Artist's Real Names Better Than Their Stage Names

[Shireblogger]

It’s well known that Reg Dwight chose Elton John as his stage name, that Harry Webb was given the name Cliff Richard because it sounded more rock’n’roll, and that Anna Mae Bullock thought Tina Turner would be more appealing.

But there are a handful of rock stars who, in my opinion, have better real names than their stage names:-

1. Robert Zimmerman is certainly more dynamic than Bob Dylan;
2. For what its worth, I think Priscilla White is a much better handle than Cilla Black;
3. Iggy Pop is all very well, but Jim Jewel (drop the Osterburg) would have hit the button for me;
4. It’s a little know fact that Engelbert Humperdinck is his real name – he changed it to Jerry Dorsey when he set out on the road to fame, before being advised to switch back to his birth name;
5. Chubby Checker is actually a contraction of his real name – Chubbular Checkerplate;
6. Phil Collins started life as Philpott Pagnell – maybe not so good for a global mega star, but a much better name for a prog rock drummer;
7. It’s probably more understandable that Calvin Harris chose a professional name, given he was christened Adam Anthony, which might have caused confusion;
8. Billy Ocean was born Leslie Lake – you can see where he was coming from with that one, but Leslie Lake would have worked well for a soul crooner;
9. I’ve never quite understood the logic behind Tinie Tempah – his real name would have earned plenty of headlines – Mustnt Grumble;
10. And, to complete the list, the rather wonderful Jimmy Cliff who was born Fill Aroop.

Can you add any other names to this list ?

[Earl Purple]

I'm pretty certain that the singer Engelbert Humperdinck was really called Lee Dorsey, and there is a different Engelbert Humperdinck who wrote Hansel and Gretel, and the singer named himself after that composer.

[Earl Purple]

Arnold Dorsey, not Lee.. (or Jerry)

[borneoman]

is Emeli Sandé really named Adele Sandé or did I dream that?

I think James Blunt´s real name is Jame Blount

[Shireblogger]

Apr 1, 2014 8:37:07 GMT 1 Earl Purple said:

I'm pretty certain that the singer Engelbert Humperdinck was really called Lee Dorsey, and there is a different Engelbert Humperdinck who wrote Hansel and Gretel, and the singer named himself after that composer.

Are you sure ?

[LittleChristmasTurkey]

Apr 1, 2014 7:57:09 GMT 1 Shireblogger said:

9. I’ve never quite understood the logic behind Tinie Tempah – his real name would have earned plenty of headlines – Mustnt Grumble;

Or Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu Jr.

[greendemon]

can't stop laughing at chubbular checkerplate

[Razzle Dazzle]

Slightly less famous but dick valentine from electric 6 is tyler spencer

[Earl Purple]

I am sure that there was a German composer called Engelbert Humperdinck who composed Hansel & Gretel. That is a fact, and it wasn't the singer.

The singer had tried several stage names for a few years and had failed to have any success, and it just happened that when he used Engelbert Humperdinck and released "Release Me" which was an old country song, it suddenly became a massive hit. I was only 2 at the time that song was in the chart.

[Earl Purple]

Instead of Calvin Harris he could have called himself Stuart Goddard, given the singer born that name didn't want to use it.

[greendemon]

i remembered another one - the singer who goes by the name anastacia was actually born to russian immigrant parents as lola ripof, though i can appreciate why she decided to go for a different russian name.

[vastar iner]

^ Too late.

Oliver Bendt of the Goombay Dance Band's real name is Joerg Knoch.

[Earl Purple]

That "Chubbular Checkerplate" I saw somewhere as an April fools joke today so I guess there's some of that mixed in with the top post and suedehead really knows that Engelbert Humperdinck wasn't the singer's real name.

[greendemon]

Apr 1, 2014 14:00:08 GMT 1 vastar iner said:

^ Too late.

i figured it was still fair game as not everyone appears to have cottoned on yet...

Apr 1, 2014 14:22:04 GMT 1 Earl Purple said:

That "Chubbular Checkerplate" I saw somewhere as an April fools joke today so I guess there's some of that mixed in with the top post and suedehead really knows that Engelbert Humperdinck wasn't the singer's real name.

[vastar iner]

Chubby Checker's name was a two-part synonym of Fats Domino, in case anyone doesn't know that.

[suedehead]

Apr 1, 2014 14:22:04 GMT 1 Earl Purple said:

That "Chubbular Checkerplate" I saw somewhere as an April fools joke today so I guess there's some of that mixed in with the top post and suedehead really knows that Engelbert Humperdinck wasn't the singer's real name.

Me?  I haven't posted in this topic until now.

[Earl Purple]

Chubby Checker's real name was Ernest Evans.
And "Domino" was Fats Domino's real name but his first name was really Antoine.

[Earl Purple]

I know (without looking up) that Billy Ocean's real name was Leslie Charles (not Lake).

[vastar iner]

The Brian in Brian & Michael was called Kevin.

[Shireblogger]

Apr 1, 2014 16:05:32 GMT 1 vastar iner said:

The Brian in Brian & Michael was called Kevin.

Well Brian is far more rock'n'roll than Kevin, so I can see why he changed.

On the one hand we have:-
Brian May, Brian Poole, Brian Setzer, Brian Wilson, Brian Harvey, Brian Connolly, Brian Downey, Brian Eno, etc.

And on the other:-
Kevin Rowland and Kevin Keegan