Band Names: Why is That Sprocket Wet?

Chapters

• 1:37 Welcome Back After Hiatus
• 2:17 The Power of Artist Names
• 5:02 Butthole Surfers and Rock Band Names
• 9:06 Bizarre Food Tangent
• 12:15 Memorable 90s Band Names
• 18:54 Hip-Hop Names and Industry Commentary
• 26:00 Farewell and Ice Cube Quote

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:49

Ahoy, ahoy, Hello, ahoy to you, sir. Long time no talk, after our vacation from the 100th episode and Go ahead. I'm sorry, sir. See, we're out of practice people. We apologize immediately.

Speaker 2 1:05

Very much. So we're back and better than ever, that's right Allegedly. I'm not sure who alleged this, but it's been alleged.

Speaker 1 1:12

We're back and better than ever.

Speaker 2 1:14

That's right. Allegedly Allegedly I'm not sure who alleged this, but it's been alleged.

The Power of Artist Names

Speaker 1 1:18

It has been alleged. It's the word on the streets. That's what they say Sometimes. You know words can be used to create a presence. You know if you're in a band per se or even just a musician. You know your name. Your name can bring like a little extra oomph to your push as an artist, getting yourself out there, whether it be shock value or some deep emotional connection.

Speaker 2 1:48

What did you say? Your name was Moredo Luda Schneebacker. Indeed, I mean, you hear Immortal Technique and it's like, okay, I'm gonna at least give this a listen, because they're clever enough to have a badass moniker.

Speaker 1 2:00

Yeah, I agree with that statement, my friend, I believe like one of my favorite names in rap, hip-hop, whatever Is Equipto, and most of you guys probably don't know who he is. Maybe you do, I don't know I is, maybe do, I don't know? I hope so, but uh, he's a bay area rapper from san francisco and I just love the names. Like he's equipped, he's ready to go, I don't know. Quipto, it's like one of those names, very equipped badass, rapper as well.

Speaker 2 2:30

Oh yeah, a japanese yeah anyone that's doing stuff with king nicky. You know they gotta be A.

Speaker 1 2:36

Japanese. Yeah, yup, on point.

Speaker 2 2:39

Yeah, man for sure. Oh, you know what else is? Dope as fuck is Octopus gummies from From France, oh, yeah. When I told them that I'd ordered them, colt thought that they were actually like Jellied octopus. I'm like, no, it's like a gummy bear, but it's an octopus. When I told them that I'd ordered them, cole thought that they were actually like jellied octopus or something. I'm like, no, it's like a gummy bear, but it's an octopus. He's like I don't know, you eat some weird shit. Yeah, I was like okay.

Speaker 2 3:00

Anyhow, tangent, first tangent of this episode yeah, here we go. But I was just eating something right when Cole called Nice. Let me explain myself.

Speaker 1 3:13

That's okay, I suppose, hey. So nonetheless, I guess we decided we were just going to tell you guys some bizarre band names and just take it from there. There's really no explanation, but the point is these people picked these names, became at least above. Locally successful was kind of the goal. Nobody that started a garage band and never toured. You know we're not going that deep because that would be ridiculous, but nonetheless, you know, being as it is coming into the summer months and you know, out there on the coast, out on the west coast, here, I believe, in California, people surf, don't they? Owen?

Speaker 2 3:52

Indeed, they do.

Speaker 1 3:53

I've never been, but yeah, Neither have I actually. I've never even boogie boarded. I've done that Really All right. Yeah, that's badass. My friend, I admire your accomplishments in life.

Speaker 2 4:06

It was like 1987 when I watched a VHS probably shitty movie, but yeah, it was fun yeah.

Speaker 1 4:14

Well, nonetheless, surfing and boogie boarding and all these things, and these guys aren't from California but they like to go by butthole surfers. So anyway, I do remember seeing these guys on like MTV and whatever, and the name really like struck me, as I don't want to listen to you.

Speaker 2 4:33

No kidding. And then the funny part of it I did read that before they were famous. I guess it was at some. Yeah, I guess this is how they got the name. That's not what they went by and whoever introduced them on stage Said butthole surfers. And they like decided to stick with it. Like what the fuck Like what kind? Of drug? Did these guys know?

Speaker 1 5:01

Oh, probably a lot, you know it's, but why not Like? It must have been a pretty good sized show, and so they got some notoriety and they're like well, fuck, I guess we're surfing buttholes guys. Whatever, you know, I don't know, but hey, you know, they did get. They did have some popularity, bro. Like I said, they're on MTV and they're from Texas. They are labeled as a psychedelic punk band.

Speaker 2 5:24

Yeah, Sorry, A less vulgar name. That's also interesting. They might be giants. Oh, I remember them. Yeah, and one of the cool things apparently they just liked the name. I don't know why. They were looking at a list of possible ventriloquist names, but that's where they got the name.

Speaker 1 5:47

That's a good one, bro man. I'm happy for you, Ellen, You're doing some good research here. I didn't see that shit. Were they like kind of a ska band or something Sort of?

Speaker 2 5:57

No, I think it was like sort of indie rock. I remember, god, you'd recognize Someone as a. So I'm not. I'm not very familiar with their works, but I remember not hating it. Yeah, Once again ringing endorsement from the positive neck.

Speaker 1 6:15

Yeah for sure, bro, You're doing great. You're doing great. You know one group band these seem to be a lot of rock bands here. Guys, I don't know what's going on, the one that I think kind of stands out, but I don't know what the F. But Def Leppard is a okay right, like what's going on there.

Speaker 2 6:39

Owen, I don't know and spelled like most deaf too.

Speaker 1 6:43

Yeah well, apparently the singer, joe Elliot, thought of the name Def Leppard while he was in school, presumably while failing something. This article from Cracked says the spelling was later changed so the band didn't become confused with punk bands, who are known for their flawless spelling, of course. Yeah, no, it's pretty stupid. They don't even have like a real explanation. I actually tried to look into this a little bit afterwards, but he was just like a deaf leopard, I don't know. So isn't that the? Isn't that the band that has, like the one arm drummer or something like that?

Speaker 2 7:21

Well, it has nine arms and sucks. I don't know, my friend Deaf leopard.

Speaker 1 7:26

Oh no.

Speaker 2 7:28

Sorry.

Speaker 1 7:30

All right, apparently, that guy is not a very good person either, so I don't feel bad about making fun of that.

Speaker 2 7:37

No, yeah, it's like domestic violence even. Yeah. So normally I would not make fun of somebody that has a disability like that, yeah.

Bizarre Food Tangent

Speaker 1 7:47

It's a good joke. It is a good joke, hey, another, just random one that's kind of like okay, guys, this Puddle of Mud. I remember them from the 90s. Yeah, During a 1993 Missouri River flood it left the band's practice basically all rained out and muddy and fucked up and they couldn't really practice. They thought, well, they just went ahead and went with it and apparently that's where they got Puddle of Mud from. So at least it has an origin story. Some of these seem really ridiculous where you're like, what the even fuck are you guys thinking? I'm still confused about Def Leppard. I don't like that, I don't even know. You know, that's so weird. One band name that's. You know, just off the cuff I feel some stuff about these guys, but like the Dead Kennedys, it's not a funny one, it's very controversial. And dang, what a powerful choice of a name there. You know.

Speaker 2 8:50

Yeah, I love Dead Kennedy. I don't really listen, but especially in my teenage angst and you know, Right, Just riled up, it's like and it is great. I mean it's super Honestly, it's similar to Mortal Technique in like the message and everything. Yeah. Yeah, they were very, very controversial. They battled censorship. I don't think we brought them up in the censorship episodes. Shame on us.

Speaker 1 9:16

Yeah, no shit. Yep, yeah, the famous song is about boston, correct?

Speaker 2 9:23

not that I know of. Oh, what is that? Uh, holiday in cambodia, super famous uh mtv, get out the air, they have some. They were, yeah, definitely, yeah definitely, like um, a thorn in the side of polite society yeah, that sounds about right. They're very punk, my friend yeah, real, real, not pop punk. Uh, interesting, a man born Marvin Lee Adé. I don't know if I'm saying that right.

Speaker 1 9:56

Okay.

Speaker 2 9:56

Who once balloon to 320 pounds, is a well-known, more well-known as meatloaf. Oh, do you know where that name came from?

Speaker 1 10:10

No, I have no idea, but the loaf has been a part of my life because in the late 80s, early 90s, you would see a lot of him mixed in with popular music.

Speaker 2 10:20

unfortunately, True, I mean God rest, but no, so I guess he was born bright red and his father said he looked like Ground Chuck, so they called him Meat and then he would adopt the loaf later.

Speaker 1 10:37

Oh, my goodness, oh man, that's actually kind of funny. Hey, at least that has something behind it. Though this is interesting, my friend. I did not know that At all. Actually, one of the ones that came up for rappers is old dirty bastard, and I can't argue with that. Owen, it's bizarre, it's fucking brilliant. Yeah, it's fantastic. I'm a big ODB fan. Shout out to his son, b Varson as well. Friend of the show. Hopefully one day. Nonetheless, yeah, old Dirty Bastard, that's a great name, I feel I don't know.

Memorable 90s Band Names

Speaker 2 11:15

How about the Squirtle Nut Zippers? What Sure. I'm not familiar with the works, but apparently I'm just waiting to get this one. I think it's just called the Method. No association with the Method man, but Method Shop, I think. So I'm just going to read theirs directly, because it's pretty fucking good.

Speaker 1 11:38

Okay, do you have the? Where is it from?

Speaker 2 11:42

Method.

Speaker 1 11:43

Oh sorry, sorry, sorry, you were talking about Method man and it just got confusing. I'm kind of stumbling.

Speaker 2 11:48

So Squirrel Nut Zippers, a band known for their eclectic mix of jazz, swing and folk, derived their name from an old-fashioned candy. The band members were inspired by the Squirrel Nut Caramel Company's Squirrel Nut Zippers candy, which itself had a nostalgic, quirky charm. According to them.

Speaker 2 12:04

It sounds bizarre but zippers yeah, I'm glad I I did, you know, looked at a lot of different sites and I figured I'd give these guys credit, because other other stuff I just like read it and then did it my own words, but uh, yeah, yeah, I would be scared to see what come up on the internet if you search net zippers, guys.

Speaker 1 12:22

Yeah, it doesn't sound like anything good could come of that. No, that translated wrong. I mean like it's from a different era, obviously the candy, but it doesn't sound like I'd be partaking in. No, no, yeah, there's one that I don't have any background on this, but there's a couple of these names that apparently they're big and something, but one is Disease Factory. That's a hell of a name for a band.

Speaker 2 12:51

Trying not to pick her up at the bar, I guess.

Speaker 1 12:54

The singer's name is Velvet Acid, velvet Acid Christ. Anyway, another one behind that is Sharon Needles. That was another one. It's spelled like Sharon, like S-H-A-R-O-N, I don't know.

Speaker 2 13:10

Which did bring. The band never got off the ground, really. But back in the day we'd joke about a garage band named Morning Wood W-O-U-L-D. Question mark yeah, all right, and Morning Wood W-O-U-L-D, yeah, alright, I haven't lost that childlike sense of humor.

Speaker 1 13:30

No, we must keep it, or someone say juvenile. Well you know, you gotta keep it moving. Keep it moving, baby, keep it moving. Yeah, so um hmm.

Speaker 2 13:43

One that just extremely sucked.

Speaker 1 13:46

Toad the Wet Sprocket oh my goodness, I remember those guys too. This is man. The 90s was terrible. Yeah Well, I just remember on MTV, man, mtv was a big part of the 90s and 80s. You know what I'm saying. So that's what I remember. But uh, can you name a song Even I can't off the top of my head?

Speaker 2 14:05

I just Cause I looked at it. It was like Walk on the Ocean, which is like Shouldn't be allowed to be played in elevators and apparently like the only cool thing about it is it's some homage to Monty Python. I don't remember any skit with such a thing, but it's still fucking stupid.

Speaker 1 14:28

Yeah, it says it comes from an Eric Idle monologue on a Monty Python album. Is what I just figured Right now. Live guys. Then the comment on this is this, then is the musical equivalent of the AB Club nerds who recited the Knights who Say Knee sketch over and over.

Speaker 2 14:52

That is a great fucking film, though, but I'm not recreating it While I was Hourly or anything. Thank you, very much.

Speaker 1 15:02

I got something that's kind of odd. You know who Russell Crowe is, right, yes, notorious, weirdo at times and great actor, right, russell Crowe has been involved in some weird things, not like sexual, I don't feel, but like he beats people up or some shit, I don't know. Sorry, I had to clarify because when I say weird, you know, when I started hearing myself, I'm like, yeah, he does some weird stuff. Guys like that could be like anything. I don't, I'm not trying to be like that. No, I think I remember him getting in like kind of he's kind of rowdy at one point in his life. Anyway, so apparently he has a band, all right, of course. So God bless, yeah, god bless.

Speaker 1 15:40

Russell Crowe. 30 odd foot of grunts, that is a good guy. Yeah, so they're. They're like competing stories for what it is, but I don't know, they just can't. Nobody knows and it falls on a lot of lists as the worst band name ever, kind of like what the even fuck guys? Yeah, so I don't know, that's weird. But now we know that Russell Crowe has a weird band.

Speaker 2 16:09

Yeah, yeah. Another odd choice, especially a band from Athens, georgia Of Montreal.

Speaker 1 16:19

Oh wow, I've heard of that. I don't know if it's because I was reading stuff about weird band names or not, though I have no clue who they are, I don't think.

Speaker 2 16:27

No, I don't really care to. I don't think I'm missing out on a life experience Somehow. Oh no, fuck Illmatic, I listen to these fucking podcasts. I don't think I'm missing out on a life experience somehow. Oh no, like. Oh yeah, fuck Illmatic, I listen to these fucking. I know nothing about these guys. I'm sure they're very nice people, but, yeah, they're that stupid name again.

Speaker 1 16:46

Yeah, hosier's from Canada. That's kind of a weird name, but at least he's from Canada, I feel. I think that's like his real last name. It was like Hosier or something like that. I don't know, could be, I don't know. I don't know much about him. I know they sell his album at Target, though.

Hip-Hop Names and Industry Commentary

Speaker 1 17:01

Here's one that most people in the US will know who these guys are. But Hootie and the Blowfish, oh god, why, like what? Yeah, so I guess he's just nicknamed Hootie because one of his friends, darius Rucker, the lead singer so basically one of his friends gave him the nickname because Darius Rucker, the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, looked like an owl, apparently, and he said that the two ugliest white guys on campus was what the term I read was in one of the things Looked like a couple of blowfish. So there you are. Yeah, so there you are. I don't have any problem with Darius Rucker. Okay, guys, or the hoodie and the blowfish I don't know about the blowfish. I'm like Scott Baio. Oh my God, yeah, I'm like Scott Baio, never Scott Baio. Oh my god, yeah, I'm like Scott Baio, never Scott Baio. You know, one of the worst bands that's Relevantly newer From the 90s. That's not newer. It's like the 60s when we were kids. It's like 30 years ago, nonetheless, nickelback.

Speaker 2 18:09

Maybe Nickelback thinks you suck.

Speaker 1 18:11

Yeah, they probably do Apparently their name.

Speaker 2 18:14

I don't remember that you sent me that video where the guy was like, oh my. God, I forgot about that banging on stuff and finally he just got them. Maybe Nickelback thinks you suck, sorry.

Speaker 1 18:25

I don't think, nickelback.

Speaker 2 18:26

That's okay. That was yeah, oh, my goodness. A detractor to your musical? No, I doubt it, yeah fuck them, don't listen.

Speaker 1 18:35

Chad Kroger apparently he was the lead singer, anyway. So the way they got their name, which is at least I guess it came from somewhere. But he used to work at Starbucks and when coffee was $1.95, which everybody just basically gave him $2, so he'd always give them a nickel back. So anyway, way to be clever. Wow, that's about that's like that reflects upon their music, my friend. That's kind of the constant commentary is it's very pop rock, you know, or whatever you want to call it shit. Nonetheless, everybody, what a wonderful day. I hope everybody's got good plans for the summer. It's coming up.

Speaker 1 19:15

People, kids are almost out of school. My daughter's graduating this year, which means I might you know, if you want to support the show, support the cause, support, you know just whatever? Go to pitlocksupplycom and maybe pick up an ITEL Stories shirt. I actually do free shipping in the US, my friends. So that's how we roll. We got I Tell Stories and a lot of our links. There's a lot of other things that we're up to, including some music and yeah, who knows what the fuck else we'll put up there eventually.

Speaker 1 19:46

Hey, so I French potato chips, oh yeah, french potato chips. We could, we could sell those. That'd be all right. Maybe include them in some stuff. I found a local-ish one to my area, meaning Washington, where I'm at now, and apparently it's you know they did go somewhere, I don't know how far, but I just thought this was a great one, owen, and you might appreciate it. The Broken Penis Orchestra yeah, that's fantastic. It's based out of Edmonds Washington and they've released seven albums. There's really no real reason here for why they named themselves that, but their biggest track is I hope you didn't do too much extensive research Like why, would I appreciate that Excuse me, yeah, alright.

Speaker 1 20:40

Well, anyway, their biggest track is on the brink of a wet dream, apparently. Yeah, jeez, guys Get it together. Okay, yeah, so what?

Speaker 2 20:53

else.

Speaker 1 20:53

Zoinks, yeah, zoinks, what else you got? My friend Right said Fred oh my god, is that the From my shirt, that fucking guy?

Speaker 2 21:03

Yes, and I think he didn't do much else afterwards. I hope for the world's sake, I hope not, but yeah, I definitely I'm more into.

Speaker 1 21:14

I'd rather listen to the how Bizarre Guy than that song.

Speaker 2 21:18

Wow, yeah, that's rough and it's very true. How Bizarre.

Speaker 1 21:22

Yeah, that's very weird.

Speaker 2 21:23

Something, a band I really appreciate, especially the Blue Album. I even call the dog that sometimes Weezer because he has a wheezy blue pit, but apparently it came from a childhood nickname that the singer Rivers Cuomo. They called him Weezer. The reason is unknown, but it stuck and now you know they're of the 90s. For alternative especially, there was a bigger one that remained relevant. I like Weezer, weezer's dope that's actually Used for alternative.

Speaker 1 21:55

Especially, there Was the bigger, big ones, that remained Relevant. Yeah, no, yeah, I like Weezer, weezer's dope. That's actually what my little pipe's name is, since we're ridiculous. Oh, that's right, yeah.

Speaker 2 22:04

It looks like a sweater. Yeah, yeah, and that's. That was their first like hit, as I remember that I was made aware of Is the sweater song Right.

Speaker 1 22:13

I like that Buddy Holly track.

Speaker 2 22:18

Yeah, that whole album's just great.

Speaker 1 22:22

No, that's a thing. Apparently there was a band named Diarrhea Planet that did pretty well at one point in time.

Speaker 1 22:27

High Energy Punk Band from Nashville with a deliberately off-putting name. Yeah, that's what it is. Another one, too, that caught my eye and I don't know much about, but it's a scary pool party, all one word. It's like what the fuck Apparently the guy came from, he was on American Idol and it was kind of like being in a scary pool party of emotions. I don't even know. So that's why it's called scary pool party, but that's bizarre to me.

Speaker 2 22:58

Sounds unpleasant definitely.

Speaker 1 23:00

You know, there's a lot of times I question myself. I'm like, is that kind of like an age gap thing? Do I not understand this? Now, you know, I don't know. I mean it's not like we're like ancient, but you know, we're older, we're middle-aged, so sometimes you start seeing those things that you don't get, and that's okay, but I don't. Scary pool party can mean a lot of weird things, guys. We don't like that kind of shit around here. Somebody drowns some sort of background, nefarious ditty activities. Oh God, sorry about that. Puff Daddy one of the worst Fucking names ever, by the way.

Speaker 2 23:36

Yeah, that, yeah, fuck that, whatever he wanted To call himself and we're not new To this like this, guy sucks party. Like Colton Evans and Samson's Were fucking 90, yeah, and now we weren't clear On what a like Monster he was, but he he's garbage.

Speaker 1 23:52

It is Like let's just all he ever did. This is his claim to fame most times, and how much of a narcissist piece of shit he is. He got behind, like all these people that he bought their albums for and they would do all the work, and then he's in the background.

Speaker 2 24:07

Yeah, something like a baby goat sometimes and shit, so he can go away. Well, yeah, he's away.

Speaker 1 24:14

Thankfully, jerry. He's in a shady place. He's like go away. Well, yeah, he's away, thankfully, jerry. I sent you that meme where, like there's a picture of him and Biggie in the studio and like Biggie wasn't cross-eyed, he just always had to keep one eye on Diddy yeah, brilliant.

Speaker 2 24:28

Yeah, whoever did that deserves consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize. Yeah, brilliant. Yeah, whoever did that deserves a consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize?

Speaker 1 24:38

Yeah something, or yeah Poulter.

Speaker 2 24:41

I don't think I have a nomination, but if I did, yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 1 24:46

I thought you should Y'all need to tell that joke to people or find that meme. Just look up what I just said and then I'm sure it'll pop up, you know. Anyway, no disrespect to Biggie either. I don't think he was in on all that weird shit, guys, just so.

Farewell and Ice Cube Quote

Speaker 2 25:00

No, I would hope notice you don't hear anything about like Wu-Tang or Nod or Immortal or any of that. I mean there's lots of people that aren't involved with that shit. But sure enough, like nobody Colton I listen to has been even like remotely fucking. No, no, no, that Colton Island at the New has been even like remotely fucking into that bullshit.

Speaker 1 25:18

Yeah, fuck that shit. Anyway, I love what Ice Cube said about it. Apparently, he was doing a concert back last year and basically what he said is this Almost 40 years of rocking the mic. And I'm going to tell you right now, me and WC ain't never been to a ditty party, motherfucker, and you ain't gotta worry about us on them motherfucking tapes or anybody that we know from the West Coast. There we are, quote Ice Cube, and, on that note, my friend, um, this was a fun episode, indeed.

Speaker 2 25:50

Much love everybody. Much love to Ice Cube for that quote.

Speaker 1 25:53

Yeah, that was fantastic, Alright, much love everybody. Much love to Ice Cube for that quote. Yeah, that was fantastic, All right, much love everybody.