QUIZ: Can you identify these classic bands from their original names?

21 October 2025, 09:53

Have you heard the music of The Polka Tulk Blues Band? You probably have, actually...

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;

- Romeo and Juliet (Act II, Scene II) by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare had a point, but when it comes to getting fans on board, names are definitely important.

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Despite their lovely scent, would people really go into florists and ask for a dozen fartpetals for Valentine's Day?

Their music that was always the most important thing, but if some of our favourite bands had different (or downright offensive) names, we could easily imagine an alternate universe where the stars didn't quite align for them to break through.

With that in mind, how many all-time great bands can you identify from their original band name? Take our quiz below and find out.

All the answers are below The Who's 'Who Are You' (so you can guess that's one of our bands).

Questions (the original bandnames)

1. The Pendletones
2. The Quarrymen
3. Sigma 6
4. The Mustangs
5. The Rattlesnakes
6. Smile
7. Festfolk
8. Teen King & the Emergencies
9. The Ravens
10. The Golliwogs
11. The Polka Tulk Blues Band
12. Mammoth
13. Tom & Jerry
14. The Primettes
15. Soft White Underbelly
16. Caesar & Cleo
17. Golden Gate Rhythm Section
18. The Bangs
19. The High Numbers
20. 'N Betweens

The Who - Who Are You (Promo Video)

Answers (the ACTUAL bandname)

1. The Beach Boys
2. The Beatles
3. Pink Floyd
4. The Zombies
5. Bee Gees
6. Queen
7. ABBA
8. Eagles
9. Kinks
10. Creedence Clearwater Revival
11. Black Sabbath
12. Van Halen
13. Simon and Garfunkel
14. The Supremes
15. Blue Öyster Cult
16. Sonny & Cher
17. Journey
18. The Bangles
19. The Who
20. Slade