An often overlooked aspect of forming a band is choosing the name; this is actually the most important part of the band formation stage. A name is a fundamental identity that will sell your idea before anyone hears your music. It is not a very difficult process, but doing it right still seems to elude numerous bands everyday. See below for my patented 3-step process for naming your band.
Step 1: Make a list of names, words, ideas, and images that represent your band and sound.
Step 2: Make it attention-getting. For instance, if you like penguins and want to include them in your band identity, instead of going the conventional route of starting a “The” band (see below) like “The Penguins”, try something fresh and emotionally stirring like “Naked Penguin Party”.
Step 3: Make a sweet logo of the chosen name that will look rad on your T-Shirts, stickers, and bass drum.
For educational purposes only, a list of trendy naming themes are included below:
- “The” bands: The Hive, The Vines, The Strokes, The Cars, The Knack, The White Stripes, The Hawaii Show, The The (they understood), The Who, The Band (they also understood), The Rolling Stones… the list goes on forever.
- “Geographic location” bands: Kansas, Boston, Europe, Asia, America, Alabama, Transiberian Orchestra, Big Country, etc.
- “Name and #” bands: Blink 182, Black 47, Sum 41, U2, Us3, Seven Mary Three, Third Eye Blind, etc.
- “Vanity” bands: Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Björk, Nelson, Dio, Donovan, The Brothers Johnson, The Allman Brothers, Santana, Beck …
- “Faux Vanity” bands: Jethro Tull, Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Judas Priest, Tommy Tutone, Tony Toni Tone, Duran Duran, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Atmosphere, … when one band member can be mistaken for the proper name of the group.
- “Comma” Bands: Earth, Wind and Fire; Blood, Sweat, and Tears; …
- “Royalty” bands: Queen, Prince, Kings X, Queensryche, Parliament, Pharoahs, Queens of the Stone Age, and Kings of Leon.
- “Acronym” bands: INXS, R.E.M, N.E.R.D., etc.