Band Names Before They Were Famous Quiz

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.

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.

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.

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.

Answer: The Kinks

The Kinks started in England as The Ravens but wanted a new name with a gimmick to generate publicity.

The Hollies started in England but were originally known as The Deltas. The band would change their name with a double meaning. First was for their admiration for Buddy Holly and the second was for the Christmas holly garland. The Yardbirds started in England as the Blue Sounds but would change their name with a double meaning as well. The first was an expression for hobos waiting for a train in rail yard and the second was for their admiration for Charlie Parker nicknamed Yardbird. The Temptations started in Detroit as The Prime. However, they would change their name to The Elgins only to find out another group was using that name. They would rename themselves The Temptations.

Answer: Grateful Dead

The Warlocks started in California but needed a name change. Jerry Garcia found their new name in a Folklore dictionary and in December 1965 they played their debut show.

Led Zeppelin started in England as the New Yardbirds but legally had to change their name. It was suggested that the band would go down like a lead balloon. The name would be modified and they began touring in October 1968. Creedence Clearwater Revival started in California as The Blue Velvets. Their last renaming had three elements of meaning: Tom's friend Credence, a beer commercial, and a renewed commitment. The Guess Who started in Canada with multiple name changes to include Chad Allan & The Expressions. Inspired by a disc jockey "guess who the band playing was" segment the band changed their name to Guess Who.

Answer: Van Halen

Van Halen started in California known as Mammoth but would officially change their name to Van Halen in 1974.

Def Leppard started in England as Atomic Mass but would adopt the name Deaf Leopard which would be modified. AC/DC band members started out in separate bands such as the Easybeats, Velvet Underground, and The Grapefruit. The Young brothers developed the AC/DC band name from the initials on their sister's sewing machine. They felt it symbolized their energy and power driven performances. Dire Straits started in England, with their initial name that Pick Withers gave them in 1977.

Answer: The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys started in California and gained popularity with the youth culture of surfing, hot rod cars and romance as their motif.

Jefferson Airplane started in California at the Matrix in August 1965. The Velvet Underground started in New York in July 1965. They would gain popularity with the aid of Andy Warhol's reputation to sign a recording contract. Herman's Hermits started in England where they created the name from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon. It began with the character Sherman and would be modified to Herman and his Hermits, to Herman & The Hermits and eventually shortened to Herman's Hermits.

Answer: INXS

INXS started in Australia; the band members played in other bands until the Farris brothers created a band that had potential and made their debut September 1979.

Nirvana started in Washington with Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, who put together the band Nirvana in 1987. Nine Inch Nails started in Ohio with the intent to advertise the band. Trent Reznor and Gary Talpas designed a marketable NIN logo in 1988. Soundgarden started in Seattle as the The Shemps and in 1984 would rename the band after a wind channeling pipe sculpture called "A Sound Garden."

Answer: Huey Lewis and the News

Huey Lewis and the News started in California as The American Express and to prevent any lawsuits changed their name when they signed with Chrysalis Records.

Iron Maiden started in England on Christmas 1975 and would created their name from the film title "The Man in the Iron Mask." The Clash started in England as members of other bands but came together as a band in July 1976. ZZ Top started in Texas and were managed by Bill Ham. The group would change band members for the first year but would be set with Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill in February 1970.