The Name-Changers

Original Post: http://queencitycommotion.blogspot.com/2012/03/name-changers.html

What inspires a band to change their name? I was always under the impression that once you pick a name, you're kind of stuck with it – like a bad lower-back tattoo. There are so many band names floating around out there in the music-universe, so it's pretty darn important to find a sweet name that suits your sound and to run with it. But what happens when a band with an already fitting name goes ahead and changes it up on everyone?

 

The other day I was casually scrolling through my Twitter feed when I stumbled upon this little gem:

Excuse me, what?

At first I was just plain confused. Then I was all, ohhh, I see. But then I was all really? Pop ETC?

It turns out The Morning Benders decided to change their name because the term 'bender' is actually slang for the word 'gay' in the UK and Europe. They do have quite a few peculiar slang terms over seas: for example, ace means awesome, honking means to get sick, the list goes on an on. Yet, what's different about the terms ace and honking is that they aren't used to demean anyone, and they aren't used in a derogatory manner. The Morning Benders were barraged with harsh criticism on their world tour for their name – lead singer Chris Chu stated, "We were told our band name was the equivalent of ‘The Morning Fags’ in America." According to a press release from the band, they felt that it was time to make a change after a solid five years as The Morning Benders, and I can certainly see why.  There are, of course, countless other bands with questionably offensive and/or disturbing names (The Fags, Butthole Surfers, Sex Pistols...and many, many more).

But none of these bands changed their name to 'Pop ETC.' I'm all for changing The Morning Benders to something far less offensive. But Pop ETC? Really? Couldn't come up with something better?

I've decided to dedicate the rest of this post to the best and worst 'before and afters.' There are TONS of bands who started out with one lame name and ended up with another, equally cheesy/embarrassing one. Some bands, however, made the right choice, and we all applaud you for that. Others, were not so fortunate. We're going to take a closer look at some of these legendary name-changers as we attempt to unravel their twisted tale from rags to riches.

1) Then: The Pendletones, Now: The Beach Boys

Clearly they got over it.

Ah yes, the ancestors of surf rock. Before they were The Beach Boys, they were known as The Pendletones – a play on words of sorts (like the Beatles, Beat-les, instead of Beetles, duh!) Pendletons were actually a style of shirt waaay back in the day, and the boys decided to make their name even more ironic by changing the spelling to 'tones' in order to make it clear that they were a band that played music, not a shirt manufacturer. What's most interesting about this name change is that the band members were unaware that the change was even being made until the put out their first single. Their label, Capitol Records, changed their name without asking their opinion. Those sneaks! 

2) Then: Mookie Blaylock, Now: Pearl Jam

Sh. Don't tell a soul.

Mookie Blaylock? What on God's green Earth were they thinking? I honestly have a hard time pronouncing Mookie Blaylock and I'm not even wearing my retainers. I had to look up what these cRaZii words meant, and it turns out that it's actually someone's name! Mookie was an All-Star basketball player...totally relevant, right? A jam-y grunge band named after a basketball player...I can see how that image ties in closely with the lyrics in nearly every Pearl Jam album. No, really, I have no idea what Eddie Vedder was thinking when he decided on this name. Then again, Eddie is keen on the old name-change. His name, after all, is really Edward Louis Severson III. But who'd keep that name when you can have one that has four d's in it and kind of rhymes! Moral of the story is that they had to make the switch because Mookie was still playing bball and his name was considered a brand, thus not up for grabs by some dirty little rock group.

3) Then: The Sex Maggots, Now: Goo Goo Dolls

The thought of 'sex maggots' makes me want to throw up. What are sex maggots? They can't possible be anything good. I don't know what they are or if they exist, but I do know that I want nothing to do with them. What a vile name. I always knew John Rzeznik was a freak. And what a change, to the innocent-sounding Goo Goo Dolls – who are they trying to fool? Cute things say 'goo,' like babies, because they are not humans and are thus deemed 'things.' And maybe that's what they were going for, but it seems to be in stark contrast to the once grotesque Sex Maggots. Apparently a club owner refused to let them play as The Sex Maggots, so they drunkenly chose a new name by picking a random phrase from an ad in a True Detective magazine. Pure genius. The 'ole spin a globe, put your finger down, and move to that country trick. Classic.

These are goo goo dolls. If you put your finger in their heads they change expressions!