The Secret History of Rock 

Where Bands Got Their Names

Alan Cross 2 Comments

It’s time to at where various bands got their names.  

Simple Minds comes from a line in David Bowie’s “Jean Genie.”  “Radiohead” was copped from the title of a Talking Heads song on their 1986 album, True Stories.  

Killing Joe was based on a Monty Python skit about a joke that was so funny that it actually killed people.  

Foster the People was originally known as “Foster and the People,” but people kept mishearing it so they just changed it.  

The Jane’s Addiction offshoot Porno for Pyros got theirs from a booklet for fireworks.  My Chemical Romance comes from the title of a collection of stories by novelist Irving Welsh.  

And Vampire Weekend was based on an amateur film once made by singer Ezra Koenig.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 30+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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2 thoughts on “Where Bands Got Their Names”

  • Pat J
    November 9, 2011 at 12:59 am
    Permalink

    Hard Core Logo's bassist (?) Billy Talent gave his name to the band of, uh, the same name.

    Reply
  • Mark A.
    November 11, 2011 at 4:43 am
    Permalink

    Ned's Atomic Dustbin had a shortlist of names, but the Goon Show episode title fit their already-designed logo.

    Reply

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