11 Bands Named After Songs
A band’s name is one of their most important and definable characteristics. It will forever be inscribed on the albums and merchandise they release. Memorable names can be the difference between someone taking the time to look you up or scrolling by.
It comes as no surprise that many musicians name their bands after songs or lyrics they are inspired by. Not only does it leave your band with an awesome name, but it helps keep the song you love alive. Here are 11 bands whose names come from songs.
All Time Low
From: “Head On Collision” by New Found Glory
“And it feels like I’m at an all-time low”
After debating over several names, including Playground X (a level from the popular first-person shooter game Counter-Strike), it seems fitting that a band who started off playing blink-182 covers would end up with a name inspired by from the line of a song by another iconic pop-punk band.
Panic! At the Disco
From:“Panic” by Name Taken
“Panic at the disco, sat back and took it so slow”
Though the band were originally torn between this and the line “burn down the disco” from the Smiths’ “Panic,” they eventually chose the name that we just can’t imagine them without. Adding that ‘!’ only made it more memorable, and you can’t help but wonder if Burn! Down The Disco would have had the same ring to it.
Man Overboard
From: “Man Overboard” by Blink-182
Like many other pop-punk bands, the New Jersey quintet were influenced by Blink-182. “Man Overboard” first appeared on Blink’s live album The Mark, Tom And Travis Show and was later featured on the band’s Greatest Hits.
The Story So Far
From: “The Story So Far” by New Found Glory
New Found Glory are experts at releasing catchy albums that remain stuck in our heads for years, jumping around onstage like they’re on an oversized trampoline and helping new pop-punk bands come up with their names. “The Story So Far” is the final track on NFG’s third album Sticks And Stones.
Death Cab For Cutie
From: “Death Cab For Cutie” by The Bonzo Dog Dooh-Dah Band
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band’s song “Death Cab For Cutie” was made popular after being featured in The Beatles 1967 film Magical Mystery Tour. With the backing of the Beatles and with such a catchy name, it was only a matter of time before a band would make the name their own as the Washington-based indie-rock group did when they formed back in 1997.
Funeral For A Friend
From: “Funeral For A Friend” by Planes Mistaken For Stars
This Welsh post-hardcore band made quite a name for themselves with their 2003 debut Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation, and their memorable name comes from the Planes Mistaken For Stars song of the same name, a band whom vocalist Matthew Davies was a fan of.
Rage Against The Machine
From: “Rage Against The Machine” by Inside Out
Before Rage Against The Machine, frontman Zack de la Rocha fronted the Orange County hardcore punk band Inside Out. The band had a song called “Rage Against The Machine” which would later serve as the name of his political rap-metal band created after Inside Out’s 1991 demise.
In Fear And Faith
From: “In Fear And Faith” by Circa Survive
Contrary to the belief by some that the band’s name has a religious context (though several members are Christian), the name is from the Circa Survive song of the same name from their 2005 album Juturna.
Radiohead
From:“Radio Head” by Talking Heads
The band originally played under the name On a Friday, but later changed it. Radiohead are now a household name.
Pretty Girls Make Graves
From: “Pretty Girls Make Graves” by The Smiths
As seen in our 21 Bands We Love Who Love the Smiths (And Morrissey), the seminal English rock band are responsible for influencing a ton of artists, including Seattle post-punk band Pretty Girls Make Graves who got their name from the Smiths 1984 song of the same name.
