The annals of classic rock history are loaded with iconic, creative, and zany names that have helped to forge the legacies of the artists within the genre. AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Fleetwood Mac, Guns N’ Roses, and The Rolling Stones made their names matter to the masses, even with some being quite bizarre in origin.
However, if we were to categorise rock band names, we’d see a fair few all-time greats and those who didn’t quite make it to the big time opt for a royal leaning. Given the rebellious nature of rock music and the historical overextension of power shown by royals in general, such a choice might seem a bit odd. Now, they’re legendary.
Automatic Prestige and Aesthetics
Monarchies may not rule the world as they once did, and royal titles may not be as well-known or respected now as they once were, but there are still distinct, automatic connotations made when such titles are spoken. After all, a monarchy is merely a hierarchy, with that hierarchy being of the most powerful people within a ruling family.
People have always created these hierarchies, as InfoPlease details, but the way in which they’re decided has shifted. So, even though royal terms don’t carry the real-world weight that they once did, the most important of the titles are still recognised for their meaning of high-ranking power.
We can see this leveraged in many areas of entertainment. A standard deck of playing cards, for example, sets the highest cards as the order of the royal court, from jack to queen to king. In the ever-growing sector of Megaways slot games, you’ll see the likes of Reel King Megaways vying to stand out with its royal name.
Importantly, here, the name Reel King Megaways comes with an aesthetic to suit. It’s all-in on taking players to the royal court of the Reel King, showing them their fictional fortunes, and seeking their favour to unlock the biggest bonuses. The royal name combined with the regal setting certainly helps to set the game apart from its peers.
Classic Bands Revelling in the Regal Naming
Starting with the biggest and most obvious of the classic rock bands who embraced a royal naming, Queen are so big that an ambiguous statement can cause one to question whether the person means The Queen or the band. As it turns out, Freddy Mercury apparently wanted to draw from the glamorous depiction of queens for the band.
Not only did the iconic frontman see this as a powerful statement for a band’s name, but he also liked the flipside connotation. Apparently, the idea of there being a transvestite connotation to the band also inspired his favour for the name. Another band that opted for the highest position for a woman in a royal family had different reasons.
Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, according to the piece from American Songwriter, chose the name to be more inclusive. They said that they want heavy rock for the guys, but also a sweetness that suits the gals. This way, everyone’s happy, and that makes for more of a party.
Onto those looking to use the highest title in the land, King Crimson certainly made a statement with their name. Many outlets say that the name came from Peter Sinfield, who wanted a powerful name that struck like Led Zeppelin. Others have linked the name to the Prince of Demons, Beelzebub, who’s also known by the band’s name.
In the end, using a royal title for a band’s name is very striking. However, its connotations of power and rule mean that audiences come in with high expectations, causing the band to need to live up to its chosen name. Those mentioned above have, but many princes, kings, and queens in rock have fallen by the wayside.
