AC/DC: The Definitive History

This remarkable insight into this legendary group is essential reading for every rock fan. Thanks to the extensive files of Kerrang! and Sounds, two magazines which followed the band's career from the very start, this is the only definitive book on this legendary rock institution.

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The Truth Is Out There: The Official Guide to The X-Files, Vol. 1

Don't hide from the truth — you'll find it in here. For inside information on TV's hottest show, turn to this unique compendium of The X-Files facts and figures. Everything you must know is in here, including a complete and detailed episode guide, scores of never-before-seen photos, and a look behind the scenes and on the set. Your passport to the unknown is here.

Rock Names

The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial

The A-Z of Names in Rock: And the Amazing Stories Behind Them

In "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" George Clooney's character comes up with an impromptu name for his quartet: The Soggy Bottom Boys. But, as often happens with real bands, he and his bandmates were the only ones who knew the meaning behind the name because, well, "You just had to be there."

In this three-part article, we'll give you a little insight into what some bands were thinking when that nonsensical name came to mind.

• AC/DC. Falsely assumed to stand for Anti-Christ Devil's Children, the actual origin of AC/DC's name has a much more innocent meaning: Angus and Malcolm Young's sister suggested the name after she saw it on the back of a vacuum cleaner ... or was it a sewing machine?

• The Backstreet Boys. The group got their name from Backstreet Market, a popular hangout spot in their hometown, Orlando, Fla.

• Chumbawamba. In a band member's dream, he didn't know which door to use at a public toilet because the signs said "Chumba" and "Wamba," instead of "Men" and "Women."

• Duran Duran. Founding members Nick Rhodes and John Taylor turned to the '60's cheese flick "Barbarella" and found inspiration in the film's evil villain, Dr. Duran Duran.

• Eve 6. The band members were big fans of "The X-Files," and named the band after a character in the first-season episode "Eve."

• Foo Fighters. David Grohl was fascinated by the Roswell incident and sci-fi in general. He decided to name his new project after "foo fighters," a slang expression used in World War II by US pilots to describe the alien-looking fireballs they sometimes saw over Germany.

• Godsmack. The guitarist, Tony, walked in to rehearsal one day with a cold sore the size of a dime on his lip. Sully, the singer, harassed him about it all day. The next morning, Sully walked in for rehearsal, with the same size cold sore in the same spot on his lip, and Tony said, "See! God smacked you for making fun of me."

Written by Alexis Garcia

Have you heard any other stories about how a band came up with their name? Let us know what you heard. E-mail us.