Band names dont matter: Nirvana is a lame name (and stolen). The Beatles is just weird. But some times good names draw attention because they are clever: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Goldie Lookin Chain, Death Cab For Cutie for some reason, I don't like names 'taken' from something (famous people, films, other songs etc). Like The Killers, Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Dandy Warhols etc I am a victim of judging a band by its name on occasions, if i think it sounds interesting, I'll have a listen. I maintain that the best band name of all time is Joy Division. Because it works. For some reason. There must be an equation out there that makes THE PERFECT BAND NAME...

Quite a few bands have turned their fortunes around by changing their names and relaunching - The Cheating Housewives became The Thrills, Parva (I think they were called) became Kaiser Chiefs, etc etc It's not that the first name is necessarily rubbish or that the second name is any better, it's just a question of perceived freshness. No name is perfect. I remember BellX1 being called Bo!!ix1 when they emerged from the ashes of Juniper. And I'm sure some wags started calling U2 "Me Neither" when they first morphed from The Hype. Una's right - a name grows or shrinks to fit the quality and success level of the band. It's all about the aura around the act.