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Monday Coffee Break: Stage Names

Posted at 8:47 AM on April 26, 2010 by Steve Seel (30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to pay tribute to some of the more creative stage names in music; names that you immediately know couldn't possibly have been that particular musician's birth name. That is, unless his or her parents were certifiably weird and/or cruel. You know, like Buckethead.

Comments (30)

Meatloaf - "Paradise by the Dashboard Light"

While that wasn't his birth name, he did take the name because his father always called him meat when he was growing up.

Posted by August | April 26, 2010 8:55 AM

Slug from Atmosphere

Posted by Alissa | April 26, 2010 8:57 AM

Link Wray (Frederick Lincoln Wray Jr) - Rumble

Posted by Allyson | April 26, 2010 8:58 AM

How about "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince"? Something off of the "Love Symbol Album"?

Posted by Andy | April 26, 2010 8:58 AM

Meat Loaf
U2 (The Edge)
Bob Dylan
The Ramones
Hole (Courtney Love)
Iggy Pop
Frank Black/Black Francis

A very large number of rappers...

Posted by Andrew S. | April 26, 2010 8:59 AM

Sean Tillmann --> Har Mar Superstar

Marshall Mathers --> Eminem

Posted by Eric | April 26, 2010 8:59 AM

Guns n' Roses- "Paradise City" or "Sweet Child O'Mine"

Axl and Slash are not names I'd name my children right now. But let's see how tastes and styles evolve by the time that day comes. I'm pulling more towards Slash.

Posted by Justin | April 26, 2010 9:00 AM

Come on, who would ever name their kid "Flea"?
Californication from RHCP.

Posted by kNoizey | April 26, 2010 9:02 AM

Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
Bono, Edge - U2

Posted by phyghy | April 26, 2010 9:02 AM

Not that there is anything you could actually play by this guy, but I was just thinking an ironic choice would be G.G. Allin - as his parents actually named him "Jesus Christ Allin" but it got shortened to GG at some point.

Posted by Cynthia | April 26, 2010 9:02 AM

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

The lead singer's name is Alex Ebert, and Edward Sharpe is a persona made up by Ebert.

Posted by August | April 26, 2010 9:05 AM

Sex Pistols- Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious.

And in case you are wondering, yes, that (Sunday) is my real name.

Posted by Sunday | April 26, 2010 9:05 AM

Sid Vicious - Holiday in the Sun
Alice Cooper - School's Out
Rev. Horton Heat - Liquor, Beer and Wine
Nikki Sixx -

Posted by Pail Ale | April 26, 2010 9:06 AM

Englebert Humperdink.

Posted by Brandon | April 26, 2010 9:07 AM

Joe Strummer [nee John Mellor]

Posted by lou | April 26, 2010 9:08 AM

An obscure, but fun one is Lee Press-on and the Nails out of San Francisco.

Tiny Tim
Mika
Sting
And, of course, Those boys from Spinal Tap - David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls and Nigel Tufnel

Posted by Rana | April 26, 2010 9:18 AM

Lux Interior and Poison Ivy - The Cramps, a band influenced by Link Wray. Please play Garbageman

Posted by Allyson | April 26, 2010 9:23 AM

Luxe Interior of the Cramps

Posted by Jen | April 26, 2010 9:25 AM

Vincent Furnier: Alice Cooper

Posted by Shawn Foy | April 26, 2010 9:25 AM

Poison Ivy, guitarist for the Cramps; how about playing "Human Fly?"

Posted by Phil | April 26, 2010 9:25 AM

i know you probably can't play them, but ol' dirty b*strd from wu tang legally changed his name to big baby jesus before he died.

public enemy--flava flav--911 is a joke

joe strummer--the clash

neal diamond (Noah Kaminsky)

Posted by beth | April 26, 2010 9:28 AM

It's fairly obvious, but I don't think this coffee break would be complete without SOMETHING by Sting (Yeah, if my name was Gordon I'd probably go with a nickname, as well...). Since Mr. Sumner's solo career is...well...bland? let's go with something by The Police. "Man In A Suitcase" is always a safe bet.

Posted by Michael James Harmon | April 26, 2010 9:28 AM

Vincent Furnier: Alice Cooper

Posted by Shawn Foy | April 26, 2010 9:28 AM

Dr. Robert of The Blow Monkeys
Alice Cooper
Ziggy Stardust
Ringo Starr

Posted by Stephanie | April 26, 2010 9:29 AM

John Wesley Harding is actually Wesley Stace. He still uses that name for his vary successful writing career.

Posted by Jeanne | April 26, 2010 9:30 AM

How could we forget the musical styling of one Declan MacManus?
Or, what was Sting thinking when he changed from Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner?

If these names aren't rock n' roll I don't know what is.

Posted by Corey | April 26, 2010 9:31 AM

Siouxie Sue and the Banshees!

Posted by Debra S | April 26, 2010 9:45 AM

I know this suggestion is too late, but I can't believe no one has mentioned the Dead Kennedys: Jello Biafra, East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride...

Posted by Amanda | April 26, 2010 9:45 AM

I know you are already half way through and probably have all the songs picked. But there are 2 local artists that used different names for their side projects Paul Westerberg = Grandpa Boy. Also didn't Golden Smog all use different names similar to the Travelling Willbury's.

Posted by will | April 26, 2010 9:47 AM

uh, Jack White

Posted by Tom | April 26, 2010 9:51 AM

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