1980s Band Names Demystified

HAVE you been wasting precious hours of your day wondering where A Flock of Seagulls got their name?  Well, wonder no more.  Before your very eyes are the etymologies of 1980s pop-synth and post-punk bands, illuminated for posterity.  No more shall mankind contemplate the origin of Kajagoogoo.  Mystery solved.

Boomtown Rats

Named after a gang of children that Geldof had read about in Woody Guthrie’s autobiography, Bound for Glory.

The Buggles

Trevor Horn imagined a futuristic computer creating a synthetic band “The Buggles”, a corruption of The Beatles

Record producer Trevor Horn poses in the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace, London after being presented with a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Prince of Wales. Picture date: Wednesday May 11 2011.

Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Dexedrine, a brand of dextroamphetamine – the original ADHD medication, and a once popular recreational stimulant.

Any excuse to hear this. (Cue the school disco frenzy.)

Duran Duran

Named after the villain in Barbarella, Dr. Durand Durand

Fine Young Cannibals

From the 1960 film All the Fine Young Cannibals starring Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood.

In a Nov. 25, 1959 file photo, Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner are made up for their roles in “All The Fine Young Cannibals,” in Los Angeles. Dennis Davern, captain of the yacht Splendour, which Wood was aboard at the time of her death, said on national TV Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 that he lied to investigators about Natalie Wood’s mysterious death 30 years ago and blames the actress’ husband at the time, Robert Wagner, for her drowning in the ocean off Southern California.

A Flock of Seagulls

Taken from the lyrics to “Toiler on the Sea” by The Stranglers

We ventured overland
Fought with the aliens
The young ones used their hands
Pointed the way to a flock
A flock of seagulls!

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Holly Johnson (left) leads the group on to a train bound for Liverpool at London’s Euston Station. 01/07/04: Twenty years ago Thursday July 1, 2004, the band were at the top of the UK charts with Two Tribes. Frankie Goes to Hollywood spent 15 weeks at the top of the UK charts in 1984, with three songs – Relax, Two Tribes and the Power of Love.

A random headline from the New Yorker magazine (the “Frankie” in question referred to Frank Sinatra)

Heaven 17

Burgess in 1973

A fictional band mentioned in Anthony Burgess’s novel, A Clockwork Orange.

Hüsker Dü

Named after the board game.  The heavy metal umlauts were added for effect.

INXS

Inspired by the band XTC and Australian jam makers IXL, they decided on a foreshortened version of “inaccessible”.

Jesus and Mary Chain

Allegedly from a breakfast cereal package which advertised that you could send off for a free Jesus and Mary chain.

Kajagoogoo

A slight variation on a baby’s first sounds: gaga googoo

Level 42

42 as in the answer to the meaning of life in the Douglas Adams book The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy

Love and Rockets

After the Jaime and Mario Hernandez alternative comic books

Madness

Madness with their first full length feature film, “Take It or Leave It”, described as a documentary with music. The film features band members (pictured not in order), Bedders, Chas, Chrissy Boy, Lee, Mike, Suggs and Woody as themselves. Other parts are in the hands of actors. Take It or Leave It is titled after a track from the band’s top twenty album.

Homage to Madness a song by reggae artist Prince Buster.

Ready to the the Rude Boy dance that anyone could do (again, any excuse):

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

They wanted a name that in no way would confuse them as a punk band. I think they succeeded.

The Pretenders

Named after the Platters song The Great Pretender.

Public Image, Ltd.

After the Muriel Spark novel The Public Image

Scritti Politti

A homage to the Italian Marxist writer and political theorist Antonio Gramsci. The correct spelling in Italian to refer to “Political Writings” would have produced “Scritti Politici, but was changed to sound like the Little Richard song Tutti Frutti.

Simple Minds

Jim Kerr, lead singer with rock group Simple Minds, arrives for his marriage to actress Patsy Kensit at Chelsea register office. Date: 03/01/1992

From the David Bowie song “The Jean Genie”

“Hes so simple minded he can’t drive his module,
He bites on the neon and sleeps in the capsule”

 

Simply Red

The band’s name originally was “Red”, but when the singer had to repeatedly clarify their name as “Red, simply Red”, it seemed to stick.

Sonic Youth

A combination of the nickname of MC5’s Fred “Sonic” Smith with “Youth” from reggae artist Big Youth.

Spandau Ballet

Undated image of the changing of the guard at Spandau war criminals prison in Berlin, Germany in the post-war era.

The name refers to many hangings at Spandau Prison where the victims would twitch and jump (a macabre ballet) at the end of a rope.

Squeeze

A facetious tribute to The Velvet Underground’s oft-derided 1973 album Squeeze.

Tears for Fears

Inspired by “primal therapy”, developed by American psychologist Arthur Janov, who had John Lennon as a patient in 1970.

Thompson Twins

From the Thompson and Thompson characters from The Adventures of TinTin

T’Pau

Named after a Vulcan Elder on Star Trek

Wang Chung

Originally, Huang Chung which they claimed translated to “perfect pitch” and the sound a guitar makes.  The spelling was changed from “Huang” to “Wang” simply to make it easier to pronounce.

… and there you have it.  You’re welcome.

Yeoman Lowbrow

Posted: 20th, February 2014 | In: Flashback, Key Posts, Music | Comments (2)

Piña Colliding: Yes, Rupert Holmes’ 1979 Hit Can Make Every Movie Better

“ESCAPE (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes is great and it should be in every movie.”

So writes Carol Hartsell and Sean Crespo in an introduction to their Tumblr Piña Colliding. For those of you not au fait with Holme’s 1979 hit, here it is.

But can the song make everything it touches better? Let’s see:

Pina Colada 1: The Lion King

he Hitcher

The Silence Of The Lambs

Jaws

Anorak

Posted: 20th, February 2014 | In: Film, Key Posts, Music | Comment

1987 Photo: Mike Smith, Dave Lee Travis, Noel Edmonds And Mike Read Pimp Out Tony Blackburn

FLASHBACK to 30/09/1987: BBC Radio One Breakfast Show DJ Mike Smith (right) is joined by former presenters of the early-morning slot as the network celebrates its 20th anniversary. From left: Dave Lee Travis, Noel Edmonds, Tony Blackburn and Mike Read.

What happened next?

Anorak

Posted: 19th, February 2014 | In: Flashback, Music, Photojournalism, TV & Radio | Comment

Who Shouldn’t Host The Brits After James Corden Quits? Let’s See…

YOU may have heard (and maybe celebrated too) that James Corden is going to step down from the hosting gig at the Brits Awards tonight.

We are legally obliged to mention Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood’s disastrous outing as hosts, but they do show that this is not an easy gig to do. Huge TV audiences. Band’s egos. A room filled with horrific music industry cokeheads grabbing their interns groins.

It’s enough to make a grown-up weep like they’ve just found an uncovered war grave.

However, there are some people knocking around who would be absolutely perfect for the gig. They can handle the pressure or bring a unique charm to proceedings.

Shall we look at our picks? Yes. Yes, we should.

Nick Grimshaw

Now, Grimmy has revealed that he’d love to take on the Brits gig. Corden reckons the job should go to Emma Willis. However, the music industry is notoriously sexist, so if they want to make progress, they’ll take baby steps by giving it to a gay man before entertaining the idea of Some Woman.

Mof Gimmers

Posted: 19th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities, Key Posts | Comment

1978: Former Cliff Richard Guitarist Jet Harris At Marlborough Street Magistrates, London

FLASHBACK to 11/09/1978: Terence Harris of Porchester Terrace, Paddington – 29 year old pop musician Jet Harris – former bass guitarist with “The Shadows” – at Marlborough Street Magistrates, London, where he appeared on remand on a drink-drive charge and possession of drugs charge.

The Shadows had been Cliff Richard’s backing group. Harris left the group in 1962 following an alleged affair between his wife, Carol Costa, and Richard.

Harris is front right in the picture below.

Pop singer Cliff Richard and members of his supporting instrumental band The Shadows at London Airport as they are about to fly off on their Scandinavian Tour. Date: 15/08/1961

Anorak

Posted: 18th, February 2014 | In: Flashback, Music | Comment

8 Reasons Why Every Movie Needs A Theme Song

A LOT of people make a lot of films, but sadly not all those films have kick-ass theme songs. This is a crying shame – AN ENORMOUSLY CRYING SHAME – because in an ideal world every film ever made would either begin or end (ideally both) with a song (not an instrumental, they don’t count) sharing a title with the film in question. Filmmakers, heed this advice. Why? Why, you say? Well…

– YOU MIGHT FINALLY GET THAT KUDOS YOU’VE BEEN AFTER

Mike Rampton

Posted: 18th, February 2014 | In: Film, Flashback, Key Posts, Music | Comment

Self-Abuse Challenge: Listen To 10 Awful Songs From The ’80s

WHY subject yourself to ten objectively awful songs, you ask?  Even though it will be painful and there will be mental wounds that may take years to heal, it is a worthy endeavor.   It will serve as a reminder that, no matter how bad the state of music is today, there were songs in the 1980s that were much, much worse.

Can you make it through all ten?  Bear in mind, these aren’t “so bad they’re good”; they’re “so bad they cause cancer”.  In fact, the selection chosen from a variety of countries to soften the blame on any one nation. Before beginning, we recommend you have the phone number of a good therapist close at hand. Good luck to you… but don’t say you weren’t warned.

“Neighbours” Theme Song (1985)

Australia

Is it possible for your brain to vomit?  You’ll find out when you take a listen to this saccharine Australian TV show theme.

Yeoman Lowbrow

Posted: 17th, February 2014 | In: Flashback, Key Posts, Music | Comments (2)

Nine Things You Didn’t Need To Know About Bill & Ted

TODAY marks the 25th anniversary of the original release of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, inarguably the best time-travelling-slackers-in-a-phonebox movie ever. Here are nine wholly unnecessary but non-bogus knowledge-bombs:

A BAND ON THE SOUNDTRACK DOESN’T EXIST

The song Two Heads Are Better Than One, the closing theme to B&TEE (as all the cool kids call it) is credited to a band called Power Tool. The thing is, there’s no such band. The song was performed by glam metal band Nelson, who co-wrote it with Dweezil Zappa. Nelson were in the middle of contract negotiations at the time so submitted it under a made-up name.

Mike Rampton

Posted: 17th, February 2014 | In: Film, Flashback | Comment

MTV’s Twitter Broadcasts The Worst Photos In Bafta History

MTV is at the Bafta awards. From its top-notch vantage point, MTV can see the stars. And it wants to share the photos with its followers. Here take a look:

How fast is he moving?

Anorak

Posted: 17th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities, Photojournalism | Comment

Browse Harry Houdini’s Magical Sprapbooks

THANKS to the digitisation and Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin, we can browse scrapbooks owned by the great Harry Houdini  (1891-1926). The University has had the archives in its possession since 1958. But only now are they on the web, and free to view.

The scrapbooks are full of adverts, stories, and reviews on Houdini’s twin passions: magic and spiritualism. It’s great to think of Houdini and his peers selecting item for inclusion, then sticking them into place, editing the story of magic and live showbiz in the first two decades of the 20th Century.

Everyone should like collecting and sticking things in books with an artistic flourish. These books create wonderful memories of your life and your view of the world. They reveal what delighted you, what you did and what made you think.

Anorak

Posted: 16th, February 2014 | In: Books, Celebrities, Flashback | Comment

Hermeto Pascoal Plays Música da Lagoa: ‘All Art Aspires Towards The Condition of Music’

DOES all art aspire to the condition of music? Brazialian musician Hermeto Pascoal plays Música da Lagoa.

Anorak

Posted: 16th, February 2014 | In: Music | Comment

How To Succeed With Brunettes And Blondes Prefer Gentlemen: 1967 US Navy Guides To Etiquette And Women

IN 1967, the Us Government taught the men How to Succeed with Brunettes. Produced by the US Navy, the film was aimed at the officer classes. Never agin would they fail in the brunette etiquette tests. 

The holiday camp music and voice of paternalistic authority add to the sense of watching a well-played joke wrapped about a firm moral message.

Two things: couple are all boy-girl; and the only black face in view belongs to a waiter. This was 1967. Etiquette came before institutionalised racism. But let’s not spoil things. Let’s get down to the pulling:

Anorak

Posted: 16th, February 2014 | In: Film, Flashback | Comment

On This Day In Photos: Iran Orders Salman Rushdie To Be Murdered For Writing A Book

Indian-born writer Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses, shown in his London study on Jan. 31,1988

ON this day in photos: February 14 1989:  Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khomeini sentences British author Salman Rushdie to death. He also sentenced to death the publishers of Rushdie’s book the Satanic Verses. Khomeni said the book is a blasphemy against Islam. His decree introduced many of us to the word ‘fatwa’.

Anorak

Posted: 14th, February 2014 | In: Books, Celebrities, Flashback, Key Posts | Comment (1)

Dave Lee Travis Was Snared By The Child Abuse Panic

QUOTE of the week: Dave Lee Travis, via the Telegraph: “I did lose my reputation as well, which I may try to get back later, but basically I want to say that I have had two trials. One trial by the media and one trial by the Crown Court and I have to say that I prefer the trial by Crown Court.”

Anorak

Posted: 14th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities | Comments (2)

Terrible Toys: The 1964 Beatlee Beatles Dolls

In October 1964, all the cool kids could buy these Beatles dolls, seen here at the toy Fair in New York. The Beatlee dolls are being watched over by looked over by 10-year-old Carol Valentine, 10.

Anorak

Posted: 14th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities, Flashback, Music, The Consumer | Comment

Top 10 De La Soul Tunes To Celebrate Them Giving Away Their Whole Back Catalogue

YOU may have heard about De La Soul giving their entire back catalogue away for free over at their website – wearedelasoul.com – which is great news for hip hop fans, the rap curious and anyone who like music.

They’re doing it to celebrate next month’s 25th anniversary of their debut cut ‘3 Feet High And Rising’. It is only available for 25 hours, so make sure you’re on it (from 4pm onward).

Speaking to Rolling Stone about their decision, Posdnuos said: “It’s about allowing our fans who have been looking and trying to get a hold of our music to have access to it. It’s been too long where our fans haven’t had access to everything. This is our way of showing them how much we love them.”

So what tracks should you look out for? Well, here’s ten of the best of De La Soul’s work. Enjoy!

Breakadawn

Classic laid-back De La. Overlooked by a few because, in short, it isn’t on their first album. Huge summer jam.

Mof Gimmers

Posted: 14th, February 2014 | In: Key Posts, Music | Comment

Bruce Jenner Bids For Michael Jackson’s Face

CELEBRITY does really peculiar things to people and one of the most noticeable is any kind of body dysmorphia. Famous people crash diet under huge scrutiny and, sometimes very visibly, have a load of plastic surgery done.

But they’re all really rich, so sod ’em! Let’s laugh at ’em! HAHAHAHA!

Michael Jackson was one superstar who just couldn’t identify with the body he woke up with every morning. Such was his dependency on surgical procedures and medication, it ultimately killed him. And it was terrifically sad to watch a man who was such a super human, dissolve before our very eyes.

Mof Gimmers

Posted: 14th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities | Comment

10 Devastating Action Figure Disappointments

IMAGINE you’re a kid, it’s 1978 and you’re opening birthday presents.  Your heart is full of optimism and joy in anticipation of what lies underneath the festive wrapping.  As you tear away the paper, your smile fades to an expression of horror.  “A Love Boat action figure?”  Surely, this cannot be.  No one would be insane enough to bypass the Star Wars figures and get this abomination instead… or would they?

Indeed, an untold number of children of the 70s wound up with exactly the worst sorts of action figures imaginable – the kind that make you wonder what sort of sick mind conceived of making them in the first place.  Star Wars lends itself perfectly to the action figure business, as do comic book heroes.  The Love Boat, not so much.  Here are 10 such figures (in no particular order) which must have been bitter disappointments.

1. SET A COURSE FOR DISAPPOINTMENT

You could’ve had the Darth Vader action figure, but instead you got Captain Stubing.  I suppose, in many ways they were similar: They both captained massive ships, both had family issues, and both were part robot.  (Okay, I’m not sure that last one applies to Stubing, but you can’t prove he wasn’t.)  Regardless, an Isaac the Bartender figure would’ve been cooler than either one.

Yeoman Lowbrow

Posted: 14th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities, Key Posts, The Consumer | Comments (4)

New Zealand Puts A Ban On Odd Future

BANDS are forever being banned from various countries. One thing seems to be more prevalent than others – these acts are usually hip hop outfits.

And again, New Zealand immigration authorities have decided to ban Odd Future from entering the country. Why? They have come to the conclusion that they’re a threat to public order.

Who knew that New Zealand was jumpier than China?

Mof Gimmers

Posted: 13th, February 2014 | In: Music | Comment

Zimmerman And DMX To Fight: Race Wars For Profit

IN America, race is a particularly thorny topic (mainly because the Americans don’t have a recognised class system yet, because they’re still working on the old ‘if you’re not white, you’re considered black’ system). The police come under heavy criticism for profiling People of Colour and the justice system seems to be two-tiered – the white and/or wealthy get this treatment, everyone else can whistle.

When George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, America (and in turn, the world), erupted. Worse still, was that Zimmerman got off with it too.

Mof Gimmers

Posted: 13th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities | Comment

Because They All Look The Same: London Paper Mistakes Dwight Henry For Chiwetel Ejiofor

IN this episode of ‘They all look alike regardless of facial features, height, age, skin tones, hair voices and bodies’ the Lambeth Weekender salutes Forest Gate’s Chiwetel Ejiofor for his work on the film 12 Years A Slave.

Anorak

Posted: 13th, February 2014 | In: Celebrities, Film | Comment (1)

Radiohead Release Mildly Diverting Music App, Probably Dubbed ‘Revolutionary’

RADIOHEAD, sulkiest of the sulky, a band so pious that they’ve had their blood replaced with sour grape juice, have released a new thing. They’ve not bothered with vinyl or CD or even a download which pretends to be free. No, they’ve worked with studio Universal Everything to create a ‘living, breathing, growing touchscreen environment’.

It is called the PolyFauna app, which can download for nothing on your phone and has been made as a collab with the band, Universal Everything, producer Nigel Godrich and artist Stanley Donwood.

Mof Gimmers

Posted: 13th, February 2014 | In: Music, Technology | Comment