Onomatology: band names are silly.

First: pretty much ALL band names (even the ones I like) are stupid, with the possible exception of 'The Band' (which is a crappy name for a band), but even leaving aside the obviously awful Hoobastank type ones, it is fun to note the actual dictionary definitions of band names. Nearly all are, um, uncannily appropriate. A few:

• Dire Straits: a very bad situation that is difficult to fix

• The Eagles: large, strong birds with curved beaks that eat meat and have good sight

The Eagles; note the curved beaks

• Cream: the thick, yellowish-white liquid that forms on the top of milk

• Anthrax: a disease of cattle and sheep that can also cause humans to become ill or die

• The Smiths: people who make things out of metal, especially by heating it and hitting it with a hammer

• Cameo: a small but noticeable part in a film or play, performed by a famous actor

• The Cult:  the religious group, often living together, whose beliefs are considered extreme or strange by many people

• Rush: To do something very quickly

• Black Widow: a very poisonous spider that lives in warm areas

• Rod Stewart: an inexcusably terrible old man