Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Good Band Names!

I'm not sure that bands have good names anymore! Future Islands and War On Drugs seem set to sweep album and song of the year awards and don't think that's right given their respective names. Here is my idea of good names for bands.
 
1. 13th Floor Elevators

 
A fine name. Summed up the psychedelic state. Also worthy of mention, Country Joe & the Fish. Jefferson Airplane. Moby Grape. Buffalo Springfield.
 
2. Mott the Hoople
 
 
The best of the Glam names. Also worthy of mention. Sparks. Chicory Tip. Roxy Music.
 
3. Led Zeppelin
 
 
The unrelated, two name, slightly heavy thing. Also, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and slightly lesser bands, Wishbone Ash, Humble Pie and Uriah Heap.
 
4. Joy Division
 
 
Post-Punk. Confused, angry and slightly aggressive. PiL, the Pop Group, Gang of Four, Scritti Politti.
 
5. Love
 
 .
 
For a band that might have been called Hate. They stand alone on this respect.
 
6. The Triffids
 
 
Birthday Party, Triffids. Go Betweens. All named after books or plays. A Southern, literary revolt.
 
7. R.E.M.
 
 
So many well named early 80's American bands. Violent Femmes The Dream Syndicate, Mission Of Burma, Minutemen, Rain Parade, Husker Du, Long Ryders.
 
8. Television
 
 
Suicide, The Ramones, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Pere Ubu. The greatest scene of all.
 
9. The Smiths
 
 
Once again they stand alone in this respect.
 
10. Jesus & Mary Chain
 
 
Weather Prophets. Primal Scream. June Brides. Shop Assistants. Pretty good names for a small, indie scene.
 
11. The Slits
 
 
Plus Hole and The Breeders.
 
12. New York Dolls
 
 
Proto-Punks, New York Dolls, Stooges, MC5, Modern Lovers and The Velvet Underground were all well named.
 
13. Echo & the Bunnymen
 
 
This band and The Teardrop Explodes had quite the right idea!
 
14. Neu!
 
 
Pretty much all the Krautrock bands had great names. Can. Kraftwerk. Faust. Amon Duul. What more do you want!
 
15. God Speed You Black Emperor

 
The only truly great modern band name I can think of!
 
I'm sure I've missed something. TBC!

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