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Bands having to change their name because it's already taken

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Happens quite often actually: The Choice -> K's Choice, The Source -> The Course, Dust Brothers -> Chemical Brothers, Covenant -> The Kovenant, Crown of Thorns -> Crown of Thornz, Hades -> Hades Almighty, Drain -> Drain STH

― Siegbran Hetteson, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Warsaw -> Joy Division (there was a band called Warsaw Pakt). Probably we have done this already but I can't find the thread.

― alex in mainhattan, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

liberty -> liberty x

― gareth, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Mansun used to be Manson (after they were A Man Called Sun) but Mr.Charles Manson's estate wouldn't have it, so they changed it. In the States, Suede have to be "London Suede".

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Spinners -> Detroit Spinners in UK
The Beat -> The London Beat in US (i think)

we've done duplicate band names, but not names changed because of this

― michael, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Charles Manson has an 'estate'? Aren't they for dead ppl? And why didn't this estate put a stop to Marilyn Manson?

Dinosaur had to become Dinosaur Jr.

― Andrew L, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think its called an 'estate' when others represent you in your absence - cause he's in prison. I could be wrong. I have no idea why he let Marilyn Manson away with it, maybe Charlie prefers their musical leanings.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fountains of Wayne were originally called The Wallflowers before Jakob Dylan's lawyers got in touch.

― Dom Passantino, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

we did do it before but i think i titled the thread hence it is incomprehensible!!

― mark s, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Wow, Mark, a band named themselves THAT, "we did do it before but i think i titled the thread hence it is incomprehensible!! ", no doubt they changed it! Moondog Jr had to change their name. They chose Zita Swoon. h

― cuba libre (nathalie), Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Charlatans ( added the UK in the US ) The Beat was the English Beat in the US, David Jones renamed himself David Bowie...

― Dave225, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

oh come on. the soft parade>the electric soft parade. i cant believe none of you mentioned them yet.

― Myles, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Buglebear Senior had to change their name coz there was already a Bugbear.

― jel --, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dinosaur Jnr were originally called Dinosaur, but had to change their name because of summat to do with the Greatful Dead, of all people.

― Dom Passantino, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I heard this story from a friend so it must be true...

When indiepop band Cinnamon got signed to a major label, it turned out there was another Cinnamon that had been kicking around in Boston for many more years. The label got in touch to buy the name and the Boston Cinnamon got a lawyer and got some good $$ out of the major label. I don't know if they changed their name to Abunai! after that, or if they changed it to something else and then formed Abunai!. Anyway, I wonder if Cinnamon got dropped because the major never recouped that payoff?

― marianna, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Charlatans -> The Charlatans UK in America The Soft Parade -> The Electric Soft Parade

Oddly, Nirvana never had to change their name, despite there being a (Northern Irish I think) 60s band of the same name.

― Nick, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What we did before we two bands that continued with the same name, i.e. Popol Vuh.

― Mark, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

David Jones renamed himself David Bowie...
But not because of a lawsuit, he didn't want to associated with Davey Jones of the Monkees.

― Lord Custos 2.0 beta, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Chicago MC Common Sense had to change his name to Common because there was already some shitty surf-rock band named "Common Sense". I see their CD in cut-out bins once in a while and its cover is atrocious.

― Nate Patrin, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

UGH

― Nate Patrin, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oops. This work?

― Nate Patrin, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(Trust me, maybe it's better that you don't see it.)

― Nate Patrin, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sometimes a name change works out for the better. Minneapolis new- wavers The Flamingos were (rightly) challenged by the classic "I Only Have Eyes For You" guys. Conesquently, by merely dropping a letter and adding an apostrophe, they adopted a totally more rockin' monicker: Flamin' Oh's.

― briania, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Mission were originally The Sisterhood, until Andrew put a stop to that (and put out product under that name before they did), and then the were The Mission, but in the States, they were forced to append "UK" at the end (Mission UK), due to a defunct Philly-Soul outfit (I believe).

Verve became The Verve.

REO Speeddealer became simply Speeddealer

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

... and then there's those OTHER nutty midwesterners who beat the lawyers to the punch: Cher U.K.

― briania, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

....Jefferson Airhead became Airhead. Hurricane became Hurricane #1

― MarkH, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

From

MARTY: Let's...uh talk a little bit about the history of the group. I understand NIGEL you and DAVID originally started the band wuh...back in...when was it...back in 1964?

DAVID: Well before that we were in different groups, I was in a group called The Creatures and w-which was a skiffle group.

NIGEL: I was in Lovely Lads.

DAVID: Yeah.

NIGEL: And then we looked at each other and says well we might as well join up you know and uh....

DAVID: So we became The Originals.

NIGEL: Right.

DAVID: And we had to change our name actually....

NIGEL: Well there was, there was another group in the east end called The Originals and we had to rename ourselves.

DAVID: The New Originals.

NIGEL: The New Originals and then, uh, they became....

DAVID: The Regulars, they changed their name back to The Regulars and we thought well, we could go back to The Originals but what's the point?

(taken from http://www.krug.org/scripts/tap.html)

― Ernest, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

One of the best MCs of the '90s had to change his name because of THIS.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000000WEP.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
And they're not crappy surf. They're some sort of California "reggae". Which I can only assume is worse.

― Nate Patrin, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The X-ecutioners used to be called the X-Men, until Marvel comics came a-calling.

― Nick, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Stand became The Stand GT, The K-Tels well it wasnt a band that had it but they became Young Canadians same deal with Red Crayola/Red Krayola.

― Mr Noodles, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Coffee Brown = oakland rapper. Koffee Brown = nu-soul creation.

― Sterling Clover, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

But there are two Foxy Browns, aren't there? The reggae singer and the irritating rapper.

― Dom Passantino, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tyrannasourus -> T. Rex

― mr. sparkle, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

For a while, Bush had to go by the name Bush X (was this only in Canada) because of an old Canadian band of the same name. I think they bought the old band out, though.

― Sean Carruthers, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Luke was Luther Campbell was Luke Skywalker. Alan Freed had to drop the "Moondog" moniker when he moved to New York.

― J Blount, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

An American ska band, Spring Heeled Jack, had to tag on "USA" to their name because the electronic group of the same name (actually Spring HEEL Jack) were concerned about confusion. Novelty rockers Green Jello had to change to Green Jelly. (Apparently Bill Cosby wasn't a fan, ha ha) A punk band from Philadelphia named Thorazine was rumored to be getting sued by the drug company that owns the copyright. As of about a year ago they still hadn't changed it. Makes me wonder why Morphine never had to change their name. (perhaps because Morphine were great and no one wanted to fuck with their greatness!) I'm also somewhat surprised that the current Fuel didn't have a problem because there was a Fugazi-esque band in the early 90's with same name. I also find it hard to believe that their wasn't a Sugar before Bob Mould decided he wanted to call his (great) trio that. I see a theme here- if you have $$$ and lawyers you can get your way, if not you become the band that only music geeks like us remember.

― Mark M, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

the band Brad was originally wanting to be named 'Shame' but got into legal conflict with a fellow who had already claimed that name. when they were unable to persuade this fellow to relinquish the moniker, they named themselves after him (Brad) (out of spite?)

― Ron, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

oh yeah, and titled their album 'Shame' and on the cover the word shame is very prominent indeed (also out of spite?)

― Ron, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Having to change the name because of "world events" is even better.
There is a band, originally from New Zealand though we seem to have at least for a while got rid of them to Aussie; they have been until very recently called "shihad" and now are "pacifier". Ha ha ha.
also there was a band here called Breast secreting Cake whicch became Bressa Creeting Cake (or something), I guess the name was too rude or something.

― haloist, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I Am The World Trade Center was just I Am... for a while for obvious reasons. I think they changed it back, though.

― Nate Patrin, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

A bizarre one:

When the original line-up of Renaissance reformed in the mid-late 70s, they couldn't use "Renaissance" because the line-up that took their place was still going strong and far more commercially successful; so they had to call themselves "Illusion" that go-around.

― Joe, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Makes me wonder why Morphine never had to change their name. (perhaps because Morphine were great and no one wanted to fuck with their greatness!)

More likely because morphine the medication is a generic term rather than a trademark.

I'm also somewhat surprised that the current Fuel didn't have a problem because there was a Fugazi-esque band in the early 90's with same name.

Ditto the U.K. band called Embrace--one of Ian MacKaye's pre-Fugazi projects put out an album under that name.

And Alex "Keep Music Evil!" in NYC, I'm surprised that you haven't mentioned the Christian rock band that calls itself Firewater but is emphatically not the Jetset band of that same name.

― j.lu, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The most bizarre one are the two Hefners currently existing side by side, apparently not too fussed about whether or not the other changes their name...

― electric sound of jim, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I Am the World Trade Center are once again I Am the World Trade Center. Timex Social Club had to change their name when "Rumors" hit, but I can't remember what they changed it to. Pearl Jam were originally Mookie Blaylock.

― J Blount, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

John 'Paul' Squire *didn't* have to change the name of his post-Stone Roses waste-of-time The Seahorses, but he did have to pay rather a lot of money to a Liverpool acquaintance of mine to keep it. Said friend-of-a-friend had put out a couple of LPs on vanishingly small labels under that name and, quite wisely, kicked up a fuss.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Nirvana were called Skid Row for a while.

― james devon, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(Completely apropos of... uh K's Choice. She apparently left her husband for a female friend of his.)

― cuba libre (nathalie), Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'lovely lads' ? cracks me up every time that.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tyrannasourus -> T. Rex
And they changed "Get it On" to "Bang a Gong" in the U.S. because there was another "Get it On" on the charts at the same time.. (Soul group called Chase.)


David: Well before that we were in different groups, I was in a group called 'The Creatures' and w-which was a skiffle group.
Nigel: I was in Lovely Lads.
David: Yeah.
Nigel: And then we looked at each other and says well we might as well join up you know and uh....
David: So we became The Originals.
Nigel: Right
David: And we had to change our name actually....
Nigel: There was another group in the east end called The Originals and we had to rename ourselves.
David: The New Originals.
Nigel: The New Originals and then, uh, they became....
David: The Regulars, they changed their name back to The Regulars and we thought well we could go back to The Originals but what's the point?
Nigel: We became The Thamesmen at that point.

― Dave225, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Not sure if someone pointed them out already, but pop-culture damaged Redd Kross were originally Red Cross, until the beneficent organization asked them to change it (so they changed to the "metal" spellings).

What's up with I Am the World Trade Center? Why do they call themselves that? It strikes me as just a bit pretentious and devoid of taste.

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

my band is called 'the tom cruise missile'. yes we're expecting to have to change our name.

― fields of salmon, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What's up with I Am the World Trade Center? Why do they call themselves that? It strikes me as just a bit pretentious and devoid of taste.

They had this name before 9/11. Although you can still wonder why they don't change it.

― o. nate, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Timex Social Club >>> Club Nouveau.

― Dan Perry, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Roxy --> Roxy Music
Jean Paul Sartre Experience --> JSP Experience
Panasonic --> Pan Sonic
Squeeze --> UK Squeeze (for awhile)

The American band The Beat also changed their name - to The Paul Collins Beat, which I thought gave rise to more questions than it answered. Does it mean the whole band comprises this 'beat' thing and Paul Collins is its leader, or is Paul Collins the creator of some inimitable beat that bears his name?

― Curt, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Luna was Luna 2 at first. I know not why, nor whether Lunachicks were involved.

― Curt, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Wasn't there some legality involved when Soft Machine Mark XXVII had to call themselves Matching Mole?

― briania, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Matching Mole was Wyatt's spin-off group, he had left the Soft Machine.
The Bangles were the Bangs, but there was an East coast group with that name. Weren't Squeeze known as UK Squeeze in the US?

― nickn, Friday, 24 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Andy Warhols => Dandy Warhols
Crown Royals/Amazing Crown Royals => One of them became the Amazing Crowns or suchlike, it's still very confusing

― felicity, Friday, 24 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Jedi Knights (Global Communication side project) were persuaded to alter their name by George Lucas' legal team. Someone *should* sue the Lyte Funky Ones (LFO).

-jeff

― mxyzptlk, Friday, 24 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

There was War (the funk band), War (the Swedish metal band), and War (the Polish nazi band). The poles changed to War 88.

― Siegbran Hetteson, Friday, 24 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Red Crayola had to become Red Krayola after the crayon company threatened to sue. Same deal with Red Cross becoming Redd Kross.

John Maher renamed himself Johnny Marr to avoid confusion with the Buzzcocks drummer.

― Chris Barrus, Friday, 24 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

seven months pass...
actually i was in the band thorazine and we were sued by smith kline beechem over the name. the ap wire picked up the story and it went national. we ended up on CNN, interviewed in newsweek, and my personal fave, as a news blurb in playboy!

we were contacted by "lawyers for the arts" whom is basically a bunch of idealistic high powered lawyers donating thier time for artists whom are poor. they helped broker the communication between us and smith kline.

seems because of the exposure, we had the upper hand. the news services all ran the story because it was "giant evil corporation attacking the underdog punk band whom played shows for as little as 10 bucks". they ended up offering us 25 grand and a press conference to change our name. we took the high road. we kept the name. THORAZINE is still playing under that name today and there are two albums on hell yeah records. all that fuss for nothing...

there was a band in D.C. named "lazy boy" they do these awesome instrumentals. they recieved a letter from the Chair people. man if ANYONE had a case they did.. i mean how can you say it's infringement in any shape or form? too bad they caved at the first letter...

don't give in so easily people!

― scott parker, Wednesday, 25 December 2002 01:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Murmurs -> Murmurs America

― man, Wednesday, 25 December 2002 02:20 (twenty-three years ago)

three months pass...
Cash Money --> Cash Audio

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 16 April 2003 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

The hip-hop producers The Runaways had to change their name to The Runaways UK

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 16 April 2003 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Nancy Sinatra --> Shakira (really!)

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 16 April 2003 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

American Nightmare → american nothing → please die

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Wednesday, 16 April 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Anime strikes back! Rival Schools were originally called Rival Schools United By Fate, but the publishers of the Japanese manga they took their name from didn't like that much. Likewise, Urusei Yatsura had to change their name to just Yatsura. (Personally, I like the new names better.)

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 16 April 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

You know, back in college, I had an idea to start a Britpop tribute band called the London UK.

But I never did.

― Colin, Wednesday, 16 April 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

DC's goth-pop MADHOUSE had their name BOUGHT by Prince so he could release his (pretty weak) jazz-dance band. Actually, neither of 'em were that great.

― matt riedl (veal), Wednesday, 16 April 2003 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't Luna buy their name from the female rapper so named? This was after the first LP, which is why the first's called Luna2.

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 17 April 2003 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

earth -> black sabbath

― alice, Thursday, 17 April 2003 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)


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