Sometimes when writing a weekly column, it is difficult to come up with a new topic.

Many times I ask my wife Vicki for an idea. I recently did this again while we were driving around the other day. About that time the song “Time of the Season” by the Zombies came over the satellite radio. I said, “ I wonder how they picked that name.”

She said, “I’m not sure, but there’s an idea for your next column.”

So after some research here you go.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

These Southern rock heroes chose their name in the spirit of rebellion. It was a tongue-in-cheek swipe at Leonard Skinner, the high-school gym teacher who had clashed with them in their younger days for having long hair, which was against school policy.

This conflict with the band’s founding members during their younger years led them to adopt a variation of his name. They initially performed under various names before settling on Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969.

Three Dog Night

This is one of my favorite stories concerning band names. I had heard this before, but I also found it doing the internet research.

Supposedly, it was June Fairchild, then girlfriend of Three Dog Night’s Danny Hutton, who came up with the name. She had apparently heard a story about Australians sleeping outdoors, who would lie down in a ditch, using their dogs for warmth on the coldest nights. Thus, the phrase it is so cold, it is going to be a “three dog night.”

Eagles

This is our favorite group and I had also heard this story before. Original band member Bernie Leadon is typically credited with coining the name “Eagles” during a wild party and group trip to the Mojave Desert. There, Leadon recalled reading about the Native American Hopi Indian tribe’s reverence for the eagle. However, J.D. Souther suggested the name stuck after Glenn Frey shouted out “Eagles!” when they saw some flying above them in the desert.

That is the most famous story of how Eagles got their name. The late Frey frequently backed up this version of the story.

The Beatles

This name was reportedly inspired by early-rocker Buddy Holly, whose backup band was called the Crickets. All four Beatles were big fans of Holly; their earliest shows often featured his music. Paul McCartney later even purchased the publishing rights to Holly’s songs. In 1960, the Beatles were initially known as The Quarrymen while still in England and before their fame in the U.S.

Chicago

In 1968, Chicago was called the Big Thing, and moved to Los Angeles at their manager’s request and signed with Columbia Records. That’s where Jimmy Guercio, who would eventually become Chicago’s producer, changed the name to Chicago Transit Authority in honor of the bus line he used to take to school. It was later shortened to Chicago after the release of their first album.

Bad Company

Singer Paul Rodgers says he got the idea for the song ‘Bad Company’ when he saw a poster for a 1972 western. He said he enjoyed the name because it inspired visions of early settlers, the Civil War and the lawless wild west. Bad Company was quickly repurposed as the band’s name.

Fleetwood Mac

Another one of our favorite groups is Fleetwood Mac. In honor of the bass player and the drummer, who are workhorses in a rock band, Fleetwood Mac was named for Mick Fleetwood and John McVie – basically as a ploy on guitar player Peter Green’s part to keep them in the band.

Kansas

It does not get much more self-explanatory than this one. Though they eventually sanded off their stylistic edges, these guys started out playing some pretty popular rock. They took a markedly less creative approach to coming up with a name, though, seemingly just saying, “Well, what state do we live in?”

There are many more, but just not enough room to mention them all.

By the way, how did the Zombies pick their name?

Originally named the “Mustangs,” the band soon realized that other groups had that name. Reportedly, one of the band members suggested zombies. Even though some didn’t realize what that was or what it meant, they went with it. It really wasn’t a real creative idea or story. It just stuck with their popularity and hit songs.

Until next time.

(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)