Top Ten Bands Named After Fruits
Apart from the refreshing summer drink to which it gives its name, the lemon has to be among the most despised fruits. Cars that break down frequently or don’t work at all are called lemons, instead of tangerines or plums. An unhappy facial expression is often described as a lemon face, based on the acidity it indicates.
Given its unappealing tradition, it’s surprising to learn that popular gangs have chosen that particular fruit for their names over more desirable ones like bananas or pears. For example, the late ’60s and ’70s gave us the Lemon Pipers, who hit the charts with the single “Green Tambourine.”
A decade later, fans of New Wave music were treated to a group calling themselves the Mighty Lemon Drops, whose sound was often compared to Echo and the Bunnymen. Then, in the ’90s, singer-songwriter Evan Dando fronted a post-grunge band called Lemon Heads, which attracted fans of Nirvana and the late Kurt Cobain.
Although the lemon has overwhelmingly beat out the rest of its juicy genre, other fruits have managed to make an appearance in some popular band names. Here are ten of the best.
the raspberries
Eric Carmen and his three young friends made a big impression in the early ’70s, scoring the big hits “Go All the Way” and “I Wanna Be With You.”
wild cherry
One hit was all it took to take this group, a quintet of white boys who wanted to play funky music, to immortality.
apples in stereo
Among the pioneers of the genre called indie rock, this eclectic band has outlasted most of its early peers.
The electric plums
Psychedelic rock combined with clever wordplay helped these guys become a household name for a while, when “I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)” shot up the charts in 1966.
mobygrape
Former members of Jefferson Airplane formed this band that fused rock with country and jazz, drawing comparisons to Buffalo Springfield primarily for its three-guitar lineup.
Grapes
National success for the most part eluded this talented late-’70s group who had a minor hit with “Fear Is Never Boring,” but remain highly revered in their hometown of Cincinnati.
strawberry alarm clock
Mixing frankincense with some mints in 1967, these guys could smell and taste a Top Ten single.
blind melon
“No Rain” became the band’s breakout hit, partly because of its infectious melody and partly because of its bee-themed video.
The Cranberries
There’s no need to argue was the 1994 album that allowed the Irish alternative band to break through, mainly due to strong singles like “Zombies” and “Ode To My Family”.
smashing pumpkins
Billy Corgan led this 90s alternative rock ensemble, which in addition to dozens of hits earned them an appearance on an episode of The Simpsons.