Original Names of Bands Trivia

1. When Steve Marriott left in 1969, which band dropped a word from their name and continued with two new members?

From Quiz What's In A Name?

Answer: Small Faces

Marriott left Small Faces to form Humble Pie with Peter Frampton and the remaining members needed a lead vocalist and guitarist to replace him. In came Ronnie Wood on guitar and Rod Stewart on vocals, both from the Jeff Beck Group and Faces, one of the greatest rock n roll bands ever, was born. Wood and Stewart alongside Ian McLagan on keyboards, Kenney Jones on drums and the great Ronnie Lane on bass had chart success with "Stay With Me" (1971), "Cindy Incidentally" (1973), "Pool Hall Richard" (1973) and the wonderfully titled "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (Even Take the Dog for a Walk, Mend a Fuse, Fold Away the Ironing Board, or Any Other Domestic Shortcomings)" (1974) before calling it a day. Wood went on to become a member of the Rolling Stones, Jones replaced Keith Moon in the Who and McLagan worked with many music greats including the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker and Bruce Springsteen. Ronnie Lane was sadly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1977 which curtailed his music career and Rod Stewart went on to become quite the successful solo artist.

From Quiz Band Names Before They Were Famous

Answer: Styx

Styx started out in Chicago with the name Tradewinds only to find out another band was using it as well. They tried variations of name changes but agreed on Styx in 1972. Pink Floyd started in England with members Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright. David Gilmour would join the band in 1967. Black Sabbath started out as The Polka Tulk Blues Band in England with members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward. The Doors started in 1965 from Los Angeles and took the band name from a title of an Aldous Huxley book.

From Quiz More Former Names Of Famous Bands

Answer: Heart

The answer is Heart. Ann and Nancy Wilson were both members of Daybreak. They released only two 45 RPM records. The 45s were mistakenly credited to Ann Wilson and the Daybreaks. Ann has performed in many bands over the years. There was The Mode in 1966, The Viewpoints from 1966-1967, The Rapunzel in 1968, White Seal in 1969, A Boy And His Dog 1969, and Proof in 1969. Then we have Daybreak in 1969, Hocus Pocus, Heart, Ann Wilson and Heart (without Nancy), and the Lovemongers. They did reform as Heart again with Nancy back in the band. There were a few other affiliated bands along the way but neither Ann or Nancy were members. Nancy Wilson officially joined Heart in 1974. The song titles of the 45 RPM records that Ann Wilson and the Daybreaks (Daybreak) released are: "I'm Gonna Drink My Hurt Away" b/w "Through Eyes Of Glass" and "Wonder How I Managed" b/w "Standin' Watchin' You". "Through Eyes Of Glass" was written by Ann. She seems to recall that she had a bit of help from Nancy.

From Quiz They Also Sang! (But, Who WERE They?)

Answer: Five Man Electrical Band

The Canadian group, Five Man Electrical Band, was known as the Staccatos from 1963 until 1968. They did share an album with one of the other choices given; the Guess Who once recorded on one side of the album "The Wild Pair", and Five Man Electrical Band recorded the other side. There was an interesting purchase price for the album. It was only available for purchase by mail-order and it sold for $1.00 and... 10 Coca Cola bottle caps!

From Quiz 1960s Original Group Names

Answer: Chad Allan and the Reflections

Chad Allan and the Reflections were released on the Canadian American label with "Tribute To Buddy Holly" and "Back And Forth" in December '62. It was also issued in the USA on the same label. The rest of the group names were on later releases in Canada but not in the US.

From Quiz A Rock Band By Any Other Name

Answer: Blondie

New Wave and punk music were the favored sounds of the mid-1970s and early 1980s. These musical influences helped shape the sound of Blondie. The group's hit single "Call Me" was nominated for a Grammy. It became the theme song for the 1980 film "American Gigolo." Blondie was also very good at infusing its own music with other musical styles such as reggae and rap.

From Quiz The Band Previously Known As... Part II

Answer: The Ravens

Famous for their fights on stage as well as their cutting-edge music, Ray and Dave Davies, Pete Quaife and John Start formed The Ravens. Start was replaced by Mickey Willet, and they changed their name to The Kinks. Shortly after, Willet left and Mick Avory joined the band. I made up the Davies Brothers and the Hornsey Hollers... but the band includes the brothers Davies and Ray Davies studied theatre at Hornsey College of Art. Ray played guitar with the Dave Hunt Band before starting The Ravens.

From Quiz The Band Previously Known As...

Answer: White Heart

Nancy Wilson joined the band in 1974, and the name was shortened to "Heart". While I'm sure someone, somewhere, has had a garage band with the name Black Heart, Red Heart or Heartache, I haven't heard of them (sorry!). I just made the names up...

From Quiz Former Names of Famous 1970s Bands

Answer: TW4

This band was formed in Chicago in the 1960's and never recorded an l.p. They were an excellent cover band and performed all over the Chicago area in church basements, etc. Personnel were John Curulewski on guitar, Dennis DeYoung on vocals and accordion, Tom Nardini on guitar, Chuck Panozzo on bass, John Panozzo on drums and, later, James Young on guitar.

From Quiz 'Pre-Fame' Band Names

Answer: The Beatles

John Lennon started out in The Quarrymen, which Paul McCartney and George Harrison soon joined. They were also known as the Silver Beatles before shortening it to The Beatles.

From Quiz What's In A Name?

Answer: Starship

Jefferson Airplane were at the forefront of the psychedelic music scene with tracks such as "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" (both 1967) but the band split in 1972 with several members going on to form Hot Tuna while Kantner and Slick formed Jefferson Starship. Hot Tuna achieved album chart success in USA but Jefferson Starship were the better known of the two splinter bands, having hit albums in USA, UK, Canada and Australia as well as singles chart success with "With Your Love" (1976) and the mega selling "Jane" (1979). After Kantner left the band in 1984, there was a further name change with the band now known as Starship and further chart success for Slick as they had hits with "We Built This City" (1985), "Sara" (1985) and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (1987).

From Quiz Band Names Before They Were Famous

Answer: The Beatles

The Beatles started in England and built a reputation that created their nickname the Fab Four. Lennon and McCartney used the name Quarrymen after the school they attended. However, they found out another group was using the name and they needed a new one. They chose the Silver Beetles which would be modified to The Beatles in 1960. The Byrds started in Los Angeles as the Jet Set. Roger McGuinn had a passion for aeronautics, preferring a flying theme and approved The Byrds band name. The Rolling Stones started in England taking their name after a Muddy Waters song. The Who started in England with the name The Detours but required a new name because another group was using a similar name and chose the name The Who in 1964.

From Quiz More Former Names Of Famous Bands

Answer: Steely Dan

It's Steely Dan. The core of Steely Dan, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, met one another at Bard College in Annandale-On Hudson, New York in 1967. At the time, Donald Fagen was a piano player and while he was walking through the halls to class one day, he heard someone playing the blues on a guitar. There sat Walter Becker in the student lounge playing his red Epiphone guitar. He found that he had to go introduce himself and as they spoke he found they they had the same musical interests and wry sense of humor. Fagen and Becker went through a variety of band names. They were The Bad Rock Group, Leather Canary, and The Don Fagen Trio. At college they both met someone who later sat in on drums with Leather Canary. It was Chevy Chase (the comedian), from the band Chamaeleon Church, which he played keyboards and drums for. They considered Chase to be an excellent drummer who had "absolute pitch". At one point Fagen and Becker joined and toured with the band Jay And The Americans. The got $100.00 for each performance at the start. The manager of the band then lowered their pay to $50.00. Jay Black, who was the singer for Jay And The Americans, never quite took to Becker and Fagen. He would refer to them as "the Manson and Starkweather of rock 'n' roll". Manson meant Charles Manson and Starkweather meant serial killer Charles Starkweather. In 1972 Steely Dan released their first single "Dallas", b/w "Sail the Waterway". They also released their first LP titled "Can't Buy A Thrill".

From Quiz They Also Sang! (But, Who WERE They?)

Answer: Diana Ross and the Supremes

In 1959, the group known as The Primettes began their singing career together. Later, when they changed their name to Diana Ross and the Supremes, they had hit after hit to their credit!

From Quiz 1960s Original Group Names

Answer: Canadian Squires

Canadian Squires were released on Apex in Canada and the Ware label in the USA. "Leave Me Alone" and "Uh-Uh-Uh" were released in early '65. Levon and the Hawks were released on Atco later on, after the Canadian Squires release.

From Quiz The Band Previously Known As... Part II

Answer: The Strawbs

The Strawbs' lineup has included Rick Wakeman (later of Yes), John Hawken (Spooky Tooth, Renaissance, Nashville Teens) and Blue Weaver (Amen Corner, Mott the Hoople, Bee Gees). Early on, Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention) also sang with them. Probably their best known songs are "Part of the Union" and "Lay Down".

From Quiz Former Names of Famous 1970s Bands

Answer: Knowbody Else

This band was formed in 1963 out of Black Oak, Arkansas. They put out one self titled l.p. in 1969 which is quite rare. Personnel consisted of Harvey Jett ( Burley ) on guitar, organ and vocals, Pat Daugherty on bass and vocals, Rick Reynolds on twelve string guitar and vocals, Artis Brewer ( J.R. ) on guitar and vocals, Sam Schattenberg on drums and James ( Jim Dandy ) Mangrum on lead vocals.

From Quiz What's In A Name?

Answer: New Order

Both Joy Division and New Order have released some stand out tracks, but first a look at their names. Joy Division were named after the camp brothels (Freudenabteilungen) found at Nazi concentration camps such as Auschwitz and for this the band attracted a fair amount of negative publicity. When they made the decision to rename themselves, following the death of Curtis, they were determined to not be caught out again and spent months debating and rejecting new names. The Sunshine Valley Dance Band, The Immortals, Stevie And The JDs, The Witch Doctors Of Zimbabwe and Warsaw were all names that were rejected before they saw a newspaper headline: "The New Order Of The Kampuchean Front" and decided to run with this, shortening it to just New Order, which they felt also fit well with their new start as a band. Unfortunately none of the band knew that "new order" is used many times to describe a vision for the future in "Mein Kampf" (1925) by a certain Adolf Hitler, and this only reinforced the completely inaccurate and negative view that the band were all right wing Nazi sympathisers. Musically, Joy Division will always be remembered for the massive and haunting hit, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (1980) which was released a month after the death of Curtis, while New Order had several huge hits including "Blue Monday" (1983), "True Faith" (1987), "World In Motion" (1990) and "Krafty" (2005).

From Quiz Band Names Before They Were Famous

Answer: Queen

Farrokh Bulsara (better known as Freddie Mercury) suggested that a name change needed to happen. Queen was thought to be a universal name with advertising potential. Cream started in England and took the name Cream because they were considered the cream of the crop musicians amongst blues and jazz players. Jethro Tull started in England and would go through many name changes to get booked in the club circuit. When the band was invited to return to play, the name they were using was Jethro Tull so they kept it. Deep Purple started in England with the intent to put together a super group called Roundabout. Ritchie Blackmore suggested the name Deep Purple and the band accepted the name change.

From Quiz More Former Names Of Famous Bands

Answer: Ten Years After

The answer is Ten Years After. It was Alvin Lee who was in the band Vince Marshall And The Squarecaps. He eventually went on to sing and play lead guitar for Ten Years After. Unfortunately Alvin Lee passed away in 2013. After Vince Marshall And The Squarecaps, Alvin Lee went on to several other bands. In 1958 he joined Alan Upton And The Jailbreakers as their lead guitar player. He actually got his first "real" job with them which lasted ten minutes and was between movies at a drive-in movie theater. After that they became the following bands: Ivan Jay And The Jaymen, The Jaycats, The Jaybirds I and The Jaybirds II. By 1966 they decided they needed a more modern sounding name so they briefly called themselves Blues Trip. That same year they got a job playing at the Marquee Club in London and played under the band name of Blues Yard. Also that same year they officially became Ten Years After. They came across the name while looking at local radio listings. Ten Years After began to gain fame after playing at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Alvin Lee's ability to play the guitar became legendary. Ten Years After released about 18 studio and live LPs and about 21 compilation LPs. I found the LP information in Wikipedia.

From Quiz 1960s Original Group Names

Answer: The Classics

The Classics - "Aces High" and "Comin' Home" on the Jaguar label in '65. "Aces High" is an instrumental that was released only in Canada. The Canadian Classics and The Collectors were the next two incarnations of the group. Their releases were both in Canada and the USA. Valiant and WB were issued in the US and Valiant, New Syndrome, WB and London in Canada. Check out "Lydia Purple" and "Looking At A Baby" by The Collectors; it's worthwhile listening.

From Quiz A Rock Band By Any Other Name

Answer: Simon & Garfunkel

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were one of the most popular singing duos of the 1960s. Their music was featured in the movie "The Graduate." For me the poetic lyrics to many of their songs are as meaningful as the music itself. Due to creative differences, the duo officially broke up in 1970 but have occasionally reunited over the years to inspire other generations with their music. In 1990, Simon & Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

From Quiz The Band Previously Known As... Part II

Answer: Metropolitan Blues Quartet

They didn't remain a quartet for long, but the Metropolitan Blues Quartet they were - at first. (Schoolgirls comes from one of their early covers, the other choices were names of venues where they played.) Alumni of the group include Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck; the group eventually formed into the nascent Led Zeppelin.

From Quiz The Band Previously Known As...

Answer: Chicago Transit Authority

The name of the band was shortened when the real Chicago Transit Authority (the ones with the trains) threatened legal action over their name. Yup, did it again - made them up, all the wrong answers. At least, in terms of bands that I've known. The city of Chicago does exist, it has city limits and a south side, but none of them (to the best of my knowledge) have ever cut a track on an album.

From Quiz Former Names of Famous 1970s Bands

Answer: Fuse

This l.p. is smoking hard rock and was released in 1970. It was self titled. They were from the Chicago area. They were originally known as Grim Reaper. Personnel consisted of Chip Greenman on drums, Craig Meyers on lead guitar, Rick Nielsen on keys and guitar, Tom Peterson on bass and Joe Sundberg on vocals.

From Quiz Band Names Before They Were Famous

Answer: Oasis

Oasis started in England where they were previously called The Rain until Liam Gallagher suggested the band needed a new name. Pearl Jam started in Seattle and had initially called themselves Mookie Blaylock. However, when being signed to a record label renamed the band Pearl Jam. Alice in Chains started in Seattle where they went through many name changes. They would call themselves Sleze before settling on Alice in Chains. Guns N'Roses started in Los Angeles; they merged two bands called L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose.

From Quiz More Former Names Of Famous Bands

Answer: Styx

The answer is Styx which began in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago. They started out with three guys. Two of the band members were the brothers Chuck and John Panozzo. The third guy was their neighbor, Dennis DeYoung. Chuck left Tradewinds for a year to go to seminary school. In the time he was gone the band replaced him with guitarist Tom Nardini. When he returned, he rejoined the band as their bass player since they had a lead guitar player. Dennis played accordion and was brought in to replace their first accordion player, and John was the drummer. Dennis switched to organ and piano from accordion in 1964. In 1965 they changed their name to TW4 because another band came along with the name The Trade Winds. TW4 played high schools and fraternity parties. In 1969 John Curulewski, who was a college pal, joined the band as guitarist because Tom Nardini had left. In 1970, James Young who was a hard edged lead guitarist, joined the band which made them a five piece. In 1972 TW4 was signed to the Wooden Nickel label and had to find a new name for their band. The only one they could all agree on was Styx and only because, according to Dennis, it was "the only one that none of us hated". Initially they played at school gyms but had graduated to colleges and small clubs by 1973. Their soon to be hit song "Lady" had already been out for two years in 1975 and went nowhere until a DJ at WLS radio in Chicago came across the song, played it and decided he really liked it. Because of him, Styx hit the big time. He started playing the song regularly and before long it was a big hit locally. By March of 1975 it reached number six on the U.S. Billboard Top 40 chart.

From Quiz 1960s Original Group Names

Answer: The Stampeders

It was still The Stampeders. Their first release was "House Of Shake" on the Sotan label in '65 issued locally in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The other group names I made up. I had to be convincing and make it seem real or none of you would've picked them. I know I've done it again. It wasn't until '68 that the US first released "Be A Woman" on MGM. A very lame orchestrated effort recorded in the US. It was the only time I can recall that strings were used on a Stampeders' single. This song was showcased on "Upbeat" in Cleveland, Ohio back in '68. Make that twice, the other single was "Oh My Lady" in '74, a much better effort. There were 28 singles released in Canada and only a dozen in the US.

From Quiz A Rock Band By Any Other Name

Answer: The Supremes

Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Betty McGlown were the original Primettes. Over the years, as members of the group left and were replaced, the Primettes underwent name changes as well. Berry Gordy, the president of Motown Records, renamed the group Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967. When Diana Ross herself left to pursue a solo career in 1970, the group became known as the Supremes. They officially disbanded in 1977.

From Quiz The Band Previously Known As... Part II

Answer: The Bee Gees

According to Wikipedia (my main source, apart from the bands' own websites), the Bee Gees did NOT take their names from the initials of 'brothers Gibb' but in fact from the name of radio DJ Bill Gates (no relation to a certain computer software multibillionaire). Another less known fact: the brothers were born on the Isle of Man and only later moved to Australia. Okay, you knew it; I didn't! Cheap Trick formed in 1968 in Illinois, their biggest hit single was "I Want You to Want Me". Dr. Feelgood is a British band, formed in the early '70s. Their only top ten single was "Milk and Alcohol". Yum... Golden Earring is a Dutch band whose "Radar Love" is still heard regularly on the modern rock airwaves. And the classic rock airwaves. And in elevators. Incidentally, their vocalist, Barry Hay, was born in India.

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