It's a relatively easy art form. If Nirvana and Jefferson
Airplane could do it, so can you. Anyone can make up a cool
name for a band, just get a little zany and start mincing
words together. So if you're a garage band ensemble struggling
through the naming process, here's some surefire ways to
get a great band name, and some names my friend Flo and I have
thought up ourselves. Numbers 30-39 are courtesy of my friend John
and his ingenious band name technique. Tell me
some names you've come up with and I'll post 'em.
Tips for making your band name-
- Try placing your favorite precious stone or gem together with
your favorite condiment. Worked for Pearl Jam.
- If you are going to be a thrash metal, hard alternative, or rock/rap act
and you have a "c" in your name ... get rid of it! "C"s are wimpy and curvy.
Opt for the striking angst of a "K" like Limp Bizkit and Korn did.
- Find a great synonym for smelly. For instance, Rancid.
- Pick an obscure character from a cult movie or childhood classic.
Verucca Salt is from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Duran Duran is
from Barbarella.
- Having a schizophrenic friend is like finding the motherlode of
band names. Listen in for some strange word juxtapositions. A friend
high on pot will do as well.
- Spin a globe and have your drummer stop it with his index finger.
Listen to him try to pronouce the country/city he landed on
and then have your bassist write how she thinks it's
spelled. Aim for Africa and stay out of Russia.
- If you're a DJ, for godsake, don't use your first name. There's nothing
quite like the lameness of being DJ Bob. At least choose a nickname.
- Do as my friend John does and use the two alphabetical guidewords
on the spine of encyclopedias (see below 30-39).
Band Names We've Come Up With
- Big Tree, Little Car
- Sacrificial Rachel
- Nair the Cat
- Random Fries
- Cruël
- Green Bamboo
- Ziploque
- Petrified
- Lunch for Frances
- Gazebo
- (please print)
- 15 Fake People
- Cliché Hair
- puppyfish
- 2xism
- Pop Hooker
- Apple God
- Faith Shaker
- And Now
- Mosquito Suave
- Severe Underwear
- Clip Paper
- Girl Up Front
- Tut
- Ho and Bum
- Ditcher
- The Belated
- Get Pretty
- Precious Butler
- Artic Biosphere (*John 30-39)
- Chicago Death
- Decorative Edison
- Education Evolution
- Excretion Geometry
- Islam Life
- Light Metabolism
- Pre-Columbian Sacrifice
- Safety Solution
- United Zorastrianism
- Terminal Illness (*Shannon 40-56)
- Three Gnomes
- Grapesicle
- X Static
- Flammable Goldfish
- Lunchmeat
- Experimental Laundry
- Rainbow Brite
- Sentinel
- Aphrodite
- 12 Noon
- Welcome To Bulgaria
- The Itchy Lizards
- Gondola
- Jinx (taken)
- Malice in Funderland
- Metermaids on Strike
- Murder the Modem (*Morgan 57)
- Saucy Love Weasel
- The K
- Take Canada
- Leggo My Ego
- Caucasian Dog
- Almost Gadget
- No Fair
- Solo Project
- Evil Cookie
- My Afghani Grandma
- Sunshade
- The Horizontal Zombies
- Orphan Easter
- Speed Eraser
- Perfect Switch
- Crystal Cliche (*Elisabeth 73 -Guestbook)
- Baleen
- A Bad Case
- Empty V
- Mamma Said
- Super My Sonic (*Alan 78 -Guestbook)
- Echoes of Nothing (*Sarah 79 -Guestbook)
- Grandma's Thong (*Tyler 80 -Guestbook)
- Semi-Automatic Flamingoes (*Keenan 81 -Guestbook)
- Never No
- Honesty Bear
- Corporate Villains
- Bad Ramen (* Flo 85)
- Go Gravy
- Pregnant Safari
- The B-sides (*Rasmi 88-90)
- Siamese Cherry
- Yam Trumpet
If you want to use one of these names, go ahead, just send me a link to your band's Web site in the Guestbook. I apologize if you are already in a band using one of these names. If you have names you've come up with or if you think these names suck like the name Sixpence None the Richer, just pop over to the Guestbook and Let me know. Or just Pop On Home
|