Secret for picking a band name.

[Bajo Clarkko]

My brother used to be in a 3 piece garage band called “Garage A Trois”.

They’re no longer using it, so help yourself.

 

[KidAmnesia]

If you just started the band, you have plenty of time to come up with a good name. And you can choose a name and change it at a later date if yoy don't like it anymore.

But the best tool I've found so far is making lists on a colaborative doc were everyone writes down possible names even if they seem not good enough. And make another list with things you know you don't want for the name (for example: "I dont want anything that includes names of people", or "I don't want a name longer than three words").

 

[rantbot]

Maybe four decades ago someone told me that he'd been driving along when he spotted a dive with a sign saying that the Moby Dicks were there that night. So, figuring that sounded promising, he went in and stayed til closing time. But no Moby Dicks appeared. So he asked a waitress about it. She said there wasn't any Moby Dicks, that was just something they put on the sign to get peope to come in.

 

[pcake]

for that matter, they weren't the beatles - a made up word - originally. they were the quarrymen. call yourself anything you like - blood shampoo, dave and the D cups, razor blade mary, the amazing schwack band, whatever you like. you're not committed to keeping that name, and as your band develops more, a name might come from the vibe.

one exception is playing covers from a particular era. that might point toward having a period-specific band name.

 

[mikewalker]

... A drummer and I began informally working on a project while with another band. We did leave that other band and intended to call ourselves "sidepiece" because we were working on the side. But, before we took that name, anothe local band beat us to it. Yes, we could still call ourselves "sidepiece", but I figure that would be bad form.

Not to worry! I have it on good authority that "Codpiece" is still available in your area...

 

[swarfrat]

Even Three Random Words is already taken. But mostly i wanted to say even though Jim Morrison has been gone for fifty years, The Doors are STILL the most popular opening band of all time.

The doors open at 7:30!

 

[REV]

I think this is a perfect job for A.I.

 

[rojo412]

Band Name Generator
Band Name Maker
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Now You Can Generate Your Own Travoltified Name, Like "Adele Dazeem"

I'm not ashamed to say, I get a lot of fun ideas from these.

 

[brianrost]

Mott the Hoople...character from a Dickens novel

Jethro Tull...inventor of the seed drill

Steeleye Span...character in the folk song "Harkstone Grange"

Screaming Trees...named after an Electro Harmonix pedal

Treat Her Right...named after the song by Roy Head

Someone and the Somebodies...a punk band from the Boston area (think about it)

Black Flag...named after an insectiside

Then there's the classic 80s/90s indie band formula of putting three unrelated words together: Neutral Milk Hotel, Stone Temple Pilots, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Vigilantes Of Love, etc.

I always thought these would fit right in: Painful Rectal Itch, Attention Walmart Shoppers, Heartbreak of Psoriasis

 

[Pocket Dave]

I'm definitely of the "name doesn't matter that much" school of thought.

And whatever you call yourselves, don't take it too seriously.

Comedian Gary Muledeer has played and recorded for years with a mix of Nasville first-calls who call themselves "The Duck and Cover Band".

"Zorro and The Blue Footballs" was an immensely popular regional band home-based out of NW Arkansas in the late 70's.

We were once in a band called "The Ninja Box Office Orchestra".

And don't overthink it. When some of us spun off from the NBO Orchestra into another band, the only thing we could all agree we didn't hate too badly was "The Fins" so we said, "sure, whatever", and went on for a 20 year run as an event/party band.

And Zorro? Some of those guys spun off to call themselves "Windy Austin and The Hot House Tomato Boys".

Personally, when I'm not doing the sideman thing and find myself fronting my own pickup band, I tend to change the name, sometimes 2-3 times a gig, the more obscure and/or irreverent, the better. "We've been "Happy Kinde and The Merry Mirth Makers", "Mr Ed" and "Nick Danger" all in one night.

This last Friday night's gig, the venue had a nailed-to-the-stage tip jar, so I'm thinking next time we'll be "The Nailed Down Tip Jar Band".

 

[jamro217]

First, you need a band.

 

[Bassic_desires]

@pLewis Your question started me thinking and as a result I found an online random word generator. My suggested band name would be Machinery Reflection. Go to this site for a bit of fun and try some of the other, similar sites:
Random Word Generator

 

[A Bass And Its Boy]

Had another acquaintance who named his band- “Dick Army”

Dick Army from DC? Sedge and the gang?

 

[Pontiac Thrasher]

I suggested we call ourselves "Too Loud"

But the guys do not like it...

Are they in denial or what?

Mmmmm... In Denial....

 

[Space Pickle]

the turds of misery

 

[comatosedragon]

First pet name + Mom’s maiden name + Project

the Beauregard Ladebush Project



(so that's why I have been unsuccessful . . .)

 

[STRMan]

First pet name + Mom’s maiden name + Project

The Snoopy Polkosnik Project

Lol

 

[STRMan]

Actually, I was in a band that thought we had the most clever name, but after a couple of gigs, we were forced to change it by the bar owner. It caused too many headaches.

No ID Required

 

[Levent]

I got pretty mean band names here
Band Name Generator

 

[SC Guy]

If your band is serious and want to play gigs, then I think band names are important because:

1) It can tell a prospective customer what kind of music your band plays (eg. Blues Brothers); and
2) A good band name can create a good first opinion; and
2) A clever band name can help people remember who you are.