What if the band name you want is taken...

[Meffy]

I'm apparently awake again, so if you want more astronomical names I'm the skunk you need. Get a load of these high-quality samples:

Ras Alhague
Zuben el Genubi
Equuleus
Rotanev
Svalocin
Barnard's Runaway Star
Owl Nebula
Quaoar
Amalthea

More available upon request.

[dystonia_ek]

Interesting, I'll consider that one.

Actually, I'll give away the one I was condsidering:

Arcturus.

Sounds trippy, futuristic, etc.

Taken by these guys (with a fancy schmancy website ):

www.arcturus.no

I think they are "black metal" so I best mind myself or they will come and drag me off me to their nordic sacrifical alter of Satan/Thor/Tony Iommi.

They don't look too dangerous.

[pitchdrifter]

Does anyone know where I can find the online band-name register?

Don't think there is one.

There certainly is - I'm on it! Just can't remember where the bloody thing is.

What I was trying to get across is that as long as a name isn't registered with any of the performing rights organisations you can use it for your own band. And as far as I know none of ascap/gema/bmi etc. have lists online.
Of course you can browse the web and see if you find the name you want to use, but that won't give you realiable information whether or not you can use the name for anything serious/commercial. Also if you don't register the band name you chose to go with at one of these organisations, and you do have intentions for a money making future with that band, you risk that somebody else takes your band's name - which once you have some fans isn't too handy who know you by the name that you can't any longer use.

[deleted]

DELETED

[Hovmod]

It's a big world, and there's a lot of bands out there.
In the early nineties, one of the bands I enjoyed seeing live in Bergen, Monalisa Overdrive, had to change their name when they got a major record deal, because it turned out there were at least two other bands called Monalisa Overdrive already.
They went on to have a short but enjoyable two-LP career as Barbie Bones.

[clueless]

Does anyone know where I can find the online band-name register?

Don't think there is one.

There certainly is - I'm on it! Just can't remember where the bloody thing is.

What I was trying to get across is that as long as a name isn't registered with any of the performing rights organisations you can use it for your own band. And as far as I know none of ascap/gema/bmi etc. have lists online.
Of course you can browse the web and see if you find the name you want to use, but that won't give you realiable information whether or not you can use the name for anything serious/commercial. Also if you don't register the band name you chose to go with at one of these organisations, and you do have intentions for a money making future with that band, you risk that somebody else takes your band's name - which once you have some fans isn't too handy who know you by the name that you can't any longer use.

that's precisely the risk that the register I'm describing is intended to avoid.

[torhan]

How about:

Fripped to Shreds
The Big Fripper

[foosnark]

It's a big world, and there's a lot of bands out there.
In the early nineties, one of the bands I enjoyed seeing live in Bergen, Monalisa Overdrive, had to change their name when they got a major record deal, because it turned out there were at least two other bands called Monalisa Overdrive already.
They went on to have a short but enjoyable two-LP career as Barbie Bones.

I have a Monalisa Overdrive album. I don't know which one they are, but the album was called "Burning Chrome".

William Gibson references are probably all taken... I know there's a Neuromancer, Wintermute and Straylight Run, pretty sure there's a Dixie Flatline and a Lady 3Jane, and a Changelings song called "Maelcom's Righteous Dub" just for starters.

Another thing to worry about with band names is googleability. I look for "Lotus Wire" and find my page first, then some stuff about Lotus Notes and jewelry, my wife's posts and a friend who's a Suicide Girl, and parts for Lotus cars... apparently I was on an internet radio station I've never heard of too. Well, neat.

For contrast, try searching for the band "The The"

[Meffy]

*ahem*

Fripp the Bird.

*bow*

[Hovmod]

I have a Monalisa Overdrive album. I don't know which one they are, but the album was called "Burning Chrome".

That's one of the others...

For contrast, try searching for the band "The The"

I talked to the guys from Norwegian band "Palace of Pleasure" a few years ago. They said searching for their stuff online could be a particularly sticky affair...

[Hovmod]

*ahem*

Fripp the Bird.

*bow*

I was gonna suggest "Fripping Burgers"

[torhan]

Letting it Fripp
Fripp You A New One

[pitchdrifter]

that's precisely the risk that the register I'm describing is intended to avoid.

Is it being run by or based on the databases of these organisations? It'd have to be to be really useful.
If you remember the name/url of that register, I'd like to know it, too, if you don't mind telling.

[rockstar_not]

Here's one of the band name registries:

http://www.bandname.com/Band/Index.aspx

-Scott

[aMUSEd]

Letting it Fripp
Fripp You A New One

Fripp off artists