The Story behind some of your favorite Bands’ Names

Ever wonder the story behind some of your favorite Classic Rock bands’ name? We’ve picked a few of our favorites for you – so put on a record or two and reminisce about simpler times with some good old Rock n’ Roll.

AC/DC

Angus and Malcolm Young can thank their sister Margaret for their band’s simple title. After noticing “AC/DC” (alternating current or direct current) on the outlet of a sewing machine, she pitched it to her brothers, and that was that.

Aerosmith

After he and his girlfriend were listening to “Aerial Ballet” by Harry Nilsson, Joey Kramer started workshopping band names with “aero” in them. After the band he was in at the time wasn’t feeling it, Joey held on to it before joining Steven Tyler and Joe Perry’s band. After a little convincing, everyone agreed on naming their group “Aerosmith.”

The Beatles

Originally the Silver Beatles, the band got their name based off of Buddy Holly’s backing band “the Crickets.” All four members were such big Buddy Holly fans that Paul McCartney bought the publishing rights to his songs. The only song they ever actually got to record with Holly was “Words of Love.”

The Doors

Talk about a deep pull. The Doors got their name from Aldous Huxley’s 1954 mescaline tale “The Doors of Perception”, which in turn was inspired by William Blake’s post-French Revolution book “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.”

Eagles

During a drug and alcohol-fueled venture into the Mojave Desert, Bernie Leadon got the idea for the Eagles based on the Hopi tribe’s reverence for the bird of prey. However, J.D. Souther says the idea arrived after Glenn Frey shouted “eagles” when they all saw a few of them flying above them during their desert trip.

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Photo Credit: Neftali / Shutterstock.com