There’s something poetic about a band taking its name from an existing song title or lyric—almost like a musical lineage being passed down through generations. Whether it’s a wink to their influences or a case of the words just sounding cool, these bands found their identity in a line that already existed. Here are 20 bands who did just that, and the stories behind their names.
1. Radiohead – Named after the Talking Heads song “Radio Head” from True Stories, Thom Yorke and company found inspiration in the avant-garde brilliance of David Byrne.
2. Death Cab for Cutie – This indie stalwart took its quirky name from a song by Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, which itself was a send-up of 1950s teen tragedy songs.
3. Rolling Stones – Before becoming rock’s greatest band, they lifted their name from Muddy Waters’ blues classic “Rollin’ Stone,” a fitting tribute to their roots.
4. The Killers – Borrowed from the fictional band in New Order’s video for “Crystal,” this name gave Brandon Flowers and co. an instant connection to their post-punk idols.
5. Ladytron – The Liverpool electro-pop group named themselves after the Roxy Music song “Ladytron,” embracing the glam-meets-futurism aesthetic of Bryan Ferry’s vision.
6. Big Star – Alex Chilton’s legendary power pop band found their name in the glowing sign of a Memphis grocery store, a nod to the kitsch and commercialism of American life.
7. Bad Company – Paul Rodgers and his supergroup took their moniker from a 1972 Western film, but the phrase also appeared in the Jeff Bridges song “Bad Company.”
8. Spoon – This Texas indie band pulled their name from the song “Spoon” by Krautrock pioneers Can, showing their deep love for experimental German rock.
9. The Kooks – They turned to David Bowie’s Hunky Dory for inspiration, taking their name from the song “Kooks,” which he wrote for his son, Duncan Jones.
10. Motorhead – Lemmy Kilmister named his band after his final song written for Hawkwind, “Motorhead,” a slang term for a speed freak that fit their breakneck sound perfectly.
11. Jet – The Australian rockers found their high-energy name in the Paul McCartney & Wings track “Jet,” an exuberant song about a dog (or a plane, or both).
12. Belle & Sebastian – Though many assume they took their name from a song, it actually comes from a 1960s French children’s book that inspired an anime series of the same name.
13. Sisters of Mercy – Andrew Eldritch lifted his gothic band’s name straight from Leonard Cohen’s song “Sisters of Mercy,” a deep cut that suited their ethereal darkness.
14. Soft Machine – This psychedelic prog band borrowed their name from the William S. Burroughs novel The Soft Machine, where “Soft Machine” was a metaphor for the human body.
15. Fine Young Cannibals – This ’80s pop band took their name from the 1960 film All the Fine Young Cannibals, but the phrase also appeared in an obscure song from the ’50s.
16. The Boo Radleys – Named after the reclusive character in To Kill a Mockingbird, but their name was also inspired by the song “Boo Radleys” by The Blue Aeroplanes.
17. Love and Rockets – Taking their name from the post-punk comic book series Love and Rockets, but also echoing the sentiment of The Human League’s song “Love Action.”
18. Panic! at the Disco – Though widely attributed to A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, the band actually got its name from a lyric in The Smiths’ “Panic” (though they’ve downplayed it).
19. The Velvet Underground – While their name was taken from a book about the ‘60s underground culture, the phrase appears in the lyrics of Lou Reed’s pre-VU band, The Primitives.
20. Aerosmith – Steven Tyler originally wanted to name his band after “Arrowsmith,” a book by Sinclair Lewis, but later admitted that “Aero” might have been inspired by “Silver Machine” by Hawkwind.
Band names are statements of intent, references to inspiration, and sometimes just really cool words strung together. Whether these groups were paying homage to their heroes or simply stumbling upon a lyric that sounded like destiny, one thing’s for sure: a great band name can last forever.
