At Supercurioso we are lovers of good music. We do not distinguish between genders. We can enjoy the strongest tunes of rock, or the softest chords of ballads. Even on other occasions we have told you about Why do we like music practically every human being on the planet. But this time we want to mix musical passion with history, to talk to you about the origin of the names of famous musical groups. Without a doubt, the way in which we choose to name something is decisive in the impact it will have in the end. Join us to learn, to the rhythm of the chords, where the names of the most legendary famous bands come from.
The origin of 10 of the names of famous musical groups
Indeed, music fans want to know everything about the band they follow. Apart from enjoying their greatest successes for years, getting into debt to buy tickets for their concerts, backpacking to follow them on their tours and not losing track of the lives of their members, there is a curious fact that not everyone knows, and it is precisely neuralgic; the origin of the names of famous bands, those that have marked the personal history of millions. The following list contextualizes the names of some well-known bands in different parts of the world. You will surely find some of your favorites here.
1.The Doors
We begin this journey through the history of the names of famous bands with the classic and very famous The Doors. Jim Morrison, vocalist of the band, took the name from a quote by the English poet William Blake: “If the doors of perception are cleansed, everything would appear to man as it truly is: infinite.” (If the doors of perception were open, man would perceive all things as they are: infinite).
2. Led Zappelin
There are names that come from the most everyday and fun anecdotes, this is exactly the case of led zappelin. Their guitarist, Jimmy Page, was having a few drinks with Keith Moon and John Entwistle (one drummer and the other bassist of The Who) and Joking about forming a group, Entwistle said: “We’d end up like a lead zeppelin.”
3. Guns N’ Roses – Axl Rose
If you are a true rock fan, among the names of famous bands you have surely heard this legend. Well, we tell you that the name of this group comes from the union of the LA Guns (Tracii Guns’ band) and the Hollywood Roses (Axl Rose’s band). On the other hand, William Bruce Bailey changed his name to William Axl Rose (Axl for his first band and Rose for being his real father’s last name). The curious thing is that the initials of his name form the word WAR (war, in Spanish) and at the same time they all produce an interesting acronym: Oral sex.
4. AC/DC
And it is impossible to talk about names of famous musical groups without referring to this legend of good rock. Angus and Malcolm Young, founders of the band, saw AC/DC written on their sister’s sewing machine. is the abbreviation of alternating current/direct current (alternating current / direct current), which refers to the fact that an electronic device can be used with both types of voltage. But what they did not know was that it is also a slang to refer to bisexuality. This was made known to them by a taxi driver. Quite curious, isn’t it?
5. Van Gogh’s Ear
We’re off to a completely different musical style, and one that we love too! Among the names of famous bands, La Oreja de Van Gogh is quite peculiar and its reason for being is obvious, although not everyone knows it. Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear because a prostitute asked him to. Now, the most unusual thing about it is that in an interview, he does a lot, the then vocalist Amaia Montero, whose departure for many marked the end of the band, declared that none of the band members liked the paintings of the Dutch genius.
6. The Green Dwarfs
If it is about names of famous musical groups, this wins the award for sympathy. On the origin of the peculiar name The Green Dwarfs, there are two versions. The first: The guitarist Felipe Staiti recounts that a certain family took a photo and when they revealed it, some Enanitos Verdes. The second: It is said that when the day came to name the band, Marciano chose it, since the night before he dreamed of some small green beings.
7. Cafe Tacvba
some of the most famous rock songs in Spanish we owe them to the Mexicans of Café Tacvba. And also one of the most curious stories about the origin of the names of famous bands. Tacuba’s coffee It is a place located in the Historic Center of Mexico City. When the band was formed and the name was given, they had problems over the rights of the name., so they opted to change the ‘u’ to the Old Spanish spelling ‘v’. And issue resolved!
8.RIVER
In Latin America we also find great exponents of music, who have known how to cross borders and hearts with their songs. We add to this list of the names of famous bands, the geniuses of RIO Determined to conquer foreign lands, this Peruvian band introduced themselves under the name of Royal International Orchestra. As the producers and presenters thought it was a very long title, using the initials they renamed them RIO. With more than thirty years on the stage, they still continue to captivate the new rocker generations.
9. Arena Hash
The boys from this band from Lima were in class passing around pieces of paper with possible names. One composed with allusions to summer, to the beach, was required. Arena was proposed and after trying various colors they opted to complement it with Hash (from hashish, hashish). Pedro Suárez-Vértiz, vocalist and guitarist, began to doubt the name after sending the cassette with the songs to a radio station, but they had already been announced as such.
10. Soda Stereo
We are still in Latin America, but this time we are going to Argentine lands. It was in a garage in the Belgrano neighborhood where this group of talented boys began their musical career. They rehearsed at that time under the name of Los Estereotipos (for a song by The Specials that the 3 members liked). But Gustavo Cerati, the vocalist and who would later be a great soloist, always had siphons of a soda (or soda in Argentina), called Drago. The friends who visited them said that they made bubbly music like soda, and relating it to stereo sound, Soda Stereo was born. They also thought of calling themselves Aerosol and Side Car.
The curious origins of the names of famous bands lead us to reflect on a matter, and that is that, whether with music, painting or literature, the way in which we decide to name the artistic product largely determines its destiny. And it is that, as the genius Stevie Wonder said in one of the phrases about music coolest, “Music is a world within itself, it is a language that we all understand.” But even so, it is necessary to name. If you liked this topic, don’t miss our article on songs in Spanish based on true stories.