What better way to prove how much you like a band than to name yourself after one of their songs? Okay, there’s probably a better way, but this is our list.
1.
The Pretenders, “The Wait” (“Stop Your Sobbing” single, 1979) For real, Chrissie Hynde swiped her band’s name from The Platters’ 1956 chart-topper, “The Great Pretender.”
2.
Pretty Girls Make Graves, “Something Bigger, Something Brighter” (The New Romance, 2003) If we had $1 for every band named for a Smiths song, we’d have, like, $13.
3.
Deep Purple, “Woman From Tokyo” (Who Do We Think We Are, 1973) Because Ritchie Blackmore’s grandmother liked the Bing Crosby song “Deep Purple.” Aww.
4.
Death Cab for Cutie, “Title and Registration” (Transatlanticism, 2003) You’ve really gotta dig the Bonzo Dog Band to go by Death Cab for Cutie forever.
5.
Boris, “Vomitself” (Amplifier Worship, 2001) The Japanese drone-metallers named themselves for a Melvins song; we’d like to see a band named Vomitself.
6.
The Sisters of Mercy, “Lucretia My Reflection” (Floodland, 1987) What screams out dark and gothy more than naming your band for a Leonard Cohen song?
7.
Radiohead, “Knives Out” (Amnesiac, 2001) Did you know they were named for a Talking Heads song called “Radio Head”? Hmmm, did ya?
8.
Ladytron, “Destroy Everything You Touch” (Witching Hour, 2005) Not hard to hear the Brian Eno influence in these electro-popsters, named for an early Roxy Music cut.
9.
The Rolling Stones, “Sway” (Sticky Fingers, 1971) Most folks believe the Brits named themselves for a line from Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy,” but it was actually 1948 Waters single “Rollin’ Stone.”
10.
Blonde Redhead, “Melody of Certain Three” (Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons, 2000) One underground band named after another (DNA). Out-hip that!