About the Author

Noel Hudson is a book editor and writer for television, radio, magazines and newspapers. He has played lead guitar in such notable ensembles as Mule's Lips, Hawaiian Howard and the Indoor Plants, the Louisville Sluggards, and currently in the jazz-funk quartet Bebopamoeba. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.

Reviews

If you've ever wondered where some of those wacky names that band call themselves come from, then "The Band Name Book" by Noel Hudson is a great resource. It is a colourful, encyclopedia-style read.-- (11/29/2008)

[Hudson's] easy-to-navigate structure cleverly organizes his book with a three-tier system that will take readers on an informative and often funny journey... This is a good-looking book, with heavy paper and a hefty feel, and beautiful, vibrant colors.-- (12/01/2008)

After getting through maybe two pages, I'm sold that this is a GREAT read for any music fan...It's all here, folks. Sure you could always look on the internet, but here's something that will grace your coffee table, make your friends think you're cool, and avoid porn pop-ups altogether.-- (09/18/2008)

An entertaining and fun look at thousands of band names and their origins from around the world. There are 30 categories. Some are fun, some are cute, a good number are not printable in a family newspaper.-- (11/01/2008)

Any musicians laboring over just the right name for their latest endeavor should stop what they're doing and pick up Noel Hudson's The Band Name Book, a cheeky compendium...that catalogs, by category, some of the most peculiar monikers in the music business...and how the artists arrived at their final choices. The best part? Hudson helpfully outlines which band names have not been taken.-- (11/02/2008)

As clich� as it sounds, this is one of those books that makes you say, I'm surprised no one's thought of writing about this before..... Certainly to be treasured, read and re-read by trivia whores and music minutiae maniacs--and many others besides.-- (10/01/2008)

General audiences will...enjoy the colorful photographs of album covers, band members and associated artwork.-- (02/01/2009)

If you've ever wondered where band names come from, "The Band Name Book" offers up thousands of stories about just that... It's a fun bathroom book. It also offers up the very handy public service of compiling "Names Still Available," including Pump Action Satisfaction, Bayonet Profit, Chin Picnic and Roamin' Orgies.-- (12/14/2008)

Noel Hudson of Guelph, who has played in a few bands himself, produced this highly amusing book explaining hundreds of weird and wonderful band names used around the world... Hard to resist.-- (12/13/2008)

The mother of all list books....There are thousands of names here, some recognizable but most bewilderingly obscure, given the great handles their members came up with... And if you get tired of reading about Shot Down in Ecuador, Jr. and Haircuts That Kill, album covers and thumbnail photos of groups and band posters give you something visual to digest.-- (11/27/2008)

The Band Name Book is great bathroom material, or a nice addition to your coffee table.--ichannelmusic.com (10/22/2008)

The Band Name Book lists an impressive number--many hundreds of them--with brief descriptions and background information.-- (12/01/2008)

Easily digestible snippets [make] an irresistible addition to any pop-culture library.--Gift Books Christmas 2008"The Globe and Mail" (12/06/2008)

Great gift for teenagers.--Lois Cooper"Muskoka Today" (11/13/2008)

Great gift for the teenagers.--Lois Cooper"Muskoka Today (Gravenhurst ON)" (11/13/2008)

The Band Name Book delivers the scoop on how pop and rock bands (both famous and obscure) got their names.--Quentin Mills-Fenn"Uptown Magazine (Winnipeg) Holiday Gift Guide 2008" (12/04/2008)

This entertaining book is full of information and trivia about bands from the dawn of rock 'n' roll right up to today's Internet-based independents.--Jeff Rivera"My Reluctant Reader.com" (09/21/2009)

This frisky compendium of band-name album-cover artwork, trivia, tidbits and liberal dashes if this and that, it translates into hours of browsing by rock lovers of all ages.--Neil Pond"American Profile" (12/12/2009)