Best Band Name That Doesn't (objectively) Mean Anything

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There's been a best band name thread, of course. But the bands that naturally come up in that sort of question are ones (Alien Sex Fiend, anyone?) that aren't necessarily anyone's favourite (or rather, bands that necessarily aren't anyone's favourite) but have a funny or provocative or "clever" name.
But everyone knows that the most effective band names, especially in indie, especially since the 80s, are the ones that are evocative of something undefinable, but in of themselves don't mean anything. Some of the best loved bands in the world have names whose rhetorical stupidity fade into the background in the light of those bands' popularity and achievement and longevity (The Beatles, of course, or the Rolling Stones). But what of all those names that intentionally mean nothing but pack a punch all the same, in success as in failure? What of the Pavements of the world? What of the Smiths?

― Lucas R, Thursday, 31 July 2003 03:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Modest Mouse

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 31 July 2003 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

the scumfucs

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 31 July 2003 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

That means something to me.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 31 July 2003 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The White Stripes -- or am I more hitting the rhetorical stupidity category?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 31 July 2003 03:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Well what about stuff like the For Carnation or the All Rectangle [sic] or even the Sea and Cake? Not a fan of any, and hell if I know what the names are getting at.

― brian nemtusak (sanlazaro), Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and

http://www.popcultmag.com/passingfancies/bottomfive/singers/symbol.gif

― brian nemtusak (sanlazaro), Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Is "For Carnation" supposed to be code for "Fucker Nation"? Only the latter doesn't (objectively) mean anything either (oh no it doesn't).

― Neil Willett (Neil Willett), Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Sunburned Hand of the Man

Agoraphobic Nosebleed

best names evah

― roger adultery, Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

The Gun Club (were they really packing heat?)

― Andrew Frye (paul cox), Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:33 (twenty-two years ago)

the Hill Street Blues Explosion, also Death Cab for Cutty Ranks

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Fraff.

What happened to them anyway?

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Agoraphobic Nosebleed is a terrible name.

― s1utsky (slutsky), Thursday, 31 July 2003 04:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Any emo band name ever.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Thursday, 31 July 2003 06:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, wait, you said best band name... never mind.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Thursday, 31 July 2003 06:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I think doing worst band name ever would be way more entertaining!

― Philippe, Thursday, 31 July 2003 07:36 (twenty-two years ago)

XPQ-21
Syrinx 2600

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 31 July 2003 07:56 (twenty-two years ago)

p16-d4, renaldo and the loaf, the slugfuckers

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Thursday, 31 July 2003 08:02 (twenty-two years ago)

fountains of wayne?

― jacksunjackson, Thursday, 31 July 2003 08:09 (twenty-two years ago)

makers of the dead travel fast

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 31 July 2003 08:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Led Zeppelin

― Evan (Evan), Thursday, 31 July 2003 08:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Seeing as we're really hitting early 80's Australian new wave names here... Rhythmx Chymmx. Yes, i know I spelt it wrong.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Thursday, 31 July 2003 10:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Most of thes names do mean something, eg there is defintiely a real world object that is a white stripe, and it's closely linked to the band's aesthetic.

If you want names that really do mean nothing I think you need to think about ones that are just random juxtapositions, intentional abuse of syntax or just freshly invented words, like Scout Niblett, The The or Wauvenfold.

(Though someone's probably going to explain what all of those are!)

― mei (mei), Thursday, 31 July 2003 10:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Aztec Camera? Bananarama? Bombalurina? (not that I am advocating anything of greatness on the part of the latter, you understand). So really what mei said - random juxtapositions or made-up things. The Rolling Stones doesn't mean nothing, it's from "a rolling stone gathers no moss".

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 31 July 2003 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Drop 19s
Archers of Loaf

― jimmy cornman, Thursday, 31 July 2003 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Husker Du
Radio Birdman

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Thursday, 31 July 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

sebadoh, sentridoh

― praying mantis (praying mantis), Thursday, 31 July 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Bags of Douche
Rock Bandits
Rock Bandana

and now for my real list...

P
Ween
Wilco
The Jicks

― Scaredy Cat, Thursday, 31 July 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

SONGS:OHIA

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 31 July 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

THE RAPTURE

― disco stu (disco stu), Thursday, 31 July 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The Talking Heads
Judas Priest

― Bryan Moore (Bryan Moore), Thursday, 31 July 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Autechre
Echo And The Bunnymen
Psychedelic Furs
Wagon Christ
Swervedriver

― turkey (turkey), Thursday, 31 July 2003 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

The Grodeck Whipperjenny

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 31 July 2003 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

caroliner rainbow hernia milk queen

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 31 July 2003 17:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Gastr del Sol

― Ess, Thursday, 31 July 2003 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

gastr del sol means "stomach of the sun"

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 31 July 2003 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Cradle of Filth

― manuel, Thursday, 31 July 2003 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Gerogerigegege.

Also The Beatles.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Thursday, 31 July 2003 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Acid Mothers Temple

― Nick Mirov (nick), Thursday, 31 July 2003 22:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooooh, and Throwing Muses. And the Trans Megetti. And Hella.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Thursday, 31 July 2003 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Boards of cANADA
Radiohead
Cat Power
Sonic Youth
Dead Can Dance

― Micheline Gros-Jean (Micheline), Thursday, 31 July 2003 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread isn't working.

― Kim (Kim), Thursday, 31 July 2003 23:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Wa Wa Nee

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 1 August 2003 00:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone's gotta mention The Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra La La Band (With Choir)

― damian_nz (damian_nz), Friday, 1 August 2003 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Although thinking about it, it does actually mean something.

― damian_nz (damian_nz), Friday, 1 August 2003 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Milky Wimpshake

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 1 August 2003 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, this thread is weird.

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 1 August 2003 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

If Sonic Youth and Talking Heads don't mean anything, what would a band name that means something be?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 1 August 2003 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

How about The Band?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 1 August 2003 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

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