Beach Boys Name

[Magic Transistor Radio]

They should have gone with The Butt Hole Surfers

[Generation42]

They should have gone with The Butt Hole Surfers

With that BW classic, "Who was In My Room last night (Who the hell was in my head)"

[Cyncie]

They could have just gone with "Sons of a Beach." Same name, different emphasis.

[NHC]

'The Beach Boys' is a terrible name, and it really damaged the group's reputation from 1965 onwards. ('The Pendletons' and 'Carl and the Passions' would have been even worse -- too redolent of 50's doo wop.)

I mean,  most of the names of bands formed in the early 60's came to sound a bit dated later in the decade -- Gerry and the Pacemakers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Four Seasons, even the Beatles. But the name, 'the Beach Boys', unlike most of those other names, seems too tied down to a particular fad : surfing.

The Beatles were allowed to go from "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" to "Tomorrow Never Knows" without people holding the naivete of those earlier songs against them, in a way that the Beach Boys weren't. 'Surfin' USA' and 'Little Deuce Coup' always loomed too large in the mind of the public, even while they were producing 'Heroes and Villains' -- and for that, I blame the band's name.

Would the Boys have better withstood the battering that their reputation and image underwent in the late 60's, if the group name were 'the Kingsmen',  or 'the Ventures', for instance?

This is a joke, right?

[Kurosawa]

The name had nothing to do with their decline, the main cause was Brian's personal issues and at the time there was not sufficient treatment for those issues. There was literally nothing that could have been done to change things because the band's fortunes were so completely tied to Brian and his problems were not understood and not treatable at the time.

Had Brian been in good shape and completely able to lead the band, it wouldn't have mattered if their name was the Beach Boys or Carl and the Passions or the Mike Love Experience or Booger Breath and the Pukes.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

The Beach Boys has always been a cool name for a band. Its an iconic name, perfect in its simplicity.

[The Heartical Don]

The Beach Boys has always been a cool name for a band. Its an iconic name, perfect in its simplicity.

Yup. And it's so much better than Einstürzende Neubauten or You've Got Foetus On Your Breath (yech... talk about bad taste!)

[Cabinessenceking]

'Surfin' USA' and 'Little Deuce Coup' always loomed too large in the mind of the public, even while they were producing 'Heroes and Villains' -- and for that, I blame the band's name.

Well, that is because Surfin' USA and Little Deuce Coupe are better songs than Heroes and Villains.

T_T

[Iron Horse-Apples]

The Beach Boys has always been a cool name for a band. Its an iconic name, perfect in its simplicity.

Yup. And it's so much better than Einstürzende Neubauten or You've Got Foetus On Your Breath (yech... talk about bad taste!)

Why? Was that something they were considering in '61? (Bet that was Mike's idea!) Glad they went with Beach Boys.......

[NHC]

The Beach Boys has always been a cool name for a band. Its an iconic name, perfect in its simplicity.

Yes.

[The Heartical Don]

The Beach Boys has always been a cool name for a band. Its an iconic name, perfect in its simplicity.

Yup. And it's so much better than Einstürzende Neubauten or You've Got Foetus On Your Breath (yech... talk about bad taste!)

Why? Was that something they were considering in '61? (Bet that was Mike's idea!) Glad they went with Beach Boys.......

 

[Alex]

A classic: "The Bitch Boys"

Or The Bleach Boys.


At least they never did like ?, !!!, or Prince and change their name to unpronounceable symbols.

[kookadams]

'The Beach Boys' is a terrible name, and it really damaged the group's reputation from 1965 onwards. ('The Pendletons' and 'Carl and the Passions' would have been even worse -- too redolent of 50's doo wop.)

I mean,  most of the names of bands formed in the early 60's came to sound a bit dated later in the decade -- Gerry and the Pacemakers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Four Seasons, even the Beatles. But the name, 'the Beach Boys', unlike most of those other names, seems too tied down to a particular fad : surfing.

The Beatles were allowed to go from "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" to "Tomorrow Never Knows" without people holding the naivete of those earlier songs against them, in a way that the Beach Boys weren't. 'Surfin' USA' and 'Little Deuce Coup' always loomed too large in the mind of the public, even while they were producing 'Heroes and Villains' -- and for that, I blame the band's name.

Would the Boys have better withstood the battering that their reputation and image underwent in the late 60's, if the group name were 'the Kingsmen',  or 'the Ventures', for instance?

YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG BUDDY! That is one of the most ignorant stupid things Ive ever heard in regards to the BBs. Dolt.

[kookadams]

The Beach.

I think this would have been perfect, or as perfect as possible while providing continuity.  I love the so-called fun-in-the-sun stuff, but I agree that their name (and Mike Love) was limiting and cost them some credibility, as foolish as that may be.

Marketing is everything- their output of great albums was consistent from '63 thru 73 and ya cant blame their name for any forks in the road- thats asinine.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

As they are, in most intelligent circles, highly critically acclaimed and still around, I would argue their name hasn't really damaged their career that much.

[The Heartical Don]

As they are, in most intelligent circles, highly critically acclaimed and still around, I would argue their name hasn't really damaged their career that much.

Agree. They went from 'simple', rocking surf- and car-related material to the utmost toppermost levels of sophistication (to wit: Lenny Bernstein sings the praise of 'Surf's Up'), with the same name. Can't think of any better proof.

However, I sometimes wonder that I almost always have to explain to 'the layperson', for want of a better word, that the Boys went far beyond their early hits, and produced so much distinct, non-generic, material later on in their career, whereas I don't have to do that with regard to the Beatles?

Any ideas here?

[Iron Horse-Apples]

My idea is that most people are morons.

[The Heartical Don]

My idea is that most people are morons.

 

[Mendota Heights]

My idea is that most people are morons.

- Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. - George Carlin

[The Heartical Don]

They could have called themselves 'The ABLE'.

(Sorry, I was away for awhile; duplicating the universe. Done.)

[Magic Transistor Radio]

The Beach Starship

[Wild-Honey]

I think the name is fine, really don't think that caused any image damage.  IMO it was the Baywatch lovin', crocodile rockin' 80's cheeze fest. 

[Lonelysea30]

If not the beach boys, which I like than maybe The Hawthorne Experience....? If there was no jimmy, hero vibrations

[SMiLE-addict]

Surf's Up would have been a cool name.

Did anyone ever find out the individual(s) who changed their name, and if they considered any other alternatives?

[NHC]

Surf's Up would have been a cool name.

Did anyone ever find out the individual(s) who changed their name, and if they considered any other alternatives?

If you mean in the beginning, wasn't it Russ Regan, the DJ, on his own? Or a similar personality?  Too lazy to run to the book shelf to look up something I've known for years.