Bands Named After Places, 6-11
Here is our final set of bands named after places, starting with Kansas.6. Kansas
The guitar-driven, boogie-rock sound of Kansas filled arenas and stadiums at the height of their popularity. Hits such as "Dust in the Wind" and "Carry on Wayward Son" made stars out of this Topeka-based group in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
7. Sugarhill Gang
Named for the Sugar Hill section of Harlem, the Sugarhill Gang was the first group to land a hip-hop song on Billboard's Top 40 chart. The song was "Rapper's Delight," and it sold more than eight million copies. Music hasn't been the same since.
8. Asia
Named for the vast continent, the supergroup Asia formed in 1981 and was made up of members of Yes; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; King Crimson; and The Buggles. Known for their visually graphic album covers, Asia topped the charts with early 1980s hits "Heat of the Moment" and "Don't Cry."
9. Backstreet Boys
Named after the Back Street Market, a shopping area in their hometown of Orlando, Florida, this mega-popular boy band took the world by storm in the late 1990s. With massive hits like "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)" and "I Want It That Way," the Backstreet Boys have sold more than 90 million albums worldwide.
10. All Saints
The lovely ladies of All Saints aren't saying that they're angels -- with songs like "Bootie Call" and "I Know Where It's At," you probably could've guessed that. This U.K. girl group is named for All Saints Road, a street near the recording studio where several of the members got their start in the industry, singing backup vocals for various groups.
11. Bay City Rollers
In 1967, two brothers from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed a band called The Saxons, but they wanted a more American-sounding name, so they allegedly threw a dart at a map of the United States and when it landed on Bay City, Michigan, the Bay City Rollers were born.
Known for boogie-worthy music that makes you want to take a spin around a roller rink, the Bay City Rollers reached the top of the U.S. charts in 1976 with their hit "Saturday Night."
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen
