Bands Named After Regions
The Middle East
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This band was actually from the Northeast…of Australia. The name was simply coined by front man Rohin Jones after watching a documentary on Yasser Arafat.
Balkans
I’m going to give this Atlanta, Georgia-based band the benefit of the doubt and assume that they picked the name “Balkans” solely because both Atlanta and Georgia were already taken.
Arctic
Nope, they’re not the Monkeys — just “Arctic,” from the frozen, desolate wasteland of Vancouver.
Bands Named After Continents
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Asia
Originally formed in 1981 as a British progressive rock super-group, Asia came together after the breakups of Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Antarctica
Brr! Maybe New York’s Antarctica need to have their icy hearts melted with a warm island song. (Or do they need their hot tempers cooled with a fresh island song?)
Europe
Stockholm’s Europe have had a long, successful career dating back to 1979. However, thanks to “Arrested Development,” many people won’t be able to hear their biggest hit, “Final Countdown,” without laughing.
North America
Relatively obscure, but geographically accurate as to their location, this Brooklyn-based duo is comprised of brothers Jesse and Josh Hasko.
Bands Named After Planets
Mercury
Mercury isn’t an obscure solo project of Queen’s front man, but rather a local Pittsburgh rock band that has been plugging away for a decade-plus.
Venus
From 1997 to 2007, the Brussels, Belgium-based Venus gained a significant following in Europe, though they were practically unknown in the United States. They took their name from The Velvet Underground song, “Venus In Furs.”
Earth
Dylan Carlson is the front man of the experimental drone band Earth. The Seattle musician was once Kurt Cobain‘s roommate.
Mars
Formed in New York City, this short-lived group made a significant impact on the city’s burgeoning “No Wave” scene in the mid- to late-’70s alongside bands such as DNA and Lydia Lunch’s Teenage Jesus and the Jerks.
Jupiter
One of the newest bands on this list, Jupiter was formed in mid-2013 by four members of the Japanese metal outfit Versailles. They are part of Japan’s “visual-kei” movement, which is characterized by the use of makeup, elaborate hairstyles, flamboyant costumes, and androgyny — basically, it’s like The Cure with a touch of “Dragon Ball Z.”
Saturn
Though Pakistani prog-rockers Saturn have been together since 2003, they have recorded only one full-length album, 2013’s Naya Din.
Uranus
It can be difficult to be taken seriously as an artist. The members of the London, Ontario’s Uranus could have made things a little easier on themselves with a different name, but I have to give them credit for choosing a title that no one else had ever touched. The band was a local favorite in the Canadian province back in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
Neptune
Noise band Neptune has been bashing away on their instruments (custom-made, from scrap metal) since 1994. The Boston band has remained prolific during their entire run, releasing at least 25 studio albums, EPs, splits, singles, and live recordings.
Pluto
So Pluto’s not a planet anymore. Fine. However, it was still classified as such back when Auckland, New Zealand’s Pluto was formed in 1994, so they make the list.
Bands Named After Galaxies
M83
Some bands think it’s cool when they name themselves after a city, state, or country that they’re not from. Meh. M83 is named for the Messier 83 galaxy, a mere 15 million light-years away from planet Earth.
Milky Way
This all-female J-pop group was around for about five minutes in 2008. The trio was formed primarily for the anime series “Kirarin Revolution,” as all the members voiced characters in the series. They did find some success, as their debut single “Anataboshi” charted in Japan.
And lastly, let’s not forget the band Universe, who currently reside in the universe.
What bands can you not believe we left off this list that is already too long?