Bands Known By Initials

In rock 'n' roll history there have been many bandsHard-rocking Bachman-Turner Overdrive, or simply
whose moniker and names were shortened andBTO consisted of Randy Bachman (formally of the
universally recognized by abbreviated lettered names.Guess Who), fellow Guess Who alum Chad Allen, C.F.
Let's explore some popular initial nicknames of bands."Fred" Turner and Randy's brother drummer Robbie.
Creedence Clearwater Revival (also known as CCR)Capitalizing on the arena rock/pop rock era of the
began churning out classic rock 'n' roll singles shortlymid 70's, BTO had a short but successful career with
after the John Fogerty led band formed in 1967. Withchart singles such as "Takin' Care Of Business," "Let
their "swamp-rock" sound and style, the groupIt Ride" and the number one single "You Ain't Seen
amassed seventeen top 40 hits like "Bad MoonNothing Yet," a song which was intended for an
Rising," "Green River," and the wedding band stapleaudience of one- Randy's brother Gary Bachman who
"Proud Mary." The group disbanded in 1972 and anyhad a speech impediment-stuttering. They recorded
hopes of a CCR reunion were quashed with thethe song for fun but needing another song to
death of band member Tom Fogerty in 1990.complete the lp "Not fragile," Randy Bachman was
Another 60's band that had huge commercial successpressured to include the joking stuttering lyrics and
was Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, also known asthe song spent twelve weeks on the Billboard charts
CSN &Y. Band members David Crosby (formallyin 1974.
of the Byrds), Graham Nash (of Hollies fame),There are many other rock 'n' roll bands that were
Stephen Stills and Neil Young (both with Buffaloknown by initials as well as their "given" name and I
Springfield), blended their flawless harmonies into awill include a couple more that I know of. The Electric
long and successful career. With hits such as theLight Orchestra (also known as ELO) led by guitarist
Nash led "Teach Your Children," Neil Young's antiwarJeff Lynne, scored twenty top ten hits with songs
protest song "Ohio" and a Joni Mitchell compositionlike "Telephone Line and "Don't Bring Me Down." A
"Woodstock" about the legendary rock festival, CSNsimilar sounding name ELP was a supergroup
&Y blended their unique acoustic-folk andconsisting of keyboard genius Keith Emerson, bassist
progressive hard rock sound to be a classic exampleGreg lake (of the band Nice) and drummer Carl
of the 1960's psychedelic era. Additionally, afterPalmer (a former member of The Crazy World Of
Young left the group, Crosby, Stills and Nash (alsoArthur Brown). They instilled their keyboard
known as CSN) continued to release melodic popdominated, progressive rock throughout the 70's,
rock songs with 1977's "Just A Song Before I Go"creating a FM radio phenomenon with songs like
and "Wasted On The Way," which was released in"Lucky Man," "Still You Turn Me On" and "From The
1982. The group still tours, occasionally joined byBeginning.
Young.