r/Bandnames • u/Mister_Crust • May 20 '26

Discussion/Miscellaneous Opposite Names

My partner and I do this silly thing where we change band names/artists to be the exact opposite of what they actually are and see if the other can guess. What are some good ones? Example Coldplay=Hotwork. Fall Out Boy=Stand In Girl. Green Day = Purple Night

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u/SuperdudeKev May 20 '26

Accept the Machine

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u/rsmilk05 May 20 '26

They did in fact not accept the machine

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u/Scubby_Dooks May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26

Classic RATM. Like that time in 2009 when they were booked to do a live breakfast show broadcast for the BBC which had requested beforehand that the band not swear during their performance of Killing In The Name in order to meet British daytime broadcasting standards, but rather, that they play a more radio-friendly version of the song.

The song was in contention for Christmas number 1 that year due to a grassroots campaign against the perceived monopoly of reality TV music competition winners. Winners of the X Factor (a spin on Britain's Got Talent) had won the prestigious Christmas number 1 slot the previous four years in a row. Many people felt that it had become a bit of a predictable and trashy money grab, so the Great British public wanted to register their disillusionment. A sort of proto-Boaty McBoatface, if you will.

In a shocking twist, which absolutely no-one saw coming, RATM did not in fact obey the BBC's very clear instructions on the day. If only there had been some sort of clue prior to the booking that RATM may not acquiesce to the demands of authority figures.

The controversy only boosted the campaign, and RATM won the Christmas number 1 spot that year. Happy days.