Elvis Costello will release a new album in October, the first featuring the Imposters since Momofuko’s album in 2008. Two Look Now singles are already airing, one called “Under Lime” and the other called “Unwanted Number.”
Their release will almost coincide with the fortieth anniversary of their first album, the sensational My Aim Is True. Hits like “Allison” and “Watching the Detectives” helped ensure that the man Declan McManus was born would become almost as great a legend as the singer who shares his first name.
Here are ten other record artists who adopted pseudonyms that they have immortalized.
Fred bulsara
He became one of the most flamboyant singers in rock history, forever known as Queen’s Freddie Mercury.
Vincent Furnier
At first, the entire band was known as Alice Cooper, but very soon that name was used solely for its lead singer.
Robert zimmerman
Of course, the Hibbing, Minnesota native would take the name of a poet, because Bob Dylan himself would eventually win the Nobel Prize for Literature for his remarkable verses set to music.
David jones
Since the Monkees and their lead singer had been around for several years, this young aspiring folk rock artist would go on to “fame-fame-fame” as David Bowie.
Reginald Dwight
Like his original identity, his new last name was a common name like John. His first adopted name, Elton, is now the only one he needs.
Gordon sumner
One can only assume that his pseudonym didn’t hurt much, as Sting went on to lead the hugely popular rock band Police.
Steven tallorico
He cut the syllables in half while keeping the same initial, which made the lead singer of Aerosmith forever known as Steven Tyler.
Richard Starkey
Anyone slightly aware of rock history knows that this influential drummer became Ringo Starr just before he found immortality with a group known as The Beatles.
William Michael Albert Broad
Four names were shortened to just nine letters after he became Billy Idol, who scored huge hits with “White Wedding”, “Dancing with Myself”, “Eyes Without a Face” and a cover of “Mony Mony” that was made famous for the first time Tommy James and the Shondells.
John richard baldwin
He can be heard playing the organ on “Stairway To Heaven”, but mainly kept the beat as bassist John Paul Jones of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin.
