23 Famous Bands That Changed Their Names Before Fame

Who says you have to stick with the same name when creating a band or music brand? So many of the biggest names have gone through a name change (or two or three).

The same goes for members. Rarely do bands stick with the same members that founded the group, which might be why name changes are so common.

Interested in diving into bands that have changed their names in the past? Follow along. For this slideshow, 24/7 Tempo reviewed music websites and news clippings on the name and member changes.

• Previous Names: Still Life (1981)
• Years Active: 1981–present
• Origin: Jamestown, New York, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Secrets of the I Ching," "In My Tribe," "Blind Man's Zoo," and "Our Time in Eden"
• Members (past and current): Dennis Drew, Steve Gustafson, Jerry Augustyniak, John Lombardo, Mary Ramsey, Ben Medina, Rob Buck, Jeff Erickson, Chet Cardinale, Terri Newhouse, Natalie Merchant, Tim Edborg, Jim Calavitta, Shawn Santos, Debbie Heverly, Duane Calhoun, Bob "O'Matic" Wachter, Jim Foti, Gerry Rattigan, Oskar Saville, Leigh Nash, and Matt Slocum

• Previous Names: Dolmen (1989) and Azathoth
• Years Active: 1989–2020 and 2024–present
• Origin: Dallas, Texas, United States
• Popular Albums: "Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.," "The Sun of Tiphareth," "The Third Storm of Cythraul," and "Tara"
• Members (past and current): Proscriptor McGovern, Ezezu, Aethyris McKay, Zawicizuz, Vastator Terrarum, Shaftiel, Equitant Ifernain, Kashshapxu, Daviel Athron Mystica, Black Massith, Mezzadurus, Gary Lindholm, Daniel Benbow, and Melissa Moore

• Previous Names: Band X (1968–1975)
• Years Active: 1968–1989, 1992–1997, 2005, and 2009–present
• Origin: Solingen, West Germany
• Popular Albums: "Accept," "Restless and Wild," "Objection Overruled," and "Death Row"
• Members (past and current): Wolf Hoffmann, Mark Tornillo, Uwe Lulis, Christopher Williams, Martin Motnik, Philip Shouse, Udo Dirkschneider, Gerhard Wahl, Frank Friedrich, Peter Baltes, Dieter Rubach, Stefan Kaufmann, Jan Koemmet, Herman Frank, Jörg Fischer, Rob Armitage, David Reece, Michael Cartellone, and Stefan Schwarzmann

• Previous Names: Alice N' Chains
• Years Active: 1987–2002 and 2005–present
• Origin: Seattle, Washington, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Facelift," "Dirt," and "Alice in Chains"
• Members (past and current): Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, Mike Inez, William DuVall, Layne Staley, and Mike Starr

• Previous Names: Joyspeed (1989–1995)
• Years Active: 1995–2001, 2007–2012, and 2016–present
• Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Popular Albums: "Aquarium," "Aquarius," and "Megalomania"
• Members (past and current): René Dif, Søren Rasted, Lene Nystrøm, and Claus Norreen

• Previous Names: The Quarrymen, Johnny and the Moondogs, and the Silver Beetles
• Years Active: 1960–1970
• Origin: Liverpool, England
• Popular Albums: "Please Please Me," "With the Beatles," "Help!," "Yellow Submarine," and "Let It Be"
• Members (past and current): John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best

• Previous Names: The Rattlesnakes and the Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats
• Years Active: 1958–2003, 2006, and 2009–2012
• Origin: Redcliffe, Australia
• Popular Albums: "The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs," "To Whom It May Concern," "Life in a Tin Can," and "Children of the World"
• Members (past and current): Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Vince Melouney, Colin Petersen, and Geoff Bridgford

• Previous Names: Mr. Crowe's Garden (1984–1989)
• Years Active: 1984–2002, 2005–2015, and 2019–present
• Origin: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Shake Your Money Maker," "Lions," and "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion"
• Members (past and current): Chris Robinson, Rich Robinson, Sven Pipien, Erik Deutsch, Nico Bereciartúa, and Cully Symington

• Previous Names: The Polka Tulk Blues Band (1968) and Earth (1968–1969)
• Years Active: 1968–2006 and 2011–2017
• Origin: Birmingham, England
• Popular Albums: "Master of Reality," "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," "Never Say Die!," "Heaven and Hell," and "Born Again"
• Members (past and current): Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Walker, Ronnie James Dio, Geoff Nicholls, Craig Gruber, Vinny Appice, Ian Gillan, Bev Bevan, and Ron Keel

• Previous Names: Malice (1976–1977) and Easy Cure (1977–1978)
• Years Active: 1976–present
• Origin: Crawley, West Sussex, England
• Popular Albums: "Three Imaginary Boys," "Faith," "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me," and "The Cure"
• Members (past and current): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell, Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Reeves Gabrels, Michael Dempsey, Matthieu Hartley, Andy Anderson, Phil Thornalley, Lol Tolhurst, Boris Williams, and Porl Thompson

• Previous Names: Big Fat Noises (1997), Starfish (1998), and Los Unidades (2018)
• Years Active: 1997–present
• Origin: London, England
• Popular Albums: "Parachutes," "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," "Ghost Stories," and "A Head Full of Dreams"
• Members (past and current): Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, and Phil Harvey

• Previous Names: Naked Toddler (1994) and Mattox Creed (1994)
• Years Active: 1994–2004, 2009–2012, and 2023–present
• Origin: Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "My Own Prison," "Human Clay," and "Weathered"
• Members (past and current): Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips, Brian Marshall, and Brian Brasher

• Previous Names: Atomic Mass (1976–1977) and Ded Flatbird (2013)
• Years Active: 1977–present
• Origin: Sheffield, England
• Popular Albums: "On Through the Night," "Hysteria," and "Euphoria"
• Members (past and current): Rick Savage, Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Steve Clark, Pete Willis, and Tony Kenning

• Previous Names: Girl's Tyme
• Years Active: 1997–2006, 2013, and 2018
• Origin: Houston, Texas, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Destiny's Child," "The Writing's on the Wall," and "Survivor"
• Members (past and current): Beyoncé Knowles, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett, Farrah Franklin, and Michelle Williams

• Previous Names: The Meltones
• Years Active: 1963–present
• Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Chapel of Love," "Iko Iko," and "Riding High"
• Members (past and current): Barbara Ann Hawkins, Athelgra Neville Gabriel, Joan Marie Johnson, Beverly Brown, Rosa Lee Hawkins, and Dale Mickle

• Previous Names: From Behind These Walls
• Years Active: 2008–present
• Origin: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "The Drug in Me Is You," "Fashionably Late," and "Just Like You"
• Members (past and current): Ronnie Radke, Christian Thompson, Luke Holland, Marc Okubo, Daniel Laskiewicz, Max Green, Jacky Vincent, Ryan Seaman, and Derek Jones

• Previous Names: Passerby (2002–2004)
• Years Active: 2002–2016 and 2022–present
• Origin: Belton, Texas, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Flyleaf," "Memento Mori," and "New Horizons"
• Members (past and current): James Culpepper, Sameer Bhattacharya, Jared Hartmann, Pat Seals, Lacey Sturm, and Kristen May

• Previous Names: Ice Nine (2000–2006)
• Years Active: 2000–present
• Origin: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Last Chance to Make Amends," "The Predator Becomes the Prey," and "The Silver Scream"
• Members (past and current): Spencer Charnas, Ricky Armellino, Joe Occhiuti, Dan Sugarman, Miles Dimitri Baker, Mike Cortada, Jeremy Schwartz, Andrew Justin Smith, Hobie Boeschenstein, Dave Marvuglio, Dave Sieling, Shane Bisnett, and Steve Koch

• Previous Names: Golden Gate Rhythm Section
• Years Active: 1973–1987 and 1995–present
• Origin: San Francisco, California, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Journey," "Look into the Future," "Dream, After Dream," and "Trial by Fire"
• Members (past and current): Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka, Todd Jensen, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, George Tickner, Prairie Prince, Aynsley Dunbar, and Robert Fleischman

• Previous Names: Wicked Lester
• Years Active: 1973–2023
• Origin: New York City, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Kiss," "Hotter than Hell," "Rock and Roll Over," and "Asylum"
• Members (past and current): Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer

• Previous Names: The New Yardbirds
• Years Active: 1968–1980
• Origin: London, England
• Popular Albums: "Led Zeppelin," "Houses of the Holy," and "Physical Graffiti"
• Members (past and current): Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones

• Previous Names: Xero (1996–1999) and Hybrid Theory (1999–2000)
• Years Active: 1996–2017 and 2023–present
• Origin: Agoura Hills, California, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Hybrid Theory," "Meteora," and "A Thousand Suns"
• Members (past and current): Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, Emily Armstrong, Colin Brittain, Rob Bourdon, Mark Wakefield, Chester Bennington, and Kyle Christner

• Previous Names: Kara's Flowers (1994–2001) and Maroon (2001)
• Years Active: 1994–present
• Origin: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Popular Albums: "Songs About Jane," "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," and "Red Pill Blues"
• Members (past and current): Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, James Valentine, Matt Flynn, PJ Morton, Sam Farrar, Ryan Dusick, and Mickey Madden