A catchy name is a prerequisite for almost any entertainment group. A solid name communicates what a group or project is all about, covering both theme and influence.
In the case of heavy metal and rock, it should also be at least partly ironic. The first ‘classic rock’ projects, from Iron Maiden to Judas Priest to Black Sabbath, began teasing out the earliest themes in metal related to a dark twist on an innocent topic (‘maiden’, ‘priest’, and ‘sabbath’).
From there, single-name groups started looking for a one-hit-punch impact, like Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, and Megadeth. Over the decades, these early nods took on greater variation, which reflected the expansion of the genre into subsets like death, black, glam, and nu metal.
But rock doesn’t have a monopoly on memorable names. In fact, there are a few other notable industries that have created some truly unforgettable titles. For example, online slots sites tend to have some of the most consistent deals from top casino sites, which feature hundreds of titles. What’s one way to stand out from the competition? Pick a catchy moniker.
There’s Pablo Picasslot for art enthusiasts and KGB Bears for history-zoology buffs. There’s even Cyrus the Virus for those who haven’t had enough of germs, or Leprechaun Goes to Hell for those sick of traditional Celtic themes.
The same goes for horseracing. Typically, a horse will take part of its name from its parentage, which helps other pundits identify a horse’s stud line. Who can forget Odor in the Court? Or good old Potoooooooo? Just like metal bands, the origins of these names are loaded with other meanings.
Ever wondered what’s behind some of the most unique band names in metal? Keep reading for some of the lesser-known facts about these memorable monikers.
Pantera
As one of the biggest acts in the industry, there’s no shortage of stories that swirl around this band. Plenty of fans can name the animal Dimebag Darrell used to keep around (and whose beard he used to paint). Even more know where the song title ‘Five Minutes Alone’ comes from. But not many know the band name has nothing to do with a translation of ‘panther’. It’s actually an ode to the group’s hometown of Pantego, Texas.
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza
Though this mathcore group didn’t last too long during its early 2000s run, fans of the genre aren’t likely to forget their name anytime soon. The Louisiana band ended up adopting its moniker from the celebrity Tony Danza, who’s famous for his tapdancing skills. The name was a cheeky attempt at attracting older concert-goers eager to see the light-footed pop star… only to find themselves in a mosh pit.
Megadeth
Megadeth is largely believed to be a take on the term ‘megadeath’, which is a term used to tally one million human deaths from a nuclear holocaust. However, the band name’s origin could be down to a significantly less metal event: a trip on a forsaken bus.
Apparently, Dave Mustaine chose the moniker after a cross-country trip on a bus, which has led many to speculate it could be descended from the Megabus line. However, the line wasn’t yet established in the US. In reality, Mustaine altered the name with a slight misspelling after hearing Pink Floyd had once gone by Megadeath.
We Butter the Bread with Butter
WBTBWB is a German deathcore group that uses a bit too much electronic synth to be considered metal… but still sees quite a few crossover fans from the more traditional genres, especially glam punk. Still, WBTBWB is a unique project that carries some of the punk spirit into a more poppy realm.
Why did they choose their name? No particular reason. What type of themes influenced their lyrics? German folktales and nursery rhymes. Unfortunately for the group, the original duo who started out left only three years into the project, and WBTBWB hasn’t released anything notable since then.
