The Daily Telegraph Name And Shame Worst Original Aussie Band Names

While you probably wouldn’t jump at the chance to buy a record from the likes of Whoops Down Syndrome, Fish of the Day, Schwampy Moose, or the Swinging Monkey Cocks, it turns out you probably already have.

These seemingly random jumbles of words are in fact the former names of some of Australia’s biggest and most critically acclaimed acts, some of whom have released albums considered essential in any Aussie’s collection.

As The Daily Telegraph recently noted, many of your favourite bands started off with less-than-palatable names, including Mookie Blaylock, Smile, and The Young Aborigines, who went on to become Pearl Jam, Queen, and the Beastie Boys respectively.

But there are also many Aussie acts who started life with some truly terrible names. The Daily Telegraph recently had a look at some of the worst and most obscure original Aussie band names, uncovering some real shockers.

For example, The Avalanches, the band responsible for 2000’s landmark Since I Left You, went through a string of horrible names, including Swinging Monkey Cocks, The Squid Hats, Quentin’s Brittle Bones, and Whoops Down Syndrome.

Midnight Oil are an Australian institution, with a string of classic releases to their name and an untouchable legacy. But things may have been different for the Sydney group had they stuck with their original name – Schwampy Moose.

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How about the Candy Spuds, who went on to become one of Australia’s best-loved alternative bands under the name Spiderbait? Or how about Kid Galahad and the Eternals, who went on to become Australian punk icons The Saints?

A bad band name isn’t just the domain of inexperienced young upstarts, either. Crowded House, who formed following the demise of antipodean legends Split Enz, were originally branded with the rather less inspiring handle The Mullanes.

You can check out a whole host of bad original band names over via The Daily Telegraph. What do you reckon is the worst? For our money, we can’t go past The Moonshine Jug and String Band, whom you may know as The Angels.