Bands You could never allow yourself to like, given their (to your ears) indefensibly stupid name.

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1. Geggy Tah
2. Sloan
3. Dishwalla

...I realize there are more than enough reasons to hate these bands already, but having silly/stupid/embarassing names certainly doesn't aid their already troubled cause.

4. Hootie & the Blowfish
5. Matchbox Twenty
6. An Emotional Fish
7. Limp Bizkit
8. Korn
9. Phish
10. .......?

Yers?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 November 2003 06:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The The
Yes
The Fixx
Moonraker
Genesis

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 06:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The The has it moments. Johnny Marr, yo.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 06:56 (twenty-two years ago)

But perhaps the worst band name ever?

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 06:58 (twenty-two years ago)

generally speaking:

nearly every modern hardcore band
any band with a number in its name
every metal band ever

in particular:

murder by death
your enemies friends
kerosene 454
gorilla biscuits
death before dying

― ohrobert, Saturday, 29 November 2003 06:59 (twenty-two years ago)

death before dying

That is stupid.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 November 2003 07:09 (twenty-two years ago)

the 80s were particularly bad for stupid names:

Mister Mister
Haircut 100
Pretty Boy Floyd
Tears for Fears

and lately:

matchbox 20
blink182

― Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 29 November 2003 07:11 (twenty-two years ago)

i think the the is a fantastic name.

― reo, Saturday, 29 November 2003 07:17 (twenty-two years ago)

kerosene 454

Actually a good band! But your list reminds me: Youth Brigade, Youth of Today... esp. when the members started getting up in the years.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 07:19 (twenty-two years ago)

you mean like Sonic Youth?

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 07:43 (twenty-two years ago)

YES.

But they weren't a HORRIBLE BAND to begin with.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 07:55 (twenty-two years ago)

i think the the is a fantastic name.

Reminds me of The Commitments:

"And And fucking And?!"

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 07:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Hardcore, Emo, and pop-punk bands tend to have the worst band names these days. Some examples: Snowdogs (possibly the worst ever), Rufio, The Starting Line, Mest, or anything with a pseudo-poetic- style name like From Autumn to Ashes or Taking Back Sunday.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Great thread.

*Gorky's Zygotic Minci
*Bongzilla
*As I Lay Dying / From Autumn To Ashes / any faggotass emo shit (despite the stunningly good drumming of a lot of these cats, in particular Poison The Well and Avenged Sevenfold)
*Swearing At Motorists
*The International Noise Conspiracy

― roger adultery, Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Glass Candy & The Shattered Theatre
XBXRX

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Hoobastank!

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Ekoostik Hookah

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Hoooooverphonic
Polyphonic Spree

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Swearing at Motorists would be funny if it were the name of a comedy troupe.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

the soundtrack of our lives
three colours red
the death of anna karina
sweep the leg johnny
save ferris
death cab for cutie
the promise ring
the unbelievable truth
pedro the lion
american football
elf power
kitty craft
masters of the hemisphere
dances with wolves

― brian badword (badwords), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned's Atomic Dustbin
They Came From The Stars (I Saw Them)
Every God!speed extension ever

― nestmanso (nestmanso), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Sad because I actually would like to like They Came...

― nestmanso (nestmanso), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

jets to brazil
dead can dance
the jazz june
the kills
OMD

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Death Cab for Cutie passes, not because it's clever, but it at least has the good taste to be inscrutable.

I think what most of us are getting at here is what the name of a band reveals about the intellect of a band. Some of the best band names are utter nonsense, having been made up by people who realize that giving your band name some kinda "meaning" would be unbearably pretentious. Band names like Ned's Atomic Dustbin are great, IMO. Bad band, of course, but don't let that color your appreciation of their ridiculous band name. Look -- at least it's not "arty."

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Jackie-O Motherfucker (although to be fair I did give them a chance)

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:26 (twenty-two years ago)

what's so inscrutable about taking your band name from a Beatles movie?

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I think JOMF is a great band name. But I really like the band too. Foolish man.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:28 (twenty-two years ago)

oh man it's a horrible name! But I was gonna give them the benefit of the doubt 'cause some people I knew with decent taste liked them (ahem), but jeez were they ever not-so-hot-or-worth-my-ten-bucks live.

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I often wonder, hstencil, what DO you like?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck off Kenan.

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

You're right, they're probably not worth ten bucks alone. But most bands aren't.

add to the list: Facial Defecation, Anal Cunt

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck off Kenan.

Hey, eat shit. You're an endless fountain of negativity about everything possible, and it's getting fucking boring. Lighten up, sourpuss.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:34 (twenty-two years ago)

let's see, on this thread I:

1. made a joke about Sonic Youth, a band I like.
2. listed one band, Jackie-O Motherfucker, as falling into the category of having a stupid name, with the caveat that at least I gave them a chance.
3. questioned whether naming a band from a Beatles movie is "inscrutable" (hint: it isn't!).

I didn't:

1. list a lot of bands.
2. personally attack anyone for their choices or comments until attacked by Kenan.

Yeah, you're right, I clearly am "an endless fountain of negativity about everything possible," that's why I did these things. Unlike yourself.

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno, it may be fair to use the word "inscrutable" when the reference is not common knowledge.

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

No one's mentioned Puddle of Mudd?

WHY TWO D's?? WTF

― Gear! (Gear!), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm just saying that I can't remeber the last time you said anything nice about anything. And if you did recently say anything nice about anything, it's been eclipsed by your general demeanor, which is certainly that of a sourpuss. I'm not saying you;re a bad sport or anything. Just that you're a bummer to be around.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Re PoM: Heh, yeah, I was watching cable at my parents' house yesterday, and MTV had some you-pick-the-next-video thing, where two videos go head to head, and at one point one of the choices was Puddle of Mudd, who (never having heard them) I hoped would lose only because of the name.

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:50 (twenty-two years ago)

it may be fair to use the word "inscrutable" when the reference is not common knowledge.

Well, yeah, the only reason I have this knowledge is because of the band name. Therefore, still in the realm of the abstract.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:51 (twenty-two years ago)

What a strange concept.

― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Indeed.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 08:57 (twenty-two years ago)

broken social scene.

― Elliott (ebb), Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:02 (twenty-two years ago)

a "bummer to be around?" When did I invite you to my house?

I post positive stuff about things I like all the time. It's just that you don't, or won't, or can't, see/read it. Also, this is not the most positive thread subjet matter on ILM, but I don't see you jumping down anyone else's throat.

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

When did I invite you to my house?

You didn't. Maybe that's why I'm bitter.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:18 (twenty-two years ago)

well why would I when you take every opportunity (this thread isn't the only time it's happened) to go ballistic when I merely post an opinion (or in the case of this thread, a simple question)? I don't think I'm the one who needs to lighten up, and by telling you to fuck off it should be quite clear I'm tired of your bizarre pathological bullying. Okay?

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay. I'm pathological and unstable, it's true. And you're habitually negative, which is also true. I see you saying pointedly negative and insulting things so often that it sinks in. It's not just your words, it's your tone. You HATE things, like, you really HATE things. That's weird to me, and I am now suspicious of your every opinion, fearful that it's tainted with HATE. And this was probably not the thread to go off on you, but whatever.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:28 (twenty-two years ago)

right now the only thing I hate is you.

― hstencil, Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:30 (twenty-two years ago)

All nu metal ever. Pissing Razors, Korn, Sevendust, Puddle of Mudd, Soulfly, Linkin Park, Mudvayne, Deftones, HedPE, Staind, stuff already mentioned etc. All of it.

― sucka (sucka), Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:31 (twenty-two years ago)

the above two posts : nu metal lyrics?

― sucka (sucka), Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:32 (twenty-two years ago)

hm... me and hstencil doing a hate-themed version of "Guilty Conscience"?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 29 November 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Where I come from theres a football team called OMP.
- Orchesteral manoeuvers in the Park.
I always thought that was quite witty.

Limp Bizkit and Puddle of Mudd and Queens of the (new ?) stone age..
The worst possible names.
But maybe were all out of sync with what sounds cool these days...

― kevin brady (groeuvre), Saturday, 29 November 2003 11:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Would you name a band Sounds Cool? We're all in sync, I guess.

― nestmanso (nestmanso), Saturday, 29 November 2003 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Ben folds five - now theres a name that actually annoys me.

― kevin brady (groeuvre), Saturday, 29 November 2003 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"Only If You Call Me Jonathan". FUCK OFF.

You think Queens of the Stone Age is "the worst possible name"? On what grounds? Do you think you might look gay if you wear their T-shirt?

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Saturday, 29 November 2003 12:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Death Cab for Cutie is terribly annoying.

NOFX. I hate names that I can't figure out how to say.

― Debito (Debito), Saturday, 29 November 2003 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

The most recent one is Billy Talent. Lame name for a pretty good band.

― Iam Anonentity, Saturday, 29 November 2003 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Deaf + Tones = Deftones?

Seems to me a pretty clever name. I likes.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Saturday, 29 November 2003 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smashing Pumpkins. Love, love, love the band, can't stand the name.

also: The Cranberry Saw Us. Nearly as unforgiveable as the band they eventually became.

I also thought Pussy Crush was a horrible sounding name.

― Neil FC (Neil FC), Saturday, 29 November 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Floetry!

― Angus Gordon (angusg), Saturday, 29 November 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, Deftones actually isn't all that bad namewise.

I think An Emotional Fish actually has a good name. It says anomie or alienation but also passion at the same time.

― sucka (sucka), Saturday, 29 November 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

DJ Mencap- No, why would I look gay in a queens of the stone age t-shirt ?

― kevin brady (groeuvre), Saturday, 29 November 2003 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

http://http://www.lakeshore-records.com/queensweb.jpg
Like this ??

― kevin brady (groeuvre), Saturday, 29 November 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Jimmy Eat World has some decent songs, but the band name strikes me as being pretty questionable.

I've always liked "Deftones" as a play of words on being tone deaf.

― John Fredland (jfredland), Saturday, 29 November 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.lakeshore-records.com/queensweb.jpg
Hmmm...

― kevin brady (groeuvre), Saturday, 29 November 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I always thought Queens of the Stone Age was a cool name, as it was one of things that attracted me to the band in the first place. It also aptly describes their music: heavy, primitive, but also quirky.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 29 November 2003 21:35 (twenty-two years ago)

some more:

Dufus
Moldy Peaches
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Speedball Baby
INXS

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Saturday, 29 November 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

From Alex's thread-starter:

4. Hootie & the Blowfish
[...]
6. An Emotional Fish
[...}
9. Phish

Hmmm...

― OleM (OleM), Saturday, 29 November 2003 22:47 (twenty-two years ago)

BaronZen. He's also annoying.

― cs appleby (cs appleby), Sunday, 30 November 2003 07:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, Jackie O Motherfucker is a terrible name more suitable for some cheese-ass nu-metal band or something rather than the quite enjoyable group that they are. And from what I've read of his posts over the last couple months, hstencil seems to like a lot of things, like Thin Lizzy and improv and Nautical Almanac. Bands with good names.

― Jeff Sumner (Jeff Sumner), Sunday, 30 November 2003 07:40 (twenty-two years ago)

The Shins. When I heard one of their songs and actually liked it a lot, my reaction was, "but it's 'The Shins'! Why don't they suck a whole lot, like their name indicates they surely must?" Perhaps Shins is some sort of cultural reference I've missed, but consider Murry The Hump, back story or not it's still a godawful name to saddle your band with.

― Poppy (poppy), Sunday, 30 November 2003 07:44 (twenty-two years ago)

modest mouse
peaches
good charlotte

bands with stupid names that i nonetheless adore:
echo and the bunnymen
we've got a fuzzbox and we're gonna use it
butthole surfers
the tubeway army

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 30 November 2003 08:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I just don't get Jackie O Motherfucker.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 30 November 2003 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

His Name is Alive. Could never get beyond that.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 30 November 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

hating on murder by death is not cool :(

also XBXRX is incredible

death before dying is the worst name I'm ever heard though

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Sunday, 30 November 2003 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Honorable Shed 7 mention.

― kinski (kinski), Sunday, 30 November 2003 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Re: the Shins -- I had that same response to the Glands -- I was like, "Ewww, the Glands?" But then it was pretty good. Which I guess means this post should be on that other thread. Oops.

On topic: Frozen Ghost. Glass Tiger. White Lion.

But who am I to talk? I was in a band called Desert Ice. And I named it! (I was 15! I swear!)

― spittle (spittle), Sunday, 30 November 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree that Floetry -- or in that case, any band name that attempts to sum up the bands sound or what they're aiming for -- is usually really bad.

However, I like His Name is Alive, for the soul reason as it sounds good when said aloud. That's the biggest problem I had when trying to come up with a band name, getting to something that I could tell people without being embarassed. I still haven't done it.

Bad band names of my own: ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead. Godspeed You Black Emperor. And that's true, I still can't bring myself to listen to either bands music... and when my friend's play them in their cars, I try my best to tune it out.

― David Allen, Sunday, 30 November 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I never thought "tone deaf" when I saw/heard the name Deftones. I thought of doo-wop groups like the Monotones, and thought it was really cool to combine hip-hop ("def") and doo-wop ("tones") that way, especially since about 2 people in their target audience were likely to get it, if that many.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Sunday, 30 November 2003 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

The BANGS. Name brings to mind a sea of heads just a' bobbin' to the rock.

Super Furry Animals
definitely second Hoobastank -- obliquely evoking crotch-rot does not a good band name make
any jam band name that references eatin', dirty shit, or drugs

― Clarke B., Sunday, 30 November 2003 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a subcategory of bad bands that name themselves after comedy sketches. Ned's Atomic Dustbin naming themselves after a Goon Show episode. Toad The Wet Sprocket after a Python line.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 30 November 2003 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

any band with a penis pun in their name

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 1 December 2003 00:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Turbonegro.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 1 December 2003 11:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Average White Band. And The Band.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 1 December 2003 11:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Megadeth
Anthrax
Venom
Satan's Cheerleaders

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 1 December 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree....Turbonegro is hard to support.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 December 2003 12:52 (twenty-two years ago)

soup dragons
love tractor
gigolo aunts
hindu love gods
hypnolovewheel
humble pie
hot tuna
mott the hoople
uriah heep
black grape
moby grape
moby
operation makeout
rich kids on lsd
sheep on drugs

― brian badword (badwords), Monday, 1 December 2003 13:24 (twenty-two years ago)

replace gigolo aunts with baby lemonade.

― brian badword (badwords), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Afghan Whigs

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

luscious jackson
g love & special sauce
mother love bone
nerf herder
every ska band with a play on ska in their name!!!

not that i could ever possibly like ska anyway.

― brian badword (badwords), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

because i'm too good for ska and ska is too crappy for me, see.

― brian badword (badwords), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't remember any bands I've ever hated just BECAUSE of their name (though with names like "Granola Funk Express," I guess I tend to be wary). But I still feel the Cherry Poppin Daddies and Rapeman should be mentioned here. (Also, didn't Steve Albini and some guys from Urge Overkill briefly have a project called Run Nigger Run in the '80s?)

― chuck, Monday, 1 December 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

And I didn't mean to single Granola Funk Express and hippies of their ilk out -- there are lotsa funk-punk and political hardcore and death metal and lesbian folk and gangsta rap and fill-in-the-blank names just as stupid, I suppose. I just don't wanna think of them right now.

― chuck, Monday, 1 December 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

g love & special sauce

Yeah, this is just flatly unacceptable to me.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually I don't even know if Granola Funk Express is the band's real name, come to think of it. (p.s.: The Jazz June, Bongzilla, Floetry, and HedPE, all of which I see above, have definitely sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard to me in the past, though I actually wound up liking the Jazz June's music when I heard it. Bongzilla also reminds me of Satanicide and Dread Zeppelin, whose names are just as dumb -- in fact, "names making fun of heavy metal bands without being remotely funny" probably deserve their own special category.) (And I don't even know if that's what Bongzilla ARE, though they should be.)

― chuck, Monday, 1 December 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't believe it took SO LONG for Godspeed You Black Emperor! and And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead to come up!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

There's a metal-ish band called 'Soil'. That suggests to me either gardening or incontinence, neither of which I associate with rock, apart from the second one. And Death-CabÉ is the name of a song by the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band. Go figure.

― Blahde Blah, Sunday, 17 July 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

What, no Arhers of Loaf yet?

― Telephonething (Telephonething), Sunday, 17 July 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

baby shambles

― Johann (johann), Sunday, 17 July 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

won g, not because of his name but for the title of his (only?) album "Do it, Do it Won G" that sat on a local used rack for at least 5 years.
I just imagine the title track is the worst song ever and involves Won g exhorting the crowd to 'get hyped' like, way too many times, I'd bet money on it even.

I third G Love, he's gotta be a clod

Trashcan Sinatras and the Lounge Lizards slipped in under my radar and got a reprieve of sorts.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Sunday, 17 July 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

oh and Cherrywine. 'Butterfly' wasn't bad enough! It boggles the mind.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Sunday, 17 July 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

i am kloot
my morning jacket
my ruin
my vitriol
my chemical romance
you am i
your mum
his name is alive
her space holiday
we will be pilots
us 3
they might be giants

all of that shit.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 17 July 2005 11:06 (twenty years ago)

I used to misread Broken Social Scene as Broken Social Science, which is waaaaay better.

― dmun drive-in (dmun), Sunday, 17 July 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

Flying Burrito Brothers

― nicholas de jong (nicholas de jong), Sunday, 17 July 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I second Archers of Loaf. Some very cool people have recommended them to me and I'm just not having it.

― p.j. (Henry), Sunday, 17 July 2005 13:40 (twenty years ago)

Archers is indeed a terrible name, but for a certain kind of loud, driving indie rock, they're the undisputed kings. Up through Vee Vee they were one of the best bands in the world.

OPO Archers: Lowest Part Is Free

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Sunday, 17 July 2005 14:36 (twenty years ago)

SUNNO))) -> I mean, for fucks sake, if that isn't a name just invented to appear in Wire magazine then... Well, maybe I should check'em out, I'll probably like'em.

― nathalie's body's designed for two (stevie nixed), Sunday, 17 July 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

SUNNO)))
They pronounce it "sun", if that makes any difference.

But anyway:
Nada Surf
the Dandy Warhols
Tricky Woo (who I've actually heard - they're o.k.)
Danko Jones
Preston School of Industry

― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Sunday, 17 July 2005 15:01 (twenty years ago)

Morcheeba
Dogs Die In Hot Cars
Dan Fogelberg

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 17 July 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

be your own pet
say hi to your mom
clap your hands say yeah

― breezy, Sunday, 17 July 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

The Mooney Suzuki
Test-Icicles (apparently a new electro/rock/whatever signing to Domino, with one of the most cringe-inducing names I've ever seen)

― Telephonething (Telephonething), Sunday, 17 July 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

And you will know us by our trail of dead

― I.M. (I.M.), Sunday, 17 July 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

It's funny how these lists reflect personal dislikes. E.g., Breezy doesn't like to be told what to do! x-post

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Sunday, 17 July 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

what's wrong with trash can sinatras?
nobody calls gorky's zygotic mynci gorky's zygotic mynci anymore it is just gorky's which is not as bad.
his name is alive was the perfect name for the band on their first 3 or 4 records, it doesn't fit as much anymore but then i hear karin oliver is coming back? they shoudl release the his name is arrive japanoise versions of the songs with chelle marie singing.

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 17 July 2005 16:54 (twenty years ago)

re: Trashcan Sinatras
it made me picture a gaggle of nu-crooners refashioned from an erstwhile swing revival band that missed that particular boat(the 'refashioning' mostly involving ditching the fedoras and paring down the brass section). I've learned otherwise, but still.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Sunday, 17 July 2005 18:55 (twenty years ago)

Eminem

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Sunday, 17 July 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

Wolf Parade...not really a stupid name, but there's about 10000 bands with Wolf in their name now.

But holy mackerel, what a band! It's probably my favorite album of the year.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:37 (twenty years ago)

Oh and Gang Gang Dance and Hot Hot Heat. They both might just as well be called Shit Shit Bollocks

― blahde blah, Sunday, 17 July 2005 22:16 (twenty years ago)

Mister Mister

*shudders*

― Orbit (Orbit), Sunday, 17 July 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

Mr. Mister

sorry for the correction.

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Sunday, 17 July 2005 22:31 (twenty years ago)

!!!
Alien Ant Farm
Rainer Maria
Propagandhi
Butthole Surfers
Eve's Plumb
The Jean Paul Sartre Experience
Mr. T Experience
REO Speedwagon
Septic Death
Stone Temple Pilots
The Revolting Cocks

― cicatrix, Monday, 18 July 2005 03:11 (twenty years ago)

SUNNO))) -> I mean, for fucks sake, if that isn't a name just invented to appear in Wire magazine then... Well, maybe I should check'em out, I'll probably like'em.

-- nathalie's body's designed for two (stevienixe...), July 17th, 2005.

they are worth your time.

― latebloomer: lazy r people (latebloomer), Monday, 18 July 2005 03:20 (twenty years ago)

murder by death

I like this one!

― daavid (daavid), Monday, 18 July 2005 05:31 (twenty years ago)

Let's ask Johnny Thunders.

Hey, Johnny. Who's name don't you like?

http://www.bobgruen.com/files/nydolls/files/R.239%20JOHNNY%20THUNDERS%202%20DRINKS.
"KJ-52"

Thanks, Johnny Thunders.

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Monday, 18 July 2005 05:33 (twenty years ago)

Nid & Sancy

― temeraire (r h), Monday, 18 July 2005 12:41 (twenty years ago)

One thing I'm sure we can all agree on is that "Boymerang" is beyond a doubt the worst stage/band name in the entire history of music.
-- John Darnie11e (editor@lastpla...), January 16th, 2002 8:00 PM

I chuckled over this on the "Lost Generation" thread the other day. He may have a point.

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 18 July 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

Bands Who(m) I Have Never Heard Note One Of, But The Name Tells Me All I Need To Know

― k/l (Ken L), Monday, 18 July 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

The Brian Jonestown Massacre

― zeus, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

Its weird when people put completely awesome band names down because they don't like the band. "My Chemical Romance" is a pretty awesome name for a band.

― deej.., Monday, 18 July 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

1.Quite a preponderance of bandnames that are full sentences, or at least phrases. Yeah, I hate 'em too.

2.Of course it's stupid to entirely dismiss a band's unheard music based on their name alone - even tho 89% of the time you'd be RIGHT.

Having said that...call me a prude, but I REALLY hate "Anal Cunt". I mean, at least their song titles are HUMOROUSLY offensive.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

clap your hands say yeah

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 25 July 2005 04:17 (twenty years ago)

Kitchens of Distinction. Everything else on this thread is OTM except for Sunn 0))).

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Monday, 25 July 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

the band called the band
their song was "the weight"

― retroman, Monday, 25 July 2005 07:23 (twenty years ago)

SUNNO))) -> I mean, for fucks sake, if that isn't a name just invented to appear in Wire magazine then...

Not.

http://www.sunnamps.com/images/sunn_amp.jpg

― Venus Glow (1411), Monday, 25 July 2005 08:28 (twenty years ago)

....and a little closer.

http://www.richbriere.com/images/sunn_logo.gif

― Vg (1411), Monday, 25 July 2005 08:37 (twenty years ago)

Vigilante Shipbuilders!!!!!!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Monday, 25 July 2005 11:11 (twenty years ago)

Any band names with unalphabetic symbols in them, like the aforementioned Sun&#¤&#&)), makes me immediately suspect such bands are pretentious bores. The only exception to that is maybe µ-Ziq, though he can be a pretentious bore too.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 25 July 2005 12:14 (twenty years ago)

Do you hate V∞redoms? :D

― Tumililingan (ex machina), Monday, 25 July 2005 12:17 (twenty years ago)

Soulwax and Millionaire.

― nathalie's body's designed for two (stevie nixed), Monday, 25 July 2005 12:20 (twenty years ago)

KIX

― Bryan Moore (Bryan Moore), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 03:54 (twenty years ago)

Bands, rappers, whatever:

The BOO-YAA T.R.I.B.E.
The Game
50 Cent
Tony Yayo
Da Back Wudz
Three 6 Mafia
OutKast (with a "K", get it?)
J-Hova
Mobb Deep
Naughty by Nature
The Notorious B.I.G.
P.M. Dawn
The Brand New Heavies
Urban Dance Squad
Vybz Kartel
Coolio

― Rob Upt1ght, Tuesday, 26 July 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

stuff i would probably like, but can't force myself to check out because of their names:

No-Neck Blues Band
The Fucking Champs

i hate the name 'Clap Your Hands Say Yeah'. OMG i hate it so much.

SunnO))) made me want to hear them. maybe i am a pretentious Wire reading fuck. i didn't like them all that much, but i will probably try again just because i like so much on Southern Lord. how could i not like the flagship founding group?

― ugly and mean, Tuesday, 26 July 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

the estimable ILMer bimble has e-mailed me enthusing about funkapolitan (for whom peter saville designed the sleeve). personally, i can't see how anyone called funkapolitan could do anything except honk ... but bimble is a man of taste and distinction, so i may have to accept i'm wrong here. fuck.

joy zipper. i hate that name too, and have never bothered to check them out because of it.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 20:44 (twenty years ago)

Skinny Puppy used to really bug me, name-wise, but I got over it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

Oingo Boingo

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 21:17 (twenty years ago)

funkapolitan

... is nice. I think the song I like is "Run Run Run" -- my main man August Darnell producing. Was this a British band? I think so.

― Rob Upt1ght., Wednesday, 27 July 2005 21:19 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

Final Fantasy

― feminazi (feminazi), Thursday, 6 October 2005 22:18 (twenty years ago)

silver jews

― dff, Thursday, 6 October 2005 22:40 (twenty years ago)

The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:28 (twenty years ago)

You need to check out This thread. Goodies Especially the cover art.

Alex you especially need to see it.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:32 (twenty years ago)

You need to check out This thread. Especially the cover art.

Alex you especially need to see it.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:32 (twenty years ago)

oops can someone remove that 1st post please.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:33 (twenty years ago)

It's a Beautiful Day

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:37 (twenty years ago)

Green Jello/y

btw...

death before dying refers to a spiritual concept in Sufi, Muslim and Western Mystery Traditions, in case you didn't know and maybe that makes it sound a little less ridiculous. Otherwise, yeah, it sounds like they wanted to be even deadlier than death or something.

― Eye Am, Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

A lot of metal & hip hop, signs & numbers, pseudo-poetic gibberish (the random bits of phrases trend is annoying as hell). Use of the word "super". Good Charlotte (good grief!), Godspeed!You Bloody Asshat, The Bevis Frond, Hoobastank, Babyshambles, Chumbawamba, Evanescence, Circle Jerks, Die Toten Hosen, Pedro The Lion, INXS, Marianne Faithfull.

And regrettably, both Red Lorry Yellow Lorry + And Also The Trees (trendsetters in the annoying trend) were un-hateable. I had the 1st stylishly sprayed on my Maxi-Puch 50cc motorbike.

Rapeman is the only indefensibly stupid name I see on this thread so far, I remember it caused a protest at the distributor's office.

― blunt (blunt), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

Oh and Turbonegro sucks too but as I speak spanish & italian it didn't hit me right away.

― blunt (blunt), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:52 (twenty years ago)

There are 3 or 4 band names from the '70s like Stackwaddy and Chilliwack that make me wince every time I hear them. I can't remember what the others are but there are definitely a couple more in that vein.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Thursday, 6 October 2005 23:56 (twenty years ago)

ouch walter

i'm sure i've mentioned this one before but there's a folky uptempo hippy outfit called - wait for it - Shooglenifty

that name just makes me want to go out and strangle puppies

― john clarkson, Friday, 7 October 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah, Showaddywaddy is another one I was trying to think of.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Friday, 7 October 2005 15:24 (twenty years ago)

p. diddy, anal cunt, pretty willy, phallus, throbing gristle.

― cujo bass, Friday, 7 October 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

these arms are like snakes

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 7 October 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

Color Me Badd (Really badd music too)
Crystal Pistol
Eyehategod (SO bad)
Paul Wall (Other members of his crew - Ned Ceiling, Karl Floor)
Red Umbrella
Rascal Flatts
Yaz
OK GO
The Stretch Marks (Okay, that one's made up)
Bad Religion (Reminds me of a Caveman talking)
The Goo Goo Dolls
Slim Thug
Everytime I Die
The Von Bondies
Boys II Men
All 4 One

― Erock LAzron, Friday, 7 October 2005 19:55 (twenty years ago)

OK Go is a good one. I'm wondering as I scroll through this if there even any bands listed here that I like at all? Not finding any at first glance.

For some reason I always hated the name "Electric Flag" out of all proportion. I'm not even sure I've ever listened to the band, I just hate the name.

I had a hard time buying The New Pornographers when they came out because I thought it was a really dumb name.

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Friday, 7 October 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Paul Wall (Other members of his crew - Ned Ceiling, Karl Floor)

Did you come up with that one all by yourself?
Also Slim Thug is a badass name. Yaz is a cool name too.

And "Evanescence" is an indisputably great name for an awful band.

― deej.., Friday, 7 October 2005 20:23 (twenty years ago)

Queens of the Stone Age is a great name

i think it's just These Arms are Snakes not "Like Snakes"

I like Silver Jews as a band name.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 7 October 2005 20:23 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Ned Ceiling and Karl Floor were all me. I was pretty pleased with that one, actually.

― Erock Lazron, Saturday, 8 October 2005 05:03 (twenty years ago)

The Velvet Underground. Wait wait wait nvm oh shi... *MUSIC TASTE PARADOX*

― Cunga (Cunga), Saturday, 8 October 2005 05:08 (twenty years ago)

For years, I avoided The Flamin' Groovies, based on their name alone. Then I heard "Shake Some Action" and found they weren't half as bad as their name would have led me to believe.

― Bimble The Nimble, Jumped Over A Thimble! (Bimble...), Saturday, 8 October 2005 05:59 (twenty years ago)

The Arcade Fire. It sounds like they came up with that name using that emo band name generator web page that was all the rage around 1997. Before I heard them, I knew that they could only be so good -- if there were any truly original or creative people in the band, they would've vetoed such a lame ass name.

Any band that has the word "die" in it -- Every Time I Die, As I Lay Dying, Death In Vegas, etc. Exception given for if anybody ever names their band "Die Bart Die".

― casey (t. fiend), Saturday, 8 October 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

Muddle of Pud

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 8 October 2005 22:08 (twenty years ago)

OK, I just made that up, thought it was knda funny.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 8 October 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

Songs: Ohia

I win.

― gk, Saturday, 8 October 2005 23:03 (twenty years ago)

Atreyu. Sure, I like The Neverending Story, but I'm going to steer well clear of bands who name themselves after its characters.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 9 October 2005 02:29 (twenty years ago)

Digable Planets
The String Cheese Incident

― R. Greene, Sunday, 9 October 2005 08:38 (twenty years ago)

Flaming Sideburns
New Pornographers (seconded)
Hoobastank (seconded)
As The Poets Affirm (jesus god!)
Supreme Beings of Leisure
The National

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Sunday, 9 October 2005 10:15 (twenty years ago)

Absolute worst I've seen mentioned so far:

Jackie-O Motherfucker (still have never heard them only because of the name)
The Von Bondies (pisses me off on a gut level, can't say why exactly)
and everything of the Puddle of Korn ilk.

Yet to be mentioned (I think):

The Music

― Matt McEver (mattmc387), Monday, 10 October 2005 00:15 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

The Von Bondies (pisses me off on a gut level, can't say why exactly)

"The Von Bondies" pleases me on a gut level, can't say why exactly.

No one's mentioned Puddle of Mudd?
WHY TWO D's?? WTF

-- Gear!

"Pudle Of Mud?"

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 7 January 2006 09:59 (twenty years ago)

Toad The Wet Sprocket

― xero (xero), Saturday, 7 January 2006 10:11 (twenty years ago)

TTWS was actually borrowed from a Monty Python sketch called "Rock Notes", so the stupidity was kinda the point.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 7 January 2006 11:44 (twenty years ago)

Wacky.

― xero (xero), Saturday, 7 January 2006 11:59 (twenty years ago)

jezus christ - NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL to thread !

― Paul (scifisoul), Saturday, 7 January 2006 12:15 (twenty years ago)

So many terrible band names to choose from ...

Shirk Circus.
Weeping Tile.
Deep Blue Something.
Third Eye Blind.
Boom Crash Opera.
Mary's Danish.
Blow Monkeys.
Low Pop Suicide.
Big Bam Boo.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Saturday, 7 January 2006 15:39 (twenty years ago)

I think Death Cab for Cutie passes, not because it's clever, but it at least has the good taste to be inscrutable.

It had the good taste to be inscrutable when the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band performed a song by the name of "Death Cab For Cutie" in the Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. Credit where it's due, dammit.

The band DCFC is only inscrutable in that one wonders why a band would willingly write and perform music that sounds like background music for prescription drug commercials. Go on, try it: the next time you hear a DCFC song, say out loud, "Are you suffering from seasonal allergies?"

― Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Saturday, 7 January 2006 17:22 (twenty years ago)

With maybe an exception or two, ALL full-sentence names are awful.

(BTW, sorry if I sounded smug, xero, wasn't my intention at all. Python fans can be a tiresome lot, can't they?)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 7 January 2006 17:45 (twenty years ago)

Blonde Redhead - sounds like Four Non Blondes.

― Wogan Lenin (dog latin), Saturday, 7 January 2006 20:22 (twenty years ago)

Blonde Redhead are good though!

I hate the name "Antony and the Johnsons."

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Saturday, 7 January 2006 20:25 (twenty years ago)

Alanis Morrisette
Fiona Apple
Jack Johnson

― ryan (ryan), Saturday, 7 January 2006 21:28 (twenty years ago)

xxxpost: Please -- that didn't even register on the ILM Smug-o-meter™. I just hate that name, and it being cribbed from Monty Python only makes it worse.

Soul Coughing
Walt Mink (who were not altogether bad)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

― xero (xero), Saturday, 7 January 2006 21:50 (twenty years ago)

deja voodoo

― bendy (bendy), Saturday, 7 January 2006 23:40 (twenty years ago)

ILM & The Threads

― nancyboy (nancyboy), Sunday, 8 January 2006 00:46 (twenty years ago)

babyshambles

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Sunday, 8 January 2006 03:33 (twenty years ago)

WTF is so bad about the name sloan? it's not that crazy.

― corey c (shock of daylight), Sunday, 8 January 2006 05:25 (twenty years ago)

crotchduster

― blownspeakers (lucy), Sunday, 8 January 2006 06:06 (twenty years ago)

"With maybe an exception or two, ALL full-sentence names are awful."

The exception being "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah". I've never heard their music and I'm not sure I even want to cause it might spoil my appreciation of their awesome name.

........

Jim Crow
Anyone with "Lil" in their name.

― R. J. Greene, Sunday, 8 January 2006 06:34 (twenty years ago)

Tits on The Dashboard

― poodle puddle, Sunday, 8 January 2006 06:36 (twenty years ago)

Suburban Kids with Biblical Names and any band with typographical a typographical or orthographic conceit in their name: Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia..., (Smog) (although they've dropped the parentheses, so now they're OK), k.d. lang, et cetera (not, to my knowledge, a band name).

― caek (caek), Sunday, 8 January 2006 07:09 (twenty years ago)

the vulnerable cardigans

― don't start a RYE-OTT! (plsmith), Sunday, 8 January 2006 07:14 (twenty years ago)

"With maybe an exception or two, ALL full-sentence names are awful."
The exception being "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah". I've never heard their music and I'm not sure I even want to cause it might spoil my appreciation of their awesome name.

-- R. J. Greene

Actually, my personal specific exception was the awesome Nomeansno - a name that, in print, doesn't even LOOK like a full sentence.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Sunday, 8 January 2006 10:45 (twenty years ago)

My Cat is an Alien
Green Milk from the Planet Orange

― Rombald, Sunday, 8 January 2006 15:59 (twenty years ago)

Anthrax
Megadeth
W.A.S.P
Venom

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 8 January 2006 20:40 (twenty years ago)

Please Inform the Captain This is a Hijack

― clotpoll, Sunday, 8 January 2006 20:48 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

so many HORRIBLE band names, lol
pussy galore is a horrible name, but theyre not that bad
one of my fave band names is misled youth, my friend is in it, but theyre good
I LOVE THE BUZZCOCKS! but the name is a little weird

― Sheryl, Tuesday, 11 April 2006 19:43 (nineteen years ago)

audioslave
velvet revolver
test icicles

― katie, a princess (katie, a princess), Tuesday, 11 April 2006 19:50 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think Death Cab For Cutie can be mentioned enough here.

― Dan (Gah) Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 April 2006 19:54 (nineteen years ago)

I was listening to an online radio station, and they played a band (that sounded a lot like Spoon) called "The Dammitheads"

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Tuesday, 11 April 2006 20:24 (nineteen years ago)

'tis a good thing I heard My Bloody Valentine's music before I knew their name...gotta admit people, it's a crummy name, was a lame-o movie, and I hate hearing myself vocalize it whenever asked to rattle off some of my all-time favorite albums...

― hank (hank s), Tuesday, 11 April 2006 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

fourteen years pass...

Cunninlynguists

― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 24 April 2020 18:52 (five years ago)

one year passes...

Scary Kids Scaring Kids

Fuck them.

― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Thursday, 6 January 2022 23:29 (four years ago)

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