Daily Dirt: Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome to the stage ‘Rat Salad’

Daily Dirt for Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,125 of The Daily Dirt.

1. The first “must” for a rock band to be successful is to have a catchy name. With that in mind, you tell me if the following groups would have ever made it big if they had not changed their names:

• Van Halen was originally called Rat Salad.
• Queen was originally named Smile until Freddie Mercury joined the group and suggested the name switch. 
• The Bee Gees were first known as the Rattlesnakes. (Good choice, guys.)
• Journey initially performed under the banner of Golden Gate Rhythm Section. (If that name had never been changed, the world may never have known the brilliance of those Steve Perry vocals.)
• AC/DC started as Third World War.
• Pearl Jam was originally Mookie Blaylock.
• Nirvana began as Pen Cap Chew.
• Led Zeppelin debuted as The New Yardbirds.
• Kiss was originally Wicked Lester.
• The Who began as The High Numbers. (I’m guessing Pete Townshend was behind this name switch.)
• U2 was once The Hype.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers were originally The Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. (Yeah, that was downright stupid.)
• Barenaked Ladies were once Free Beer.
• The Goo Goo Dolls were born as The Sex Maggots. 
• Def Leppard began as Atomic Mass.
• Pink Floyd was once The Tea Set.
• Blondie began as Angel and the Snake.

2. Did you know (Part 200) …

• The winter combo of a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup is basically pizza split into two foods.
• Mountain Dew will soon be releasing a new Cherry Lemon flavor, likely at some point in early 2025.
• Kirby Smart of Georgia is the highest-paid college football coach at $13 million per year. Seven total coaches make north of $10 million.
• Among the songs turning 60 years old in 2024 are “I Feel Good” by James Brown, “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks, “House of the Rising Sun” by Eric Burdon and the Animals, “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles, “Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las, “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and the Vandellas, “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys, “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love” by the Supremes and “Time Is On My Side” by the Rolling Stones.
• Among the most famous deaths on Nov. 28 are serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (1994, age 34), actor Leslie Nielsen (2010, age 83) and golfer Lee Elder (2021, age 87). 

3. Happy birthdays this week go to:

• Musician Paul Shaffer, who is 75. He gained most of his fame as band leader for the old David Letterman Show.
• Comedian Howie Mandel, who will be 70 on Friday. He’s been best known in recent years as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.”
• Athlete Bo Jackson turns 62 on Saturday. I bet he could still start at running back for Auburn.
• Singer Billy Idol will be 70, also on Saturday. Still the most famous sneer in the pop music industry.
• Singer Clay Aiken turns 46 in another Saturday birthday. He’s still the first name you think of when you talk about “American Idol,” correct?

Steve Thought O’ The Day
Here’s a tip for the upcoming winter: Continue driving south until you see palm trees, then hit the brakes and apply sunscreen.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Did you know Steve was a musician when he was a teenager? He played the accordion for a band named “Need a Snack.”