During a game of Monopoly over the holiday weekend, I was reminded of a songwriting credit attributed to someone allegedly named "Marvin Gardens." And that made me think about rock 'n' roll pseudonyms.
Sure, some folks have been known by something other than their given name throughout their professional lives: Vince Furnier (Alice Cooper), James Osterberg (Iggy Pop) and Don Vliet (Captain Beefheart), to name a few.
But many artists come up with alter egos at some point during their careers, for various reasons and to various effects. Some, like Mr. Gardens, want to do something different with writing credits. Others have contractual obligations that preclude use of their real names. And occasionally, a new name simply represents an artistic change of pace.
Let's see if you can guess who these guys really are:
1) L'Angelo Mysterioso. Actually, he went under many names, and this one appeared in connection with a song he did with a man who later hooked up with "Mrs. Mysterioso." But the two guys still were friends decades later.
2) Bernard Shakey. This name has appeared in conjunction with several film projects involving a very well-known guitarist/singer/songwriter, as well as the artist's autobiography.
3) O. Rasputin. A legendary '60s group attached this pseudonym to songwriting credits, particularly some instrumental jams.
4) Arnold Korns. This guy already had one nom de guerre going, and decided to try another for a single that didn't go anywhere. Then he went back to his first pseudonym and became a superstar.
5) Buster Poindexter. The lead singer of a pioneering punk-rock band occasionally recorded under this handle in more of a lounge-crooner approach.
6) Dr. Winston O'Boogie. An absolute rock immortal came up with a pseudonym that reaffirmed his mastery of wordplay.
7) McGannahan Skjellyfetti. Another group-composition pseudonym, this tongue-twister came from a character in a novel, "Memoirs of a Shy Pornographer" by Kenneth Patchen.
8) Jesse Orris Farrow. Another pseudonym on top of a pseudonym, this was used by a songwriter who apparently was extremely bitter over what became of the royalties to his most famous composition. The Farrow name appears on several albums this artist made with a San Francisco-based band in the early '70s.
9) Hank Wilson. This legendary rock session player enjoyed some solo success (under a pseudonym) in the early '70s, then showed his country leanings with recordings under this name.
10) Richie Snare. Think about this fellow's real name and the instrument he plays.
11) Tom and Jerry. Teenagers when they recorded under this designation, they later became legends using their true surnames.
12) Blind Boy Grunt. Yet another pseudonym on top of a pseudonym. This guy, though, did keep his original first name in coming up with a handle that's now known the world over. "Blind Boy" appeared as a session man very early in the artist's career.
13) Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane. This guitarist's jokey pseudonym led directly to the name of a certain band.
14) Nanker Phelge. Instead of listing the names of all five members, a very popular rock band in its early days came up with this bit of whimsy for its group credits. The name is derived from in-jokes about a certain facial expression and an acquaintance with questionable hygiene.
15) Apollo C. Vermouth. One of the world's most famous musicians listed this name on the credits for a song he produced for another band. And the leader of that band went on to become the musical voice for one of the world's most famous comedy troupes.
ANSWERS: 1) George Harrison - reference is to Eric Clapton (and also to Pattie Boyd Harrison); 2) Neil Young; 3) The Yardbirds; 4) David Bowie - real name David Jones; 5) David Johansen - played with the New York Dolls; 6) John Lennon; 7) The Grateful Dead; 8) Dino Valente - real name Chester Powers - played with Quicksilver Messenger Service; 9) Leon Russell - real name Claude Russell Bridges; 10) Ringo Starr - real name Richard Starkey; 11) Simon and Garfunkel; 12) Bob Dylan - real name Robert Zimmerman; 13) Jorma Kaukonen; 14) The Rolling Stones; 15) James Paul McCartney, producing the Bonzo Dog Band's "I'm the Urban Spaceman" - other references are to Neil Innes and Monty Python's Flying Circus.
EXTRA CREDIT: Jimmy Buffett's "Why Don't We Get Drunk" is credited to Marvin Gardens.
Sure, some folks have been known by something other than their given name throughout their professional lives: Vince Furnier (Alice Cooper), James Osterberg (Iggy Pop) and Don Vliet (Captain Beefheart), to name a few.
But many artists come up with alter egos at some point during their careers, for various reasons and to various effects. Some, like Mr. Gardens, want to do something different with writing credits. Others have contractual obligations that preclude use of their real names. And occasionally, a new name simply represents an artistic change of pace.
Let's see if you can guess who these guys really are:
1) L'Angelo Mysterioso. Actually, he went under many names, and this one appeared in connection with a song he did with a man who later hooked up with "Mrs. Mysterioso." But the two guys still were friends decades later.
2) Bernard Shakey. This name has appeared in conjunction with several film projects involving a very well-known guitarist/singer/songwriter, as well as the artist's autobiography.
3) O. Rasputin. A legendary '60s group attached this pseudonym to songwriting credits, particularly some instrumental jams.
4) Arnold Korns. This guy already had one nom de guerre going, and decided to try another for a single that didn't go anywhere. Then he went back to his first pseudonym and became a superstar.
5) Buster Poindexter. The lead singer of a pioneering punk-rock band occasionally recorded under this handle in more of a lounge-crooner approach.
6) Dr. Winston O'Boogie. An absolute rock immortal came up with a pseudonym that reaffirmed his mastery of wordplay.
7) McGannahan Skjellyfetti. Another group-composition pseudonym, this tongue-twister came from a character in a novel, "Memoirs of a Shy Pornographer" by Kenneth Patchen.
8) Jesse Orris Farrow. Another pseudonym on top of a pseudonym, this was used by a songwriter who apparently was extremely bitter over what became of the royalties to his most famous composition. The Farrow name appears on several albums this artist made with a San Francisco-based band in the early '70s.
9) Hank Wilson. This legendary rock session player enjoyed some solo success (under a pseudonym) in the early '70s, then showed his country leanings with recordings under this name.
10) Richie Snare. Think about this fellow's real name and the instrument he plays.
11) Tom and Jerry. Teenagers when they recorded under this designation, they later became legends using their true surnames.
12) Blind Boy Grunt. Yet another pseudonym on top of a pseudonym. This guy, though, did keep his original first name in coming up with a handle that's now known the world over. "Blind Boy" appeared as a session man very early in the artist's career.
13) Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane. This guitarist's jokey pseudonym led directly to the name of a certain band.
14) Nanker Phelge. Instead of listing the names of all five members, a very popular rock band in its early days came up with this bit of whimsy for its group credits. The name is derived from in-jokes about a certain facial expression and an acquaintance with questionable hygiene.
15) Apollo C. Vermouth. One of the world's most famous musicians listed this name on the credits for a song he produced for another band. And the leader of that band went on to become the musical voice for one of the world's most famous comedy troupes.
ANSWERS: 1) George Harrison - reference is to Eric Clapton (and also to Pattie Boyd Harrison); 2) Neil Young; 3) The Yardbirds; 4) David Bowie - real name David Jones; 5) David Johansen - played with the New York Dolls; 6) John Lennon; 7) The Grateful Dead; 8) Dino Valente - real name Chester Powers - played with Quicksilver Messenger Service; 9) Leon Russell - real name Claude Russell Bridges; 10) Ringo Starr - real name Richard Starkey; 11) Simon and Garfunkel; 12) Bob Dylan - real name Robert Zimmerman; 13) Jorma Kaukonen; 14) The Rolling Stones; 15) James Paul McCartney, producing the Bonzo Dog Band's "I'm the Urban Spaceman" - other references are to Neil Innes and Monty Python's Flying Circus.
EXTRA CREDIT: Jimmy Buffett's "Why Don't We Get Drunk" is credited to Marvin Gardens.
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