2009Angie Garrett, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The 1975

Lead singer Matthew Healy was reading an old Beatnik art journal one day when he saw a date written like this: "June 1st, the 1975". Using the "the" in the date seemed odd, but it intrigued him to the point he thought it would make a good name for his band.

English pop rock band The 1975 perform in NottinghamJasminewallis24, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Smashing Pumpkins

Be careful what you joke about. Years before Smashing Pumpkins was a band, Billy Corgan used to use that name as a joke when people would ask him if he was in a band. Well, the joke stuck after the band got together. Although, it is said that his bandmates weren't as fond of the name.

Members of the American alternative rock Smashing Pumpkins performing in 2019Sven Mandel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Queen

Before Freddie Mercury joined the band, they were called Smile. But after Mercury arrived, he came up with the name Queen. He would later say, "Years ago, I thought up the name 'Queen' ... It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid ... It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of gay connotations, but that was just one face of it".

Grayscale Promotional photo of the Musical group Queen, in a 1975Koh Hasebe, Wikimedia Commons

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The Lemonheads

If you assumed the band was named after the Lemonhead candy...you're right.

American alternative rock The Lemonheads at RadioBDC's Brad, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Ace Of Base

When the band first started, they were recording in a studio in the basement of an automobile repair shop. Feeling like they were the "masters" of said studio, they derived their name Ace of Base from "Masters of the Basement".

Members of the Swedish pop group Ace of Base performing in Saint PetersburgCrushNush, Wikimedia Commons

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The Black Keys

When they were growing up, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney used to get calls at their homes from a schizophrenic man who would ask for crayons, Diet Coke, and cigarettes. The man would always end the calls by saying, "...don't be a black key. Don't be a b-flat". Hence, The Black Keys.

American rock duo The Black Keys performing in JacksonvilleRichard Abrahamson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Alexisonfire

The band named themselves after adult actress and worker at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch, Alexis Fire. Needless to say, she wasn't pleased and there was almost a lawsuit filed.

Alexisonfire perform at Rock am Ring 2018Andreas Lawen, Fotandi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The All-American Rejects

Two of the suggestions for band names were "All-Americans" and "The Rejects". They decided to bring 'em together.

All American Rejects perform at the Hampton Casino BallroomVictoria Morse, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Arcade Fire

Win Butler, a co-founder of the band, had been told a story as a kid about an arcade that burnt down, and that the lives of many youths had been lost in the fire.

Arcade Fire At Madison Square Garden, August 4, 2010tammylo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Lynyrd Skynyrd

The band's name is an original spelling of the name Leonard Skinner–a gym teacher at the guys' high school who was known for his strict enforcement of the boys-can't-have-long-hair policy at the school.

American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd performing in CardiffAndrew King, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Backstreet Boys

Formed in Orlando, manager and executive Lou Pearlman put the band together and named them after the city's Backstreet Market outdoor flea market.

Backstreet Boys at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music AwardsToglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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NSYNC

Yes, the name does reference the last letter in all of the guy's first names JustiN, ChriS, JoeY, JasoN, and JC. But it has also been said that the band name came following a comment from Timberlake's mother about how "in sync" their voices were.

NSYNC Star Ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 30, 2018 in Los AngelesKathy Hutchins, Shutterstock

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Blink-182

The band was originally called Blink. But when they learnt that another band had that name, they just added some random numbers to the end of theirs.

Members of the American rock band Blink-182 pose togetherSony Music Entertainment Sweden, Wikimedia Commons

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Bon Iver

Turns out the series Northern Exposure inspired at least one band name. Justin Vernon was watching the show and liked how the people would greet each other with, "bon hiver" ("good winter" in French) after the first snowfall. Based on how it sounded, Vernon initially wrote it as "boniverre". He eventually learned the correct spelling but decided to stick with Bon Iver.

Bon Iver performing in Stockholm, Sweden in 2011danieljordahl, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Cansei De Ser Sexy

Did you know that one of this Brazilian rock band's biggest musical influences is Beyoncé? Well, not only does she influence their music, but she influenced their name as well. Cansei de Ser Sexy is Portuguese for, "tired of being sexy"—a quote alleged to have been uttered by Ms Knowles.

Cansei De Ser Sexy at Route Du Rock 2007Bertrand, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Childish Gambino

While at college, Donald Glover put his name into the online Wu-Tang Clan name generator and, voila: Childish Gambino.

Childish Gambino rocking out at the Bowery BallroomMephistoPuck, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Imagine Dragons

The band name is an anagram for a phrase. What phrase? No one knows except the members of the band.

Imagine Dragons live in concert, Uncasville CtDanazar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Kansas

Nothing fancy here. The band was formed in Topeka, Kansas.

American rock band Kansas performing on stagePePzi NL, Wikimedia Commons

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KISS

Before KISS, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were in a band called Wicked Lester. When that venture ended, they went looking to form a new group and ended up meeting and joining up with Peter Criss. Criss had been in a previous band called Lips. Which, through word association, led Stanley to say something to the effect of, "What about Kiss?"

Kiss 15 anniversary ad in Billboard magazine.Mercury Records, Wikimedia Commons

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MGMT

The band's original name was Management. Take out all the vowels and what do you get? MGMT.

MGMT performing at Osheaga Festival in MontrealMars3, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Mötley Crüe

While playing with an old cover band, Mick Mars heard someone describe the group as a "motley-looking crew". Well, he loved that and kept it in mind as the name of a future band.

Mötley Crüe performs in Erie, PennsylvaniaDe-fexxx666, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Phish

Take drummer Jon Fishman's nickname, "Fish". Then take the sound of a brush on a snare drum, "phshhhh". Portmanteau them together and you got Phish!

American rock band Phish performing in 2009Heather Katsoulis, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Simply Red

The band's name was Red. But when a venue manager got confused, they told him their name was "Red, simply Red". Oooops! The name got printed on posters as Simply Red and it stuck.

English soul and pop band Simply Red performing on stagepayayita, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Charli XCX

After being discovered on MySpace, Charlotte Emma Aitchison was hired to play at illegal warehouse raves. Needing a stage name, she grabbed her MSN Messenger screen name: Charli XCX.

Charli XCX performing at the 2013 Positivus FestivalAnna Hanks, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons


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