Weekly survey: What is the worst band name of all time?
If you’ve ever been in a band, you’ll know how torturous it is to come up with a name. So many criteria need to be met.
- Everyone in the group has to agree on it.
- The name has to project something about your style, image, attitude, and sound.
- It has to lend itself to good graphic design.
- You have to be able to secure a domain name–and .com is preferred.
- And most importantly, no one else can have used the name at any point in the history of the known universe.
These challenges have often led to some bad decisions. The Butthole Surfers. Dayglo Abortions. Dogs Die in Hot Cars. Car Seat Headrest. Toad the
Before they decided on Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, they went by Hitler’s Underpants, a truly awful name. Who thought Test Icicles was a good name (say it fast)? How about Let’s Eat Grandma? And I swear there’s a band called Xstabxyouxinxthexheadxandxeatxyourxfacexoffx.
Even “The Beatles” is a terrible name, It began as an homage to Buddy Holly and The Crickets (crickets-beetles, geddit?). But then John suggested a twist by changing the second “e” to an “a” because at the time, combos such at this were often referred to as “beat groups” in the UK. “It works on two levels,” said John. Maybe, but it’s still a terrible name.
What are your picks for the worst band names of all time?
Got a few for you Alan! Erotic Female Relievance Observations, Fat As Fuck, Fetal Butchery and Fetus Grinders and one of my favourites – Cumgun
The worst one that comes to mind is Anal Cunt. Yuck!
“Accidental Goat Sodomy” has to be one of the worst I’ve ever found
John Cougar Concentration Camp.
Rainbow Butt Monkeys… great album terrible band name… no wonder they changed it to Finger Eleven.
@Shane, and to be fair, Finger Eleven is a pretty lousy band name too!
Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head
In the same vein as “The Beatles” being a terrible name… sorry, but “Nirvana” never seemed like a good name to me, right from the beginning. The music is nothing at all representative of Nirvana – the band certainly wasn’t (not even in a tongue in cheek way), and the band name didn’t seem to fit the genre: Mudhoney, Melvins, Tad… yes. Nirvana? Errr, no.
I saw a band about 10 years ago in Toronto call The Texas Dirt Fuckers
Children of Incest
The The.
Second this one.
Limp Bizkit is pretty stupid.
It’s either the worst band name or the best depending on your outlook on the matter. Local band had the name “Your Mother”. So every weekend a local bar’s sign would read “Live tonight – Your Mother”.
The butt hole surfers
Anything with lil or young
Even though I love this band pet shop boys
Diarrhea Planet. Great band but the name will turn your stomach if you think about it too much. Trust me.
Nickelback, but it suits.
The Band. Tells you nothing about them, their origin, influences, musicianship, or song writing talent. Just plain lazy.
There are so many, it’s had to narrow it down…but…
Rainbow Butt Monkeys
!!!
Anal Cunt
Cherry Poppin Daddies
Dave Matthews Band
Maybe not the worst name, but I cringe every time I have to say Alice in Chains because I love their music.
Glue Leg was a pretty bad name.
U2
The Music could have been great but you couldn’t Google them…
Foo Fighters is pretty dumb imo.
I love Arctic Monkeys as a band, but it’s a truly stupid band name. I think they’ve admitted as much.
The Electric Toilet.
I don’t want to know where that name came from.
I hate to say it, because they’re a beloved band, but Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.
It’s silly and people always give me a funny look when they ask me about my favourite bands. It’s long and unwieldy. It’s shortens to, “NAD”, which is less than ideal as well.
But great fucking band.
Jimmie’s Chicken Shack
I used to be in a punk band and it was really difficult to come up with a name. Like stupid hard. We went through a few, 3 Legged Dog, The Cumbdunts, and The Beef Curtains. All pretty stupid. We finally settled on “Guess What Peter Did”. Again, pretty dumb. But we had a small following, and they shortened it to GWPD.
But we never really liked it. But it’s so hard.