10 Fascinating Stories Behind Rock Music Star Stage Names
What's in a name? Well, read on and find out...
Whilst some musicians choose to use their real names when performing, others are taken in by the allure of a stage name.
Whether it's a slight variation on their birth name or something completely different, many rockers have taken on pseudonyms over the years, with some of them getting so famous that many fans don't even know they're fake.
Just because they're made-up, that doesn't mean that these monikers come from nowhere. There's a thought process behind adopting a stage name just like anything else, and these ten stories tell the tales of where these adopted titles came from.
Some were adapted from childhood nicknames, whilst some pay homage to other famous musicians. Others, well, they include a range of influences, ranging from rampaging pets to high street shops to historical figures.
Had they not chosen to change their names, who knows if any of these stars would be as famous as they are today. When you find out some of the utterly drab names that some of them were born with, you'll understand why a change was so desperately needed.
10. Put A Ring On It - Ringo Starr
Many laughs have been had at the expense of Ringo Starr over the years and, to be fair, the man doesn't help himself sometimes, but it's important to remember that he is also one of the most influential drummers of all time.
The Beatles' timekeeper was in another band before he joined up with the other members, acting as drummer and occasional vocalist for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. It was during this time period that the man born Richard Starkey would adopt his most famous moniker.
Starr came from his birth surname, but Ringo was a nicknamed he'd earned by wearing multiple rings on his hands. Starkey took on the name to add more flair to his persona, thinking it would make him sound like one of the country and western singers he idolised.
The name stuck and it's how he's known to this very day, some 60 years on from its creation. Starr's love for rings was even incorporated into the plot of The Beatles' 1965 film Help!, in which a strange cult hunt the star down because he's gotten one of their jewels stuck on his finger.
Oh Ringo, what are you like?