The Real Names Of Classic Rockers Who Use A Stage Name

The Real Names Of Classic Rockers Who Use A Stage Name | Society Of Rock Videos

via Grunge/YouTube

Wait, What?!

The use of stage name is mostly for two reasons – rolls off the tongue better AND easier to remember. Sometimes, it’s also because, you know, it validates the rockstar’s onstage persona. Now let’s take a look at some the following classic rockers whose pseudonyms are so iconic, you just couldn’t imagine calling them anything else. When you learn their real names, you’d probably find it unbelievable.

You most likely already know Slash’s real name is Saul Hudson so we’re excluding him from this list.

Check them out…

10. John Paul Jones

Real Name: John Richard Baldwin

It was friend and Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham who suggested he use John Paul Jones as his stage name after the latter saw a poster of the 1959 film John Paul Jones.

9. Flea

Real Name: Michael Peter Balzary

Obviously, no one’s going to name their child Flea. Then again, we can’t imagine him being called Michael or even Peter.

8. Jon Bon Jovi

Real Name: John Francis Bongiovi Jr.

A play on his actual surname? Clever.

7. David Bowie

Real Name: David Robert Jones

Before settling with David Bowie, he used to go by the name Davy Jones.

6. Marilyn Manson

Real Name: Brian Hugh Warner

Who would have thought?

5. Gene Simmons

Real Name: Chaim Witz

Why is his real name more unbelievable than his pseudonym?

4. Axl Rose

Real Name: William Bruce Rose

When he’s angry or pissed off though, he looks more like a Bruce.

3. Alice Cooper

Real Name: Vincent Damon Furnier

Vincent Damon sounds like the name of everyone’s high school crush – you know, the clean-cut preppy type.

2. Iggy Pop

Real Name: James Jewell Osterberg Jr.

He obviously can’t pull off doing wild, crazy stunts if he called himself James.

1. Freddie Mercury

Real Name: Farrokh Bulsara

Probably the best stage name of all time, Freddie Mercury just suited him perfectly!

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