The 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 disrespected fruits. Cars that break down frequently or don’t work at all are called lemons, rather than tangerines or plums. An unhappy facial expression is often described as lemony, based on the acidity it indicates.
Given its unappealing tradition, it’s surprising to learn that popular bands have chosen that particular fruit by name over more desirable ones like bananas or pears. For example, the late sixties and seventies gave us the Lemon Pipers, who hit the charts with the single “Green Tambourine.”
A decade later, New Wave music fans enjoyed a group calling themselves Mighty Lemon Drops, whose sound was often compared to Echo and the Bunnymen. Then in the 1990s, singer-songwriter Evan Dando headlined a post-grunge band called Lemon Heads, which attracted fans of Nirvana and the late Kurt Cobain.
Although lemon has overwhelmingly beaten the rest of its juicy genre, other fruits have managed to appear in some popular band names. Here are ten of the best.
Raspberries
Eric Carmen and his three young friends made a huge impression in the early 1970s with the hits “Go All the Way” and “I Wanna Be With You.”
Wild cherry
One hit was all it took to push this group, a quintet of white boys who wanted to play funky music, toward immortality.
Apples in stereo
Among the pioneers of the genre called indie rock, this eclectic band has outlived most of its early peers.
Electric plums
Psychedelic rock combined with a clever pun helped make these guys a household name for a time, as “I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)” climbed the charts in 1966.
Grape Moby
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.
Raisins
National success for the most part eluded this talented late ’70s group who had a small hit with “Fear Is Never Boring” but remain highly revered in their hometown of Cincinnati.
Strawberry alarm clock
Mixing incense with mint in 1967, these guys could smell and taste a simple Top Ten.
Blind melon
“No Rain” became the group’s big hit, partly because of its infectious melody and partly because of its bee-themed video.
The Cranberries
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”.
Crushing pumpkins
Billy Corgan directed this alternative rock ensemble of the nineties, which in addition to dozens of hits landed an appearance on an episode of The Simpsons.