I can’t stop reading this thread on why bands are named the way they are. It’s
like a version of Pop-Up Video on crack. Here are some good ones:
The Killers
The name was featured on the bass drum of a fictional band in the video of New Order’s song, Crystal, from the 2001 album Get Ready. The video, directed by Johan Renck (a.k.a Stakka Bo) depicted a young American band miming to New Order’s music and words, with a large number of people coming on stage towards the end to pull them off stage.
Cibo Matto
Italian for “crazy food”.
Pulp
Originally called Arabacus Pulp, after a tradeable commodity seen by Jarvis Cocker in an economics textbook. “Arabacus” was later dropped since nobody knew what it meant.
UB40
The band is named after the paper form issued by the UK at the time of the band’s formation for claiming unemployment benefits (UB40 = Unemployment Benefits, Form 40).
Spandau Ballet
The name was chosen after a visit to Spandau (a section of Berlin), the inspiration being from graffiti one of their roadies, BBC London 94.9 D.J. Robert Elms, saw there.
I like the juxtaposition behind Spandau Ballet, maybe I need to think of a better Rock Band band name, The Sevenths doesn’t cut it.
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