Mindhole Blowers: 25 Bands That Wisely Changed Their Original Name

By Josh Kurp | Lists | March 28, 2012 |

By Josh Kurp | Lists | March 28, 2012 |

Over the weekend, the Morning Benders, a San Francisco indie rock band that released one of 2010’s most underrated albums, “Big Echo,” revealed that they had changed their name. Over night, they went from the Morning Benders to POP ETC. They recently found out that “benders” essentially means “fags” in the U.K., and according to front man Christopher Chu, “We simply cannot go on using a name that is demeaning to the gay community. The reason we are making music is to reach and unite as many different kinds of people as possible, and the idea that our name may be hateful towards anyone makes us sick.” Honestly, though, POP ETC is a better name than the Morning Benders anyway; it somehow feels more evocative of their sound.

Here are 25 other groups that changed their name, not because their moniker meant something different in a different country, but because their original pick was terrible.

Original: Golden Gate Rhythm Section
Improved: Journey

Original: Skid Row
Improved: Nirvana

Original: Mookie Blaylock
Improved: Pearl Jam

Original: Gamma Ray
Improved: Queens of the Stone Age

Original: Wicked Lester
Improved: Kiss

Original: Angel and the Snakes
Improved: Blondie

Original: Buddy and the Returnables
Improved: Hüsker Dü

Original: Arabacus Pulp
Improved: Pulp

Original: The Detours
Improved: The Who

Original: Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid
Improved: ABBA

Original: Sweet Children
Improved: Green Day

Original: Levon and the Hawks
Improved: The Band

Original: The Polka Tulk Blues Band
Improved: Black Sabbath

Original: The Weak Heartdrops
Improved: The Clash

Original: The Golliwogs
Improved: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Original: The Soul Giants
Improved: The Mothers of Invention

Original: On a Friday
Improved: Radiohead

Original: Chicago Transit Authority
Improved: Chicago

Original: Ninja Dick
Improved: Mouse Rat

Original: Twisted Kites
Improved: R.E.M.

Original: Pineapple
Improved: Fleet Foxes

Original: The Primettes
Improved: The Supremes

Original: Breaker Morant
Improved: Explosions in the Sky

Original: Billy Lee & the Rivieras
Improved: Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels

Original: The Oneders
Improved: The Wonders