Ever changed a name of a band?

[DarkAxel]

Hey...

so we (my band) have been thinking. through the time, we've naturally became more serious and stuff and we don't feel like the name of our band fits the content... i mean we're still alternative as fuck, but we still feel that we come through as a more serious band

the current name is Šamanovo Zboží, which translates to "Shaman's Goods". it's Czech, because we sing in our native tongue

has anyone done that before? Was it confusing for the fans? did it completely destroy the reputation etc?

[Psyre]

We changed our's this summer. It was The Grey Estate, but that name was picked by 2 members no longer in the band. we wanted something that reflected our desired sound, somewhat indie and spacey so we decided to change our name to Indian Space Station. Overall helped with morale since the remaining members didn't care much for the original name.

[space6oy]

if you already have a decent sized fan base some of 'em may not like the change. saw that happen w/ some friends' band several years ago, but it was just people (like me) being cranky about it. didn't really hurt 'em or anything.

(they switched from "homemade parachutes" to "shotgun for royalty." the latter just fit their style better IMO.)

[Casavettes]

there are no rules
switch it up if you don't like it

[jrmy]

there are no rules
switch it up if you don't like it

This, right here. As long as you've got reasons that mae sense to yourself and aren't switching it up every other week, go for it.

Unless you want to be that band that switches names every other week - that's cool, too.

My bandmate and I have switched band names about three time over the last 12 (!) years. Typically we do it whenever the sound changes enough that we think it would be silly to keep calling ourselves the same thing.

[MEC]

My band took a couple of months off recently and when we got back together
the songs we started working on were pretty different from our previous stuff.

We decided to do the new stuff under a new name and the old stuff under the old name.

Confusing: Yes
Give a Fuck: No

[Bellyheart]

I've done it before and people were confused for a bit. New fans called it the new name and old fans called it whatever they wanted. It wasn't like we reached global recognition though so it's wasn't that serious.

[snipelfritz]

Shaman's Goods sounds like what a disgusting New Age drifter might call his genitals as he tries to molest you.

"MMMMmmmm caress the shaman's goods."

[DarkAxel]

Hah well we talked about it a bit and decided to leave it like it is... especially after last night awesome gig (see viewtopic.php?f=42&t=13241&p=548338#p548338 )

[Bassus Sanguinis]

Honestly, a more serious name sounds like a bad joke to me when You've got already a decent name. Think about "good" band names - many of them are silly, really, or plain nonsense.

My band took a couple of months off recently and when we got back together
the songs we started working on were pretty different from our previous stuff.

We decided to do the new stuff under a new name and the old stuff under the old name.

Confusing: Yes
Give a Fuck: No

Yep, people who have seen You and liked, just don't remember the name before they see the poster, they won't attend anymore. Should You care? Confusing: yes. Give a fuck? Don't.

And yeah I've had this subject on table with record labels a few times... if the band is in transition stage it comes naturally, and it's a good excuse to do it. Just do it before You release anything and things will go a lot smoother.

Example 1. My old Black Metal band had to change their name recently after splitting with the vocalist that originally found the band with the gutarist. The problem was they had just signed the biggest deal in the bands history and had already started recording their seventh release.

Imagine just HOW happy the record label was. After signing a deal with some serious figures for a black metal band they immediately had started promoting as "a Finnish legend" and all that. All sorts of shit and speculation ensued. Sometimes labels and promoters may use that as an excuse to lay down sanctions or decrease the pay or try not to pay the album advances before they get to hear the finished album and shit like that.

However, the band got the recording done with a new vocalist pretty swiftly and the label played it cool. And since the band already has a steady following, the word is spreading like STD in a bordello now and I honestly feel there was no real damage done since everybody who is interested in the band in the first place can't really miss the new group. Just saw them live and they kick ass, hard and rough. And the audience didn't seem to have time mind the new logo and shit for moshing and stuff.



Example 2. The old gothig /prog metal band of mine had originally a ...well, sort of mock mathematic equation as a name, and changed that into latin. Mmmmm. Yeah. Back then, we thought that was a smart move. Guess two times if the record label suggested an English one. We chose to keep the latin name and not to give a fuck. AND even then some fanbois thought we should have always stick to the original. Moral of the story: it doesn't pay to try to please people. Ever.

[DarkAxel]

Honestly, a more serious name sounds like a bad joke to me when You've got already a decent name. Think about "good" band names - many of them are silly, really, or plain nonsense.

yeah, totally

it's kinda weird that everyone who hears the name of the band automatically figures it's about weed

BUT people DO remember it easily, a) because it's Czech and there are not many bands that do Czech names anymore (or sing in Czech)
and b) because it's kinda odd

[hbombgraphics]

I always liked your name
And the fact that it is Czech makes it all the more awesome

Band name changes do work sometimes
A long time ago (13 years)
we went through so many lineup changes that when we finally stuck with one and had a solid set list we knew we needed a change in name

Went from : A stretch to be Eddie ....to....... File Under A

looking back I don't like either

[FoggyRock]

I have some friends that are a little on the portly side... they used to have a metal band called GUTROT because they all had stomach troubles... Then they found out that there was a metal band from Europe called Gutrot and decided to change their name... Drumroll please.... They changed the bands name to The Danger Cats... I still crack up laughing when I think about this... The Danger Cats lol

[DarkAxel]

sounds like a rockabilly band awesome name!

[Chankgeez]

Shaman's Goods sounds like what a disgusting New Age drifter might call his genitals as he tries to molest you.

"MMMMmmmm caress the shaman's goods."