Musical Artistes with The Same Names or Very Similar Names

Declan A Walsh · 27-09-2018 7:37pm #1

It occurred to me that there have been quite a few musical artistes with the same name, or practically the same name. Here are all the examples I could think of.

1. Paul Young: There is the solo singer who had a number of hits, particularly in the ‘80s, such as Wherever I Lay My Hat. Then there was the other now deceased Paul Young, who was the singer with Sad Café (biggest hit: Everyday Hurts) and one of the singers with Mike and The Mechanics (All I Need is a Miracle, for example).

2. Mick Jones: There is the guitarist (and sometimes keyboardist) and songwriter and only constant member of English-American rock band Foreigner. Then, the other Mick Jones is the former lead guitarist and sometimes lead vocalist of The Clash (Should I Stay or Should I Go being his most famous) and frontman of Big Audio Dynamite. He also is live guitarist for The Gorillaz and a producer.

3. Roger Taylor: The first is the drummer and a founding member of Queen. The second is the drummer (most of the time) with Duran Duran!

4. Randy Jackson: The first was born Steven Randall Jackson, but known as Randy Jackson. He is a singer-songwriter best known as a member of The Jacksons and the only brother younger than Michael. He co-wrote Shake Your Body (Down to The Ground). The second is a bassist, singer and record producer, as well as a tv personality.

5. Michael / Mick Jackson: The first, Michael, now deceased, needs no introduction having been a major American solo pop singer (albums such as Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad and many hit singles), as well as the main lead vocalist for The Jackson Five and The Jacksons. The second, Mick Jackson, is an English singer-songwriter who co-wrote and sung Blame It On The Boogie. Amazingly, this was also covered by The Jacksons, featuring Michael Jackson on lead vocals! Both versions were in the U.K. charts around the same time!

Then of course: If David Bowie had stuck with his real name David Jones, he could have been confused with fellow English-born singer Davy Jones of The Monkees. Sadly, both are now dead.

I know there are more that I just can’t remember at the moment. And what about female examples?
Can you think of more examples?

Lorelli! · 28-09-2018 12:07pm

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Then of course: If David Bowie had stuck with his real name David Jones, he could have been confused with fellow English-born singer Davy Jones of The Monkees. Sadly, both are now dead

That was the first one that came to my mind.

Don't know any other musicians but I remember hearing before that there was a Nirvana before Nirvana.

Looked it up there and apparently they did take them to court over it and settled.

Say Your Number · 29-09-2018 5:04pm

American rock band Halestorm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmkHqUwa4zg

Not to be confused with pirate metal band Alestorm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta-Z_psXODw

refusetolose · 29-09-2018 5:10pm

Suede are called The London Suede in the USA due to a lawsuit with an American singer with the same name

R-929315-1287965361.jpeg.jpg

The Princess Bride · 29-09-2018 10:55pm

A Robyn who'd a hit with Show Me Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhWEI6-_w9E

A Robin who'd a hit with Show Me Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps2Jc28tQrw

chicorytip · 29-09-2018 11:10pm

Declan A Walsh wrote:

4. Randy Jackson: The first was born Steven Randall Jackson, but known as Randy Jackson. He is a singer-songwriter best known as a member of The Jacksons and the only brother younger than Michael. He co-wrote Shake Your Body (Down to The Ground). The second is a bassist, singer and record producer, as well as a tv personality.

The "two" Randy's are, in fact, one and the same.
James Brown shares his name with the former lead singer of Kool And The Gang.

Birneybau · 30-09-2018 10:12am

chicorytip wrote: »

The "two" Randy's are, in fact, one and the same.
James Brown shares his name with the former lead singer of Kool And The Gang.

No, they ain't:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Jackson_(The_Jacksons)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Jackson

Anyway, my contribution: the unfortunate H from Steps (Ian Watkins) share his name with the pedo singer, formerly of LostProphets, Ian Watkins

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_%22H%22_Watkins

In November 2013 it was reported that Watkins had been receiving hate mail through Twitter from people confusing him with Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, who had recently pleaded guilty to 11 sex offences involving children.[14] H received a public apology in court from E! Entertainment Television for their having used his photo to illustrate a story about the Lostprophets singer.[15] H was also said to be "furious" and pursuing legal action after his image appeared next to stories about the other Watkins' crimes through searches on Google News.[16]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Watkins_(Lostprophets)

Anesthetize · 30-09-2018 11:01am

70's Detroit rock band Death, widely hailed as precursors to punk rock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl3FstCc_OY

Legendary Florida death metal band Death, who released a string of brilliant albums from the late 80's and into the 90's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_cn9TVSi2o

shar01 · 30-09-2018 11:05am

As far as I know the American Blink 182 had to add the 182 because of the Irish Blink.

Engelbert Humberdinck

Declan A Walsh · 30-09-2018 4:26pm

chicorytip wrote: »

The "two" Randy's are, in fact, one and the same.
James Brown shares his name with the former lead singer of Kool And The Gang.

You are wrong on both counts! As Birneybau has explained, the 2 Randy Jacksons are not the same. The former lead singer was James "JT" Taylor - not James Brown! But you have inadvertently brought up another example! There are 2 James Taylors: the Kool and The Gang guy and the easy-listening singer-songwriter, particularly popular during the '70s.

MikeyTaylor · 03-10-2018 10:31pm

There is an American rock band called Damage and a British R&B boy band called Damage.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 07-10-2018 1:44am

Bryan Adams and Ryan Adams.

07-10-2018 1:56am

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Bryan Adams and Ryan Adams.

Came in to say this.

They even share the same birthday...November 5th.

To add to the birthday thing, Gram Parsons was a huge influence on Ryan Adams...Gram was also born November 5th.

freewheeler · 11-10-2018 10:30pm

Irish band Blink & Blink 182
Patti Smith - Patty Smith

MikeyTaylor · 11-10-2018 10:59pm

There was a British/Irish girl group a few years back called The Saturdays and there is a little-known American indie band of the same name.

There was an American band called One Direction (now Uncharted Shores) before the UK pop group came along.

And there is a UK girl group called M.O. and a Danish indie pop musician called Mø.

NewbridgeIR · 20-10-2018 11:11pm

Lonnie Smith and Lonnie Liston Smith - both involved in the jazzier end of funk.

David A Stewart (Eurythmics) and Dave Stewart (progger who collaborated with Barbara Gaskin on It's My Party)

John Cale, JJ Cale and John Cage

Nickelback and Nickel Creek

Nelly and Nelly Furtado

Pat Metheny and Pat Benatar (I always confused them when I was younger)

Musicians and journalists who share the same name
Joe Jackson
Sean O'Hagan

MikeyTaylor · 20-10-2018 11:41pm

There is an American indie rock singer called Nina Nastasia and a Scottish pop artist called Nina Nesbitt. OK, maybe not THAT similar but the letters "N" and "S" are the key here. If you were to pause a music show of a presenter introducing "Nina Nas/Nes-" it really narrows down to those two. Both are pretty good!

leonffrench · 21-10-2018 9:55am

Glen Hughes...former Deep Purple singer....and Glenn Hughes...from the Village People

its_steve116 · 13-01-2019 9:45pm

There is a Jim McCarty in The Yardbirds and one in Cactus, and both have played with Jeff Beck!

its_steve116 · 16-01-2019 1:06pm

Mike Joyce - drummer for The Smiths
Mike Duce - lead singer of the soon to be defunct Lower than Atlantis.

Welsh Megaman · 20-01-2019 12:58pm

There’s Howard Jones...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w34vnz_LEX4

And then there’s Howard Jones...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgMsACFMIq8

its_steve116 · 26-01-2019 11:46pm

MJ Cole

J Cole

Irish Guitarist · 07-03-2019 10:09am

There have been at least three bands called Skid Row. There was an Irish one in the 1970's, it was the former name of Nirvana and most famously there was the one that had hits with Eighteen And Life and I Remember You.

There was a blues harmonica player named Sonny Boy Williamson. After he died another musician took on his name to cash in. They're now known as Sonny Boy Williamson I and II. The second one is probably most famous for the song Eyesight To The Blind which was covered by The Who on Tommy.

Bob Marley and Bob Markley, lead singer of sixties band The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, who would probably have been a big name but many of their songs were ruined by the fact that Markley was a child molester and loved singing about it.

buser2x · 19-05-2019 4:12pm

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

It occurred to me that there have been quite a few musical artistes with the same name, or practically the same name. Here are all the examples I could think of.

1. Paul Young: There is the solo singer who had a number of hits, particularly in the ‘80s, such as Wherever I Lay My Hat. Then there was the other now deceased Paul Young, who was the singer with Sad Café (biggest hit: Everyday Hurts) and one of the singers with Mike and The Mechanics (All I Need is a Miracle, for example).

2. Mick Jones: There is the guitarist (and sometimes keyboardist) and songwriter and only constant member of English-American rock band Foreigner. Then, the other Mick Jones is the former lead guitarist and sometimes lead vocalist of The Clash (Should I Stay or Should I Go being his most famous) and frontman of Big Audio Dynamite. He also is live guitarist for The Gorillaz and a producer.

3. Roger Taylor: The first is the drummer and a founding member of Queen. The second is the drummer (most of the time) with Duran Duran!

4. Randy Jackson: The first was born Steven Randall Jackson, but known as Randy Jackson. He is a singer-songwriter best known as a member of The Jacksons and the only brother younger than Michael. He co-wrote Shake Your Body (Down to The Ground). The second is a bassist, singer and record producer, as well as a tv personality.

5. Michael / Mick Jackson: The first, Michael, now deceased, needs no introduction having been a major American solo pop singer (albums such as Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad and many hit singles), as well as the main lead vocalist for The Jackson Five and The Jacksons. The second, Mick Jackson, is an English singer-songwriter who co-wrote and sung Blame It On The Boogie. Amazingly, this was also covered by The Jacksons, featuring Michael Jackson on lead vocals! Both versions were in the U.K. charts around the same time!

Then of course: If David Bowie had stuck with his real name David Jones, he could have been confused with fellow English-born singer Davy Jones of The Monkees. Sadly, both are now dead.

I know there are more that I just can’t remember at the moment. And what about female examples?
Can you think of more examples?

there is one more Randy Jackson, from the American Band "Zebra", their big song was "who's behind the door"

its_steve116 · 19-05-2019 5:11pm

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Lonnie Smith and Lonnie Liston Smith - both involved in the jazzier end of funk.

David A Stewart (Eurythmics) and Dave Stewart (progger who collaborated with Barbara Gaskin on It's My Party)

John Cale, JJ Cale and John Cage

Nickelback and Nickel Creek

Nelly and Nelly Furtado

Pat Metheny and Pat Benatar (I always confused them when I was younger)

Musicians and journalists who share the same name
Joe Jackson
Sean O'Hagan

There is a journalist for the Irish Independent called Gemma Doherty which is the same name as one of the members of Irish duo Saint Sister.

its_steve116 · 01-06-2019 8:17pm

Waterford band Toucan

Sligo band Túcan

its_steve116 · 28-07-2019 10:15am

Tom Odell

Tom Ogden

Decuc500 · 30-07-2019 11:21am

Pond - Australian 'Psychedelic rock' band.
Pond - American 90's alternative rock band.

eviltimeban · 08-08-2019 1:27pm

The Charlatans - were a 60s band. The other are the ones most people know now.

King Diamond / King Crimson

Lamb / Lambchop

Jim Diamond / Neil Diamond

ELP (Emerson Lake and Palmer) / ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)

Fish (from Marillion) / Phish (US jam band)

John Williams (classical guitarist) / John Williams - soundtrack writer. I used to always think they were the same.

The Orb / ORB (Original Rudeboys) / also Orbital

Pale Saints / Pale Waves

Mumm-Ra / Sun Ra

The Beat / The Beatles

Le Galaxie / Galaxie 500

Beck / Jeff Beck

John Mayer / John Mayall (both guitarists as well)

The Guess Who / The Who

Wilson Pickett / Wilson Phillips

James Taylor Quartet (acid jazz band) / James Taylor

Prince / Princess (80s one hit wonder) / Queen / King

Andy Bell (singer of Erasure) / Andy Bell (guitarist in Ride / Oasis)

Jim Morrison / James Morrison

OMD / OMC (they did "How Bizarre")

Skinny Puppy / Mucky Pup (80s thrash band)

An Emotional Fish / That Petrol Emotion (both Irish, around at the same time as well)

No Doubt / No Mercy (boy band who did "Where Do You Go")

Flamin' Groovies / Flaming Lips

its_steve116 · 08-08-2019 1:49pm

Dublin singer Amy Martin

Dublin singer Aimeé Fitzpatrick

its_steve116 · 04-06-2020 4:13pm

Huddersfield rapper MC Bonez

Hamburg rapper Bonez MC

NewbridgeIR · 04-06-2020 8:37pm

eviltimeban wrote: »

OMD / OMC (they did "How Bizarre"

On Now 34, OMC’s How Bizarre is followed by OMD’s Walking On The Milky Way

iamstop · 10-06-2020 2:51pm

eviltimeban wrote: »

ELP (Emerson Lake and Palmer) / ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) - Also El-P (El Produccto, is a rapper producer, he is now 1/2 of Run The Jewels who just released their 4thstudio album last week.)

The Beat / The Beatles - Also London Beat, and Beatless

Dr. Dooom - MF Doom

J Dilla and his younger brother Illa J

Proof and Prof -

Professor X - Professor Griff

Supacat - Phat Kat

A Tribe Called Quest - A Tribe Called Red - A Guy Called Gerald

Aesop Rock and Aesop Ferg

Grey Boy and Blue Boy

The Roots and Roots Manuva and The Rooticals

Method Man and Motion Man

iamstop · 12-06-2020 3:50pm

Rza, Gza and Sza

its_steve116 · 11-02-2021 7:16pm

Both UK top 3 hits, a year apart

Anesthetize · 11-02-2021 8:04pm

For a while I used to confuse Jawbox with Jawbreaker. Two American bands from the 90's and both with a post-punk/post-hardcore sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap3L_NCZk4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4BlLskdYtg

trashcan · 11-02-2021 8:12pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Came in to say this.
.

Me too. I don’t know if this is true (but I want it to be) at a Ryan Adams gig someone kept yelling for him to play “Summer of 69” to the extent that he got royally pissed off.

Didn’t know they shared a birthday.

its_steve116 · 14-02-2021 1:24am

FIVE different Irish female artists, all with similar names. In one case, two have almost the same name, except one spells hers with a fada on the I and the other doesn't.

I'd say Fia Moon is the best-known of the five.

maccored · 15-02-2021 3:54pm

Belly (the rapper) and Belly (the band)

NewbridgeIR · 15-02-2021 6:34pm

David Donohue (The Floors)
and
David Donohoe (electronic artist)
Active around the same time with friends in common

its_steve116 · 27-08-2022 12:17am

Italian-Belgian dance DJ Vito Lucente

https://youtube.com/watch?v=B0QvR1eP2yg

Ambient musician Vito Lucente

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dZJofjP-Cuw

I'd assumed they were the same person doing different styles of music but it turns out that the ambient one grew up in Canada.

magicbastarder · 28-08-2022 8:59am

until a few years ago i didn't know the difference between gilbert and sullivan and gilbert o'sullivan.

WealthyB · 28-08-2022 10:26am

There's 3 different artists on YouTubeMusic called "The Decline". The Perth skate punk rockers who've had a few releases, then there's a lesser known band "The Decline!" from Rennes, and then there's another artist called "Decline". YouTubeMusic unsurprisingly can't tell the difference between all 3...

Declan A Walsh · 31-08-2022 8:01am

Engelbert Humperdinck - One was a classical composer and the other is a British easy-listening and pop singer. The latter was born Arnold George Dorsey, but adopted this stage name. The choice of name was more than a coincidence of course! His manager Gordon Mills suggested the name.