90's-00's powerviolence / fastcore bands named after pop-culture icons. What was up with that.
Somebody in this sub just mentioned Avril Lavigne and I had to check to make sure there wasn't a rad punk band named Avril Lavigne. Im old, out of touch, and as weird as that sounds its a totally plausible possibility.
At one point, probably 25 yrs ago, we booked a band called Chuck Norris. Some were expecting Chuck Norris (a punk band) but it turned out to be Chuck Norris (a different punk band) instead. Not to be confused with Chuck Norris, xChuckxNorrisx, or Chuck Norris Experiment. If i recall, Chuck Norris had to change their name due to legal pressure from Chuck Norris (the person, not the other band).
Theres a solid history of metal bands named after historical figures (Bathory, Tesla, Abigail, etc). But goofballs took it to the next level and started naming after contemporary living people. There were multiple bands named after Tommy Lasorda of all people, the manager for the LA Dodgers.
Why? I don't know. Where did this trend start? Charles Bronson? That crazy motherfucker was alive until well after the band broke up.