UPDATED WITH QUOTES: Holy Shit! Starfucker to Change its Name!
UPDATE: LC spoke with Starfucker founder Josh Hodges about the name change via telephone. Though he and his Starfucker bandmates had agreed to change the name (and do so with a contest), Hodges didn’t know that word of the change had gone out this afternoon. We’ll get this complete interview up tomorrow, but Hodges said that the name-change was long-brewing.
A year ago, conversations stalled because “at that point we were worried about seeming like sellouts or something. But I don’t know—I really don’t care. I just feel like I started it with a push and now it’s rolling down a hill, it has its own inertia.”
The name-change decision was pushed by interest from “the coolest label in the world,” Hodges says. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to talk about this.”
More bits from the interview:
Hodges: “[We've talked about a name change] for at least over a year. [Our tour manager] was really encouraging us to change our name because we lost out on all these tours like the L.A. tour that Passion Pit got on—they got big after that tour. Nobody wants to tour with us, basically. That’s why we’ve never done an opening slot, we’ve always done headlining tours…it’s weird. It’s [the bands'] managers and their people that are like ‘oh, they’re gonna chase away the little tweener fans’ or whatever. Their parents aren’t going to fund them to go to the show. Which I guess I can understand. But no one really cares, it’s just they’re afraid that people will care. Most people don’t care but the fear of people caring has hurt us (laughs).”
“…There are at least six, if not eight people, that make decisions about everything, and we don’t always agree on everything.”
WW: Isn’t that in some ways against the ideal that the band started on?
Hodges: “Yeah, kind of. I think it can coexist though. The idea that the band started with was music should be for fun and not for trying to obtain some kind of recognition or social status. There are so many musicians and so few good ones, and I feel like a lot of people do it not because they have a passion for it but because they wanna be a musician. This is how I felt when I started the project—the idea was I don’t even care if people like it, it’s for me. It’s what I do for fun in my room. It really is like therapy, you know? It keeps me less crazy. But I think being successful you can still exist with a sense of like, ‘well, this is for fun first and foremost.’ It is a challenge, honestly. But it’s not like my main idea when I started was like, ‘fuck success, that’s what I’m about.’ It was never that, it was just for fun first and foremost and whatever happens is what happens. I didn’t expect or want anything to happen. I had given up on trying to be some sort of professional musician after Sexton Blake, and in giving up it happened more.”
WW: You know you’re gonna get people calling you sell-out.
Hodges: “Totally. yeah. I don’t really care. I’d rather be eating dinner and paying rent than being cool, you know? And I’ve been poor my entire life. I’ve done every shitty job that you can imagine. I’ve been a security guard, I’ve parked cars, I’ve waited tables, I’ve bussed tables, I’ve sold coffee, I’ve painted houses. I’ve done seriously everything that sucks that you can do. So this isn’t work, it’s not fucking work, and it pays me. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”
“If I was a trust-fund baby then maybe I’d have the financial freedom to have integrity, if that’s even what it is. But I’m not. I have to work. I just feel lucky to even have the possibility to make money from making music. There are a lot of great musicians that I wish could live on it who can’t—people who work in grocery stores who I think are geniuses.”
WW: So if you hit the bigtime that’s your mission, right?
Hodges: “Yeah, I already wanna take all my friends on tour and help everybody, yeah. This tour’s rad, Deelay Ceelay’s going with us, they’re so rad. And Guidance Counselor came, and Atole. Yeah, I just wanna keep taking all my favorite Portland bands out. If we were bigger, though, it would help them more.”
———-
Original post:
Yet another sign of the apocalypse? Portland’s Starfucker will change its name in the very near future, and it’s having a contest to decide on a new one. This is a bit baffling after the band successfully landed gigs soundtracking Weeds and commercials for Target and IBM: Those successes would suggest that the swap is not one based on economics (though “Starfucker” is not the most marketable of nomers, it would seem like a bad move for a band making moves on a national level to change its name). We’re witholding judgement until we talk to the band, but I’d be lying if my first reaction wasn’t one of deep discomfort. Jettisoning the name, cheesy or no in the first place, feels like giving in to the angry parents of the world. But fuck ‘em, right?
The band dodged any real resoning on its website, offering this post via MySpace:
Name Change Contest!
Current mood: blissful
Category: Games
Hey Friends–
Everyone knows our name sucks…so here is your chance to give us a new one.
The best thing about this new-name game is that we want YOU to help us come up with it.There are two ways to vote for Starfucker’s new name.
*Email your idea to:
newnameideas@gmail.comOR
*Vote in person at the merch table at any show on our upcoming tour
This will be our last tour as Starfucker!
Come out and help us usher in a whole new era of…..awesome-band-name-yet-..to-be-determined.
One vote per fan please.
And of course there are fabulous prizes! If your name is selected, you will get tons of cool shit!!!
Deadline for ideas is October 1st.
We’ll follow-up, but I think the groundswell of support for my suggested new name—Shitfuck Superdick—is already building.
In fact, we’re having our own Starfucker name-change contest to compete with theirs. So far my entry is winning. Add your suggestions in the comment box below. Outrage and condolences can also be posted here.
Photo by Sarah Cass.
Related posts:
- UPDATED! Introducing PYRAMID (the Band Formerly Known as Starfucker) Update 2:
- Q&A with Starfucker’s Josh Hodges A name-cha
- Starfucker Reveals T-Shirt Contest Entries When a ban
- CD Reviews: Starfucker and Tara Jane Oneil Starfucke
- Press Roundup: Decemberists, Starfucker, Thermals, M. Ward DATELINE:
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Art Is For It's Own Sake, Not Mine
says:Seriously, Casey–what do you want to be when you grow up? Because “snarky, ironic asshole” isn’t much of a career path.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 2:50 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMarketing Genius
says:My votes:
1)STUPRID! (aka, Stop This Unwise PR Idea Dead!)
2) The Irreversible Decisions
3) Look Before You Leap (LBYL)
4) The Dumbasses Who Sucked in the First Place
5) Neon Douchyness
There, I win the contest.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 2:54 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkNick
says:sexton blake.
jk
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 3:15 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkjk
jkrowling.
Casey Jarman
(post author) says:ouch art. the truth is that i love starfucker and will likely continue to do so regardless of the band’s name–we’ve been evangelizing this band for years now on localcut and will continue to do so. but i still have to make the obvious joke every once and a while, don’t i? sheesh. for all the love we’ve shown SF i think the dudes can take some joshing. get it? joshing? cause starfucker’s founder is named josh!? damn it feels good to be a gangster.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 3:45 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkJon Ragel
says:OK. I’ve done my research and—AND—Kettleman’s bagels is better than Noah’s bagels. I hope that wasn’t snarky of me to say. I just feel very passionate about bagels, and other things that rhyme with my last name.
thanks!
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 3:47 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkArt Is For It's Own Sake, Not Mine
says:I understand, Casey. It’s hard out there on a pimp.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 4:25 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkyou go ahead and guess..
says:Indian Giver
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkNick
says:Myke Ptyson!
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 4:41 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCasey Jarman
(post author) says:to clarify, you all should send your suggestions to the starfucker email address given in this post, because we actually can’t rename the band. but we might just call them by these names until the actual name change takes place.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 4:49 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMichael Mannheimer
says:If we’re going with former song titles, maybe Biggie Smalls? Kinda sums up the band’s ambitions.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinktrevino
says:Maybe they should create a symbol and call themselves by created symbol.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 5:14 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkOr appropriate a Native American name, but that might make me want to punch them in the face. Too touchy of a subject.
Marketing Genius
says:I want them to be called
or {>
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 5:38 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkcarnivorous plans
says:they are famous precisely because of their titular name and for NO other reason.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 6:12 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMelina
says:Starfucker is well-known because they are good musicians, not because there’s an explicative in their name. They are choosing to go on to bigger and better things. Good for them. I will love them whatever their name may be.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 6:39 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkTony
says:How about Eskimo & Sons? That’s a real good name, and I don’t think anyone is using it at the moment.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 7:33 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMarketing Genius
says:They’re music is a passing fad like all that neon bullshit, joggin headband, sythnguitarisizer, max headroom, american apparrel garbage. That’s their new name: Sythnguitarisizer.
Or The Melinatrons!
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 8:01 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMarketing Genius
says:Or: ????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????
That’s Tibetan for The Melinatrons!
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 8:03 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMarketing Genius
says:fucking Tibetan turns to question marks, that’s cosmic justice for you.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 8:03 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkjosh
says:@marketing genius-bitter much?
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 8:27 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkcarnivorous plans
says:Marketing Genius == his name.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 11:07 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCary Clarke
says:For what it’s worth, I support this name change for selfish reasons. I would have loved to bring Starfucker into a middle or high school with a PDX Pop Now! event, but that was beyond unviable given the name.
When the Music In The Schools kids did it during off-school hours at Cleveland(and, man, was that awesome), they had major problems getting flyers approved because of the expletive.
Starfucker has written some amazing songs (I really think Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second is one of the most perfect pop songs I’ve ever heard), and the idea that more people will be able to access and discover them through things like radio and supporting tour slots is way more exciting to me than getting worked up about selling out. WAY more. Everyone who already knows and likes this band will follow them to whatever their new name is, and those who don’t yet know them have an increased likelihood of coming to do so.
Posted @ September 8th, 2009 at 11:46 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkTimole
says:I’d say Fartsucker only because it’s an anagram for Starfucker. I love those guys, though.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 12:06 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkMarketing Genius
says:Josh, you little zit on LocalCut’s ass, never ever address me with an @ symbol. This isn’t Twitter. We aren’t texting (srry, txting). @this: I am not bitter, I am a marketing consultant with the brain of Einstein and the booty juice of James Brown. Let it be known, I would like to hire Timole because Fartsucker is pure genius. Wow.
John, I see no future for you either in or @ advertising.
I still vote for Neon Douchies as Fartsucker’s new name.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 12:17 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCasey Jarman
(post author) says:good points, cary! and fartsucker, while a clever anagram, is a much worse name than starfucker. i’m sorry but it is.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 1:27 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkAlex Arrowsmith
says:My issue with the name is only that for the longest time I thought people were talking about that NIN song. When I found out it was in fact a band from here, my confusion never dissipated.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 1:52 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkboone23howard
says:no one here is funny
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 2:27 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkjohn
says:marketing genius is pretty much the dumbest person i’ve read from all sumber
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 5:27 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkLive Review: Mikrofest, Saturday, September 5 @ Camp Rainbow-- Local Cut
says:[...] UPDATED WITH QUOTES: Holy Shit! Starfucker to Change its Name! [...]
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 7:01 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkLuke
says:I’m aware of Starfucker but never really listened to them. I can fully see where they are coming from, but feel like bands must be very careful when going through a name change. Most name changes end up being totally douchey as bands often want a name more thoughtful, artsy, deep, etc…just don’t create a fucking wanker name for a band that people seem to think is legitimately good.
Will now listen to Starfucker for verification.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 7:16 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkPR Walters
says:Man why is everyone on LC so angry at everything all the time. Its boring and predictable.
As much as I liked how ’stick-it-to-the-man’ the name was, as a small town promoter who booked starfucker recently, this is kindof a relief. It was really hard to promote the show when so many stores refused to hang the poster in their windows and the local High School still deemed them inappropriate Despite my best effort to asterisked the hell out of their name (”Starf*****”) and make the poster as cute and innocent looking as possible. Normally I don’t have a problem hanging flyers ’cause people know and trust me, but the first time you bring in a ‘Starf*****’ poster you start getting a little more scrutiny. I think Josh was right that most people don’t really care but I also think its not always the band who have to deal with the people who do…
That said I think their name should be Asterisked. That is if they decide against Fart Sucker.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 8:45 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinktravis
says:air (the american band)
the mandy moorehols
13th floor revelators
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 10:51 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkleviethan
says:What about “High Fucktose Porn Syrup”?!?!
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkPeter PR
says:My votes:
1) Hit Factory
2) The Neon Banditos
3) John the Poster is a Jackass (JPJ)
4) and Travis’ one The Mandy Moorehols
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 11:45 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCasey Jarman
(post author) says:oh my god, levi, i had forgotten that name. SO GOOD!
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 11:50 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkleviethan
says:The word “syrup” evens out the edge of the “fucktose.”
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 12:22 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkfalse prophet
says:hey pr walters, why is everyone on LC so angry at everything all the time? well why are you such a whiney bitch baby? can’t handle the pressure? you must still suck on your mamma’s titty and get belly rubs before she tucks you in if you’re so tender as you appear. here, let me toughen you up a bit. bend over. mommy’s gotta take your temperature.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 12:43 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkPR Walters
says:False prophet, your so cute.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 2:25 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinktravis
says:MOSHPIT!
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 3:38 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkmia
says:Passion Tit
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 4:52 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkokay
says:Alright i say this as a big starfucker fan (from like 2007 man!) but this isn’t about opener tours or offensive names or anything else. it’s just about the label. and,hell, if i were in the same situation i’d do the same thing. but check it, isn’t Fucked Up on the coolest label in the world and aren’t they way bigger then stareffer? didn’t Fuck Buttons come through town opening for Mogwai? And aren’t they signed to ATP? it’s the label. that’s it. and yknow, what? more power to ‘em
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 7:05 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkcarnivorous plans
says:wrong. this is not 1989. if starfucker likes money that much, then that’s that. music is art and it is fucking life and death, people. it really is. if starfucker bows to corporate pressure in order to appeal to more people and make more money so they can, do what exactly? how will they feel the first time the Coors family comes calling with their licensing dollars in hand? or the Walton family? or better yet, Rupert Murdoch? whose blood money looks the freshest, cleanest? remind me again why you want to sell out to corporate interests and make a ton of money, “Josh Hodges”?
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 7:28 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkQ&A with Starfucker’s Josh Hodges-- Local Cut
says:[...] carnivorous plans: wrong. this is not 1989. if starfucker likes money that much, then that’s that. music is art… [...]
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 8:11 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkCasey Jarman
(post author) says:I’m not trying to take away from your points there, CP, because if you’re someone who really walks that walk in your life I have a respect for that.
But I do think that it’s easier to say those things when someone’s not in your face asking you to do something you were already dooing but make money and tour the world while doing it. If someone asked me to run a local music blog the same way I was doing it now, but to change the name and make a lot more money than I do, I’d be a fool not to consider it. I’d consider the source of the money, the image, the organization, etc., but I’d also have to consider the fact that I don’t want to run a blog forever and the more I make means the sooner I can get the freedom to do the things I wanna do that won’t make money at all.
I’m not saying it’s always the right decision to do the thing that pays your rent, but I do think it’s nice to be able to pay the rent. Or to buy the house for that matter.
Posted @ September 9th, 2009 at 8:46 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinktruth
says:Is the Sellouts taken? Or Money Hungry Hippos?
Posted @ September 10th, 2009 at 1:18 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkDouchebag
says:” douchebags !!!
Posted @ September 10th, 2009 at 12:18 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkcarnivorous plans' little brother
says:Oh, Douchebag, I thought you were talking to me. That’s what carnivorous always calls me. It’s Pavlovian. Sorry.
Posted @ September 10th, 2009 at 4:33 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkAnna
says:No! don’t change the name! Well, yea change the name, because that way you will make more money and be happier, but PLEASE try hard and don’t make it stupid! there are so many horrible band names out there!
Posted @ September 11th, 2009 at 4:26 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkJackpot
says:There already is a band from California called “fuck” and they’ve been having some notoriety and success for years. Then there’s Fucked Up hailing from Toronto. If Starfucker really has to change their name and their current band name is from a song title then how about this:
“Starfucker” is the original (and technically is still) the title of a Rolling Stones song, and the record label execs had them change it – on the album cover it’s “Star Star” – and it’s the same way for the cover by Joan Jett, so why not change the band name to “Star Star”? Anybody who knows about the Stones and Joan Jett would see the irony of it.
BTW, at the Rock’n'Roll HOF in Cleveland at the Stones exhibit there is a concert set list in Keef’s handwriting that lists the song by its original name.
Posted @ September 11th, 2009 at 6:12 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkThe Chum Bucket: John Mayer’s Guitar Face + More
says:[...] Starf—er have finally decided to change their band name. But really, how do you top a name like “Starf—er”? [Local Cut] [...]
Posted @ September 12th, 2009 at 7:48 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkcal
says:i l oooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeee yyyyooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted @ October 9th, 2009 at 7:05 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkyou are the best
i loveo you
Waylon Jennings
says:It’s all bullshit, really. Bands with “inappropriate” names have been around for decades.
One example? Butthole Surfers. commercial success.
Let’s get real–this is a mediocre band who haven’t risen above their name–so they’re tring a marketing gimmick to see if that gives them a few dollars. It sure as hell ain’t about music.
And if that’s the main motivation for being a band, you’re better off carefully putting down those instruments and fokking off.
Posted @ October 10th, 2009 at 5:26 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkJon Ragel
says:No. They’re not mediocre. They’re really damn good. I’ve seen them every six months for the last few years and they just keep getting better. They’ve got some serious pop gems and electro jams.
Posted @ October 12th, 2009 at 9:37 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkcarnivorous plans
says:WOOSH!!! There went the last of whatever credibility you had left, “Jon Ragel”. Tell us another one!
Posted @ October 12th, 2009 at 11:45 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalink4000 lb bee
says:so this nun walks into a bar with a salmon under one arm and a casio keyboard under the other…
Posted @ October 12th, 2009 at 3:50 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkBB
says:Starfucker is an awesome, talented band. Ever since I found out about them I have always wondered about their name choice because it has inherent limitations. Almost all other bands don’t have an official swear word in their names, whether they are good bands, or mediocre bands. But, this band is really good! I think they deserve to get more play and notice, and I don’t blame them for making a name change. I think it was pretty dumb of them to choose the name they did in the first place because in the long run, it just wasn’t practical! Duh!
Posted @ October 17th, 2009 at 11:27 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkautomatic myspace friend adder
says:Thanks For keeping it on point – it’s always easier to read that way
Best Regards
Posted @ October 21st, 2009 at 6:42 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkant1ph0n
says:le sigh
dear carnivorous plans,
reread the part about being able to live (paying rent/buying food).
if you are a musician yourself, i give you a lot of respect for having that much integrity and will power to not budge (in the same situation) but honestly, i’d have to give more to them because they can see past the obvious and the backlash they will have to deal with from whiney ignorant ‘tards calling them sellouts because they miss the bigger picture…
oh, and there’s a but here as well…
i don’t know him/them personally and i wish i’d have heard his tone of voice over the phone regarding the name change question but all the reasons given justifies their decision, if they are/he is genuine with their/his intentions anyway.
some brain food i suppose…
Posted @ November 16th, 2009 at 7:29 pm (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalinkwhere to watch fight club online
says:Thank you for the help!
Posted @ January 29th, 2010 at 5:57 am (September 8th, 2009) | Flag this Comment | permalink