More Comments on Band Names - Just For You!

BRP fans, welcome back!  As you know, I've been riffing on band names and whether I like them or not.  I do virtually no research and just call 'em as I see 'em.  That may be stupid because sometimes the names are clever inside jokes, or have some personal history that is missed without having the background.  But then again, if you don't get the joke without having to do some research, doesn't that qualify as a violation?  It's rock, not school, and who the heck wants to do rock research? 

OK, ok, I'm also a bit lazy. 

Moving on, let's get to some band names and have some fun.  Are you with me?  Good, please fasten your seat belt (I'm not going to show you how - only airlines do that.  And how demeaning is that?  You don't know how to buckle a seat belt?  Why don't they follow that up by saying that condescending means talking down to people?). Enough!  You've lasted this long and you need to be rewarded.  Check out this video: 

AC/DC – Aussies playing tricks with the divergent electrical grids used throughout the world, and also invoking sexual deviance.  Not bad.  And at this point, iconic.  Good job, lads! 

Destroyer – great name, but the dude doesn’t live up to it.  Don’t you think metal or punk?  Well it’s electronic.  Hmmm, ok. 

Adam and the Ants – Say what?  Ant music, yeah, right baby.  I actually like some A and the A songs, but it was a rock concept thing that was more unusual than most.  Bring on the ant glam!

Led Zeppelin – What to make of this band name?  If it was spelled “lead” like the metal, that would make some sense, you know, heavy metal but soaring above the rest in their zeppelin.  I guess that’s the point anyway from the guys normally attributed with the founding of heavy metal.  I love ‘em, still play ‘em, and am glad that they existed.  Not very good live, however.

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Named after one of the boys’ high school teachers, it’s pretty funny unless you are the real Leonard.  It’s adolescent in a way, but so is a lot of rock itself.  And how good were these guys?  Yup, that good.  Southern humor meets southern culture with 3 loud lead guitars.  Free Bird!  Perfecto.  How about a great song that makes me love being a southerner?  Here ya go:

Save Ferris – Hey, I’m a big Ferris Bueller’s Day Off fan, too.  I like the name, and I like ska.  I’m into this name!

Southern Culture on the Skids – How crazy is this band’s name?  Southern culture is rising, baby, bring me some BBQ, greens and religion.  What happens when that culture hits the skids?  People don’t shop at Wal-Mart anymore and quit going to SEC games?  Whatever, this band is full of clever and funny songs.  A buddy of mine became a semi-groupie for a while.  Now THAT I don’t understand. 

Ash – Found a name no one else had used.  Why not Dirt?  Or Soap?  Great great band, but average average name. 

Bananarama – Shy boy!  Venus!  Cruel Summer!  Stupid name!

Minor Threat – Now, this is a great name for a punk band.  Founded when the members were all minors under the law, and using a double entendre by recognizing that their commercial reach was likely to be limited because of the threatening nature of punk rock, it is genius.  It doesn’t hurt that the band itself was one of the best punk bands ever.  And Straight Edge, too, and not cowed into drinking / doing drugs because they have no spine to stand up to peer pressure.  Proud to have some DC hometown guys just grip it and rip it.  Here are the lyrics to the song in the next video: 

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need

[Hook]
I've got the straight edge

[Verse 2]
I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

[Hook]
I've got the straight edge
I've got the straight edge
I've got the straight edge
I've got the straight edge

Did that make you feel uncomfortable?  Oh, c'mon, this isn't a temperance movement, but it is a freedom movement.  Be what you are, and be proud of it. 

More bands?  OK, just a few, and here's one that will make you feel good about alcohol and drug use.

The Libertines – Fantastic name for a rock band.  If there is anything that summarizes the rock spirit more than being a libertine, I want to know what it is.  And they live up to their name – beer, shots, heroin, bring it on.  No straight edge to be found here.

The Dickies – named after work clothes?  Ok, the everyman band.  But they aren’t – they’re witty, funny and silly, unlike the common man who is pissed, disaffected and voted for an imbecile.

Dire Straits – good name for a band.  Desperation is a place that most rock fans are very familiar with.  Facing some serious consequences?  Yeah, us, too, so let’s screw it and play some music instead.  Dig it.

Earth Wind & Fire – the elements, all captured by a great band.  I’m hip with this name.

The Eagles – Soar!  American!  Regal!  Puke!  But here’s their best song, and yeah, it's aimed right at you because this is my last band for this post.  Read Rodney Wilkerson's comment on Youtube - right on, my brother, right on.

I know that I keep promising the Rundgren and LCD Soundsystem pictures and reviews.  They written, but I need to get the pictures off of another computer.  Patience, grasshopper.  They're so worth the wait - you'll be astonished.  Yeah, right.  Simple stuff from a simple guy, that's what you come here for, right?  I won't disappoint on that score.  Later team.