Unfortunate Band Names that hold a band back from mass appeal.

saw the Jim Jones revue several times. one of the best live bands i've ever seen.

 

Because it's not fair to say a band's name wrecked their success when it's not true in the least...

I wasn't trying to be a jerk, it just felt like a totally unwarranted jab.

 

Mannheim Steamroller have done just fine, but to me the name sounds like a German industrial band, not airy symphonic pop/light jazz and holiday tunes.

 

The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. Great band, unfortunate name. With as good a vocalist as Mike Farris leading them, they should have had a good shot of being bigger. I think the name hurt them somewhat.

 

It wasn't a jab at all, I'm a very big fan of the Johns.
Personally, I feel that they might have achieved even greater success if they had chosen a more "conventional" name.

 

It's being reported that their merchandise manager was killed in the attack.

 

i was surprised when i found that out- i thought he was spoofing on berthold brecht's writing partner's name....

cheers,
rob

 

Joan as Policewoman
Godspeed You Black Emperor

Clumsy, clumsy, clumsy. Need something more 'snappy'

 

That reminds me of a funny story. When I lived in England this guy I used to hang out with was friends with, I can't recall the title now, some entertainment officer at the university he attended. Basically a guy who books bands. He passed on Nirvana as he thought the name sounded like a hippie band and he didn't want any hippie bands playing at the venue. lol.

 

"I'm a surfer!"

 

I still think that's probably the case, and suspect he's taking the piss when he claims that's his real name.

 

!!! is not a particularly helpful name. Difficult to pronounce (and it's 'proper' pronunciation 'Chk Chk Chk' is somehow even sillier than !!! looks) and impossible to google. Not that they were ever destined for 'mass appeal', but if potential fans can't even say your name, it doesn't help.

 

The same applies to the Savatage alter ego Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

 

I've never listened to anything by Kasabian or Marilyn Manson because the names of those artists suggest to me that they are idiots who think the Manson killings were in some way 'cool'.

 

I do recall the early 80s band Surgical ***** Clinic.

 

Maybe not "holding a band back from mass appeal," but I remember reading about the musician Aqualung who was surprised to find that many music fans associate that word with Jethro Tull.

Similarly, Jon McLaughlin mentioned being confused by some with John.

 

Marilyn Manson is a terrible name, but I think it has helped him a lot. His whole schtick has been about being 'shocking' so the name is not unexpected. It's just a 'look at me!!!' gimmick, like the costumes and whole persona he projected.

 

I think Death Cab For Cutie might have greater mass appeal under a different name. I played them for my wife who was familiar with their name, but had assumed they were a metal band. We both love them. (And I love their name!)

 

*Klinik. The band was actually called SPK and they used several different meanings for the acronym.

 

So I suppose the name "Cartoon Muhammad" probably isn't a good idea.

 

Don't know if any of them were destined for mass appeal but:

Swollen Members
Cherry Poppin' Daddies

 

I agree on that one. Good band, but nobody gets the reference to The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film and the name sounds too hipsterish.

 

Teenage Head.

Not sure if anyone outside Southern Ontario heard them...

 

I have a 45 using that name.

 

I dunno; they may not have had a chance of mass appeal, but I know there are people who might've been able to get into their style of surf-tinged punk but wouldn't even give them a chance because of the name.