Seven Bands Named After People Who Are Not Actually In The Band

You might think…that Darius Rucker was Hootie and his bandmates were the Blowfish

But in fact…the owlish, chubby-cheeked Rucker is both Hootie and the Blowfish!

Pink Floyd

You might think…like the clueless record exec in “Have A Cigar,” that someone in the band is named Pink.

But in fact…the late Syd Barrett named the band, combining the names of bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Naturally, more than one band has thought to take the name Anderson Council.

Belle and Sebastian

You might think…the Scottish popsters were actually a boy-girl duo, like Sonny & Cher, Mickey & Sylvia or, um, Marty & Elayne.

But in fact…they’re named after a novel that was later adapted into a French children’s television show.

Tilly and the Wall

You might think…that there’s, y’know, a Tilly in the band.

But in fact…there’s a Neely, but no Tilly. The name comes from a kids’ book, according to an interview with tapdancer Jamie Pressnall. Note to self: If we ever form a twee band, we are most definitely naming ourselves after a precious childhood artifact. 

Major Lazer

You might think…this awesome reggae act would be a real Jamaican dude with a hard-ass stage name, like Bounty Killer.

But in fact… the DJ duo of Diplo (from balmy Philadelphia) and Switch (from the tropical isle of England) have taken as an alias a bearded, bespectacled Jamaican cartoon soldier with a laser for an arm. Wonder why!

Lynyrd Skynyrd

You might think…these clever wordsmiths just wanted to form a nonsense band name using words without vowels, sparking an eventual trend in musical nomenclature.

But in fact…the Southern Rock progenitors named themselves after gym teacher Leonard Skinner.

Freddy Jones Band

You might think…that these frat-rock stalwarts are like those other, similarly named frat-rock stalwarts (Dave something or other), and named after their frontman

But in fact…well, it’s not really clear.