DAILY DIRT: Eventual rock stars got even with that evil gym teacher

Like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf also had the last laugh with a gym coach … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 869 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Welcome back to part two of our three-part weekend feature on how some of the best-known rock singers and bands came up with their stage names.

Today we look at our second collection of five selections, headed by my personal favorite account that deals with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Some of the accompanying information was provided by ultimateclassicrock.com

Lynyrd Skynyrd: These Southern rock heroes chose their name in the spirit of rebellion. It was a tongue-in-cheek swipe at Leonard Skinner, a high-school gym teacher who had clashed with them in their younger days for having long hair, which was against school policy.

Led Zeppelin: The Who’s Keith Moon and John Entwistle joined Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones on the Jeff Beck single “Beck’s Bolero” in the summer of 1966 – leading to industry chatter about the prospect of forming a new super group. Moon – or perhaps Entwistle – joked that it would go over like a lead balloon. While trying to come up with a name for a new group featuring Jones, John Bonham and Robert Plant two years later, Page remembered the quip – and they became Led Zeppelin.

Fleetwood Mac: The band’s name was derived from the names of drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. Five decades and many lineups later (remember Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham and Christine McVie?), the pair is the only remaining members from the ‘60s.

Rolling Stones: The band took its now-iconic band name from Muddy Waters’ 1950 song “Rollin’ Stone.”

Meat Loaf: “Meat Loaf” was the cruel nickname given to the heavy-set rocker (whose given name was Marvin Lee Aday) by his high-school football coach. Aday/Meat Loaf’s first rock band was Meat Loaf Soul.

2. Here are a few more tributes to resident Daily Dirt hero Chuck Norris:

• Chuck Norris does not need GPS. He decides where he wants to go and the earth moves.
• Chuck Norris used to beat the crap out his shadow because it was following too close. It now follows 30 feet behind Chuck Norris.
• When Chuck Norris left for college, he told his dad, “You’re the man of the house now.”
• When Christopher Columbus discovered America, he was greeted by Chuck Norris.
• Chuck Norris can dribble a bowling ball.
• Death once had a near-Chuck Norris experience.
• Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
• Chuck Norris can clap with one hand.
• Chuck Norris’s belly button is actually a power outlet.
• Chuck Norris can sit in the corner of a round room.

3. This week’s top celebrity birthdays include:

• Singer Dennis DeYoung of Styx will be 77 on Sunday.
• Actress Cybill Shepherd (“The Heartbreak Kid”) turns 74, also on Sunday.
• One more Sunday birthday finds Vanna White of “Wheel of Fortune” blowing out 67 candles.
• Legendary Motown singer Smokey Robinson will be 84 on Monday.
• Model Cindy Crawford is 58 on Tuesday.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — OK, one more Chuck Norris tribute: Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Steve’s gym teacher is proud of him.