- The Ramones–Paul McCartney used the alias Paul Ramon when booking hotel rooms.
So the band decided to use the last name Ramone even though it's not their given name. - R.E.M.—vocalist, Michael Stipe, drew the acronym randomly out of the dictionary.
The term refers to the rapid eye movement phase of sleep. Stipe says that is not the rea-
son why the band is named R.E.M. - The Rolling Stones–from the Muddy Waters song, "Mannish Boy."
- Steely Dan—Named after a dildo in the novel Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs.
- UB40–The title of an unemployment form called Unemployment Benefit, Form 40.
- U2–A type of spy plane from the United States. Bono once said that the band name
came from its interactivity with the audience ... as in "you too." - The Velvet Underground–Were named after a book about sadomasochism by Michael
Leigh. - Van Halen–"Van Halen" is the last name of the band's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen
and drummer Alex Van Halen. Although initially called Mammoth, the band changed its
name when it found out Mammoth was already taken by another band. - The Who–Were originally called The Detours, then changed their name to The Who af-
ter a suggestion by Townsend's friend Richard Barnes. Their first manager, Pete Meaden,
renamed them The High Numbers, and they released one unsuccessful single, Zoot Suit,
under that name. When EMI dropped them, the band sacked Pete Meaden and went back
to being called The Who. Another possible reason was because of Peter Townshend's
grandmother, who would always refer to popular bands as "The Who?," due to her im-
paired hearing.
frankie
(Frankie)
#1