A lot of bands have gone through name changes before they hit the big time. We thought it would be fun to mention just a few of them and what they originally were known as…
1.) Chicago - They originally went by the name Chicago Transit Authority. Upon the release of their debut album, the actual Chicago Transit Authority threatened to sue them. So they shortened their name to just the city of Chicago. That name is in the public domain, and they couldn’t be sued.
2.) Electric Light Orchestra - They began as a rock band named The Move. After some initial personnel shifts, the three members of the band that were left, Roy Wood, Bev Bevan, and Jeff Lynne, decided they wanted to take the band’s sound in a different direction, one that might fuse elements of classical music with rock. So, they added some members who played string instruments and renamed themselves Electric Light Orchestra. By their third album under that name, Roy Wood departed, and the other members carried on.
3.) Beatles - Of course, most true Beatles fans know the group underwent several name changes, including the Quarrymen and the Silver Beetles, before settling on the name that made them famous all over the world.
4.) KISS - Believe it or not, the band started out with the name Wicked Lester before they wisely decided on the shorter and more easily marketed name we know them by today.
