Many musicians select stage names like Nikki Sixx. I guess he thought it sounded more like a rock star name and that's part of the business I guess. Then there are people that want nicknames thrown in the middle so you get something like Mark "the animal" Mendoza. Okay, that one was a bit generic, but okay I guess. However former Motorhead drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor has quite a spectaular nickname. I just wanted to mention a few nicknames and see what people liked or didn't like. I think one definite rule should be that if you pick something descriptive to your skill then you better live up to it. Case in point is Eddie "fingers" Ojeda from Twisted Sister. Okay, he's a guitarist, but by choosing "fingers" he sets himself up pretty high and even though I like that band he just did not live up to that nickname. Another rule is if you should be clever, funny or somehow amusing in choosing a nickname or else don't bother. That brings me to Ratt drummer Bobby "the Blotz" Blotzer. Seriously, that nickname was so lame that it was a waste of ink to have it printed on anything mentioning his name. Dokken drummer "Wild" Mick Brown has a sort of generic nickname, but I thought it fit when I assumed he got it for his drug use and being with women. However he later told a story that he got it because he made up silly lyrics so a roadie or something gave him the name to be like "Weird" Al. After hearing that story I didn't like the nickname as much. Then you have Pretty boy Floyd who were so into nicknames that three of the four members on their debut had them. There was singer Steven "Sex'" Summers, guitarist Kristy "Krash" Majors and drummer Kari "the mouth" Kane.
***So what do you think of band members using nicknames?
What are some you like?
What nickname would you give yourself if you were in a band?
Good: Euronymous
ReplyDeleteBad: Sickie Wifebeater
Just plain dumb: Slymenstra Hymen
I'd call myself Dead Weight, because that's all I'd be in a band.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the MAD spoof years ago which rang: Damien Lucifer from the group Antichrist says Heavy Metal is not about the Devil.
ReplyDeleteThe whole nickname thing has a different angle in punk. In the UK, a lot of the early punks used stage names so that when their records and gigs were written up in the paper, no one could tie their real names to it. If they had been associated with their band, it owuld have been viewed as a job and they would not have been able to stay on the dole (welfare). Of course that was adopted in the US as well, but more as a style than a practical measure. Some of my favorites are Donna Rhia, Dottie Danger (Belinda Carlisle), Pat Smear. The list goes on and on.
ReplyDeletedschalek - You didn't like those Mentors names? I always thought they were pretty funny even if the band wasn't very good.
Darth Corky. Since I can't really play any instruments I've decide to give myself a Sith name instead.
ReplyDeleteI remember in the late 80s-early 90s, some friends of mine were in various bands and they put together Smartass, an Atlanta based glam band... they were like Poison clones...they gave themselves nicknames...Steve was "Taxi", Jody was "Josie Chicago" and Scott was "Scotty Lynx"... only the guitarist kept his real name, Kelly Greene...
ReplyDeleteIt was kind of funny at first for stage names, but it got a bit much when they started calling themselves those names offstage...which was too much...
Neeless to say, we made fun of them quite a bit!!! :)
Mark, do your remember John from high school? He wanted to change his name to John Malcolm (I think after Malcolm Owen of the Ruts). Robert's story reminded me of that.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite "nickname" or stage name has to be Blackie Lawless. I always liked Steve "zetro" Souza from Exodus. Don't know why, just did.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic!
ReplyDeleteStage names crack me up, but I agree with dschalek - the guys (and former guys) in Mayhem take the cake for the best names. When your band is named Mayhem, you have a lot to live up to.
I have no idea what I would call myself if I were in a band...maybe "jet black" for my dyed hair?!
Allyson B. Crawford
www.bringbackglam.com
I always dug the name Kristy "Krash" Majors...has a cool ring to it!
ReplyDeleteThe Blotz is pretty damn awful. I liked the names of those Zodiac guys you mentioned not too long ago, who I'd never heard of.
ReplyDeleteI think it's harder to think up a good girl nickname...I have no idea what I would be.
dschalek-I thought the Menotrs names were funny.
ReplyDeleteBruce-That's a good one.
Andre-Never read that, but I like it.
Bob-What about Joey Shithead of D.O.A.?
Captain Corky-Then you would have to wear all black.
robert-I had some friends from college got into wrestling in small promotions and they took on silly names for that.
bob-If I would have been there I would have something like "cool, you're calling yourself Malcolm like Malcolm Young of AC/DC. He would have hated that.
ray gillen-I like those as well.
allyson-jet black is not bad.
rockdog-I like Steven "sex" Summers better.
beckeye-You are forgetting the Cycle Sluts from hell who did one album. They were:
Venus Penis Crusher
She-Fire Of Ice
Queen Vixen
Honey 1%er
I like the nicknames in most cases. One of my favorite nicknames is, Dave "Snake" Sabo!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why, it just sounds cool to me. I don't have any idea what my nickname would be if I were in a band...maybe...."hot shot" or something!! hehe
You've identified some of the worst.
ReplyDeleteI liked Diamond David Lee Roth; I hated the Red Rocker. (Both in terms of nicknames and vocal style.)
I like the nicknames for Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson in Rush: The Professor and Lerxst.
-- david
....or another nickname for me....
ReplyDeleteAxe Man!
We can't forget Gwar. Oderous Urungus, Balzac the Jaws of Death and Beefcake the Mighty. I forget the others.
ReplyDeleteWell, Venus Penis Crusher is pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteRazzle was a good one, RIP
ReplyDeleteBobby "Blitz" Ellsworth is tres cool
I think I used the name "Snazzy" for a character in a fiction story I'm writing about metal.
My own nickname? Ray "The Poser" Van Horn