Good Band Names!

I'm not sure that bands have good names anymore! Future Islands and War On Drugs seem set to sweep album and song of the year awards and don't think that's right given their respective names. Here is my idea of good names for bands.

 

1. 13th Floor Elevators

 

A fine name. Summed up the psychedelic state. Also worthy of mention, Country Joe & the Fish. Jefferson Airplane. Moby Grape. Buffalo Springfield.

 

2. Mott the Hoople

 

 

The best of the Glam names. Also worthy of mention. Sparks. Chicory Tip. Roxy Music.

 

3. Led Zeppelin

 

 

The unrelated, two name, slightly heavy thing. Also, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and slightly lesser bands, Wishbone Ash, Humble Pie and Uriah Heap.

 

4. Joy Division

 

 

Post-Punk. Confused, angry and slightly aggressive. PiL, the Pop Group, Gang of Four, Scritti Politti.

 

5. Love

 

 .

 

For a band that might have been called Hate. They stand alone on this respect.

 

6. The Triffids

 

 

Birthday Party, Triffids. Go Betweens. All named after books or plays. A Southern, literary revolt.

 

7. R.E.M.

 

 

So many well named early 80's American bands. Violent Femmes The Dream Syndicate, Mission Of Burma, Minutemen, Rain Parade, Husker Du, Long Ryders.

 

8. Television

 

 

Suicide, The Ramones, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Pere Ubu. The greatest scene of all.

 

9. The Smiths

 

 

Once again they stand alone in this respect.

 

10. Jesus & Mary Chain

 

 

Weather Prophets. Primal Scream. June Brides. Shop Assistants. Pretty good names for a small, indie scene.

 

11. The Slits

 

 

Plus Hole and The Breeders.

 

12. New York Dolls

 

 

Proto-Punks, New York Dolls, Stooges, MC5, Modern Lovers and The Velvet Underground were all well named.

 

13. Echo & the Bunnymen

 

 

This band and The Teardrop Explodes had quite the right idea!

 

14. Neu!

 

 

Pretty much all the Krautrock bands had great names. Can. Kraftwerk. Faust. Amon Duul. What more do you want!

 

15. God Speed You Black Emperor

 

The only truly great modern band name I can think of!

 

I'm sure I've missed something. TBC!