What's in a Fuck-ing Name?

Lately I've noticed a sudden increase in the number of bands using profanity in their names. This is a concept that intrigues me.

At first glance, it's a great way of getting your band both noticed and remembered. The shock value of the name is a real attention grabber. After hearing "Holy Fuck" the first time it stuck with me. Not necessarily for the music, which is still good (see below), but for the name.



On the other hand, you are also limiting yourself. Your music will not be played on the radio, and even if is, they will not be able to tell people what you're called. You'll never see a caption at the bottom of an IPOD commercial with your name. You have placed a limit on your ability to reach a broad mainstream market. An example of this is "Starfucker" which recently changed their name to "Pyramiddd" so their somewhat poppy brand of music could reach its target audience.



Or maybe that is the whole point. Maybe you are purposefully bannishing yourself to a life underground. Maybe you're like the "Fuck Buttons" and you recognize that your music will only be recieved by a small group of young adults, and as a result, you're comfortable with the limited exposure your band gets.



Or maybe you recognize that there is a growing force beneath the surface of pop culture with the freedom to disperse your vulgar brand, warts and all, without having to deal with the FCC, parental controls, and the Christian right. Enter The Shanty Blog.

I don't know - whatcha think, Shantiers?