What's in a name?

[Ghost]

I knew of Lordi before the Eurovision, and that's coming from a man with quite different taste in his music. I respect them, on some bone-deep level, for living their show. And it's true what Tuomas said, there's more to them than their "euro song".

But to add to the thread, a name really is important, since it is the label you're "selling" your music under- even if you don't actually sell it. A good name relates to the music a band makes, and it can also define the band in some way. Who would take a metal band with a tenn-sland band name serious, even if their music was good?

Personally, I like names that have a good, solid ring to them, and might contain a story. Insofar, Mystery Machine really isn't bad: It has a heavy background, though, and now I find myself picturing you in Shaggy-style. 

[Tartalo]

And then name a band that does not intimidate someone else or sound like something before it.

Even something as extravagant as Lordi (Finland 1992) has evident antecedents, like GWar (Virginia 1985) or all those spectacle bands of the 80es like Kiss (New York 1973).

I think that Kiss is a horrible name for a band like Kiss, it's easy to say and remember, but it doesn't fit to the music as well as Black Sabbath (UK 1968) Iron Maiden (UK 1975), Motörhead (UK 1975) Mayhem (Norway 1984), In Flames (Sweden 1990), or Children of Bodom (Finland 1993). Even Opeth (Sweden 1990) is a better name

By the way, Mystery Machine makes Heavy Metal or we are stealing the thread?

[modgeulator]

I think the real question should be: are you good enough to wear a name as unmeasurably awesome as Mystery Machine?

[[Cameron]]

Well the image of Scooby Doo kind of works for us, being a psychedelic band. Originally we thought it'd be a good nod to a cartoon we love as well as being something the audience can automatically relate to, but now I just feel, considering it's quite obvious name sake that it makes us seem a bit unoriginal. I never really thought of it sounding remotely metal, nor like it should have 80s synth drums. We're long haired guys that play a lot of psychedelic stuff, having grown up on our parents record collections, although we all listened to different stuff, myself to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Frank Zappa. Josh mostly on Genisis and Pink Floyd, and Evan on The Beatles and The Doors. So we have some pretty neat influences, and you can hear how they come together to create an original sound, the influences are there but it's not too derivative. So the name Mystery Machine and it's image fit, but I thought we could have done better, something original and less jokey. The other names we've been bouncing around are Mansfield, Mary's Sister, Watchers Of The Sky and Cheap Party.
And to answer Modgeulator, yes we are

[Eigen]

I think a name is an important aspect of a band. Because if you have memorable name, you'll get some attention just for that. My friend's band name is "BedWetters" and they are getting really known around here. But come on .. bedwetters. Try googling for that.
Also, the name should LOOK cool when written on a shirt, poster etc.

My own band is named "When The Glory Fades" .. WTGF with the obvius joke  WTgF  (with 'g' being really small)     It's lenghty but that makes it stand out. Like recently we had a live with bunch of other bands and on the poster our name was the entire width of the poster, so it was the first thing you noticed.

I'm going to name my next band, if I should do such a thing,  Prophets From Phoenix .. I think it sounds cool.

[Nine Toes]

You know what I'd like to hear?  Some Chinese Country-Western!   Now that'd be something.

Anyway, Cameron, something I just thought of today.  You've been debating this issue of changing your band's name from "Mystery Machine" because it's supposedy immature.

There is a local band here in Shawano, WI by the name of Mr. Slate.  For those of you who don't know; Mr. Slate is the name of Fred Flintstone's boss.  I personally think it's one of the most retarded band names I've ever heard, and initially I thought they were going to be a bunch of ass clowns.  But despite that, Mr. Slate is probably one of the area's most popular local bands.  All the metal heads around here like Slate.

So, mention it to your bandmate(s), if you haven't already come to a decision.

[Phemar]

Mansfield is a cool name.

[Ghost]

Cameron, after reading your band sum-up all I can say is: Stick to Mystery Machine. It sounds spot-on.

[fred]

Reminds me of the band "God Machine", they made some fascinating music about 10 years ago. One of their songs was about a "Dream Machine". Personally I think "Mystery Machine" is too long and not very nice to pronounce, it sounds like the beginning of a looong explanation. How about Imachination or some wordplay on mystery and machine to make the name shorter and more powerful?

But hey, come to think of it, don't take advice from me on this, at age 15 I was playing in a band called "Wet Dream Material", I since moved on to "Wardrobe".

[Phemar]

Round here we have two bands, called Half Price and Free Booze. So on the flyers it says "Half Price!! Free Booze!!" which I thought was quite clever.

I don't really like them as band names though.

[Haddas]

Ginger Bastard Baby.