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Top 10 Greatest Nicknames in Music


welcome ladies and gentlemen to the

welcome ladies and gentlemen to the eighth one to the world these are the

eighth one to the world these are the

eighth one to the world these are the most memorable monikers of music welcome

most memorable monikers of music welcome

most memorable monikers of music welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 nicknames in music for this list we’ll

nicknames in music for this list we’ll

nicknames in music for this list we’ll be looking at iconic and memorable

be looking at iconic and memorable

be looking at iconic and memorable nicknames for musical artists who are

nicknames for musical artists who are

nicknames for musical artists who are otherwise known by their real names

meaning slash and flee are on the bench

meaning slash and flee are on the bench this time around so was David Bowie

this time around so was David Bowie

this time around so was David Bowie Ziggy Stardust as that is a character

Ziggy Stardust as that is a character

Ziggy Stardust as that is a character rather than a true nickname

additionally we are only looking at

additionally we are only looking at individuals rather than bands meaning

individuals rather than bands meaning

individuals rather than bands meaning the Fab Four are also sitting this one

the Fab Four are also sitting this one

the Fab Four are also sitting this one out

out

out sorry Ringo

number ten Slowhand and God Eric Clapton

number ten Slowhand and God Eric Clapton there’s nothing that is wrong more than

there’s nothing that is wrong more than

there’s nothing that is wrong more than you to stay here

you to stay here

you to stay here in 1963 the Crawdaddy club needed to

in 1963 the Crawdaddy club needed to

in 1963 the Crawdaddy club needed to replace their outgoing house band the

replace their outgoing house band the

replace their outgoing house band the Richmond venue soon settled on

Richmond venue soon settled on

Richmond venue soon settled on up-and-comers The Yardbirds a band whose

up-and-comers The Yardbirds a band whose

up-and-comers The Yardbirds a band whose guitarist Eric Clapton had a propensity

guitarist Eric Clapton had a propensity

guitarist Eric Clapton had a propensity to cause the audience into doing the

to cause the audience into doing the

to cause the audience into doing the slow clap thanks to his string

slow clap thanks to his string

slow clap thanks to his string replacements in between songs

given his already rapid yet smooth style

given his already rapid yet smooth style when he wasn’t breaking strings the

when he wasn’t breaking strings the

when he wasn’t breaking strings the club’s owner combined the phenomenon and

club’s owner combined the phenomenon and

club’s owner combined the phenomenon and the young easy skills to give him the

the young easy skills to give him the

the young easy skills to give him the moniker slow head

either out of admiration sarcasm or both

either out of admiration sarcasm or both of course only a few years later

of course only a few years later

of course only a few years later Clapton’s remarkable guitar skills led

Clapton’s remarkable guitar skills led

Clapton’s remarkable guitar skills led the public to grant him another nickname

the public to grant him another nickname

the public to grant him another nickname God

God

God people were writing graffiti clapping is

people were writing graffiti clapping is

people were writing graffiti clapping is God when you saw that what do you think

God when you saw that what do you think

God when you saw that what do you think I was disgusted and pleased at the same

I was disgusted and pleased at the same

I was disgusted and pleased at the same time

number nine Queen of Soul Aretha

number nine Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin following in the footsteps of

Franklin following in the footsteps of

Franklin following in the footsteps of Sam Cooke this young gospel singer from

Sam Cooke this young gospel singer from

Sam Cooke this young gospel singer from Memphis took on the world of pop music

Memphis took on the world of pop music

Memphis took on the world of pop music in the early 60s with the release of her

in the early 60s with the release of her

in the early 60s with the release of her Columbia debut it was clear that Aretha

Columbia debut it was clear that Aretha

Columbia debut it was clear that Aretha Franklin was the obvious Queen of Soul a

Franklin was the obvious Queen of Soul a

Franklin was the obvious Queen of Soul a nickname is one thing but it’s quite

nickname is one thing but it’s quite

nickname is one thing but it’s quite another to be actually crowned in public

another to be actually crowned in public

another to be actually crowned in public which is exactly what happened in 1968

which is exactly what happened in 1968

which is exactly what happened in 1968 when DJ Purvis Spann conducted a stage

when DJ Purvis Spann conducted a stage

when DJ Purvis Spann conducted a stage ceremony making the nickname official

we’ve seen plenty of divas that like to

we’ve seen plenty of divas that like to remind us of their soul but Aretha has

remind us of their soul but Aretha has

remind us of their soul but Aretha has never had to talk smack that’s real

never had to talk smack that’s real

never had to talk smack that’s real power number eight the chairman of the

power number eight the chairman of the

power number eight the chairman of the board Frank Sinatra fly me to the moon

board Frank Sinatra fly me to the moon

board Frank Sinatra fly me to the moon let me play up there with those star by

let me play up there with those star by

let me play up there with those star by 1960 all blue eyes had long been a king

1960 all blue eyes had long been a king

1960 all blue eyes had long been a king of cool but as the sensibilities of pop

of cool but as the sensibilities of pop

of cool but as the sensibilities of pop culture began to change Frank Sinatra

culture began to change Frank Sinatra

culture began to change Frank Sinatra earned himself a new nickname the

earned himself a new nickname the

earned himself a new nickname the chairman of the board after all he was

chairman of the board after all he was

chairman of the board after all he was in fact the man behind reprise records

in fact the man behind reprise records

in fact the man behind reprise records and the undeniable leader of the Rat

and the undeniable leader of the Rat

and the undeniable leader of the Rat Pack Sinatra is both the ultimate

Pack Sinatra is both the ultimate

Pack Sinatra is both the ultimate crooner and an Academy Award winning

crooner and an Academy Award winning

crooner and an Academy Award winning actor

so when a new school of cool emerged

so when a new school of cool emerged with JFK mingling with Marilyn Monroe

with JFK mingling with Marilyn Monroe

with JFK mingling with Marilyn Monroe they already had someone as their leader

they already had someone as their leader

they already had someone as their leader of the pack and it was the chairman of

of the pack and it was the chairman of

of the pack and it was the chairman of the board

number seven the boss Bruce Springsteen

number seven the boss Bruce Springsteen it’s no wonder he’s called

it’s no wonder he’s called

it’s no wonder he’s called the boss now Bruce Springsteen has yet

the boss now Bruce Springsteen has yet

the boss now Bruce Springsteen has yet another hit on his hand with the release

another hit on his hand with the release

another hit on his hand with the release of his eighteenth studio album hi hoes

of his eighteenth studio album hi hoes

of his eighteenth studio album hi hoes where as Frank Sinatra established his

where as Frank Sinatra established his

where as Frank Sinatra established his vocal skills in his native Hoboken New

vocal skills in his native Hoboken New

vocal skills in his native Hoboken New Jersey

Jersey

Jersey another blue-collar entertainer with the

another blue-collar entertainer with the

another blue-collar entertainer with the same route 30 years later along the

same route 30 years later along the

same route 30 years later along the Jersey Shore

no it wasn’t a life motto of gym tan

no it wasn’t a life motto of gym tan laundry that led to the nickname but

laundry that led to the nickname but

laundry that led to the nickname but rather Springsteen’s nighttime hustle as

rather Springsteen’s nighttime hustle as

rather Springsteen’s nighttime hustle as he organized payments for his band and

he organized payments for his band and

he organized payments for his band and spread the wealth you’re killing the

spread the wealth you’re killing the

spread the wealth you’re killing the working man who’s stuck in the gun chris

working man who’s stuck in the gun chris

working man who’s stuck in the gun chris Christie for Lee New Jersey trapping Jay

Christie for Lee New Jersey trapping Jay

Christie for Lee New Jersey trapping Jay in other words he took the bull by the

in other words he took the bull by the

in other words he took the bull by the horns which made him the boss okay

horns which made him the boss okay

horns which made him the boss okay maybe Springsteen has never warmed up to

maybe Springsteen has never warmed up to

maybe Springsteen has never warmed up to the nickname but hey it’s not a bad one

the nickname but hey it’s not a bad one

the nickname but hey it’s not a bad one to have when everyone knows how the boss

to have when everyone knows how the boss

to have when everyone knows how the boss gets down on stage

number six The Godfather of Soul and the

number six The Godfather of Soul and the hardest-working man in show business

hardest-working man in show business

hardest-working man in show business James Brown

by the late 60s and the early 70s the

by the late 60s and the early 70s the man known as soul brother number one had

man known as soul brother number one had

man known as soul brother number one had reached the pinnacle of success and even

reached the pinnacle of success and even

reached the pinnacle of success and even provided the score for the 1973

provided the score for the 1973

provided the score for the 1973 blaxploitation film black Caesar whose

blaxploitation film black Caesar whose

blaxploitation film black Caesar whose own control each people and given his

own control each people and given his

own control each people and given his chaotic life and work schedule it was

chaotic life and work schedule it was

chaotic life and work schedule it was obvious that James Brown was the

obvious that James Brown was the

obvious that James Brown was the hardest-working man in show business

which he also became known as The

which he also became known as The Godfather of Soul during this time

Godfather of Soul during this time

Godfather of Soul during this time largely in part to the freewheeling 70s

largely in part to the freewheeling 70s

largely in part to the freewheeling 70s and the life accomplishments of the

and the life accomplishments of the

and the life accomplishments of the original gangster of funk the nickname

original gangster of funk the nickname

original gangster of funk the nickname stuck and you know James Brown didn’t

stuck and you know James Brown didn’t

stuck and you know James Brown didn’t mind the attention

so is called the man in black number

so is called the man in black number five the man in black Johnny Cash

five the man in black Johnny Cash

five the man in black Johnny Cash well you wonder why I always dress in

well you wonder why I always dress in

well you wonder why I always dress in black he was down and out in the late

black he was down and out in the late

black he was down and out in the late 60s due to heavy heavy drug use but this

60s due to heavy heavy drug use but this

60s due to heavy heavy drug use but this man experienced a rebirth of sorts and

man experienced a rebirth of sorts and

man experienced a rebirth of sorts and soon became friends with Bob Dylan

soon became friends with Bob Dylan

soon became friends with Bob Dylan another music icon who was undergoing

another music icon who was undergoing

another music icon who was undergoing his own type of transformation when the

his own type of transformation when the

his own type of transformation when the night begins to fall then adult Palooza

night begins to fall then adult Palooza

night begins to fall then adult Palooza bar and so it was in 1971 when Johnny

bar and so it was in 1971 when Johnny

bar and so it was in 1971 when Johnny Cash wrote the man in black thus

Cash wrote the man in black thus

Cash wrote the man in black thus confirming his iconic nickname however

confirming his iconic nickname however

confirming his iconic nickname however the image represented more than just

the image represented more than just

the image represented more than just rebellion it was for the people and all

rebellion it was for the people and all

rebellion it was for the people and all those unfortunate souls who lived a

those unfortunate souls who lived a

those unfortunate souls who lived a difficult life and weren’t quite

difficult life and weren’t quite

difficult life and weren’t quite connected with the blossoming

connected with the blossoming

connected with the blossoming counterculture movement

and of course the look that came with it

and of course the look that came with it also looks so good on stage but maybe I

also looks so good on stage but maybe I

also looks so good on stage but maybe I can carry off a little darkness on the

can carry off a little darkness on the

can carry off a little darkness on the back those things are brighter I’m the

back those things are brighter I’m the

back those things are brighter I’m the man and we can pump dead animals and

man and we can pump dead animals and

man and we can pump dead animals and antelopes and it’s the reason that a man

antelopes and it’s the reason that a man

antelopes and it’s the reason that a man and another man can elope but if you

and another man can elope but if you

and another man can elope but if you feel like I feel like out the game

feel like I feel like out the game

feel like I feel like out the game before Slim Shady Eminem the real shady

before Slim Shady Eminem the real shady

before Slim Shady Eminem the real shady all you other slim Shady’s are just

all you other slim Shady’s are just

all you other slim Shady’s are just imitating in 1999 Eminem released his

imitating in 1999 Eminem released his

imitating in 1999 Eminem released his groundbreaking single my name is yet a

groundbreaking single my name is yet a

groundbreaking single my name is yet a new MTV generation couldn’t quite figure

new MTV generation couldn’t quite figure

new MTV generation couldn’t quite figure out what the hell he was calling himself

and while many now consider Eminem a

and while many now consider Eminem a lyrical genius his nickname was

lyrical genius his nickname was

lyrical genius his nickname was originally given to himself when he was

originally given to himself when he was

originally given to himself when he was hard at work not in the studio but on

hard at work not in the studio but on

hard at work not in the studio but on the toilet okay

the toilet okay

the toilet okay thought about it still when a rapper

thought about it still when a rapper

thought about it still when a rapper kick around the house get the daughter

kick around the house get the daughter

kick around the house get the daughter may kidnap nobody question the name of

may kidnap nobody question the name of

may kidnap nobody question the name of his alter ego when Eminem hit it big and

his alter ego when Eminem hit it big and

his alter ego when Eminem hit it big and after all dr. Dre executive produced his

after all dr. Dre executive produced his

after all dr. Dre executive produced his breakthrough album Slim Shady as a

breakthrough album Slim Shady as a

breakthrough album Slim Shady as a nickname has stuck with him through all

nickname has stuck with him through all

nickname has stuck with him through all these years it rolls off the tongue

these years it rolls off the tongue

these years it rolls off the tongue rather easily and Eminem certainly

rather easily and Eminem certainly

rather easily and Eminem certainly cashed in on his creation

swim number three

swim number three Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne as both

Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne as both

Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne as both an icon of hard rock and reality

an icon of hard rock and reality

an icon of hard rock and reality television Ozzy Osbourne has influenced

television Ozzy Osbourne has influenced

television Ozzy Osbourne has influenced the world in a variety of mischievous

the world in a variety of mischievous

the world in a variety of mischievous ways but let’s be clear he’s not the

ways but let’s be clear he’s not the

ways but let’s be clear he’s not the first artist we labeled the Prince of

first artist we labeled the Prince of

first artist we labeled the Prince of Darkness the great blues musician Miles

Darkness the great blues musician Miles

Darkness the great blues musician Miles Davis was known as such and even the

Davis was known as such and even the

Davis was known as such and even the Godfather cinematographer Gordon Willis

Godfather cinematographer Gordon Willis

Godfather cinematographer Gordon Willis I thought it was Lennon been to you

I thought it was Lennon been to you

I thought it was Lennon been to you probably double again the good gut

probably double again the good gut

probably double again the good gut however its Ozzy that effectively

however its Ozzy that effectively

however its Ozzy that effectively captured the essence of John Milton’s

captured the essence of John Milton’s

captured the essence of John Milton’s famous phrase from Paradise Lost

in other words the embodiment of evil

in other words the embodiment of evil and by innovating the heavy metal genre

and by innovating the heavy metal genre

and by innovating the heavy metal genre boat in the studio and on stage Ozzy

boat in the studio and on stage Ozzy

boat in the studio and on stage Ozzy Osbourne fit the bill like no other

given the international fame of Michael

given the international fame of Michael Jackson during the 1980s it only makes

Jackson during the 1980s it only makes

Jackson during the 1980s it only makes sense that he would ultimately be called

sense that he would ultimately be called

sense that he would ultimately be called the King of Pop well how about this it

the King of Pop well how about this it

the King of Pop well how about this it was MJ himself who demanded that MTV VJs

was MJ himself who demanded that MTV VJs

was MJ himself who demanded that MTV VJs refer to invite this title around the

refer to invite this title around the

refer to invite this title around the time when black or white hit the

time when black or white hit the

time when black or white hit the airwaves Michael Jackson came up with

airwaves Michael Jackson came up with

airwaves Michael Jackson came up with the idea that he needed a nickname like

the idea that he needed a nickname like

the idea that he needed a nickname like Elvis Presley and Bruce Springsteen and

Elvis Presley and Bruce Springsteen and

Elvis Presley and Bruce Springsteen and thanks to his own efficient business

thanks to his own efficient business

thanks to his own efficient business plan that’s exactly what he got

and in fairness there’s no other

and in fairness there’s no other musician as deserving so we’ll give MJ a

musician as deserving so we’ll give MJ a

musician as deserving so we’ll give MJ a break he earned it

before we unveil our top pick here are a

before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

which is oh my daesil used to dribble

which is oh my daesil used to dribble down there be a pedagogue and DiMaggio

you’re everything that I see I won’t

you’re everything that I see I won’t show I love an emulsion and number one

show I love an emulsion and number one

show I love an emulsion and number one the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley

the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley

the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley one threw a party in the county jail the

one threw a party in the county jail the

one threw a party in the county jail the prison band was there they began to wear

prison band was there they began to wear

prison band was there they began to wear it’s no secret that rock and roll was

it’s no secret that rock and roll was

it’s no secret that rock and roll was influenced by the blues however no other

influenced by the blues however no other

influenced by the blues however no other man embraced the crown for the genre

man embraced the crown for the genre

man embraced the crown for the genre quite like Elvis Presley let’s take a

quite like Elvis Presley let’s take a

quite like Elvis Presley let’s take a walk down the street

in the late 50s he paved the way for

in the late 50s he paved the way for rock as we know it and though he would

rock as we know it and though he would

rock as we know it and though he would live a chaotic life

live a chaotic life

live a chaotic life Elvis undoubtedly lived the life of a

Elvis undoubtedly lived the life of a

Elvis undoubtedly lived the life of a king for better or for worse no one can

king for better or for worse no one can

king for better or for worse no one can deny the influence of the Mississippi

deny the influence of the Mississippi

deny the influence of the Mississippi native and over the course of more than

native and over the course of more than

native and over the course of more than 20 years the king lived up to his famous

20 years the king lived up to his famous

20 years the king lived up to his famous title and even if he wasn’t always on

title and even if he wasn’t always on

title and even if he wasn’t always on top of the music industry we can’t find

top of the music industry we can’t find

top of the music industry we can’t find a pond to use a wooden gym so do you

a pond to use a wooden gym so do you

a pond to use a wooden gym so do you agree with our list what is your

agree with our list what is your

agree with our list what is your favorite nickname in music

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