40 Original Band Names, Before They Were Famous

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers Original name: Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem

2. Nirvana
Original name(s): Pen Cap Chew, Skid Row

3. Oasis
Original name: Rain

4. The Beatles
Original name(s): Johnny & The Moondogs, The Quarrymen

5. Grateful Dead
Original name(s): Mother Mcree's Uptown Jug Champions, The Warlocks

6. Radiohead
Original name: On A Friday

7. Van Halen
Original name(s): Rat Salad, Mammoth

8. Creedence Clearwater Revival
Original name: The Golliwogs

9. The Yardbirds
Original name: Metropolis Blues Quartet

10. Led Zeppelin
Original name: The New Yardbirds

11. The Who
Original name(s): The High Numbers, The Detours

12. Beach Boys
Original name: The Pendletones

13. REM
Original names (considered): Cans Of Piss, Negro Wives

14. U2
Original name: Feedback

15. Black Crowes
Original name: Mr. Crowes Garden

16. Chicago
Original name: Chicago Transit Authority

17. Coldplay
Original name: Starfish

18. Green Day
Original name: Sweet Children

19. The Cure
Original name: Easy Cure

20. Bachman Turner Overdrive
Original name: Brave Belt

21. Queen
Original name: Smile

22. The Doors
Original name: Psychedelic Rangers

23. Black Sabbath
Original name(s): The Polka Tulk Blues Band, Earth

24. Bee Gees
Original name: The Rattlesnakes

25. Def Leppard
Original name: Atomic Mass

26. Pink Floyd
Original name (s): Tea Set, Meggadeath

27. Guster
Original name: Gus

28. Phish
Original name: Blackwood Convention

29. Pearl Jam
Original name: Mookie Blaylock

30. Slayer
Original name: Dragon Slayer

31. Goo Goo Dolls
Original name: The Sex Maggots

32. Snow Patrol
Original name: Polar Bear

33. Badfinger
Original name: The Iveys

34. Klaxons
Original name: Klaxons (Not Centaurs)

35. The Band
Original name: The Hawks

36. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Original name: The Other Gang

37. Jimi Hendrix Experience
Original name: Jimmy James & The Blue Flames

38. The Pogues
Original name: Póg mo Thóin (Kiss my Ass)

39. Pixies
Original name: Pixies In Panoply

40. Barenaked Ladies
Original name: Free Beer

Source