The Big Book of Rock & Roll Names by Adam Dolgins

The Big Book of Rock & Roll Names by Adam Dolgins

Author:Adam Dolgins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams Books
Published: 2019-04-15T00:00:00+00:00


M is for METALLICA

Est. 1981

M Under the name M, Paris-based British pop musician Robin Scott topped the charts in 1979 with the song “Pop Muzik.” Scott recalled, “At the time when I was putting the (record) sleeve together in Paris, I was thinking that I really needed a pseudonym which would create sufficient interest. I was looking out of the window and I saw this large M, which you see all around Paris for the Metro, and I thought, ‘Perfect. I’ll take that. And the more people read into it, so much the better.’ I should have never told anybody who I was.”

MADNESS The band formed in London in 1976 as the Invaders. In 1979, they changed their name to Madness after the 1963 ska hit by Prince Buster, the Jamaican recording star who was one of their major influences.

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA The indie rock band began in Atlanta in 2004. Front man Andy Hull recalled: “I was in high school and had gone through a summer of listening to nothing but the Smiths. And when I really get into a band I like to involve myself completely with what their story is and where they’re from and how it happened and why are they called this, and so I thought the name the Smiths was such a cool name. These normal, regular guys creating this politically charged music and this heartbreaking literature and songs that will tear you apart. I always felt I was a lot like that. I mean, just looking at our band, we’re not a ‘rock star’–looking band. I guess the idea of Morrissey being from Manchester was really cool for me, though I’ve only been there once and I’m not sure I would still call it cool, but all I knew of it was that this hero of mine was from there. He’s from this place that I associated with down-to-earth working-class heroes, these underdogs in a sense. That’s sort of how I figured me and whoever was in my band would be, these normal guys. The orchestra was the counterpart to that. At the time I didn’t want to be in a band and figured I’d just have all my friends come and be a part of it and form an orchestra. So that’s the name.”

THE MANHATTANS Formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in the early sixties as the Dulcets, they had a number-one hit in 1976 with “Kiss and Say Goodbye.” Bass vocalist Winfred “Blue” Lovett explained why they changed their name: “It didn’t sound that exciting. ‘Dulcets’ means ‘melodic tones,’ but how could you explain that to the public? We needed a catchy name that would last. So, with the cocktail theme in mind—not the borough of Manhattan—we picked the name Manhattans.”

THE MARCELS Formed in Pittsburgh in 1960, the multiracial vocal group took their name from the wavy “marcelled” hairstyle worn by several members. They had a big hit in 1961 with “Blue Moon.”

MARCY PLAYGROUND Lead singer John Wozniak named the band, which



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