What is the greatest rock band name?

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I mean, regardless of the quality of music. Is it The Who? Is it the Fucking Champs?

It is probably not Puddle of Mudd.

― Famous Athlete, Thursday, 7 November 2002 03:20 (twenty-three years ago)

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

(not Shed 7)

Hey, how about doing what I just did, and offering a totally unrock name too? If it's not too much trouble, like.

― Charlie (Charlie), Thursday, 7 November 2002 03:23 (twenty-three years ago)

The Scumfucs

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 7 November 2002 03:24 (twenty-three years ago)

a band i heard of but never heard, from the early '60s, called The Nation Rocking Shadows.

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Thursday, 7 November 2002 03:24 (twenty-three years ago)

half man half biscuit. and you know it.

― angelo (angelo), Thursday, 7 November 2002 03:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Jackie O Motherfucker

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Thursday, 7 November 2002 03:47 (twenty-three years ago)

"John Cougar Concentration Camp" obviously

i also like names that are like
Otis Day and the Knights
Paul Revere and the Raiders
etc
those are awesome names although a little goofy in this day and age

― ddd, Thursday, 7 November 2002 03:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Brian Jonestown Massacre

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:05 (twenty-three years ago)

well, if we're going for goofball you just can't beat Anal Cunt. You really can't top it.

― Anthony Miccio, Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Nate is OTM.

― Poppy (poppy), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I really like The Arcade Fire (montreal) and Sparklehorse. Cornershop's good too.

― Sean@tangmonkey (Sean M), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh be serious. Cornershop's a crap name.

― Motel Hell (vassifer), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:24 (twenty-three years ago)

I always thought Cop Shoot Cop was a brilliant (if needlessly provocative) name.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet

― Kim (Kim), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Bruno Gerussi's Medallion

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:36 (twenty-three years ago)

dude this reads like a "worst rock band names of all time" thread!

― geeta (geeta), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Arab on Radar for offensive/provocative.

I seriously might have to go with Afghan Whigs.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:43 (twenty-three years ago)

This Heat

― T. Weiss (Timmy), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:48 (twenty-three years ago)

I never actually heard them, but there was a band that played at CBGB's a few years ago called:

Afghanistan Banana Stand.

.....and anyone remember Fallafel Mafia?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 7 November 2002 04:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Vampyre State Building

― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 7 November 2002 05:23 (twenty-three years ago)

teenage jesus & the jerks

― original bgm, Thursday, 7 November 2002 05:30 (twenty-three years ago)

on the middle eastern tip: fez perez

― minna (minna), Thursday, 7 November 2002 05:50 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree with Alan. the Rolling Stones isn't a bad name either.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 7 November 2002 06:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Bent Leg Fatima

― Curt (cgould), Thursday, 7 November 2002 07:19 (twenty-three years ago)

1. Butthole surfers
2. jane's addiction
3. joy division
4. led zeppelin
5. de raggende manne

― Marcel Verhoeven, Thursday, 7 November 2002 07:21 (twenty-three years ago)

6. Amazing Stroopwafels
7. Psychedelic Furs
8. Velvet Underground
9. The Cramps
10.My Bloody Valentine

― Marcel Verhoeven, Thursday, 7 November 2002 08:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Black Sabbath
(duh)

― Keith McD (Keith McD), Thursday, 7 November 2002 09:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Teen Chthulu, easily

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 7 November 2002 09:50 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree with ddd, and must add Guns N' Wankers and REO Speeddealer.

― Damian (Damian), Thursday, 7 November 2002 09:57 (twenty-three years ago)

EIGHTIESMATCHBOXBLINEDISASTER

Though it's quite fun dropping Meanwhile Back In Communist Russia into casual conversation, too.

― Mr Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 7 November 2002 10:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Gallon Drunk

― tigerclawskank, Thursday, 7 November 2002 10:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Cockney Rebel. The Troggs. The Action. Black Sabbath. The Mindbenders. T-Rex. Mandrake Paddle Steamer. The Adverts. Subway Sect. Chicory Tip.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 7 November 2002 11:09 (twenty-three years ago)

i've got to admit ..And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead is the most rockin' name around. despite having lost pretty much all interest in things loud and grungy ten years ago i had to go and see them a few weeks ago.

they were alright actually.

and Puddle of Mudd is indeed a disasterous name - what were they thinking of?

and Toad the Wet Sprocket.....words fail me

― adam b (adam b), Thursday, 7 November 2002 11:29 (twenty-three years ago)

can i echo geeta? these names are all terrible.

― michael wells (michael w.), Thursday, 7 November 2002 11:41 (twenty-three years ago)

I like Slayer

― J>E>L, Thursday, 7 November 2002 11:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Chicory Tip is great - sounds rude too.

Also fond of
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
The Urinals
Nucleus
Tankard

― tigerclawskank, Thursday, 7 November 2002 12:42 (twenty-three years ago)

1)"I love you but I've chosen Darkness" from Texas
2)"Guided by voices"
3)"Need new body"
4)"Brian JonesTown Massacre"
5)"X-Mal Deutschland"

― Tanqueray71, Thursday, 7 November 2002 13:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Ass Baboons Of Venus

― Wondering Boy Poet, Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:08 (twenty-three years ago)

1) Brian Jonestown Massacre
2) My Bloody Valentine
3) Cowboy Junkies
4) Mothers of Invention
5) The Dandy Warhols

Honourable mention to Jr. Gone Wild and The Pursuit of Happiness.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:15 (twenty-three years ago)

And while not a band, Laura Borealis is a great psydonum.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Black Flag
The Nation of Ulysses

I'll "me too" Arab on Radar.

― Jonathan Williams (ex machina), Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Faxed Head
Men's Recovery Project
Boredoms

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:21 (twenty-three years ago)

The Teardrop Explodes is my favorite band name of all time.

― Aaron W, Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Ted Bundy's Volkswagen
JFKFC
A Fighting Force of Extraordinary Magnitude
The Go Kill Yourselves

― nickalicious, Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:26 (twenty-three years ago)

You're all high. It was the Del-Vikings.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Kinky Friedman & His Texas Jewboys

― christoff (christoff), Thursday, 7 November 2002 15:35 (twenty-three years ago)

the the.

― cecilia, Thursday, 7 November 2002 17:59 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll second "The the", throw in "The Band", and add that "And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead" is the worst, most pretentious band name possible. Actually, !!! might be worse.

― David Allen, Thursday, 7 November 2002 18:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Joy Divison
Soft Machine
Dead Boys
Throbbing Gristle
The Lyres

"teenage jesus & the jerks" -- Alan N
I second that. Good band.

― Juan, Thursday, 7 November 2002 19:33 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll second "The the", throw in "The Band", and add that "And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead" is the worst, most pretentious band name possible. Actually, !!! might be worse. --- David Allen

what about, +/- ?
That has to worst then, !!!

― Juan, Thursday, 7 November 2002 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Afghanistan Banana Stand

This is a phrase from a Donald E .Westlake novel.

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 7 November 2002 21:11 (twenty-three years ago)

those names like 'REO Speeddealer' & 'John Cougar Concentration Camp' are SO wack. 'And You Will Know Us By the Trail Of The Dead", oh yr putting me on, there's no such band.

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Thursday, 7 November 2002 21:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Raunchy Young Lepers.

Ned, I ordered the 12 CD box set by them, I hope I won't regret it.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Thursday, 7 November 2002 21:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Toad the Wet Sprocket blah blah Monty Python blah blah etc carry on.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 7 November 2002 21:43 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd say µ-Ziq... but that's not a band...

― Curtis Stephens, Thursday, 7 November 2002 21:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Ned, I ordered the 12 CD box set by them, I hope I won't regret it.

:-) Value for money, friend. Read my AMG reviews if you just want to skip to the 'good' stuff.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 November 2002 21:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Brian Jonestown Massacre is still the best - I'd also add Popdefect, Drop City, Wall Of Voodoo, Teen Cthulhu, Galaxie 500, Spacemen 3, Full Metal Racket.

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Thursday, 7 November 2002 23:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Bikini Kill. Ruins ! Chicks on Speed. Throwing Muses.

― daria gray (daria gray), Thursday, 7 November 2002 23:48 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd like to second Joy Division and add the Circle Jerks---

Is there truly a band called Ass Baboons of Venus?

― webcrack (music=crack), Thursday, 7 November 2002 23:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh c'mon, My Bloody Valentine was a terrible name!

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 8 November 2002 00:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Is there truly a band called Ass Baboons of Venus?

Yup.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 November 2002 03:45 (twenty-three years ago)

who said "meanwhile back in communist russia"???

surely it sounds a little lame when placed next to....

The Silver Mount Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra La La Band!

i hope this ends the "find the longest name contest" because long names arent necessarily good ones.

personally i think that the ramones got it in one.

― alistair, Friday, 8 November 2002 15:07 (twenty-three years ago)

3) Cowboy Junkies
Excellent choice. A very apt name...they're all twangy, but they also sound like their on dope.
Sweeeeeeeet Jaaaaannnnnne zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

― Lord Custos Omega (Lord Custos Omega), Friday, 8 November 2002 16:12 (twenty-three years ago)

The Be-Sharps.

― mike a (mike a), Friday, 8 November 2002 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

The Jesus & Mary Chain.

I seem to remember staff at the record pressing plant refused to work on their records when they first came out cos they were too offended by it.

While we're at it, the Dead Kennedys wound a few people up.

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 8 November 2002 18:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead" is the worst, most pretentious band name possible"

Of course! that's what's so great about it. especially when coupled with the fact they all look like junior school teachers.

― adam b (adam b), Friday, 8 November 2002 18:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I always thought Sonic Youth was an incredibly good band name.

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 8 November 2002 18:39 (twenty-three years ago)

The Jackass 5

― (1411), Saturday, 9 November 2002 05:57 (twenty-three years ago)

actually, Puddle of Mudd is a genius name in its own way. If you listen to Korn, Fieldy's flabby basslines seem to be saying "Puddle O' Blood Puddleoblodd plodplod Puddleoblood" So they took the phrase and added an extra d to emphasive the ploDDingness of it all. And since Puddle Of Bloodd has those silly double o's and the blood would have promised more lyrical gore than their odes to vile feminine wiles could deliver, they changed it to the equally ploDDing Mudd. It's so apropos to their mission that I must respect it on some level.

― Anthony Miccio, Saturday, 9 November 2002 19:16 (twenty-three years ago)

There used to be a band here in NYC called "The Original Rays," which is only funny to New York pizza lovers.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 9 November 2002 23:53 (twenty-three years ago)

actually "and you will know us by the trail of dead" is from a Mayan prayer

― Curtis Stephens, Sunday, 10 November 2002 02:55 (twenty-three years ago)

KMFDM,
breaking circus,
the frank boughs,
psychedeliasmith

― dbini, Monday, 11 November 2002 09:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Super Furry Animals!

and also

I second ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead By the way, Curtis, the whole "Mayan corn god" thing was sarcasm on the band's part. All of thier early interviews involve rampant bullshit. "I believe that through the divine inspiration of our lord Jesus Christ, we have come to write songs about having sex and killing people."

― Simon H., Monday, 11 November 2002 15:07 (twenty-three years ago)

the Carrie Nations

― Arthur (Arthur), Monday, 11 November 2002 16:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Arthur again proves his worth. :-)

"The Original Rays," which is only funny to New York pizza lovers.

I'm waiting for an LA equivalent called "The Original Tommys" (in this case referring to chiliburgers).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 11 November 2002 18:12 (twenty-three years ago)

ARTIFICIAL JOY CLUB

― amber nicole, Monday, 11 November 2002 19:10 (twenty-three years ago)

there used to be another nyc band called the Barry White Boys, which i always found amusing. they went on to host a public access tv show, 'Gentlemen of Leisure', which was Swingers before there was Swingers.

― bucky wunderlick (bucky), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 04:21 (twenty-three years ago)

the Snarlies (hem, ahh yes. my band.)

the Rakes

Big Black

― gabriel (gabe), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 05:25 (twenty-three years ago)

"And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead" is the worst, most pretentious band name possible"
Of course! that's what's so great about it. especially when coupled with the fact they all look like junior school teachers.

Thanks for your support! They play pool like junior school teachers as well...

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 07:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 17:32 (twenty-three years ago)

four months pass...

Joy Division

― Evan (Evan), Thursday, 27 March 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

http://www.bumpofchicken.com/

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Some fine indie Canadians of yore:

poopoocacaandthebumbums
Deja Voodoo
the Gruesomes
Captain Crunch and Let's Do Lunch
Terminal Sunglasses
Burning Things

― superultramega (superultramarinated), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't know about the band but the greatest rock SONG title is, no doubt, Zappa's "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama". It's got violence, idiocy, humor, appropriated slang, dimestore Freud, generational revolt and self-admiration: every single defining quality of rock'n'roll.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fucking Champs got my vote long ago. They make every other band-name seem pretentious.

"The Who" is too cute.

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

>>>>>>you forgot Lust!

My choice, before i change my mind - Graveyard 5. AND, florida 60s garage legends - Evil. One of the band members was annoyed that their songs had been reissued under the name 'The Evil', which was wrong, he said. AND, Satan's Children.

― Rockstar 5, Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"Cop Shoot Cop" is another stroke of brilliance, yes.

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Greatest? Dunno. But my favorite is a local Portland metal band:

Blood Bath and Beyond.

― darin, Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:58 (twenty-one years ago)

"Blood Bath and Beyond."

Puns are fun but are the helium balloons of band-naming.

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

did we really get this far without anyone mentioning When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water?

shame on us all.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

over-thought names have an earlier expiration date as well as the puns, maybe.

While that reaction to Cornershop up there was mean, I thought Cornershop was a great name when they were a great band. First two albums and the name references the fact that many "cornershop" proprietors in London are uh, Pakistani or Bengali or Indian. Since they became soft and sweet I think of "Candy Store", not Cornershop. -bleh

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

tit fuck me jesus

― m0stly clean (m0stly clean), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 22:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Sex Pistols.

― Burr (Burr), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Fucking Champs got my vote long ago. They make every other band-name seem pretentious. "

OTFM.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I like how "The Beatles" is such a throwaway name. Like if you visited someone from another dimension and told them the name of the generally regarded 'top group' of all time was The Beatles, they'd laugh and think its a weird name. Which it really is. All these years of hearing the name and you never really think about how weird it is.

Also, it took a long time before I realized Beatles was a really silly pun. Almost sounds like the name of a joke band.

― Adam Bruneau (oliver8bit), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 23:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I was indifferent to the name "Cop Shoot Cop" until Alex clued me in that in context, "Cop" was a verb and it was a heroin reference. Cool name! "Half Man Half Biscuit" is absurd enough to make me laugh (and wonder what they sound like), and I love "Black Oak Arkansas" for being, among geographical names, the only one to reference both city AND state (i.e. they were actually from Black Oak, AK). But without a doubt, I think the Minutemen were the best-named band ever. (And YEAH, I'm fully aware that "the" wasn't part of their name, ya goddamned librarians!)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

My opinion is thatthe loveliest band-names don't take insider knowledge to be great.

I adore librarians. I know a double-librarian. Librarian squared. A gem of the jewel-box-that-is-musical-knowledge. Who dropped Fucking Champs on me. salaam, librarian friend.

― Thea (Thea), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I'm a Libra, so that means I'm 55.555% librarian!

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 2 September 2004 00:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, that's impressive mathematizing.

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 2 September 2004 00:28 (twenty-one years ago)

That could mean that I'm half Caprihoeira dancer. oh no

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 2 September 2004 00:37 (twenty-one years ago)

genbaku onanies

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 2 September 2004 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

no I think it's bukkake onanists.

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 2 September 2004 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

comets on fire!!!!!!!!!!!!

― brock (brock), Thursday, 2 September 2004 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Masters Of Reality

― piers (piers), Thursday, 2 September 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Suicide
Alien Sex Fiend
Sisters of Mercy

on the opposite side, Hoobastank

― Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZT!! BZZZZZT!! (Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZ), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:23 (twenty-one years ago)

also, what the hell does Electric Prunes mean?

― Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZT!! BZZZZZT!! (Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZ), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Also add, although this might not exactly fit under "rock" Einsturzende Neubauten.

― Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZT!! BZZZZZT!! (Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZ), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Einsturzende Neubauten - good name
Suicide - not

― wetmink (wetmink), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:28 (twenty-one years ago)

don't like the band or does it sound too blunt & obvious? If you're going for strong reaction its hard to beat Napalm Death.

― Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZT!! BZZZZZT!! (Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZ), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:38 (twenty-one years ago)

It's too obvious - like I think a million crappy nu metal and goth bands would immediately name themselves Suicide if it hadn't already been taken.

― wetmink (wetmink), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but they were first, & they weren't crappy, so i still like it.

― Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZT!! BZZZZZT!! (Queen Electric Butt Prober BZZ), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I always liked...
His Name Is Alive

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Thursday, 2 September 2004 02:55 (twenty-one years ago)

The name "Deicide" gives me giggles.

The worst names have to be ones that are legitimately confusing, like Danny Wilson and Thompson Twins (who lacked Wilsons and Thompsons, respectively).

Culture Club and Free Design were great names for what they were up to.

On second thought, The Floaters is the worst band name ever.

And the greatest is Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Thursday, 2 September 2004 03:13 (twenty-one years ago)

a few years ago i tried to get my band to call ourselves Moses and the Golden Calves but the resident christian had a problem with it...sourpuss. he liked dave matthews anyway.

― tom cleveland (tom cleveland), Thursday, 2 September 2004 03:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Some great & 'interesting' ones:

Those Naughty Lumps
Student Teachers
Urban Verbs
Bloodless Pharaohs
Indians In Moscow
F*ck
!!!
The Yummy Fur
Comateens
Cuban Heels
Berlin Blondes
Dalek I Love You
Big In Japan
Swinging Cats
Pink Section
Inflatable Boy Clams
Flipper
Shop Assistants
Twisted Roots
Nuns
Needles & Pins
Scars
Desperate Bicycles
Yachts
Young Marble Giants
Fingerprintz
Bears
New Math
Electric Callas
Japan
Winelord
The Chefs
Snivelling Sh*ts

that's enough for today, I've got work to do...

― Oh, Thursday, 2 September 2004 08:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Slayer is a great band name, simply for the fact it's FUN to shout out "SLAYERRRR!!!!!".

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 2 September 2004 08:36 (twenty-one years ago)

The Charging Tyranosaurus of Despair
Clitorus That Thought It Was a Puppy

― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 2 September 2004 10:52 (twenty-one years ago)

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