"Is that their real name?" department

[No Pride]

I think I once read that you cannot name your child "Hitler" either.

That's why I never had kids.

[Dave (in MA)]

Is Wavy Gravy a person?

[Ground and Sky's Ghost]

Back in the early 90s, someone where I worked cut a birth announcement out of the newspaper and hung it by the coffee maker:

"Mr. and Mrs. Cox announce the birth of their daughter Fonda."

[Scott Bails]

Never understood why NASCAR driver Richard Trickle went by "Dick"

[progeezer]

Before Wavy Gravy & the Hog Farm (featured prominently in the Woodstock film), there was Hugh Romney the hippie poet.

Since his last name was the same as a prominent Republican of the day, Mitt's father George, he legally changed his name to Wavy Gravy, and iirc is still called Wavy by the people in his universe to this day. He's 79 now.

[bob_32_116]

Before Wavy Gravy & the Hog Farm (featured prominently in the Woodstock film), there was Hugh Romney the hippie poet.

Since his last name was the same as a prominent Republican of the day, Mitt's father George, he legally changed his name to Wavy Gravy, and iirc is still called Wavy by the people in his universe to this day. He's 79 now.

Thanks for enlightening me!

[Mister Triscuits]

Wasn't there a folk singer named John Wesley Harding? Dude, either you were really unlucky, or you've got amazing chutzpah choosing the title of a Bob Dylan record as your stage name.

He did name himself after the Dylan song/album, although at least "Wesley" is his real first name.

[bigbassdrum]

Yogi Berra
Bev Bevins

[rcarlberg]

Yogi Berra

Predates the cartoon obviously -- although the name was borrowed, the personality was based on somebody else, Art Carney's character Ed Norton from The Honeymooners.

[polmico]

W

How the hell do you know about Biff, Dave?? (I'm guessing the KC connection he has)

Biff Uranus Blumfumgagne (only 2 g's) is a friend of mine and has been for several years.

He sings back up on Belew's live album Side Four. Belew gives him a shout out after one of the tunes.

[GuitarGeek]

Before Wavy Gravy & the Hog Farm (featured prominently in the Woodstock film), there was Hugh Romney the hippie poet.

Since his last name was the same as a prominent Republican of the day, Mitt's father George, he legally changed his name to Wavy Gravy, and iirc is still called Wavy by the people in his universe to this day. He's 79 now.

Seriously? That's why he changed his name? I never knew that, but I guess it makes sense. There's a Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns infiltrates an animal rights group by pretending to be Wavy Gravy.

And isn't there a Ben And Jerry's Wavy Gravy flavor?

[Dave (in MA)]

Bev Bevins

That's his real name (Bevan, actually), shortened from Beverly Bevan; in the States Beverly would usually be a female name.

[Dave (in MA)]

Never understood why NASCAR driver Richard Trickle went by "Dick"

I wonder if he's ever met NH politician Dick Swett?

I worked at a place where we had a Pete Moss and a Peter Dick. Their parents had to be either clueless or cruel.

[Lopez]

Roy Wood has a daughter who's name is Holly Wood. Oh, the humanity!

[Scott Bails]

True story: I have a cousin named Londonne Englund

[davis]

Elvis Presley
Richard Starkey
Bobby Zimmerman
Michael Jagger
Jim Osterberg

[Vic2012]

I see a lot of bands mention here with funny names. Like Tame Impala..... Seriously, I think it's hysterical.

[GuitarGeek]

That's his real name (Bevan, actually), shortened from Beverly Bevan; in the States Beverly would usually be a female name.

Bev talks about that in his book. I think he said his father gave him that name to "toughen him up", ie his dad knew he'd probably get picked for having a "girl's name" so he had to learn how to fight back. Kinda like that Johnny Cash song A Boy Named Sue.

[GuitarGeek]

Roy Wood has a daughter who's name is Holly Wood. Oh, the humanity!

There was a Canadian band back in the 80's called Toronto. Their lead singer called herself Holly Wood. I swear their one Stateside hit (well, it was sort of a hit, anyway, I remember seeing the video on TV at least enough times for me to remember it) sounds like someone in the band (or maybe their record company) said "How can write a song that's a blatant ripoff of Jessie's Girl, without getting sued for it?!".

[GuitarGeek]

What about people who name their kids after their own surname, ie Edward Edwards (I met an Ed Edwards at NEARfest once, actually), Evan Evans (son of legendary pianist Bill Evans), etc.

[GuitarGeek]

I see a lot of bands mention here with funny names. Like Tame Impala..... Seriously, I think it's hysterical.

Everytime I see a post about Samurai Of Prog, I swear, I keep hearing Don Pardo saying, "And now it's time for another episode of Samurai Prog Rock Musician!" in my head. I keep expecting to find out the singer dresses up as John Belushi in his Samurai guise or something.

[trurl]

You can name your kid Adolph but it doesn't seem very popular these days.

[bigbassdrum]

Someone mentioned Prairie Prince ...

How about Fee Waybill?

[bob_32_116]

I was always intrigued by Major Lance. At first I thought it was a group. When I learned it was one man, I thought surely "Major" must be a nickname or an assumed title, but apparently "Major" was his given name.

[dregsfan]

Regarding the Hall of Fame linebacker, it's spelled "Butkus," not "Butkis."