1. The Verve
Richard Ashcroft’s band were orignally called Verve (no. ‘The’), but they stirred up a lawsuit from US jazz label of the same name.
2. Chicago
Pete Cetera’s soft-rock band were originally called Chicago Transit Authority, but when Chicago City threatened legal action, the quickly backed down.
3. Marillion
In 1979, band found Mick Pointer orignally took the name Silmarillion after JRR Tolkien’s book, but thought better of it due to copyright issues.
4. Suede
The US caused problems for the Britpoppers as there was already a band of the same name. forcing them to become The London Suede.
5. Linkin Park
Orignally called Hybrid Theory until another band called Hybrid flagged up issue. So they swapped to Lincoln Park but couldn’t afford the new “lincolnpark.com” domain, hence the new spelling.
6. Kling Klang
Legendary electro-oddities Kraftwerk are reportedly suing Liverpool band Kling Klang as the phrase is a registrered band trademark and the name of their Dusseldorf studio.
7. The Hopefuls
The minnesota indie fun lovers had to abbreviate from The Olympic Hopefuls after the US Olympic committee pointed out it owned the rights to the name.
8. Liberty X
The “Flopstars” were orignally “X”-less…until early “90’s band Libery took umbrage.
9. Pear Jam
Originally called Mookie Blaylock after basketball player. But Blaylock was still playing and considered his name his brand.
10. Death from 1979
The Toronto dance-punk duo had to add the 1979 after a legal dispute with New York label DFA Records.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The Pogues were Pogue Mahone The BBC did not want them to use the Anglicisation of the Irish póg mo thóin, anther term for “kiss my arse”.
Massive Attack were forced by their label to temporarily change their name to Massive during the first Gulf War.