Matching Mole is even sweeter for its derivation; some choice Wyatt-esque wordplay punning on the French for Soft Machine, which is also a great name. Most contentious of the Mancs is, of course, Joy Division, who somehow managed to live up to it. In Gateshead there used to to a DIY sort-of-not-so-superstore which had a Joinery Division (I kid ye not) which I always thought would make a cool name, or at the very least a decent photograph.

One might be glad that the successful pop-covers cub band The Bystanders changed their name to Man, reportedly because it would look big on posters. To their fans, however, they will always be The Manband, which is just as well because they obviously weren't thinking ahead to Google. And I don't know why Simon Dupree and the Big Sound changed their name to Gentle Giant but I'm kinda glad they did. Whilst I'm perhaps the biggest & most indiscriminating Third Ear Band fan on the planet, I often ponder how things would have turned out if they'd stuck to The Giant Sun Trolley.   

Of all the bands I've been in, it is Rhombus of Doom I remember most fondly, not only for the name, but the music, the fractious internal politics, the opportunity to play with the finest rhythm section ever, some great vocalists, and in our sax player I had the honour of knowing, however so briefly, one of the nicest human beings that ever walked this earth. Our guitarist was one of the most innovative, open minded musicians I've ever met and he went on to form the equally great (in music as in name) Forkeye.

Favourite name ever? It's a toss up between Ace Brigode and his Fourteen Virginians and Sun Ra and his Omniverse Ultra 21st Century Arkestra...