"Offensive" band names

[G On Bass]

Band can call themselves whatever they want, as long they're OK with some places potentially not booking them.

" Listen to me, schoolboy. You don't need to work blue. You'll never play the big rooms with that crap..."
Link Removed

 

[mwbassace]

I was in a band called Ten Inch Willy for almost 15 years. Was only an issue a couple times. The guitarist in that group was the king of dirty lyrics/band names. A few were Vaginal Jesus, Bloodfart (also the name of the band in the remake of The Bad News Bears), Sugarbusch & The Stink Finger Blues Review, Fisting Gramma. I won't get into his song titles

 

[AaronVonRock]

Anything bigoted just doesn't work for me...although to prove I'm a hypocrite, JD Pinkus (formally of the Butthole Surfers) had a band called the Git down syndrome. Not gonna lie-I laughed. A lot.

Jeff Pinkus is also in a band called HONKY which has been his main band for the past 10 years or so.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Wow that sucks for the band. Whoever is threatening violence over the name of the band is seriously messed up in the head. I am no Black Pussy fan but there is no way I or anyone I have ever met would go to that extreme over a band they don't care for.

My favourites:

Andrew Jackson Jihad

George Bush Jihad

IRA-USA

 

[PortlandBass77]

I hate to lump this stuff in with what republicans love to call "The general coarsening of society" but... under the rubric that even the blind swine finds the occasional truffle, they might be right. I was in a deli a few weeks ago and saw some fat weeble-like man wearing a black T-shirt that, in large red letters said "F**K Jesus Christ". Now, I'm an atheist so I have no real dog in that fight except... who wants to see that? Seriously - you want you kid/mom having to read that? I wanted to throat punch him for, if nothing else, making atheists look like jerks.

So yeah - there *is* such a thing as offensive and sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's mild and other times - it's just stupid and annoying.

I'm no Christian, but that dude is beyond stupid and offensive. I hate those kind of people who have to offend everyone just to get there point across.

 

[Pet Sounds]

Rock 'n' roll was built on offensiveness. Trouble is, the "shock factor bar" has been raised so high over the decades that most stuff we consider offensive today is really dehumanizing, degrading or abusive, and just kind of lowers the quality of life of those who hear it. Usually, it makes the band look like inbred idiots. Smartly subversive can be good. Crassness, not so much.

 

[electracoyote]

I'm not asking if you find these names offensive (for the record, I don't at all), but would you name your band something that you know is potentially going to cause problems down the line? This is mainly for guys in punk and metal bands since those are the genres that are more often apt to do this and where an "offensive" name can sometimes actually be an asset.

Only give your band an offensive and socially unacceptable name if that's your image and you really don't care.

And if you expect commercial success and an audience of followers, you better be offering something really special. You need both real misfits, and people who just want to pretend to be once in awhile.

 

[electracoyote]

They're already thought of that. Here's their band logo on tour posters which was already their logo before all of the controversy. Link Removed

That's pretty cool.

People need to get over themselves. There are some real issues in this world that could use their concern and attention.

 

[wmhill]

years go I put together a one shot band, to accommodate a local bar. Folks kept asking us the bands name, Finally I got sick of explaining it to them that we were just a throw together thing and gave a name..... ACCIDENTAL GOAT SODAMY. probably someone could have found that offensive if they tried.

 

[BigBigGuy44]

Anyone recall "The Meat Men"? Everything about them was offensive.

 

[FA108208usat2]

Just read an article about the stoner rock band Black Pussy having to cancel a show due to threats of violence against the venue and promoter hosting their show because an online petition against the band is making the rounds on the internet.
Exclusive: Black Pussy Forced to Cancel Show Because of Serious Threats of Violence and Vandalism - MetalSucks

I remember in the 80s when Butthole Surfers was considered so offensive that magazines wouldn't even spell out the word Butthole. It would look like B#tth*le or something like that. The name wouldn't really raise many eyebrows today. Dead Kennedy's also upset a lot of people when they came out. Again, the name wouldn't make the same kind of waves today.

I'm not asking if you find these names offensive (for the record, I don't at all), but would you name your band something that you know is potentially going to cause problems down the line? This is mainly for guys in punk and metal bands since those are the genres that are more often apt to do this and where an "offensive" name can sometimes actually be an asset.

It would've not been a problem If they were really african-american.
I personally don't mind the band name at all, It's totally fine, guess some people are just easily butthurt.

 

[jeffbrown]

Anyone threatening violence over a BAND NAME has serious emotional issues that go WAY beyond music.

Just saying'....

 

[Moosehead1966]

Offensive is in the ' eye of the beholder'. Personal perception, how we each perceive the name based on a host of factors that are individual, will inform if we react positively or negatively. That said, I giggle like a school-girl at some names, enjoying the spectacle of reaction from others. Rock on youngsters!

Marc

 

[bonespatrol]

steely dan??

 

[Pet Sounds]

Without for one minute supporting threats or acts of violence, it is utterly cynical for a band to chose a name that could be expected to provoke racial tensions, no doubt purely for the notoriety of it, then express shock when those tensions flare.

 

[eyeballkid]

So is Alabama Thunderpussy a slight on fat southern girls that should be boycotted?

My god, I hope these people never listen the Rev. Horton Heat or anything that ever came out on a punk label.

Personally I think the name Black Pussy is the truest Rock and Roll name ever. Its the two things Rock and Roll is at its core: Black Juke Joint rhythms and Sex. Theyre paying homage to their roots.

 

[flam]

I don't think an adjective and a noun can be offensive. Now, if there was a verb in there, promoting violence or other actions that are not socially acceptable, maybe.

 

[gjbassist]

steely dan??

I doubt that many people are familiar with where the name Steely Dan came from.
Naked Lunch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SteveV74]

Were talking about them, mission accomplished, they win regardless if we like them or not, its brilliant.

 

[gjbassist]

I hate to lump this stuff in with what republicans love to call "The general coarsening of society" but... under the rubric that even the blind swine finds the occasional truffle, they might be right. I was in a deli a few weeks ago and saw some fat weeble-like man wearing a black T-shirt that, in large red letters said "F**K Jesus Christ". Now, I'm an atheist so I have no real dog in that fight except... who wants to see that? Seriously - you want you kid/mom having to read that? I wanted to throat punch him for, if nothing else, making atheists look like jerks.

So yeah - there *is* such a thing as offensive and sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's mild and other times - it's just stupid and annoying.

A few years ago there was a guy wearing a t-shirt that said F**k You, You F**king F**k (a line from the movie Scarface) at an outdoor festival. This was a festival full of carnival rides, food, craft booths and such with lots of kids running around. Totally tacky and inappropriate! I really wanted to go up to him and rip it off of him.