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Metal Band Names Inspired By Visual Arts


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This is an alphabetical list of band names that were inspired by classic visual arts, like paintings, sculptures or photography.
Please feel free to suggest more examples of (MS-listed) metal/rock band names that were inspired by classic visual arts.


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[Updated 31.10.2024]

Created by: Plattner | 31.10.2024



1. Barque Of Dante - Paean For Hero
The band name was inspired by the painting "The Barque Of Dante" (1822) by the French romantic painter Eugene Delacroix. The painting itself was inspired by Dante Alighieri`s narrative poem "Divine Comedy" (c. 1321). The cover art of the demo “Paean For Hero” shows the painting.
2. Dali's Dilemma - Manifesto For Futurism
The band name was inspired by the Spanish surrealistic artist Salvador Dali (1904-1989). The album title refers to the manifesto “Manifesto del Futurismo“ by the Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, in which he describes the artistic philosophy called Futurism.
3. Def Leppard - On Through The Night
The band name was not directly inspired by an existing piece of art. Instead it came to Joe Elliot, who would later become the band`s vocalist, in art class while designing posters for fictional bands.
4. Goya - 777
The band name was inspired by the Spanish romantic painter Francisco de Goya (1746-1828).
5. Hieronymus Bosch - The Human Abstract
The band name was inspired by the Dutch Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516).
6. Hirax - Raging Violence
The band name was inspired by the term "Hirax" on the antique newspaper-style wallpaper in the bathroom of the house of drummer Brian Keith.
7. Klimt 1918 - Undressed Momento
The band name was inspired by the Austrian symbolistic painter Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) and his year of death.
8. Madder Mortem - Mercury
The band name is based on the red colour called "Crimson Madder" that Jacob Kirkevaag, the father of vocalist Agnete Kirkevaag, often used in his paintings. The band called themselves "Madder Mortem", which literally means "red death". The cover art for the album "Old Eyes, New Heart" is his work.
9. Melt-Banana - Speak Squeak Creak
The band name was in part inspired by the cover art of the album "The Velvet Underground & Nico", which was exclusively designed by Andy Warhol in 1967. The cover shows a banana in Warhol`s Pop art style.
10. Merzbow - Remblandt Assemblage
The name was inspired by the assemblage artwork "Merzbau" (1923) by the German Dada artist Kurt Schwitters, in which he used found objects to transform the interior of his house.
11. Naked City - Naked City
The name was inspired by the book "Naked City" by Weegee (1945). The book is a collection of graphic black and white photographs of the life in New York City. The cover art of the self-titled album features Weegee's photograph "Corpse With Revolver" from the book. The book itself was also the inspiration for a movie, a TV series and in part also for the eponymous song by KISS.
12. Skullpture - Skullpture... The Sinister Art
The band name is a portmanteau of the words "skull" and "sculpture". The cover art of the first album shows a sculpture built out of skulls.
13. Solefald - The Linear Scaffold
"Solefald" is an old Norse word for sunset. The band name was inspired by a painting by the Norwegian painter and illustrator Theodor Kittelsen, which he made for the poem of the same name written by Theodor Caspari, published in the 1901 book "Vintereventy".
14. Soundgarden - Ultramega OK
The band name was inspired by the wind-channeling pipe sculpture "A Sound Garden", which was designed and built by Douglas Hollis from 1982-1983. The installation is located on the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration campus in Seattle.
15. The Dali Thundering Concept - Eyes Wide Opium
The band name was inspired by the Spanish surrealistic artist Salvador Dali (1904-1989).
16. Wax Portrait - Wax Portrait
The band name was reported to be inspired by the Renaissance wax effigies that represented a form of three-dimensional portraiture of a person.



Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Plattner ]



Comments

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Comments: 2   Visited by: 11 users
31.10.2024 - 23:40
Plattner
Please feel free to suggest more examples of (MS-listed) metal/hard rock band names that were inspired by classic visual arts.
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05.11.2024 - 23:07
Plattner
ROYAL HUNT

I have found the following information:
"The name originated from a painting seen in a museum by the founding member/keyboardist André Andersen."

However, this is just a third-party source. I have not found a primary source/reference from the band that supports this statement or mentions the corresponding painting or artist.

Please let me know if you have more reliable or exact information.
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