DAILY DIRT: So, Bob Dylan was a fan of Marshal Dillon, eh?

Daily Dirt for Friday, Feb. 16, 2024

Apparently, Cream’s Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce did not lack confidence … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 868 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Welcome to another of our three-part weekend features, this one dealing with how some of the most famous rock singers and bands arrived at their stage names.

Today we look at our first five selections, anchored by what I think is an interesting story of how Bob Zimmerman transformed into Bob Dylan. Some of the ensuing information was provided by ultimateclassicrock.com

Bob Dylan: A last-name switch from Zimmerman to Dylan came when the singer-songwriter was in his late teens. According to a biographer, he was a fan of Matt Dillon – the sheriff on the American TV western “Gunsmoke.” The original spelling he used was Dillon (just like Matt), but it subsequently morphed into a more stylish Dylan.

KISS: They started out calling themselves Wicked Lester before determining that they needed something that seemed a little more ready for prime time. When Peter Criss brought up the fact that he had previously played in a band called Lips, Paul Stanley suggested the name that would eventually take the band to superstardom.

Cream: Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker arrived in this new band having already earned a lofty reputation on the English music scene via their work with the Yardbirds and John Mayall. The name was apparently in reference to the lineup itself, which featured the cream of the crop of ’60s British blues rockers.

Doobie Brothers: Before they became a ‘70s pop sensation, the Doobies were a bunch of hippies living together in a house in California. When they were in search of a name for their band, a friend suggested the Doobie Brothers on account of the members’ penchant for smoking weed.

Elton John: Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947, he was known as “Reggie” in his early years until teaming with lyricist Bernie Taupin. He eventually began going by a new name that honored two former bandmates in the group Bluesology: saxophonist Elton Dean and guitarist Long John Baldry

2. The best of the week from “Found on Facebook”:

• “Do people who run marathons know they don’t have to?”
• “Wi-Fi went down for five minutes, so I had to talk to my family. They seem like nice people.”
• “You know you’re all grow up when you actually pick up the ice cube instead of kicking it under the fridge.”
• “Afraid of dying alone? Become a bus driver.”
• — “In case of fire, exit the house before posting it on Facebook.”

3. In 1954, I was experiencing my first baseball season.

Granted, I was only born in December 1953, but I was technically a living, breathing fan of the national pastime. At that point in history, these were the average prices at MLB stadiums for concession items — 70 years ago:

• Hot dog: 25 cents (sauerkraut 25 cents extra)
• Soda: 15 cents
• Popcorn: 25 cents
• Hot chocolate (in April, I would imagine): 20 cents
• Cigarettes: 25 cents a pack
• Cigars: 15 cents
• Gum: 5 cents
• Hamburgers: 25 cents
• Barbecue pork sandwiches: 35 cents
• Ham sandwiches: 40 cents
• Cheese sandwiches: 25 cents 

Steve Thought O’ The Day — That popcorn price seems a bit high, doesn’t it?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Sadly, he left the beer price off his 1954 list.