My Favorite Bands by Color

Let me explain. I’m not talking about skin pigmentation here. What I’m talking about are bands with a color in their name. Am I running out of topics? Perhaps. Still, it’s my site and I can do whatever the hell I want. My imagination bucket is bottomless, so get used to it.

Anyway, I’ve eliminated guys like Jackson Browne, Al Green and Jack White. And no Pink, sorry. That’s just too easy. It has to be a band name, not a single artist. Again, my site, my rules.

I’ll list the color, then give my favorite band that uses said color. Damn, I hope this makes sense soon.

GREEN

Why, Green River of course. What, no Green Day you ask? Well, Green River was a Seattle band that was at the forefront of the whole grunge movement. No Green River, no Nirvana or Pearl Jam, kids. In fact, their first record, “Come On Down“, is often credited as the first grunge album.

Green River

Note: Green River Ordinance, Green Apple Quickstep and Gang Green aren’t bad choices either.

BLUE

I have to go with The Moody Blues here, although Blue Oyster Cult and the R & B band Blue Magic was a surprisingly close second. Blue Swede, with it’s infectious version of “Hooked on a Feeling” (Ooga chaka ooga ooga ooga chaka) also merits a mention. I also love Blue October and liked Blues Image, but Deep Blue Something was just awful. Lotta bands with blue in their names, man.

Note: Damn it. I just remembered Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. 

Pink Floyd

PINK

No brainer if there ever was one – Pink Floyd. Not many bands have ever used the color pink in their name since, perhaps because Floyd was so good they didn’t want to invite comparisons. There was a band a few years ago called Tickle Me Pink that wasn’t bad though.

PURPLE

Deep Purple, man, so shut it. “Smoke on the Water” (especially the live version on “Made in Japan”) alone sets these boys apart. Distant second? New Riders of the Purple Sage.

BLACK

Man, there are a ton of good bands with black in their title, including Black Sabbath, The Black Keys, Black 47, Black Crowes, Black-Eyed Peas, Black Gold, Black Sheep, Black Oak Arkansas, Black Stone Cherry and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Still, I have to choose Black Flag, quite possibly the most badass hardcore punk band I’ve laid ears on.

WHITE

Hmmm, let’s see, we have Great White, Whitesnake, Plain White T’s, Average White Band, Holy White Hounds, White Buffalo and a few others .White Zombie was great, but I guess I’ll go with the White Stripes, although I’m not quite as in love with them as most critics seem to be. Meh.

RED

Simply Red? Nah. Red Hot Chili Peppers? Hell to the nah. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus or Redbone? No,  but Redbone was close. I’m gonna stretch a little here, but I’ll go with Redlight King. Love that guy.

Redlight King

BROWN

Savoy Brown? Mmmm, no. Beaver Brown Band? Nope. It’s Brownsville Station and the original “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” for me.

SILVER

Why, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band for me, although Silversun Pickups are a damn good band. Listen to “Lazy Eye” and tell me I’m wrong.

GOLD

There’s only one kids, and that’s Golden Earring. “Radar Love” was an absolute classic. Ooh, I just remembered the band Goldfinger. They’re good too.

Notables I must mention because they’re also named after colors:

• Tangerine Dream – Great band. Give ’em a listen.
• Cream – Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton. ‘Nuff said.
• King Crimson – “20th Century Schizoid Man“. That is all.
• Indigo Girls – Love them.
• Maroon 5 – Worst Super Bowl halftime show ever.
• Yellowcard – Pretty good 00s band.

I just had a thought. I could write about my favorite bands with foods, animals, or cities in their titles. Maybe even breeds of Chihuahuas. The list is endless.

I really need another hobby.