The Real Reason These Bands Were Forced To Change Their Names

A good or bad name can make or break a band — and unfortunately for some groups, keeping a great name can be just as hard as coming up with one. Here are some of the most famous bands who have been forced to change their names.

Breaking onto the music scene with their self-titled debut album in 1978, Van Halen ended up defining rock 'n' roll for a new generation. Featuring the outlandish antics of frontman David Lee Roth, the fiery fretwork of guitar hero Eddie Van Halen, the thunderous drums of Alex Van Halen, and the booming bass work of Michael Anthony, Van Halen ruled the stage with their electrifying stage shows and flawless musicianship.

Obviously, it's nearly impossible to imagine such a legendary combination of talents being called anything other than Van Halen. Nevertheless, before settling on the distinctive Dutch surname of brothers Eddie and Alex, Van Halen went through a number of name changes.

The seeds of the band that would become Van Halen were sown in 1969, when the brothers formed a cover band that they cheekily named the Trojan Rubber Company. By 1971, the band had changed its name to Genesis. Still playing covers, Genesis developed a reputation for their raucous live shows. While browsing albums at a local record store, however, Eddie discovered that the name Genesis was already taken. To avoid confusion with the popular English prog rock band, the struggling rockers went with Mammoth, a name that perfectly reflected their gargantuan sound.

Nevertheless, a cease-and-desist letter from another California band called Mammoth would spur yet another name change. Noting the uniqueness and inherent power of Alex and Eddie's last name, the band's new singer David Lee Roth suggested Van Halen. The rest, as they say, is history.

Watch the video for the real reason these bands were forced to change their names.

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Van Halen | 00:00
Alice Cooper | 1:41
Led Zeppelin | 3:14
David Bowie | 4:39
Chicago | 6:18
The Doors | 7:35
Kyuss | 9:12
Dinosaur Jr. | 10:43
The Jackson 5 | 11:42

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