Popular music has numerous interesting stories. In this article, we would like to talk about the stories and roots of the names of the legendary rock groups.
AC/DC
Hyperactive Angus and Malcolm brothers see the “AC-DC” (“alternative current-direct current” in electronics) at the back of the sewing machine of their sisters. And things get harder.
The Beatles
They combine The Beetles which was inspired from Buddy Holly’s music band The Crickets with the word beat. Then, they became more popular than Jesus.
Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler and Ozzy who are interested in black magic novels watch the Black Sabbath movie directed by Mario Bava which was about witch hunt. As they get back home, they all agree that the name will be called Black Sabbath.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
One of the best friends of the band leader John Fogerty was Norvel Creedence and his favorite beer brand was Clearwater. When the Clearwater brand was revived after a few years, Fogarty’s band name was ready.
Deep Purple
Ritchie Blackmore’s grandmother’s favorite song was When The Deep Purple Falls. When Blackmore founded a music band and told this to his grandmother, she kept asking when they will be playing this song.
The Doors
Jim Morrison reads a book and his life changes. This book was The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley that explained the effects of drug use on the human mind.
Fleetwood Mac
Rhythm is everything. At least for Fleetwood Mac. The drummer was called Mick Fleetwood and the base player was called John Mc Vie.
Iron Maiden
The base player of the group Steve Harris saw the Iron Maiden which was a torture device from the Middle Ages in The Man in the Iron Mask movie and found the band’s name.
Jethro Tull
The band was unable to find a suitable name. Until Ian Anderson read an article about Mr. Jethro Tull who lived in the 17th century and accepted as one of the pioneers of scientific approach in agriculture.
Led Zeppelin
Guitarist Jimmy Page, The Who drummer Keith Moon and another legendary guitarist Jeff Beck were getting ready to find a super group. It is believed that Keith Moon said, “we would fly life a lead zeppelin with this group”. That band is never created but the better one is created under the name of Led Zeppelin.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The gym teacher Leonard Skinner in their high school hated long haired students. The long haired students took their revenge and give his name to a music band consisting of people with long hair.
Marillion
J.R.R. Tolkien is the name father of Sting (Frodo’s sword) and Marillion. The group first takes the name Silmarillion which is Tolkien’s book but change it into Marillion due to copywrite issues.
Metallica
Ron Quintana who wants to publish a magazine on British and American metal groups asks drummer Lars Ulrich to find a name to the magazine. While Quintana recommended Metallica, Lars recommended Metal Mania. The magazine is called Metal Mania and Ulrich’s future band is called Metallica.
Motörhead
Lemmy who was kicked out of Hawkwind band names his band Motörhead in 1975 which is a slang word amphetamine addicts. Lemmy was at the same time Jimi Hendrix’s dealer in the UK.
Pink Floyd
When a music band with the same name (Tea Set) was created in the UK, the crazy diamond Syd Barrett combines the names of American blues guitarist Pink Anderson and Floyd Council for his new music band.
Queen
The music band was first called the Smile and the band was not sure about the “Queen” suggestion of Freddie Mercury because of his sexual orientation.
Radiohead
The first name of the band was ‘On A Sunday’. The record company asked them to change the name of the music band when they signed a contract with Parlaphone records. The group selected the opening song of 1986 True Stories album of the Talking Heads.
The Rolling Stones
Guitarist Brian Jones suggests the Rolling Stone song of Muddy Waters which is one of the favorite blues songs of guitarist Keith Richards as the band’s name. This offer was unanimously accepted.
Steely Dan
The duo is interested in Beat Literature and use the name of the dildo that works with the steam power in 1956 Naked Lunch novel of William Burroughs as their band name.
The Velvet Underground
Lou Reed named his music band after a sadomasochist book he randomly found on the streets of New York. There could be nothing better for a music band which Andy Warhol was the manager.
The Who
The band was first named ‘The Detours’. Guitarist Pete Townshend’s grandmother with hearing problems continuously asked “The Who” to the things she didn’t hear which gave the name of the band.
ZZ Top
The love of B.B. King and Texas blues guitarist ZZ Hill gave this name to the trio. Also, the band’s favorite cigarette rolling papers are called Zig Zag and Top. Also, the surname of the only beardless guy in the band which is the drummer is ironically Beard.
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