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Guide
I was on a train journey recently, scrolling through Spotify, when it hit me. Some of the biggest bands in the world have genuinely odd names. Not new ones either. Bands with strange names have been getting famous for the best part of a hundred years, and it made me wonder whether a name actually has anything to do with whether a band makes it.
Arctic Monkeys: The Name That Just Became the Band
Take Arctic Monkeys. As a name for a band starting out, it makes almost no sense. There’s no obvious link to their sound, their look, or anything they were trying to say. And yet nobody blinks at it now. The name just became the band. Nobody hears “Arctic Monkeys” and thinks it’s odd anymore because the music did the work.
From Slaves to Soft Play
Then there’s Soft Play, who used to be called Slaves. That original name was jarring, a word loaded with meaning that had nothing to do with what the band actually sounded like. Their new name, Soft Play, swings completely the other way. When I hear it, I think of a kids’ play area, not a band. It doesn’t reflect who they are as musicians at all.
Should Artists Agonise Over a Name?
So what does that tell us? Should artists actually spend time agonising over a name? I’d say yes, at least a bit, mainly for practical reasons rather than creative ones. Take Soft Play again. If you search that name on YouTube, you’re not getting the band. You’re getting an endless list of videos of kids climbing around soft play centres and sliding down slides. That’s a real problem if you want people to find you online.
Does the Name Decide Success?
But does the name itself decide whether a band becomes successful? I don’t think so, not really. Arctic Monkeys and Soft Play both prove that an unusual or even slightly awkward name doesn’t stop people connecting with the music once it’s good enough. The name might shape how easy you are to find, but it doesn’t seem to be the thing that makes or breaks a career.
Where I Land On This
I don’t think there’s a strong link between a band’s name and how big they get. Curious whether you’d disagree.
Worst Band Names
List the worst band names below.
My first ever record was by The Beatles, picked up secondhand from a charity shop near my house. I was twelve when I found it, and I still have it sitting on my shelf today. That one purchase is the reason I fell in love with music in the first place.
When I'm not writing, you'll usually find me out playing disc golf. And if there's a dance floor nearby, I'm the one who can't resist whipping out an air guitar solo. I like to think that makes me a bit different from the rest.
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