Names

Have you ever wanted to change your name?

Unlike David Bowie, I have not been forced to assume a different professional name due to a pre-existing Monkee, but I've occasionally wondered if my career would've been accelerated by having a more dynamic handle. "Terry" is a decent enough name, I suppose. It could've been worse; it's certainly better than, say, Pauly, Bjorn, or Herbert. But it's not a name designed to inspire awe among the masses, or to invoke terror within your competitors. There's probably a good reason that Terry Bollea achieved more in his wrestling career once he changed his name to Hulk Hogan.

A few of my friends still call me by my old swim team nickname "Speed", and I kinda like that--but people who don't know the story behind the name tend to view it with suspicion since my athletic performances aren't remotely compatible with the word. Oh well.

Through my genealogy research, I found that "Heggy" is actually a derivative of the proud Scottish name "Heggie", with its origins rooted in the region of Scotland known as "Fife". That's not exactly a macho name for a county, either, but I'd still like to visit there someday. (More info about my family origins can be found here.)

Anyway, if Davy hadn't become a Monkee, then the disturbing story of Major Tom might have been recounted by a fellow named David Jones, and that guy's son (Duncan Jones) would not be touring under the memorable name of "Zowie Bowie".

As for the others in the list, well...I mentioned David Gilmour because I'm reading a book called "The Education of Millionaires" by Michael Ellsberg, in which Gilmour's success story is used to illustrate the author's premise that spending a boatload of money on college doesn't necessarily enhance a person's career in today's economy. Plus, I love the way Gilmour evokes so much beauty and emotion from so few notes. It's almost as if he's the anti-VanHalen.

Freddie Mercury changed his name from Farrokh Bulsara. Nuff sed.

Frank Zappa's real name is, well, Frank Zappa. His kids are the ones with the interesting names: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. Thanks to people like Frank, I'm beginning to really appreciate "Terry". And not that it has anything to do with anything, but Zappa fans might enjoy this (which features Dweezil on guitar).

As for Sting (aka Gordon Sumner), he recently came in second in a national poll to determine the most overrated rock artist (though he was FAR behind the winners--U2.)

Darth Vader, on the other hand, is widely revered...and rightly so. I think he made the correct choice in sticking with the more formal "James Earl", just as I think Davy Jones was cooler as "Davy" than if he'd have insisted upon "David". James Earl Jones is a name with a bit of class, and it fits the man's voice and persona. If he'd have called himself "Jimmy", well, people would've thought he was a dingus peanut farmer or something, and he'd never have been invited to be hang out with the Galactic Emperor.

Enough about that. My next post will feature a report on the reopening of Waterton Canyon. In the meantime, please enjoy this classic James Earl Jones clip, and have a great day!